Have you been told by your dentist that you’re in need of a new dental crown? It seems like it would be much easier to put off this task until 2022 comes around and your schedule clears up, but this isn’t the best idea for your smile or your wallet. This restoration is crucial for your oral health, and you want to ensure that you’re maximizing your dental insurance benefits. Continue reading to learn what can happen if you put off getting your restoration as well as how your dental insurance plays a role.
Why Should You Get Your New Dental Crown Now?
Crowns are used to restore teeth after an injury, tooth decay, or tooth loss. If you put off getting a crown for too long, you are leaving your compromised tooth vulnerable. Here are a few things that could happen:
- Exposure to bacteria: If your tooth isn’t shielded by a dental crown, it can endure more decay, or you could develop a painful infection. This is because it’s being exposed to potentially harmful bacteria in your mouth.
- Irritation of soft tissues: When the damage to your tooth has left it with a rough surface and broken edges, you could end up with sores and irritation of the soft tissues in the mouth.
- Additional damage: If your weakened tooth isn’t being protected by a crown, you’re leaving it vulnerable to break down even more. Without proper treatment, this will only become more severe. You could even end up in need of a root canal or extraction. Ultimately, getting a dental crown can help to you avoid a painful dental emergency later on.
How Does Your Insurance Play a Role?
If you have dental insurance, your unused benefits are likely to expire at the end of the calendar year. Your annual deductible is the amount of money that needs to be paid out-of-pocket each year until you are able to take advantage of your benefits. Each January, this amount resets, so you will be left responsible for paying it once again. If you have already met your annual deductible for the year, you are much more likely to save on a crown by getting it now rather than after the holiday season comes to a close.
This isn’t the time to wait. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to get your new restoration. Your smile and wallet will thank you!
About the Author
Dr. Kimber Holmes is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for well over two decades. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston and continues to pursue post-graduate studies to stay up to date with everything that modern dentistry has to offer. If you’re in need of a new dental crown, she would be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment at her office in Pasadena, TX, visit her website or call (713) 946-5171.