Apart from fixing tooth problems, they can also be used to improve the outward appearance of the teeth. For those that are insecure about the appearance of their teeth or their smile, porcelain crowns can be a one-fix-for-all-problems solution.

To fit the crowns, a thin layer is shaved off teeth that are to receive treatment, and this prepares them for the crowns. On the patient’s first visit of the treatment a mould is taken of their teeth in order to get the perfect shape for the next session. The crowns are then bonded onto the teeth using a bonding material of some sort. Once the bonding has taken place, which will normally take one session at the dentist, the patient’s can eat as normal.

Crowns are very popular because they have an excellent history of fixing dental issues, and their track record is proven to work in all countries in the world. Up until quite recently, crowns were bonded to the tooth using a metal-based framework so that the crown could withstand the pressures involved with daily chewing of food in the mouth. Today, most of the time the metal framework is not required, since modern technology has advanced up to the point where pure porcelain is strong enough even for use on hard working molar teeth. The metal framework had an issue – after a few years the gum line of a patient would recede with age, revealing an ugly grey line at the top of the crowned tooth. Due to the color of the metal showing through, it was difficult to make crowned teeth look natural for more than a few years.

The advantage of using pure porcelain is that the crowns are near identical in color to the existing colors of the patient’s teeth, making it nigh on impossible for others to discern a crowned tooth from a real one. A dentist will match the color of the crown to the tooth color already in the mouth, and then they will place an order with a lab to create the tooth with the perfect color and shape, taken from the previously mentioned mold, and patients are very happy with the results, and their new smile.

Moving onto the actual cost of porcelain or other types of ceramic crowns, there will most likely be an initial consultation process that you will have to undergo before the dentist gives you a price. This consultation will allow the dentist to have a good inspection of the condition of your teeth. From there you will be able to get an immediate quote from the dental surgery.

Now, prices vary greatly depending on the patient, but expect to pay somewhere in the region of $500 to $2000 per tooth for a pure porcelain crown. Prices can vary greatly between different dental surgeries, so it may be an idea to get a couple of quotes before proceeding with the dental work. Of course, each consultation will cost you, but if you suspect that the first quote you get is a bit on the high side it can be worth it.

Depending on the location of the teeth that are to be crowned, the dentist may recommend that you get the crown fused to a metal framework for added strength and durability. This is especially common on the rear molar teeth that will be used for chewing food. Gold is considered to be one of the better materials for this type of bonding, and this will increase the cost of porcelain crowns, but many consider it well worth it.

On the upper end of the price scale, there are new ceramic based crowns such as zirconium crowns that are nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth, but with more strength than other ceramic crowns. Expect the cost of these items to be substantially more than other types, but if you are looking for a long lasting treatment and can afford the treatment then zirconium offer some advantages over gold/porcelain crowns.

Can you afford it?

The cost of porcelain crowns can range from $700 (for porcelain bonded to metal types) all the way to over $1000 for an all ceramic tooth. If you have a lot of teeth that are going to need capped, you can quickly see how the costs add up. In is not unheard of for people with teeth in really bad condition have to pay over $20,000 to fix their teeth and smile through the use of porcelain crowns.

Do you need the crown to look nice; is it in a high visibility area?

All ceramic porcelain crowns are well suited to the front teeth that are easily seen. However, for the back teeth you will be able to save some money by getting gold crowns. These rear teeth are not easily seen, so some dentists advise that the added fit and strength of gold makes for a much better match for patients.

The only real disadvantages to metal crowns are their looks. Very occasionally, some patients exhibit an allergy to metal crowns which makes them unsuitable. This can be a problem with older crowns that are based on an alloy that contains nickel. Nickel can cause allergic reactions, which is why these days it is very rare for dentists or even their suppliers to have or use nickel based metals in crowns. Gold is very unlikely to cause any allergic reactions, since the probability of the body “taking offence” is literally a one in a million chance.
Are all-porcelain crowns durable?

The honest truth is that porcelain crowns are not as robust as their metal cousins. All-porcelain crowns can be known to chip or crack when subjected to some of the high pressures in the mouth, for instance when chewing. Metal crowns by comparison are virtually indestructible – the patient has no need to worry with these in place. Another important point to note is that porcelain crowns require a lot more of the tooth shaved away before the cap is placed on the tooth. This is because the porcelain component has to be thicker than a similarly sized metal crown to be strong enough to withstand chewing.

All-porcelain crowns have their advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion the aesthetic benefits outweigh any strength issues that patients may have on their minds. If you can comfortably afford the treatment, you will be a lot happier with a porcelain crown.

The first important thing to take into consideration is on which part of the mouth the cracked crown is situated. Is it on the rear molar teeth or is it closer to the front of the mouth? The closer to the front teeth the crown is the more likely that a competent repair can be made. By “competent” we mean that the repair will last for more than a year. Since the front teeth are used in the chewing process, unlike the rear teeth, there is less force applied to these teeth while eating.

A dentist should be able to repair a chip in one of these crowns fairly easily, and he should be able to do it without taking the tooth out if the chip is small enough. If the crack or chip is on a bigger scale then the chances are that the dentist will have to remove the crown and possibly send it away to the lab for a proper repair.

What about the back teeth?

While the back teeth can be repaired as well, the chances are that any such repair will break again soon after due to the high forces that the molars have to bear when chewing. For these crowns it is recommended that they be replaced by new crowns.

All is not lost however – if the crown is under a year old then it should be covered by the dentist’s guarantee, and it should be replaced for free in this case. Not all dentists offer a guarantee on crowns, but if yours does not then perhaps it is time to change to a dentist that does.

It used to be that crowns had a metal base, and that a porcelain product was placed on top of the metal. Modern crowns, however, are made of pure porcelain. These newer crowns look and perform like real teeth. The appearance is fairly close to actual teeth, as well. This is because crown can now match existing teeth in color and shape.

The old style of crowns also had a tendency to develop a black line on the gumline, which was very unattractive. In contrast, the newer crowns have a seam free bond, and the black lines of older products is gone. The newer product produces a look that is very similar to real teeth, and often, the crowns look much better than the tooth that they replaced. One possible drawback to the newer crowns, made of of all porcelain, is that they are not quite as strong as the older, porcelain-fused-to-metal ones, but for general chewing purposes, they are strong enough to perform quite well.

One drawback to the all porcelain replacement teeth is that they cost more to build, and dental laboratories do pass on the extra cost to the customer. This may seem like a hidden cost, but it is merely a cost that needs to be paid for a better product.

Another aspect of the possible theory of hidden cost are the charges of the dentist for his professional services. A great deal of tooth preparation and time goes into getting the tooth area ready for the replacement crown. In addition, staff members such as dental assistants, are involved in the whole process as well. While the dental service part of the complete price of new porcelain crowns is included in the total price that needs to be paid, the patient does not always realize how much of that cost goes to the dental office. For that reason, it is believed by many that replacement teeth, in for form of crowns, have hidden costs. Actually, when the costs are analyzed and they are compared to the benefits of the newer products, there are good and reasonable reasons for the bottom line on the bill.