Teenage Crown Plastic or Porcelain

There are many choices for a teenager-I strongly suppest you start with as conservative an option as possible because this tooth will need to last for many years.  Your teenager will redo this tooth as he grows up.  My number one choice at this young age is direct 'bonding' on the broken tooth with a plastic fill/crown. Later, options can include porcelain.  So many issues can arise, including needing a root canal because of nerve damage as well as orthodontic treatment if the tooth is out of alignment.  By going conservative you leave him with options as he grows and needs further care.

A good transitional solution may be to use bonding or composite resin which is like a filling. This may last a few years until hes around 16-18.  Sure you may have to repair it or redo it once. Once he's around 17, you can go for the Porcelain. I have also had good success re-bonding the fractured piece (if you stil have it).

A lab-made plastic crown will work fine, but in my opinion its not worth it because I have to do the same amount of work as for a porcelain, the only thing cheaper is the lab cost and this may be a $100 or so difference. An office-made plastic crown is considered a temporary crown and this will likely break, fall off or leak and cause a cavity.

I say bonding or porcelain.

Hope this helps

Dr. T 

I agree with the other doctors that a porcelain crown would be best knowing that in the future you more than likely will have to replace it when he has stopped growing.  Acrylics tend to discolor and can leak.  Good luck with you decision.