What Seniors Should Know About the Cost of Crowns

As people age, teeth can become decayed or damaged to the point that a dental crown is required for the betterment of one’s oral health. With one crown lasting between 5-15 years on average—some even lasting 25 or 30 years—this option is often the one a dentist will first recommend for his or her patient due a crown’s durability and often similar appearance to a real tooth. However, cost can always be a concern, especially given the differing available types of crowns out there. To get an idea of which type of crown might work best for you, here is a quick rundown of each type and their likely cost.

The Types of Crowns

In total, there are four kinds of crowns— porcelain-fused-with-metal, all ceramic, base metal alloys, and gold alloys. Porcelain-fused-with-metal crowns have metal structures and porcelain over them whereas all ceramic dental crowns are entirely made up of porcelain—these crowns are often made to match the tint of a person’s other teeth. On the other hand, base metal alloy dental crowns consist of non-noble metals and are silver while gold alloy dental crowns are made of metals like copper and gold—these crowns are not made to look like natural teeth.

Crown Recommendations

Oftentimes, the various types of crowns are used for different situations, with a person’s dentist recommending a suitable crown for a tooth that must be restored. For instance, all ceramic crowns look the best, but they can break easily with heavy biting, making them more suitable for front teeth. A porcelain-fused-with-metal crown, however, is very durable due to its metal base and will not chip as quickly as an all ceramic crown.

Base metal or gold alloy crowns are highly resilient against fractures, making them best for repairs to teeth that must deal with a lot of biting force—dentists may recommend these crowns for a damaged molar. They can be used for front teeth, but given their unnatural appearance, most people opt for all ceramic, porcelain crowns for those teeth.

Average Costs

The cost of a tooth restoration via a crown can vary based on many factors, such as material, the tooth’s size and location as well as local rates and a dentist's experience. For instance, experienced dentists in more expensive locations will likely charge more compared to new dentists in less expensive areas. Even with these factors in place, there are still typical price ranges patients can expect.

Porcelain-fused-with-metal crowns may cost between $875 to $1,400 for one tooth. Base metal or gold alloy crowns may cost between $830 and $2,465 for one tooth. All ceramic crowns can cost between $800 to $3,000 for one tooth, but for exact costs for a specific dental practice, ask your dentist or his or her office manager.

Crowns on Budgets

For those who find themselves on tight budgets, there may be a concern as to how they can afford a dental crown. If a patient doesn’t have dental insurance, there is still affordable dental care around, such as the low-cost care offered by dentistry schools. Dental students offer dental services within supervised clinics for practice, and it is very cost-effective for the patients. As well, your regular dentist may offer a promotional rate. Some dentists even offer sliding-scale fees, lower rates, or payment plans for those on budgets.

If you are worried about the costs of dental crowns, consider a New Hampshire discount dental plan for seniors like the Wellness Dental Plan. We can save you as much as 20 percent off your dental bills! For more information, please click here.

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