Ceramic Crowns

While a dental filling is designed to replace a portion of a decayed or damaged tooth, a dental crown offers full coverage to restore the tooth’s entire outer surface. A well-fitting dental crown not only protects and strengthens the underlying tooth structure, but it also restores the tooth’s appearance and function.

The procedure for getting an all-ceramic crown is much like the procedure for getting any other type of crown. In all cases, the tooth needs to be prepared, an impression taken, and a permanent crown cemented into place. A single all-ceramic crown can typically be fabricated over the course of two visits. However, with CAD/CAM technology, a same-day crown can be fabricated from start to finish in a single visit. With the first approach, a temporary crown is typically worn until the second visit, when the permanent restoration is placed. As with every treatment plan, our office will explain your best options in care.

As the name implies, a temporary crown is only worn for a short time until the permanent crown is placed. A temporary crown is typically fabricated from durable tooth-colored dental acrylics. While designed to protect the underlying tooth between appointments, and until your new permanent crown gets placed, a temporary crown is also fabricated to look like a natural tooth and maintain the look of your smile.

While you should feel better having an attractive and functional tooth to restore your smile, your tooth may feel a little sensitive following treatment. This initial sensitivity will subside. We take great care to make sure your new restoration looks great, fits well, and your bite is perfect. However, we’re always happy to make any minor adjustments to ensure your comfort.

With some exceptions, teeth with root canal procedures are typically restored and protected from further damage with a full-coverage crown. Based on what’s best for your smile, our office will recommend the most appropriate restoration to maintain the health and longevity of your tooth following a root canal procedure.

A dental crown is a long-term restoration that, if properly cared for, can serve you well for many years to come. Once your new crown is placed, it requires the same brushing, flossing, and periodic checkups as your natural teeth. Avoid biting your fingernails and chewing on hard or sticky objects such as ice, pencils, or taffy, which can damage or loosen your crown. Remember, clenching and grinding your teeth puts excessive pressure on both natural teeth and dental restorations. Unless treated, this habit can compromise the longevity and integrity of your dental work, including crowns.

Although your new all-ceramic crown restores the tooth's strength, form, and function, you can still develop dental disease in the absence of proper care. To prevent gum disease and tooth decay, it’s essential to brush and floss as instructed and see our office for routine checkups, cleanings, and care.

How long a dental crown lasts depends on various factors, including your level of oral care, diet, and oral habits. While the standard answer is that dental crowns can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years, existing literature confirms that most dental crowns remain in place at 15 to 20 years.

At the office of Chadha & Co Dental, we strive to provide the highest quality of care to address all your dental needs. Once we’ve had the opportunity to examine your smile, we can give you a clear picture of any dental issues that are present, along with a quote for how much treatment will be. The cost of dental crowns can vary a little, depending on the type of crown and its location. Our goals are to provide the highest quality of care and help patients begin treatment without additional financial stress or delay. We’re always happy to answer all your questions on dental insurance coverage, available financing, and payment plans.

Coverage for all-ceramic crowns depends on your dental insurance plan. Today, many dental plans provide some level of coverage for all-ceramic crowns. At the office of Chadha & Co Dental, we work with patients to optimize their dental benefits and get the care they need to maintain healthy and beautiful smiles!

Ceramic crowns are all-porcelain restorations that fully cover a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, strength, and appearance. They are fabricated from engineered dental ceramics that mimic the translucency and surface sheen of natural enamel while providing a protective outer layer. Once fitted and cemented or bonded, a ceramic crown redistributes biting forces and seals the remaining tooth structure to reduce the risk of further fracture.

The restoration is custom shaded and contoured to match adjacent teeth so it integrates visually with the smile. Ceramic crowns can be made from materials that prioritize translucency for anterior teeth or from high-strength formulations for posterior use. Proper design and fit are essential to long-term performance, so careful planning and precise impressions or intraoral scans are used during fabrication.

A ceramic crown is recommended when a tooth has lost a significant portion of its structure and a filling would not provide sufficient strength or support. Common indications include extensive decay, fractures that extend below the original surface, large failed restorations, or a tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy and requires full-coverage protection. Crowns are also advised when a tooth must serve as an abutment for a bridge or when implant restorations need a natural-looking final component.

In addition to structural needs, crowns are chosen for aesthetic reasons when a tooth is severely discolored, misshapen, or mismatched with surrounding teeth. Bite considerations and the tooth’s location influence the choice of restoration so that both function and appearance are restored. Your clinician will evaluate remaining tooth structure and discuss whether a crown is the most predictable, conservative option for long-term success.

Ceramic crowns offer superior esthetics because they reproduce the light transmission, translucency, and surface texture of natural enamel without a visible metal margin at the gumline. Being metal-free, they are biocompatible and reduce the likelihood of galvanic reactions or aesthetic darkening of the surrounding gum tissue. Modern ceramic formulations also resist staining and maintain their color stability over time when cared for properly.

Advances in ceramic technology have produced materials that balance strength and beauty, allowing clinicians to select options tailored to a tooth’s location and functional demands. Some systems permit thinner restorations that conserve more healthy tooth structure during preparation. These material and design benefits make ceramic crowns an attractive choice for patients who prioritize a natural, tooth-colored result and improved tissue compatibility.

