Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that covers a damaged tooth down to the gumline and makes it strong enough to chew with again. Dentists recommend one when a tooth has lost too much structure for a filling to hold. That might be a large cavity, a crack, a tooth that’s had a root canal, or an old filling that’s failed and taken some of the tooth with it.
When a tooth needs a crown instead of a filling
A filling replaces part of a tooth and depends on the remaining tooth to hold it. When more than about half the tooth is gone, there isn’t enough left to anchor a filling, and a big filling in a weak tooth tends to crack the tooth. A crown goes over the whole tooth and holds it together from the outside. The most common reasons we place one:
- A cavity too large for a filling
- A cracked tooth, or a tooth that hurts when you bite down
- A tooth that has had a root canal, especially a molar
- A worn-down or badly broken tooth
- A tooth that’s badly discolored or misshapen
- To anchor a bridge or cover a dental implant
The two crown visits
First visit. The tooth is numbed. The dentist removes decay and old filling material and shapes the tooth so the crown will fit over it. If a lot of tooth is missing, a filling is built up first to give the crown something to hold. Then an impression is taken of the prepared tooth and the teeth it bites against, the shade is matched to your neighboring teeth, and a temporary crown is placed. This visit takes about an hour.
Between visits. The impression goes to a dental lab, which makes the crown. This takes around two weeks. The temporary crown works for now, but it isn’t strong. Avoid sticky and very hard foods on that side, and floss carefully by pulling the floss out sideways instead of up.
Second visit. The temporary comes off, the permanent crown is tried in, the fit and bite are checked and adjusted, and the crown is cemented. Usually 30 minutes, often without numbing.
Crown materials
Most crowns we place are porcelain or porcelain fused to a metal base. All-porcelain and zirconia crowns look most like natural teeth and are the usual choice for front teeth and visible areas. Porcelain-fused-to-metal is strong and a long-standing choice for back teeth. Your dentist will recommend a material based on where the tooth is, how hard you bite, and your budget, and your treatment plan will show the price for each option.
How long a crown lasts
Ten to fifteen years is typical, and many last longer. Usually what shortens a crown’s life is decay at the edge where the crown meets the tooth, the same thing that caused the problem in the first place. The crown itself can’t decay, but the tooth under it can. Brush along the gumline, floss, keep up your cleanings so the margins get checked, and wear a night guard if you grind.
Crown cost, with or without insurance
The price depends on the material and whether a build-up is needed first. You’ll see the exact fee on your treatment plan before we start.
Insurance: Most dental plans treat crowns as a major service and cover about 50% after the deductible, up to the plan’s yearly maximum. At all 15 of our Massachusetts offices, MassHealth covers crowns for children and adults. At all 10 Connecticut offices, HUSKY covers them for children and adults once every five years per tooth, with prior approval that we submit for you. Details on our insurance pages for Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Jersey.
No insurance: A crown is one of the procedures where our monthly payment plans get used most. Start with the $25 look-and-see visit on the specials page to get a diagnosis and a price.
Common questions about crowns
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed for the preparation, so you feel pressure, not pain. Some sensitivity to hot and cold for a few weeks after the permanent crown goes on is normal, especially if the tooth hasn’t had a root canal.
How many visits does a crown take?
Two: one to prepare the tooth and take the impression, one about two weeks later to cement the permanent crown.
What if my temporary crown comes off?
Call the office. Keep the temporary, don’t chew on that side, and we’ll re-cement it. It’s a quick visit, and leaving the tooth exposed can make it sensitive and let it shift.
Does MassHealth cover crowns?
Yes, for children and adults at every Dr. Dental office in Massachusetts. For adults, crowns count toward the $1,750 yearly limit that begins August 1, 2026, so for multiple crowns we may spread the work across benefit years.
Does HUSKY cover crowns?
Yes, once every five years per tooth, with prior approval from CTDHP. For adults, the cost counts toward HUSKY’s $1,000 calendar-year limit.
Can a crown be whitened?
No. Porcelain doesn’t respond to bleach. If you’re planning to whiten, do it before the crown is made so the shade can be matched to your whiter teeth.
Cracked or broken tooth? Call your closest Dr. Dental office, or ask for an appointment online. This page is also available en español.
