What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped covering or restoration that is placed over a damaged, weakened, or cosmetically imperfect tooth.
It is designed to encase the visible part of the tooth above the gumline, effectively becoming the new outer surface of the tooth.
Why Might I Need It?
1. I have a chipped/cracked tooth which is too large to restore using fillings alone
2. I have recently undergone root canal treatment for my tooth
3. I placed a dental implant
4. I would like to make a dental bridge
5. I grind my teeth too much, my teeth has reduced in height and I would like to restore my teeth’s function and appearance
6. I would like to change the appearance of my tooth
Types of Crown Materials
Full Metal
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Can be made very thin, suitable for patients where there is not a lot of space to fit a crown.
Cons
- Metal can be unsightly
This type of material is generally recommended for teeth towards the back of the mouth like the molars, for patients who are not too concerned with aesthetics and would like a cost-effective material.
Porcelain Fused To Metal (PFM)
Pros
- More cost effective compared to a full porcelain crown while being mostly aesthetically similar to a full porcelain crown.
Cons
- A small metal portion of the crown might show towards the base of the tooth
- Over a long period of time, the porcelain surface might wear, showing the underlying metal surface.
This type of material is generally recommended for teeth towards the back of the mouth like the molars for patients who would like to preserve the aesthetics of their teeth at a friendlier budget.
Full Porcelain
Pros
- Aesthetically very similar to natural teeth
- Very durable
Cons
- More costly compared to the other types of materials.
This type of material is generally recommended for all teeth due to the superior toughness and aesthetics compared to full metal or PFM crowns. They are especially recommended for front teeth as there is no unsightly metal.
Cost of a Dental Crown
The cost of dental crowns depends on the type of crown material used. Our dentists will assess your condition and proceed to recommend the most suitable crown for you.
CHAS subsidises up to 4 permanent crowns per calendar year. View the CHAS subsidy table 👉 HERE 👈
Dental Crown
- Full Metal: $1000
- Porcelain fused to metal (PFM): $1100
- Full Porcelain: $1200 - $1500
What To Expect
First Visit (~90 minutes):
The tooth will be prepared for a crown.
- The tooth will be trimmed (1.5mm-2mm) to allow space for a crown.
- An impression will be taken to obtain a model of your teeth, and the crown will be designed according to the dentist’s specifications.
- Instructions and models will be sent to the dental lab to produce the custom-fit crown.
- A temporary crown will be made to maintain margins / reduce any sensitivity / protect the trimmed tooth.
Second Visit (~45 minutes, 1-2 weeks after the first visit):
- The temporary crown will be removed, and the permanent crown tried on to ensure that the fit, colour and bite is according to the patient’s satisfaction.
- Once complete, the crown will be cemented onto the tooth to restore form and function.