Ceramic crowns are engineered for durability and can provide long-term service when properly designed and maintained. Material choice is a primary factor: high-translucent glass-ceramics excel in esthetic zones, while high-strength zirconia formulations are better suited for areas with greater bite forces. Other important factors include the quality of the tooth preparation, the accuracy of the fit, the type of cement or bond used, and how well the restoration is integrated with the bite.

Patient-specific factors also affect lifespan, such as oral hygiene, parafunctional habits like clenching or grinding, and the presence of opposing restorations. Regular dental examinations allow early detection of margin wear, chipping, or issues with the adjacent gum tissue so corrections can be made before failure occurs. With attentive care and appropriate material selection, ceramic crowns can serve reliably for many years.

The ceramic crown process begins with a comprehensive exam and digital imaging or intraoral scanning to assess tooth structure and bite relationships. Preparation involves removing damaged tissue and reshaping the tooth to create a stable foundation; when needed, a buildup or post may be placed to recreate missing structure. Precise impressions or digital scans are then used for fabrication, and a temporary restoration may be placed while the final crown is produced by a lab or milled in-office.

If CAD/CAM technology is used, some crowns can be designed and milled chairside for single-visit completion, while other workflows rely on laboratory fabrication and require a follow-up appointment for placement. At the try-in visit the clinician verifies shade, fit, and occlusion, making minor adjustments before permanently cementing or bonding the crown. After placement you will receive home-care guidance and recommendations for routine checkups to monitor the restoration.

Selecting the appropriate ceramic material depends on the tooth’s position, the magnitude of chewing forces it must withstand, the amount of remaining tooth structure, and the patient’s aesthetic priorities. For highly visible anterior teeth, glass-ceramic materials such as lithium disilicate are often chosen for their excellent color matching and translucency. For posterior teeth that receive heavier loads, monolithic or high-strength zirconia variants are commonly selected for superior fracture resistance.

In some cases a layered approach combines a strong substructure with a more translucent outer layer to optimize both strength and esthetics. The clinician will review diagnostic imaging, evaluate the bite and opposing dentition, and discuss appearance goals to recommend the material that best balances function and cosmetic outcome. Collaboration with skilled dental technicians and modern fabrication methods helps ensure predictable results.

Ceramic crowns are routinely used as aesthetic and functional restorations on dental implant abutments and as components of fixed bridges. When used on an implant, the crown is designed to attach securely to the abutment and replicate the emergence profile and occlusion of a natural tooth. For bridges, ceramic crowns cap the abutment teeth and support pontics, restoring chewing function and smile continuity when multiple teeth are missing.

Material selection and connector design are critical for implant and bridge cases because they must tolerate specific loading patterns and maintain hygienic contours. High-strength ceramics or hybrid designs may be chosen for posterior bridges, while more translucent options are favored in the front. Careful planning, accurate impressions or scans, and communication between the clinician and the laboratory contribute to a successful multi-unit restoration.

Caring for a ceramic crown is similar to caring for natural teeth and focuses on daily hygiene combined with regular professional care. Brush twice daily with a nonabrasive fluoride toothpaste and clean interproximally with floss or interdental brushes to prevent plaque accumulation at the crown margins. Routine dental cleanings and examinations help maintain gum health and allow the clinician to check the crown’s fit, margins, and occlusion.

Avoid using the crown to bite or chew extremely hard objects and discuss protective options if you have a history of clenching or grinding; nightguard therapy can reduce excessive forces that contribute to chipping or fracture. If you notice any change in fit, sensitivity, or damage, schedule an evaluation so repairs or adjustments can be made promptly. With consistent home care and periodic professional oversight, ceramic restorations are more likely to remain functional and attractive over time.

Ceramic crowns are an excellent option for patients who have metal sensitivities because they are metal-free and generally well tolerated by oral tissues. Because they do not contain base metals, ceramic restorations avoid issues related to galvanic reactions or corrosion that can occur with some metal-based systems. The biocompatible nature of modern dental ceramics makes them an appropriate choice for patients seeking an entirely tooth-colored restoration without metal components.

Patients with a history of allergic responses should always share their medical and allergy history with the dental team so material choices can be reviewed. In certain complex cases, additional tests or consultations may be recommended to ensure optimal compatibility. Your clinician will take a conservative, evidence-based approach to material selection to minimize adverse reactions and support oral health.

At Chadha & Co Dental we emphasize careful diagnosis, conservative tooth preparation, and selection of ceramic materials that balance esthetics and strength for each individual case. Our workflow integrates digital imaging and intraoral scanning with skilled laboratory partnerships or in-office CAD/CAM milling to achieve precise margins and reliable shade matching. We evaluate bite relationships, neighboring teeth, and gum health to ensure the restoration functions harmoniously within the mouth.

Clear communication about treatment goals and maintenance expectations helps patients make informed decisions and supports predictable outcomes. Our team follows current protocols for bonding, cementation, and occlusal adjustment to reduce the risk of complications and to preserve surrounding tissues. Follow-up visits and routine care are part of our approach to long-term success when restoring teeth with ceramic crowns.