Within this blog we will be covering all the key points to know about types of dental crowns. This includes what they are, the various kinds of dental crowns, and the potential cost of dental crowns
What Is A Dental Crown?
In basic terms a dental crown is effectively a ‘tooth-shaped cap’ which is then purposefully placed over an area in order to resemble any existing teeth within the mouth and look realistic. The crown is cemented into position in order to guarantee that the affected area is secure and fully concealed. They can be used for various reasons including the covering of an implant, as support for a bridge, to protect a broken tooth/teeth and temporarily in the middle of procedures.
Kinds of Dental Crown
The crown that will be recommended to you will be based on your specific issues and circumstances at the time. There are seven different materials the dental crown can be made from:
- Lithium Disilicate: This form of crown has become increasingly popular in recent years due to their aesthetic benefits, as well as their significant durability.
- Stainless Steel: Only fit for back teeth that is less aesthetic required and only aim to restore the function of a decayed or damaged tooth. This type of material is usually considered as comparatively temporary and in some scenarios they can also be used for deciduous teeth, as these by nature are temporary also
- Resin: This form of crown is the most inexpensive, although the key issue with them is they are fairly week in comparison to the other options and thus are fairly susceptible to breakage under significant pressure.
- Metal: This type of crown is very strong, it is moulded from alloys and possesses a high content of gold/platinum/titanium, or in some scenarios a combination of these.
- Zirconia: This type of crown is formed from a bio-compatible material, possesses immense strength, and also tooth coloured. They can be made in various colours and often blend very well with a patients existing teeth.
- All-Porcelain/Ceramic: This type of crown is one of the most widely used as it often blends in very naturally with a patients existing teeth. This type of crown is ideal for any teeth which are front facing and will be seen when smiling/eating.
- Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal: This type of crown combines the aesthetic benefits of the aforementioned all-porcelain/ceramic crowns while also having the aforementioned strength of the metal crown. They can however be fairly expensive.
Dental Crown Cost
The cost of a dental crowns will be dependent on several factors. The five key factors are:
- Number of Crowns: If you require multiple crowns versus a single crown then the cost of this will obviously be higher, however in some scenarios multiple crowns can be acquired a discount and you may be paying lower per crown then a single crown.
- Type of Crown: The type of crown plays a key role in the price. On the one hand a Zirconia or Porcelain crown will likely have the highest, while comparatively a resin crown will likely have the lowest cost.
- Procedure Complexity: Certain crown types can be particularly difficult in order to fit within the mouth and in some cases may require multiple visits, subsequently the cost of these crowns will be higher.
- Technology Required: Certain types of crowns require complex modern forms of technology in order to form them, and subsequently the higher price of these crowns will likely reflect this.
- Location: The location in which you get your crowns will also greatly influence the price. For example, if you are getting the crown in a major city then it will likely be more expensive than if you conduct the procedure in a more rural area.
Due to the numerous aforementioned factors which can affect the cost of a crown, getting an exact cost is difficult. Some rough prices have been provided below, although they can vary greatly:
- An all-porcelain/ceramic crown will typically cost between £600 to £1200
- A crown will usually cost between £600 to £1000
- A zirconia crown will typically cost around £600 to £950
- A porcelain-fused-to-metal crown will usually cost between £500 to £800
- A resin crown will usually be the most inexpensive and cost between £300 to £500
