What Are the Types of Dental Crowns?

What is a Dental Crown?

If you have been dealing with a weak or damaged tooth, it is very likely your dentist has spoken with you about dental crowns. Dental crowns are a great option to protect and heal your damaged teeth. Think of it like a helmet. It is an artificial tooth-shaped cap that is fitted over a weak or decaying tooth to protect it, just like a helmet. Crowns are made to mimic the shape, color, and size of natural teeth and can be made of various materials such as porcelain, gold, porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, or ceramic. On average, a crown can range anywhere between $500 to $2,000, depending on the material, insurance, and overall treatment plan.

What are the 5 Types of Dental Crowns?

Ceramic: Ceramic crowns, made entirely of ceramic, can easily be color-matched to your existing teeth. Because of this, they are a great choice if you need a crown in the front of your mouth that is visible. This type of crown also has a high resistance to varying temperatures, but can be more brittle than metal and prone to chipping. On average, a ceramic crown costs around $1,300 per tooth.

Porcelain & Metal: This type of crown is made by fusing porcelain to metal. Because of this, they offer the same aesthetic appeal that a ceramic crown does, but are more durable. This type of crown is good for molars or other teeth that experience a lot of pressure or grinding. One downside of porcelain fused to metal is that the porcelain coating can chip off over time, exposing the metal underneath. This type of crown can range anywhere between $500 to $1,500 per tooth.

Porcelain: Completely porcelain crowns are becoming the most popular. They look very natural and are best for restoring the front teeth. With that being said, they are not nearly as strong as metal crowns and can also be more expensive. A porcelain crown can range anywhere between $800 to $3,000 per tooth.

Gold: Gold crowns, which are often a mixture of copper and other metals, provide great strength and durability. They are not common due to the color, but are known to be the most durable and long-lasting. They are most commonly used for the back teeth or molars and cost around $1,500 per tooth.

Zirconia: Zirconia crowns are relatively new. They provide the strength that a metal crown does, with the aesthetics of porcelain or ceramic. The main disadvantage of a zirconia crown is that, because they are so strong, the natural teeth that they bite against can wear down. This type of crown can cost anywhere between $1,000 to $2,000 per tooth.

How Long Do Crowns Last?

The longevity of a dental crown depends on a few factors. While they are unlikely to last a lifetime, if they are properly cared for, they can last between 15 and 30 years. Because everyone has a different diet and dental hygiene routine, there is no guaranteed length of time a crown can last. If you do want to get as much time out of it as you can, it’s very important to maintain good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), reduce eating very hard foods, and wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw.

If you are considering a dental crown, please do not hesitate to contact the office to schedule an appointment with the dentist.

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