Q: What are the pros and cons of dental crowns?

Pros Non-metal dental crowns can look like real teeth. Options like resin crowns are relatively inexpensive. The procedure is noninvasive and painless. A crown can prevent further damage to a tooth that has started to show signs of decay or other damage. Cons A newly crowned tooth can feel sensitive or achy. Dental crowns don’t last forever. There’s a small risk of developing an allergic reaction to the material in the crown. Crowns can chip, and repairing them comes with an additional cost. Teeth whitening methods can’t whiten crowns, which can result in a color mismatch. Whitening your teeth before you get a crown can help prevent this.

Question 1

What is a dental crown?

Accepted Answer

A dental crown is a protective coating made of porcelain, ceramic, metal, or resin that’s used to protect or improve the strength and appearance of a tooth. The dental crown material that’s best suited for you will depend on which teeth need crowns and the extent of the damage to those teeth

Getting a dental crown is a noninvasive, low-risk procedure. You’ll be able to get back to your normal routine, including brushing and flossing, right away.

Along with dental bridges, veneers, and dental bonding, crowns can be part of a complete smile makeover.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of dental crowns?

Accepted Answer

Pros

Non-metal dental crowns can look like real teeth.
Options like resin crowns are relatively inexpensive.
The procedure is noninvasive and painless.
A crown can prevent further damage to a tooth that has started to show signs of decay or other damage.

Cons

A newly crowned tooth can feel sensitive or achy.
Dental crowns don’t last forever.
There’s a small risk of developing an allergic reaction to the material in the crown.
Crowns can chip, and repairing them comes with an additional cost.
Teeth whitening methods can’t whiten crowns, which can result in a color mismatch. Whitening your teeth before you get a crown can help prevent this.

Question 3

How much do dental crowns cost?

Accepted Answer

How much your dental crown costs will depend on how much prep work is required and the type of crown you get, as well as your provider’s level of experience and practice location.

Most dental insurance providers cover a percentage of the full cost of a dental crown. Ask your insurer whether they will require a letter from your dentist, stating that a crown is the best treatment option for you.

See our complete guide to dental crown costs

Question 4

Dental crown before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

The dental crown photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Question 5

Why would someone need a dental crown?

Accepted Answer

Dentists recommend crowns for a variety of reasons, but they’re typically placed over damaged teeth that cannot be fixed by other means. Shaped like natural teeth, crowns can help restore a tooth’s normal appearance and strength.

Crowns offer many benefits. They can:

conceal or stabilize cracked teeth or a broken tooth
restore or cover teeth with large fillings and little remaining structure
improve weak teeth or worn-down teeth
correct misshapen or discolored teeth
secure a dental bridge
protect a tooth following a root canal

Question 6

What are the different types of dental crowns?

Accepted Answer

There are a few different types of crowns that your dentist may recommend, depending on your overall dental health, including the health of your gum tissue, the condition of your natural teeth, and your tooth structure.

Metal crowns can be made of metal alloys including gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium. They’re particularly good at withstanding your mouth’s forces, like biting and chewing, so they’re resistant to chips and breaks and last the longest of any type of crown. They require only a small portion of the tooth to be removed. Since they don’t look like natural teeth, they’re best for molars.
Porcelain crowns are the most realistic looking, but they’re costly. They’re also harder than enamel, so they can actually cause significant damage if you grind your teeth.
Ceramic crowns today are stronger than porcelains of the past, but fully ceramic crowns are less durable than all-metal or porcelain fused to metal crowns.
Resin crowns are the least expensive option, but they’re also less durable and need to be replaced more often. In fact, resin crowns are considered temporary.
Zirconia is a newer crown material. It can be stained to look like real teeth, but it doesn’t provide a natural look—which is why it’s not often used on front teeth. Some dentists combine zirconia with a coating of porcelain, to achieve a more realistic look. Since it’s a newer material, there are currently no long-term studies on its use.

Question 7

What’s the difference between dental crowns and veneers?

Accepted Answer

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells applied over existing teeth for cosmetic reasons, like hiding chips, stains, gaps, crooked teeth, and short or worn teeth. The result is a straight, bright smile that complements the contours of your natural teeth. Like crowns, veneers can be made of porcelain, ceramic, or resin.

When you’re considering a crown vs. veneers, keep in mind that crowns are more durable and encase the whole tooth. Crowns are used to restore the shape, size, and appearance of the tooth, while veneers bond to just the front surface of the tooth.

New York City cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Davidowitz says crowns and veneers can work together to create a beautiful smile. “In cases of restorative work, some patients already have crowns on some of their teeth. We would typically remove those crowns and match new ones to the particular veneer ceramic being used. In this way, veneers and existing crowns or implants flow seamlessly together, creating a uniform smile,” he says.

Question 8

What is an implant-supported dental crown?

Accepted Answer

An implant-supported crown replaces a missing tooth by inserting a dental implant into the jawbone before attaching the crown.

This type of restoration can replace a missing tooth from root to crown, allowing it to look and work like a natural tooth. It’s a natural, long-lasting method for replacing a missing tooth.

Question 9

What is the difference between a dental crown and a dental bridge?

