Porcelain Crowns: A Complete Guide For Patients | Sinclair Smiles

Porcelain crowns are one of the most widely used and trusted solutions in modern dentistry for restoring and protecting damaged or aesthetically compromised teeth. If you’re managing one of these dental issues, you may be wondering if this modern dental treatment is right for you. 

We believe that informed patients make confident decisions here at Sinclair Smiles, which is why we’ve designed this comprehensive guide to address your most pressing questions and concerns about porcelain crowns—from questions like "what is a porcelain crown" to concerns about insurance coverage, cost, durability, and pros and cons. 

Whether you already know you need a dental crown or you’re simply researching your options, read on for everything you need to know about porcelain dental crowns.

What Are Porcelain Crowns?

Also known as porcelain dental crowns or tooth crowns, porcelain crowns are custom-made caps that cover and restore the shape, size, strength, and appearance of damaged teeth. These high-performance restorations are often recommended when a tooth is cracked, worn down, heavily decayed, or weakened from a large filling or root canal treatment.

Designed to mimic the look of natural teeth in color, texture, and light reflection, porcelain crowns are an ideal choice for restoring front teeth. And because they're made entirely from dental ceramic with no metal base, porcelain dental crowns offer lifelike translucency customized to blend beautifully with your surrounding teeth.

How Are Porcelain Crowns Made?

If you’ve ever needed a crown before, you might remember the old routine: sticky and messy impression molds, a fragile temporary crown, and a multi-week wait while your final crown was made at an off-site lab. In many cases, that crown was porcelain fused to metal; while this was durable, it was not always natural-looking. Plus, traditional crowns can cause wear on surrounding teeth or even chip to reveal the metal underneath over time. 

At Sinclair Smiles, we’ve left all that behind.

Instead of messy impressions and long waits, we use digital scanning to capture a 3D image of your tooth—quickly, comfortably, and without triggering your gag reflex. Once we’ve gently prepared your tooth, a second scan helps us design a porcelain crown that fits perfectly. Then, we craft it right here in our office using state-of-the-art CEREC technology.

That means:

• No temporary crowns
• No follow-up visits
• No metal
• No waiting

And did we mention that this all happens in one day? You’ll leave your appointment with a custom-made, metal-free porcelain crown that looks and feels just like your natural tooth. And because our crowns are milled from high-grade ceramic, they’re strong, long-lasting, and ideal for patients with metal sensitivities.

This is a running theme at Sinclair Smiles: It’s always our goal to make modern dental care easy, efficient, and beautifully natural—from start to smile.

What Does a Porcelain Crown Look Like?

A porcelain dental crown closely resembles a natural tooth. Because porcelain is highly customizable, your dentist can match the crown to your tooth shade and contour it to blend with adjacent teeth. 

Unlike metal crowns or porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns, a full porcelain crown does not show a dark line at the gumline. It also reflects light in a way that is almost indistinguishable from real enamel.

How Much Is a Porcelain Crown?

Porcelain crowns are generally considered a premium restorative option. Their cost reflects the artistry, technology, and time involved in creating a crown that is both functional and highly aesthetic. 

While crowns typically run between $1,000 and $2,500 per tooth, this varies significantly depending on several factors, including the following:

• Geographic location
• The dentist’s experience
• Materials used (e.g., zirconia-infused porcelain or feldspathic porcelain)
• The need for additional treatments, such as root canal therapy

While they are more expensive than other types of crowns (such as stainless steel or resin), many patients find them to be a worthwhile investment, especially when it comes to visible front teeth.

Because Dr. Marisela Sinclair and her team understand that paying for dental care can be overwhelming, we prioritize transparency with all of our patients across all procedures.  

How Much Does a Porcelain Crown Cost with Insurance?

Dental insurance often covers a portion of the cost of a porcelain crown, especially if it is deemed medically necessary rather than cosmetic. You may be responsible for a co-pay or the balance after the plan pays its share.

If you're using insurance, it's important to determine if your plan specifically covers porcelain crowns, as well as whether you're within your annual maximum benefit limit. Choosing an in-network dentist also ensures that your treatment will be covered. 

We also know that dealing with insurance and insurance companies isn’t always easy. To keep your experience as simple and stress-free as possible, our team will help you verify your insurance benefits and provide transparent cost estimates before treatment begins.

How Long Do Porcelain Crowns Last?

