Have you ever wondered why the cost of a dental crown could vary by hundreds of dollars from one office to another?  You may have asked yourself, "Will I get a quality replica of my former tooth if I take the cheapest quote?"  "You get what you pay for," is often true in dentistry.  Find out what factors to consider when choosing your dental crown.

What Are The Differences?

Two main factors determine how much a crown will cost.

• The first is the material the crown is made of. 

• Second is the workmanship and time put into the crown. 

Crown Materials

There are a variety of materials that can be used in a crown.  You should take part in deciding which material is right for you.

• All-resin dental crowns are the least expensive, but they are also the least resistant to wear.  They would need to be replaced within 5-10 years and are prone to fractures.

• All metal crowns, such as gold, are usually one of the least expensive materials.  Although they may be king on strength, they can also be unsightly.  Often a dentist may suggest a gold crown on the back molars that are out of sight.

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are slightly more expensive, but provide the benefit of the strength of metal and aesthetics of tooth-colored porcelain.  However, the metal can block the luminescence of natural teeth, and the metal can show through at the gum line.

• All-ceramic or all-porcelain teeth are usually the most expensive material, but if properly made, can be identical to your natural teeth.  They show the natural coloring and luminescence of the original tooth.  They are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal or all metal. However, the materials are always improving, and it is the material of choice for front teeth.

Workmanship

Whether your crown is designed in-house or sent to a lab, it is truly an art! When sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication, the lab technicians design your crown according to the dentist's specifications based on impressions taken of your mouth. On the other hand, your dentist may choose to design and mill out your crown in-house using a 3D computer software and milling chamber. Just like with any other art form, the material and workmanship that goes into making your final crown, determines the price.

What Type of Crown Should I Get?

• Dental crowns produced by a milling machine in-house are becoming more and more popular.  Many dentists have seen excellent results with these crowns.  Milling a crown out of a solid block vs. forming one from an impression may create a stronger crown.  However, the natural color variation of a tooth often can't be completely achieved with a block of material. For this reason, in-house crowns are excellent options for molars and teeth that aren’t in your natural smile line.

• On the other hand, for teeth that you need to achieve a very precise match, using a dental laboratory is a must! A lab can hand-stack shades of porcelain and perfectly colo- match your new crown to match your natural smile.

  Dr. Ripplinger will help you make an informed decision on what is best for you and your smile. He only uses the best, high-quality labs and state-of-the-art dental technology.
  For more information about our CEREC Same Day Crown option, click here.