How Much Do Porcelain Crowns Cost?

Many people want to know if the cost of porcelain crowns can be covered under their dental insurance. The short answer is – “it depends!” Dental insurance normally does not cover purely aesthetic procedures. Unfortunately, cosmetic dentistry falls under this type of work. However, it is worthwhile to check with your insurance company in case you are covered – they might have a set amount of the treatment that they will pay for. One simple way to find out if you are covered is to get an initial consultation with a dentist, and get a quote for the work that you want completed. You can then send off this pre-treatment quote to the insurance company to find out if you are covered. It is important to note on the quote that the crowns are being put in to fix deterioration of the teeth. Since deterioration is a non-cosmetic procedure you should have a small chance to get it approved.

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.