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 Morrison Dental Care, 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 Morrison Dental Care, we work with patients to optimize their dental benefits and get the care they need to maintain healthy and beautiful smiles!

Ceramic crowns are full-coverage restorations fabricated entirely from dental ceramic rather than metal or metal-backed porcelain. They are designed to fit over a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its original shape, strength, and function while matching the surrounding dentition. The crown is bonded to the prepared tooth to create a sealed, protective restoration that can withstand normal biting and chewing forces.

The ceramic material interacts with light in a way that closely mimics natural enamel, giving the finished restoration a lifelike translucency and luster. Modern ceramics are engineered for strength and aesthetics, allowing dentists to tailor the crown to both functional and cosmetic needs. Proper planning and precise fabrication ensure the crown blends with the smile and performs reliably over time.

A ceramic crown is typically recommended when a tooth has lost a substantial amount of structure from decay, fracture, or previous restorations so that a filling would not provide adequate strength or longevity. Crowns are also preferred after root canal therapy, when replacing large or broken fillings, or when rebuilding an implant abutment. The decision is based on the remaining tooth structure, occlusal forces, and the tooth's role in the bite.

In addition to structural concerns, crowns can be selected for cosmetic reasons when a tooth is severely stained, misshapen, or otherwise difficult to restore with conservative methods. Your dentist will evaluate functional needs, aesthetic goals, and long-term prognosis when recommending a crown. This individualized assessment helps ensure the chosen restoration meets both health and appearance objectives.

All-ceramic crowns offer exceptional aesthetics because they closely reproduce the translucency, color, and surface texture of natural teeth. They are metal-free, which eliminates visible dark margins at the gumline and reduces the risk of galvanic reactions or metal-related sensitivities. Advances in ceramic technology have also produced materials strong enough for many posterior applications while maintaining superior cosmetic qualities for anterior teeth.

Ceramic crowns can require less aggressive tooth preparation for certain materials, preserving more natural tooth structure when appropriate. They resist staining and are gentle on surrounding soft tissues, making them a biocompatible option for many patients. When properly planned and fabricated, ceramic restorations provide a balance of beauty, function, and tissue friendliness.

Porcelain fused to metal crowns have a metal substructure covered by porcelain, which historically offered excellent strength but could show a dark metal margin at the gumline and transmit less natural light. All-ceramic crowns eliminate the internal metal, allowing better light transmission and a more natural appearance, especially at the margins. Modern ceramic systems have greatly narrowed the strength gap while improving translucency and color matching.

The choice between ceramic and metal-containing crowns depends on location, occlusal demands, and aesthetic priorities. For high-stress back teeth, certain zirconia formulations can provide the necessary strength, while for front teeth glass ceramics or lithium disilicate may offer superior aesthetics. Your dentist will recommend the material that best balances durability and appearance for each specific tooth.

Several ceramic materials are commonly used for crowns, each with distinct properties that suit different clinical situations. Lithium disilicate is prized for its excellent aesthetics and good strength, making it popular for anterior and some posterior crowns. Zirconia offers exceptional strength and durability and is available in monolithic and layered forms to improve appearance.

Leucite-reinforced pressable ceramics provide excellent color matching and work well for veneers and some crowns, while high-translucent zirconia balances strength with improved light transmission for more natural-looking posterior restorations. The selection of material depends on the tooth's functional demands, visibility, and the patient’s aesthetic goals, and your dentist will guide the choice based on those factors.

The ceramic crown process typically begins with a thorough evaluation, diagnostic imaging, and tooth preparation to remove diseased tissue and shape the tooth for the restoration. Your dentist will capture precise impressions or digital scans that are used to design and fabricate the crown in a dental laboratory or with in-office milling technology. A temporary crown may be placed to protect the prepared tooth while the final restoration is being made.

At the final visit the temporary is removed, the fit and color of the ceramic crown are verified, and the restoration is permanently bonded using dental cement or adhesive. Adjustments to the bite and polish are completed to ensure comfort and function. The entire sequence is planned to minimize chair time while achieving a predictable, long-term result.

Caring for a ceramic crown is similar to caring for natural teeth: maintain a consistent home hygiene routine that includes brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once per day. Pay special attention to the crown margins where plaque can accumulate, and use interdental brushes or floss threaders if needed to keep these areas clean. Good oral hygiene helps reduce the risk of decay at the crown margins and supports surrounding gum health.

Regular professional checkups and cleanings allow your dentist to monitor the crown, address any fit or bite issues, and manage periodontal health. Avoiding hard or highly abrasive habits such as chewing ice, using teeth as tools, or persistent clenching without a protective appliance can reduce the chance of fracture. If you grind or clench your teeth, discuss protective options like a night guard to safeguard both crowns and natural dentition.

Ceramic crowns are versatile and can be used on both anterior and posterior teeth, with the selection of material tailored to the tooth’s functional and aesthetic demands. For front teeth, materials that prioritize translucency and color matching such as lithium disilicate or layered ceramics are often chosen to achieve the most natural appearance. For back teeth that experience higher occlusal forces, stronger ceramic formulations such as monolithic zirconia may be recommended to withstand chewing loads.

Your dentist will evaluate the bite, opposing dentition, and cosmetic goals when recommending a specific ceramic type for each tooth. In many cases a combination of materials can be used across the mouth to optimize both longevity and appearance. This individualized approach helps ensure that each restoration performs well in its particular position.

Because ceramic crowns are metal-free, they are an excellent option for patients who have known sensitivities or allergies to metal. The absence of a metal substructure eliminates the potential for galvanic reactions and reduces the risk of soft tissue irritation linked to certain metal alloys. Ceramics are generally biocompatible and well tolerated by the surrounding gum tissues.

If you have a history of allergic reactions to dental metals, inform your dentist so material choices can be adjusted accordingly. The dental team will review medical and dental history and select restoratives that prioritize biocompatibility while meeting functional and aesthetic requirements. In many cases all-ceramic restorations provide a safe and effective solution for sensitive patients.

The lifespan of a ceramic crown varies based on material choice, oral hygiene, bite forces, and overall dental health, but many ceramic restorations provide durable service for many years when properly maintained. Good home care, routine dental visits, and prompt attention to any changes in fit or function contribute significantly to long-term success. Avoiding destructive habits and managing conditions such as bruxism can also extend the life of a crown.

At Morrison Dental Care we evaluate each case to select materials and techniques that support longevity while meeting aesthetic goals. Periodic monitoring allows the dental team to identify early signs of wear, marginal breakdown, or secondary decay so that timely maintenance can be performed. With careful planning and ongoing care, ceramic crowns can offer a reliable and natural-looking restoration for a patient’s smile.