What exactly is a porcelain crown?
A porcelain crown is a fixed restoration that covers the whole tooth and restores its shape, function and appearance.
In American English, "porcelain crown" can mean two things. Traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns have porcelain layered over an inner metal core. All-ceramic porcelain crowns are made entirely of ceramic materials: glass-ceramic (IPS e.max), alumina (Procera AllCeram), zirconia and feldspathic porcelain. Each of these materials offers a different balance of strength and aesthetics. An all-ceramic dental crown is shade-matched to the neighboring teeth, so it is hard to tell the crown from a natural tooth.
When do you need a porcelain crown?
For a cracked tooth, a broken tooth or a tooth weakened after root canal treatment, a porcelain crown provides a protective shell that restores the tooth's stability and appearance.
- Broken or cracked tooth: the crown stops the crack from spreading and keeps the natural tooth.
- After a root canal: the tooth loses strength; the crown restores its stability for years.
- Extensive decay: when a regular filling is not enough, the crown covers the whole tooth.
- Worn teeth: worn teeth are restored both functionally and aesthetically.
- Appearance: short, dark or slightly crooked teeth can be improved when a more conservative option is not suitable.
In practice, a porcelain crown is often an effective way to keep a natural tooth and avoid an extraction.
Who are porcelain crowns for? How long does treatment take?
A porcelain crown suits most patients looking for a natural-looking, durable solution, especially for front and side teeth that show when smiling.
In the past, ceramic crowns were mostly limited to front teeth; today's materials can also be used on back teeth under high chewing loads. However, on back teeth, zirconia and feldspathic porcelain crowns have lower survival rates than on front teeth (Sailer et al., Dental Materials, 2015).
Patients with a metal allergy particularly benefit from an all-ceramic crown.
Treatment usually takes two visits: at the first, the tooth is prepared and a temporary crown is placed; at the second, once the crown has been made, the permanent crown is cemented.
How is a porcelain crown fitted?
The fitting process aims to produce a precise crown, adapted to each patient's bite and natural tooth shade.
01
Intraoral digital scan
At the clinic, an intraoral digital scanner creates an accurate model of the mouth in minutes, without the traditional impression materials many patients find uncomfortable.
02
Design and fabrication
In the clinic's own dental lab, the crown is designed on a computer and milled with CAD/CAM technology from a block of shade-matched ceramic; in other cases it is made by hand at a dental lab.
03
Final cementation
The dentist checks the bite and the appearance before final cementation, and the patient approves the result.
Benefits of porcelain crowns
Survival rate: 97.1% for tooth-supported lithium disilicate crowns after an average of 6.44 years in service (Forrer et al., Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2020).
No dark line at the gums
Beyond the clinical data, the main advantage of an all-ceramic crown is the absence of a dark line at the gumline, which can appear with porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns after some years, when the gums recede and the metal edge shows, and can look like dark gums.
Biocompatible
Ceramics are considered biocompatible with the tissues of the mouth, and allergic reactions to them are rare.
97.1%
- survival of lithium disilicate crowns after 6.44 years in service on average
Disadvantages of porcelain crowns
- Tooth reduction: preparing the tooth for a crown means removing tooth structure on all sides, and this cannot be undone.
- Risk of chipping or fracture: like any ceramic restoration, the crown can crack or break, especially when biting on hard objects.
- Less suited to heavy grinding on back teeth: on back teeth, feldspathic porcelain and zirconia crowns have lower survival rates than on front teeth (Sailer et al., Dental Materials, 2015), and grinding increases the load on the crown.
Porcelain crown vs zirconia crown: what is the difference?
All-ceramic porcelain crowns and zirconia crowns are both metal-free, but they differ significantly in strength and appearance.
| Criterion | Glass-ceramic | Zirconia | Porcelain-fused-to-metal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Translucency similar to a natural tooth | More opaque | Opaque metal framework; sometimes a dark line at the gumline |
| Strength | High, but lower than zirconia | Higher: a dense ceramic | Strong metal framework; the porcelain layer can chip |
| 5-year survival (Sailer et al., Dental Materials, 2015) | About 96.6% | About 92.1% | About 94.7% |
A traditional porcelain crown (glass-ceramic or feldspathic) has a translucency similar to a natural tooth, so it is preferred for front teeth, including as a porcelain front tooth crown. A zirconia crown, especially monolithic zirconia (without a veneering layer), is stronger and often chosen for back teeth under heavy chewing loads.
