A crown covers and protects a tooth that is broken, heavily filled or weakened after root canal treatment. Crowns come in several materials, and your dentist chooses the one for your case based on the tooth, where it is in your mouth and the shade of your teeth.
Crown materials
- Zirconia: a strong, tooth-colored ceramic.
- All-ceramic (IPS e.max, Empress): a tooth-colored ceramic crown without a metal base.
- Digital CAD/CAM: designed from a digital scan of your teeth and milled; it can be ready in as little as 1 day.
- Porcelain fused to metal (PFM): a porcelain surface over a metal core.
- Full metal: a metal alloy crown. Precious-metal crowns are also available, with the laboratory fee for the metal charged separately.
How your dentist chooses
The choice depends on the tooth and the force it takes when you bite, how visible it is when you smile, how much tooth is left, the shade of your other teeth, and habits such as grinding. Because these differ for every tooth, your dentist explains the options for your tooth rather than one material for everyone.
If you grind your teeth, tell your dentist, because grinding puts extra force on crowns. A night guard may be suggested to protect them.
How long a crown takes
Usually two visits. At the first, your dentist shapes the tooth, takes a scan or impression, chooses the shade with you and fits a temporary crown. The crown is usually fitted 3–5 days later, and a CAD/CAM crown can be ready in as little as 1 day. Timing also depends on the dentist treating you and on public holidays. If the tooth needs root canal treatment or a post first, more visits are added.
Cost and warranty
Crown prices depend on the material and are listed per tooth on our prices page. X-rays, medicines, root canal treatment and posts are charged separately, only if your tooth needs them. Crowns have a 1-year warranty on the restoration, terms apply, used at our clinic in Chiang Mai.