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

A ceramic crown is a custom-made restoration that covers the entire visible portion of a tooth to restore form and function. It is designed from tooth-colored ceramic materials that closely mimic the color, translucency, and surface texture of natural enamel. Crowns are used when a filling cannot reliably restore strength or when long-term protection and aesthetics are priorities.

Dentists typically recommend a crown for teeth with extensive decay, large fractures, or insufficient remaining structure to support a filling. Crowns are also commonly used after root canal therapy, to restore dental implants, or to anchor fixed bridges. A careful clinical evaluation and radiographs help determine whether a ceramic crown offers the best prognosis for a particular tooth.

All-ceramic crowns provide superior aesthetics because they transmit and reflect light in a manner similar to natural enamel, producing lifelike translucency and shade matching. By contrast, restorations with metal substructures can block light transmission and may show a gray line at the gumline over time. For patients who prioritize a natural appearance or prefer metal-free options for biocompatibility reasons, ceramic crowns are often the preferred choice.

In terms of strength and longevity, modern ceramic systems—especially zirconia—offer excellent durability for many clinical situations. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns remain a reliable option when extreme strength is required, but advances in ceramics have narrowed that performance gap. Material selection is individualized based on tooth location, bite forces, and aesthetic goals to balance appearance and function.

Common ceramic materials include lithium disilicate, leucite-reinforced porcelain, monolithic zirconia, and high-translucency zirconia, each offering different balances of strength and aesthetics. Lithium disilicate is prized for its excellent color and translucency, making it a frequent choice for anterior restorations and select posterior teeth. Monolithic zirconia provides superior fracture resistance and is often selected for molars or for patients with heavy bite forces.

High-translucency zirconia and layered ceramic systems attempt to combine durability with improved optical properties for visible areas. Leucite-reinforced ceramics offer good polishability and shade matching for cosmetic cases. Your clinician will recommend a specific material after evaluating the tooth's location, occlusal demands, and the aesthetic expectations for the final restoration.

Treatment typically begins with a comprehensive exam that includes X-rays and a discussion of goals and material options. The tooth is shaped to create an appropriate foundation for the crown, and a precise digital impression is often taken to design the restoration using CAD/CAM technology or to communicate specifications to a dental laboratory. A temporary restoration protects the prepared tooth while the final crown is fabricated.

At the placement visit the temporary is removed, the final crown is tried in and adjusted for proper fit, contacts, and occlusion, and then permanently cemented or bonded. The clinician will verify bite relationships and make small refinements as needed to ensure comfort and function. Post-placement instructions emphasize good oral hygiene and avoiding excessively hard foods for a short period while you become accustomed to the restoration.

Ceramic crowns can be an excellent option for back teeth when appropriate materials are chosen, particularly high-strength zirconia for molar restorations. Material selection and restoration design are critical for patients with significant bite forces or bruxism, and monolithic zirconia crowns are often recommended where strength is the primary concern. Your dentist will evaluate occlusion and wear patterns to choose a solution that withstands functional demands.

When grinding or clenching is present, additional measures such as occlusal equilibration or a custom night guard can protect both natural teeth and restorations. Monitoring and follow-up visits allow the team to detect early wear or stress and to adjust treatment as needed. Combining the right material with protective strategies helps ensure a durable outcome even in higher-load situations.

Caring for a ceramic crown is similar to caring for natural teeth and includes twice-daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and daily interdental cleaning to prevent decay at the crown margins. Maintaining healthy gums and controlling plaque reduces the risk of recurrent decay and soft tissue irritation around the restoration. Avoid routinely using the crown to bite very hard objects such as ice, unpopped kernels, or metal bottle caps to reduce the risk of chipping or fracture.

Regular dental checkups allow the dentist to evaluate crown integrity, contacts, and occlusion and to provide timely maintenance when needed. If you have a history of grinding, using a custom night guard as recommended can significantly extend the life of the crown. Promptly report any unusual sensations, looseness, or sensitivity so the team can assess and address potential problems early.

Yes, ceramic crowns are commonly used on implant abutments and as the retainer elements for fixed bridges, with design and attachment methods tailored to the specific clinical situation. Crowns on implants are attached to an abutment that connects the restoration to the implant fixture, and they may be screw-retained or cemented depending on access, retrievability, and gingival considerations. When used to support a bridge, crowns on the abutment teeth provide the stability needed to replace one or more missing teeth.

Material choice for implant crowns and bridge retainers depends on occlusal forces, aesthetic demands, and soft tissue response. Zirconia and layered ceramic options can both be appropriate; the selection balances strength, stress distribution, and the desired appearance. Careful planning, precise impressions or digital scans, and coordination with the laboratory help ensure proper fit and long-term function for implant and bridge restorations.

Ceramic crowns are color-matched using shade guides, digital shade-matching tools, and close communication between the dentist and dental laboratory or in-office milling system. Technicians and clinicians evaluate surrounding teeth for hue, chroma, and translucency to create restorations that blend seamlessly with the smile. Layered ceramic techniques and surface characterization can add depth and natural light behavior to the final restoration.

When crowns are produced with CAD/CAM systems, digital workflows enable precise reproduction of contour and surface texture for a lifelike result. Final adjustments at the try-in stage allow the clinician to refine shade, shape, and contacts for optimal esthetics and function. Proper polishing and glazing help the restoration resist staining and maintain a natural-looking surface long term.

Potential complications include fracture or chipping of the ceramic, loosening or debonding of the crown, sensitivity after placement, and recurrent decay at the crown margin if oral hygiene is inadequate. Soft tissue irritation or an improper emergence profile can also occur if the restoration is not shaped or finished to respect the gingival architecture. Most complications are identifiable early through regular examination and can often be managed with conservative repairs or adjustments.

Choosing the appropriate material, achieving a precise fit, and following recommended home care and follow-up schedules reduce the likelihood of problems. In the event of a fracture or loosening, your dentist can evaluate whether a repair, replacement, or alternative restoration is the best option. Ongoing surveillance and prompt attention to symptoms help protect both the restoration and the underlying tooth structure.

Our practice emphasizes conservative, minimally invasive dentistry and uses modern tools such as digital scanning and CAD/CAM workflows to design restorations that preserve tooth structure while delivering predictable results. Treatment plans are individualized to balance aesthetics, function, and longevity, and the team coordinates material selection and occlusal analysis to suit each patient's needs. Clear explanations of options and step-by-step planning help patients understand the recommended approach.

Located in Mountain View, our office combines advanced technology with continuing education and clinical experience to support high-quality restorative care. We also focus on long-term maintenance and protective strategies, such as night guards for patients with bruxism, to help crowns perform well over time. If you have questions about whether a ceramic crown is appropriate, our team can review your case and outline the clinical steps involved.