With proper care, porcelain crowns last anywhere from 10 to 15 years; in some cases, they last even longer. Factors that influence the lifespan of porcelain crowns include: 

• Oral hygiene habits: Brushing, flossing, and regular dental check‑ups are essential.
• Bite force: Patients who grind or clench their teeth (bruxism) may wear down crowns more quickly.
• Location of the crown: Front‑tooth crowns usually last longer than molar crowns, which endure heavier pressure.
• Diet and lifestyle: Avoiding hard or sticky foods and never using teeth as tools helps extend crown longevity.

In addition to these best practices for dental crowns, regular dental visits allow your dentist to monitor and proactively address any emerging issues. 

What are the Disadvantages of Porcelain Crowns?

While porcelain crowns offer many advantages, such as aesthetic appeal and biocompatibility, there are some potential drawbacks:

Cost

Porcelain crowns tend to be more expensive than metal or PFM crowns.

Risk of chipping

Although porcelain is strong, it is not as durable as metal and can chip if exposed to excessive force.

Not always suitable for back teeth

In cases where maximum biting force is required, a stronger material like zirconia or a metal alloy might be recommended.

Tooth sensitivity

Some patients experience mild sensitivity to hot or cold after crown placement, though this usually subsides.

The Sinclair Smiles team will go over the pros and cons of porcelain crowns with you to help you make the most educated decision about whether this dental treatment is right for you. 

Ceremic vs Porcelain Dental Crowns

The terms ”porcelain” and “ceramic” are often used interchangeably when talking about crowns, but there are subtle differences, as highlighted here:

• Porcelain: A type of ceramic made specifically for dental aesthetics, porcelain offers excellent translucency making it ideal for front teeth.
• Ceramic: Stronger than porcelain, ceramics zirconia and lithium disilicate offer strength and durability. However, they may be more suitable for back crowns. 

Your dentist will help determine the best material for your your tooth crown based on your specific needs, including aesthetics, location, and durability requirements.

Porcelain Crowns vs Veneers

While both of these cosmetic dental treatments are made from porcelain, crowns and veneers serve different purposes:

• Porcelain crowns cover the entire tooth and are used for structural and cosmetic restoration. They are better suited for teeth that are broken, severely decayed, or have undergone root canal therapy. 
• Porcelain veneers are thin shells that only cover the front surface of teeth and are primarily cosmetic. Typically, they’re used for cosmetic improvements, such as whitening, reshaping, and closing small gaps.

Can Porcelain Dental Crowns Be Whitened?

One of the major benefits of porcelain dental crowns is the ability to customize color. Your dentist will use a shade guide and may even combine different tints and layers of porcelain to match your adjacent teeth perfectly. 

While the ceramic material used to create porcelain crowns is stain-resistant, it does not respond to whitening agents. This means that porcelain dental crowns cannot be whitened once they are placed. 

If you're considering teeth whitening, it’s best to whiten your natural teeth before getting a crown placed, so the crown can be matched to your new, brighter smile. 

Because we’re committed to comprehensive smile care, we offer professional in-office Zoom! Teeth whitening, which will help you see a whiter, brighter smile in about an hour. 

If you prefer to manage your teeth whitening at home, we also offer take-home teeth whitening kits that offer significantly better results than store-bought take-home alternatives.  

Do keep in mind that if your surrounding teeth change color due to aging or whitening, porcelain crowns will not change color along with them.

How to Care for a Porcelain Crown

One of the major benefits of porcelain crowns is their easy care and maintenance, including the following:

• Brush twice a day using a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste
• Floss daily (especially around the crown margins)
• Avoid chewing ice, biting nails, or using teeth for other purposes than eating, such as opening packages
• Use a nightguard if you grind your teeth
• Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams

As with natural teeth, good oral hygiene can help extend the life of your crown while preventing issues like gum disease or decay around the crown margins.

Final Thoughts: Is a Porcelain Crown Right for You?

Porcelain crowns are a highly effective and visually appealing solution for restoring damaged teeth. At Sinclair Smiles, we take the time to explain your options, assess your needs, and create a treatment plan that supports your health, function, and confidence.

Whether you're dealing with a cracked tooth, an old filling, or a cosmetic concern, a porcelain crown may be the long-term solution you've been searching for.

The Sinclair Smiles team is here to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful, and lasting smile. To get started with a consultation, contact us today.