Accepted Answer

A dental bridge fills gaps created by missing teeth with one or more false teeth. The bridge is usually created by placing dental crowns on natural teeth on either side of the gap (called abutment teeth), with prosthetic teeth in between. A bridge can also be supported by dental implants.

Question 10

What happens during a dental crown procedure?

Accepted Answer

Getting a crown usually requires two dental visits, but some dentists can do it in one, if they have the technology to design crowns in the office (rather than outsourcing the task to a dental lab). Here’s what to expect.

Traditional crowns

During the first appointment, your dentist will assess the strength and health of your tooth. They may also take dental X-rays.
They’ll file the tooth, if necessary, and fill it in if it’s fragile or broken.
Your dentist will take a mold of your teeth and send it to a laboratory, where a custom permanent crown will be made.
Then they’ll place a temporary crown as a placeholder until your second visit.
At the second appointment, the dentist will numb the tooth with local anesthetic before positioning the permanent crown on the prepared tooth, and using a special bonding agent to attach it.

Same-day crowns

If your dentist’s office has a CEREC machine and a 3-D scanner and printer for your teeth, the whole procedure can be done in one appointment. This streamlines the process and eliminates the need for a temporary crown.

The dentist examines your mouth and prepares the damaged tooth for the crown as explained above.
The CEREC machine takes scans of your mouth and produces a permanent custom crown to precisely fit your tooth, all within a couple of hours.
Your dentist injects numbing medicine before affixing the crown on the tooth.

Question 11

How are dental crowns attached?

Accepted Answer

Dental crowns are attached to your remaining tooth or an implant (a small stainless steel screw implanted into your jawbone) with a cement bonding material.

One study found that using the natural dentin of a remaining tooth as a post for the bonding agent helped eliminate stress fractures during root canal treatments.

Another study found that dentin-bonded ceramic crowns may “exhibit many favorable characteristics,” such as an aesthetically pleasing blend with your natural gum tissue and a lower risk for pulpal damage (abscess).

Question 12

Are dental crowns painful?

Accepted Answer

Dental crown pain the day of the procedure is common, but lasting dental crown problems or discomfort should be checked by your doctor.

Your level of discomfort will depend on the type of crown you get and the condition of the damaged tooth.

Any area being worked on will be numbed first with local anesthetic, and your dentist can recommend over-the-counter pain medication to help make you more comfortable for the first day or two after your procedure.

Question 13

How long do dental crowns last?

Accepted Answer

A dental crown should last from 5 to 15 years, depending on the type of material used and your oral hygiene practices.

To prolong the lifespan of your crown, avoid biting your nails, opening packages with your teeth, chewing on hard foods, and grinding your teeth at night.

Question 14

How should you care for your dental crowns?

Accepted Answer

A crowned tooth doesn’t require any special care, but the underlying tooth still needs to be protected from tooth decay and gum disease.

Good oral health practices include brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily, paying particular attention to the crown area and gumline.

If you have porcelain crowns, avoid eating or chewing on very hard foods, to prevent cracking.

Question 15

What are the potential complications with crowns?

Accepted Answer

Crowns are generally hassle-free for many years, but problems can arise. Some of the more common complications of dental capping include:

Decay. While crowns themselves are cavity-proof, the underlying tooth is still prone to decay. If the problem area is accessible, your dentist may be able to drill and fill it without removing the crown. If the decay is underneath the crown, they’ll need to remove the crown to address the cavity, and then place a new crown.
Sensitivity and nerve pain. Any uncapped/exposed areas of a trimmed tooth may initially be sensitive to heat and cold and possibly sweets. A toothpaste made for sensitive teeth, like Sensodyne, can help reduce zingy sensations. If you notice pain with biting/chewing after your tooth crowning, the crown may need to be adjusted, so it sits lower.
Chips and cracks. Crowns, like real teeth, are subject to wear-and-tear. Small defects can usually be repaired with the crown still in place; larger problems may require a replacement crown.
Feeling loose or falling off. Over time, the cement anchoring a crown can weaken, causing the crown to wiggle or pop off. If this happens, call your dentist right away. In most cases, they can reattach it without too much trouble.
Allergic reaction. Very rarely, a patient may unknowingly be allergic to one of the materials comprising a crown. Contact your dentist at the first sign of irritation, swelling, burning, itching, or dry mouth.
Darkening at the gumline. If you have a porcelain fused to metal crowns, sometimes the metal can peek through the porcelain, especially at the edge of the crown, creating darkness at the gumline. If it bothers you, your dentist can replace the crown with one made from a different type of material.

Question 16

Sources & studies

Accepted Answer

Burke, F J, et al. “The Dentine-Bonded Ceramic Crown: an Ideal Restoration?” British Dental Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 July 1995.

“Dental Crowns Recovery and Outlook.” Cleveland Clinic, 2020.

Falakaloğlu, Seda, et al. “Root Canal Reconstruction Using Biological Dentin Posts: A 3D Finite Element Analysis.” Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

DENTAL CROWN

Steven Davidowitz, DDS

Chris Ellis

Steven Davidowitz, DDS

Chris Ellis

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