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It’s easy to take your teeth for granted until something happens to them. Although teeth are inherently strong, various conditions — from accidents to poor oral hygiene — can lead to the necessity for a restorative crown.
Read on to learn about dental crowns, when you might need one, what you should expect to pay and more.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a cover or cap that a dentist puts over one or more teeth to restore their normal shape, size and function. Crowns can also help make the tooth stronger and improve the way it looks.1
Types of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can be made of a variety of materials. The kind of crown used depends upon where it is placed, along with the needs of the tooth being corrected.2
Those intended to replace a more visible tooth are often made out of tooth-colored material, such as ceramic, porcelain or composite resin. The tooth's location also matters in considering the type of crown to use, especially if it will receive a lot of pressure during chewing.2
Along with the aforementioned materials, crowns can be made with gold or metal, such as stainless steel or nickel, depending on the dentist’s treatment plan.2
When Is a Temporary Crown Needed?
In the case of a root canal and other procedures that require your tooth to be shaped down, you may receive a temporary crown. Its role is simply to safeguard your tooth until the permanent crown can be made and placed.2
How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?
The national average cost* of a dental crown can range from $697 to $1,399. The price you pay for dental crowns is impacted by the type of dental crown you receive.3
Average cost of dental crowns by type
| Type of crown | Average cost | Cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | $1,399 | $915 to $3,254 |
| Porcelain and metal (non-gold) | $1,114 | $770 to $2,454 |
| Metallic | $1,211 | $821 to $2,861 |
| Resin or temporary | $697 | $488 to $1,593 |
The above costs do not include the initial office visit, extraction and postoperative fees, nor do they account for insurance or price variations in different states.3
Average cost of dental crowns by state/district
Below is a breakdown of the average cost per porcelain dental crown by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.3 Prices do not include the cost of a consultation, an extraction, any potential ongoing maintenance or repair or potential insurance coverage.*
| State/District | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,046 |
| Alaska | $1,644 |
| Arizona | $1,303 |
| Arkansas | $1,109 |
| California | $2,331 |
| Colorado | $1,404 |
| Connecticut | $1,529 |
| Delaware | $1,333 |
| District of Columbia | $1,921 |
| Florida | $1,372 |
| Georgia | $1,205 |
| Hawaii | $2,296 |
| Idaho | $1,435 |
| Illinois | $1,522 |
| Indiana | $1,160 |
| Iowa | $1,130 |
| Kansas | $1,237 |
| Kentucky | $1,186 |
| Louisiana | $1,278 |
| Maine | $1,356 |
| Maryland | $1,753 |
| Massachusetts | $1,486 |
| Michigan | $1,217 |
| Minnesota | $1,292 |
| Mississippi | $1,143 |
| Missouri | $1,198 |
| Montana | $1,308 |
| Nebraska | $1,205 |
| Nevada | $1,417 |
| New Hampshire | $1,458 |
| New Jersey | $1,605 |
| New Mexico | $1,149 |
| New York | $1,425 |
| North Carolina | $1,195 |
| North Dakota | $1,234 |
| Ohio | $1,231 |
| Oklahoma | $1,141 |
| Oregon | $1,506 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,340 |
| Rhode Island | $1,507 |
| South Carolina | $1,217 |
| South Dakota | $1,051 |
| Tennessee | $1,213 |
| Texas | $1,250 |
| Utah | $1,452 |
| Vermont | $1,365 |
| Virginia | $1,319 |
| Washington | $1,714 |
| West Virginia | $1,159 |
| Wisconsin | $1,259 |
| Wyoming | $1,233 |
Are Dental Crowns Covered by Insurance?
Depending upon your health or dental insurance coverage and the reason for your crown, some of the cost may be covered. The insurance amount can vary widely between insurance plans, so check with your insurance provider before you schedule an appointment.4
You may have a deductible to meet, as well as a copay.4 Some plans also have time limits.
If your crown is for cosmetic purposes — such as to cover a discolored tooth — your insurance coverage may not apply.4
Why You Might Need a Dental Crown
An accident that chips a tooth, biting down too hard on a metal utensil, teeth grinding due to stress or misalignment are all reasons you can chip or crack a tooth, leading to the need for a crown.5 Crowns can also treat a range of conditions, from covering damaged and discolored teeth to protecting teeth after a number of dental treatments or other conditions.2 They can even be used on either side of an artificial tooth to provide stronger support for a bridge.2
Your dental provider may recommend a crown if:1
-
You have a cavity that's too big for a simple filling.
-
You have a missing tooth that needs a bridge.
-
You need to protect a dental implant.
-
You need to protect a cracked or weakened tooth, or a restored tooth after a root canal.
-
You need to cover a discolored or misshapen tooth.
Dental Crown Procedure: How It Works
To prepare your tooth to be fitted for the crown, your dentist may need to shape the tooth, often making it smaller, and will remove any decay they may find. It’s also possible they may build up the tooth with additional materials to provide a solid foundation for the crown.1
Next, they need to make an impression of your tooth. The most common method includes placing a tray filled with a liquid or rubbery substance into your mouth, which then hardens. That impression is then sent to a laboratory, where it is filled with plaster to create a model of your mouth or tooth. This model serves as the basis for constructing the crown.2
Some dental offices rely on advanced technology capable of capturing a visual image of your tooth or mouth, eliminating the need for a physical impression.2
Your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown to protect your newly shaped tooth while you wait for the permanent crown. These are not meant to be on for more than a couple of weeks. During that time, your tooth may be extra sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks; it’s also not a good idea to eat sticky foods or chew gum with a temporary crown.1
When the permanent crown is available, your dentist will place it in your mouth, make necessary adjustments and finally cement it into position.1
Recovery and Side Effects of Getting a Crown
Some people experience tooth sensitivity after getting a crown, particularly when eating or drinking hot or cold foods and beverages, and when biting down on the tooth.5 People who eat very hard foods can loosen their crowns, so it’s important to be careful about what and how you eat.6
How Long Does a Dental Crown Last?
With good care and caution, the average dental crown can last about 10 years. However, the length a crown lasts depends on many factors, such as how well you keep up your oral hygiene, the types of food you eat and other factors.5
Financing Dental Crowns With the CareCredit Credit Card
Whether you're getting dental crowns or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.
In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?
Author Bio
Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Paypal, The Washington Post and more.
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