In the systematic review, most of the data concern zirconia veneered with porcelain, where chipping of the veneering layer is more common (Sailer et al., Dental Materials, 2015). The choice depends on the position of the tooth, the chewing force and aesthetic needs.
Why the difference? Feldspathic porcelain is more translucent and mimics natural enamel, while zirconia is a denser, more opaque ceramic that is mechanically stronger.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
Porcelain crown cost: what affects the price?
The price of a porcelain crown is not uniform: it depends on several factors such as the position of the tooth, the material and the complexity of the individual case.
An accurate estimate for a porcelain crown can only be given after a thorough examination and personal planning, because every case is different. After the clinical examination, each patient receives a detailed written estimate based on their treatment plan, including any preliminary treatment needed, and itemized receipts they can submit to their insurer (coverage depends on the policy).
How long does a porcelain crown last?
How long a porcelain crown lasts depends on the material, the position of the tooth and maintenance: brushing twice a day, flossing and regular check-ups extend its life. Factors such as night-time grinding (bruxism) can shorten the life of a crown, so it is important to tell your dentist about this habit.
Survival rate: 78.8% for single porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns on back teeth after 20 years, in a study carried out in private practices (Reitemeier et al., Clinical Oral Investigations, 2019). There are not yet data with such long follow-up for all-ceramic crowns.
How to care for porcelain teeth crowns
Caring for a porcelain crown is not complicated, but it requires consistency. Contrary to a common belief, a crown is not immune to problems: the edge of the crown at the gumline needs particular attention.
Caring for a porcelain crown means consistent daily cleaning, avoiding very hard foods and regular check-ups. How often you need a check-up depends on your oral health and individual risk: for many people it is every six months, for others more or less often, as advised by the dentist.
- Toothbrush: twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush.
- Dental floss: once a day, to clean the edge of the crown at the gumline.
- Hard foods: avoid chewing ice, fingernails or very hard foods.
- Bruxism: wear a night guard to reduce the load on the crown.
- Follow-up: regular checks for wear or a gap at the edge of the crown.
At Dr Haim Aseriel's dental clinic in Jerusalem, porcelain crowns are made as part of full mouth rehabilitation and single-tooth care, with metal-free materials such as zirconia and E.max.
Treatment is done under local anesthesia, with a conservative approach that keeps the natural tooth whenever possible. To book a consultation in English with Dr Haim Aseriel, contact the clinic at 12 HaTnufa Street in Talpiot, south Jerusalem.
Porcelain crowns: frequently asked questions
A porcelain crown is a fixed cover made of ceramic that covers the whole tooth and restores its shape, function and appearance. An all-ceramic porcelain crown has no metal layer and is made of materials such as glass-ceramic (for example IPS e.max), zirconia or feldspathic porcelain, with a shade matched to the neighboring teeth. A porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown has porcelain layered over a metal core.
A porcelain crown suits most patients who need a crown and want a natural-looking result, especially for front and side teeth that show when smiling, and patients with a metal sensitivity. The material is chosen according to the position of the tooth, how much tooth structure remains and the chewing load.
A porcelain crown usually takes two visits: at the first, the tooth is prepared, an impression or scan is taken and a temporary crown is placed; at the second, once the crown has been made, the permanent crown is cemented. Because the clinic has its own on-site dental lab, treatment can be completed the same day in suitable cases.
The difference between a porcelain crown and a zirconia crown is mainly the balance between appearance and strength. Feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramics are more translucent and closer to natural enamel, so they are preferred for front teeth; zirconia is stronger and often chosen for back teeth. According to a systematic review, about 92% of zirconia crowns survived 5 years, compared with about 95% of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
How long a porcelain crown lasts depends on the material, the position of the tooth, oral hygiene and teeth grinding. According to a systematic review, about 97% of reinforced glass-ceramic crowns (lithium disilicate or leucite) survived 5 years. Brushing twice a day, flossing, a night guard for bruxism and regular check-ups help a crown last longer.
Sources
- Sailer I et al., Dental Materials, 2015 – Link to study
- Forrer FA et al., Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2020 – Link to study
- Reitemeier B et al., Clinical Oral Investigations, 2019 – Link to study
- Fee PA et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020 – Link to study
