Porcelain Dental Crowns

Ceramic, Zirconia and Porcelain dental crowns are an excellent way to restore teeth that have been damaged, discoloured, heavily filled, or weakened over time. They allow you a double win — to fix broken teeth plus the structural integrity of your tooth (like damaged tooth enamel), while also improving your natural smile with a beautiful cosmetic solution, especially helpful for fixing discoloured or misshapen front teeth. 

At Accent Dentists, every ceramic porcelain dental crown is carefully designed for your individual tooth, bite, and overall smile.  The goal of dental crowns is not just to repair your broken tooth, but to make it look beautiful, and create a result that feels comfortable, functions seamlessly and enhances your smile.

Ceramic, Zirconia and Porcelain Dental Crowns can:

• Strengthen weakened or cracked teeth

• Restore broken or worn-down teeth

• Improve appearance and shape

• Protect teeth after root canal treatment

A dental crown is a custom-made restoration that fits over your existing tooth, much like a protective cap. Unlike a filling, which repairs part of a tooth, a dental crown covers the visible portion above the gumline, helping hold weakened tooth structure together while restoring its natural shape and biting surface. 

At Accent Dentists, we've moved away from traditional metal crowns in favour of modern, beautifully lifelike ceramic materials, including porcelain and zirconia — which is why you'll often hear them referred to as porcelain dental crowns, ceramic crowns or zirconia crowns, depending on the material used.

These materials offer an excellent combination of strength and natural appearance, allowing us to carefully match the colour, shape and subtle characteristics of your surrounding teeth. The result is a strong, comfortable restoration that blends seamlessly into your smile — so naturally that most people won't even notice it's a crown.

A beautifully crafted dental crown does more than restore the appearance of your tooth. It helps bring back the strength and comfort you need for everyday biting and chewing, while giving you the confidence to smile naturally again. And just as importantly, it helps protect the natural tooth you already have for years to come:

• Dental Crowns Strengthens and protects: Gives weakened or damaged teeth the extra support they need, particularly when large fillings, cracks or decay have taken their toll.

• Restores comfortable biting and chewing: Rebuilds your tooth's natural shape and biting surface, helping your teeth work comfortably together again.

• Helps preserve your natural tooth: Dental crowns protect the healthy tooth structure you still have, potentially avoiding the need for extraction. We carefully prepare your tooth, preserving as much healthy structure as possible while ensuring your crown has the strength it needs.

• Improves your smile: Restores the colour, shape, length and proportions of teeth that have become worn, discoloured or damaged over time.

• Beautifully natural results: Every dental crown is custom-made to complement your smile, with its shape, contours and colour carefully matched to your surrounding teeth. The aim is a restoration that looks and feels like it's always belonged there.

• Convenient, comfortable treatment: Getting a dental crown is usually a straightforward, non-surgical procedure, often completed in just one or two appointments. Most patients can return to their normal daily activities shortly afterwards.

• Made to last: With good care and regular dental visits, ceramic and porcelain dental crowns can provide many years of strength, comfort and confidence
  
  Dental crowns are designed to be long-lasting and durable. With proper care, they can last many years.

  Typically:

• Last 10-15 years or more

• Longevity depends on oral hygiene and habits

• Regular dental check-ups help maintain them

Wondering how much a ceramic, zirconia or porcelain dental crown will cost? The exact cost will vary depending on:

• Which tooth needs restoring

• Where it's positioned in your mouth

• The material used

• How much preparation is needed to give your new crown a strong, healthy foundation.
  

A front tooth requiring careful colour matching and cosmetic detail, for example, may involve a different approach from restoring a hardworking back molar. We'll talk you through the options, explain the costs and provide a clear treatment plan before any work begins, so you know exactly what to expect.

We understand that a dental crown is an investment in your long-term dental health, and we want to make that investment as manageable as possible.

Dental Payment Plans:

We offer dental payment plans on selected treatments, allowing you to spread the cost over four months. If a payment plan would be helpful — as it is for many of our patients — simply let our friendly team know. We're happy to explain how it works and help you find an option that feels comfortable for you and your budget.

If you have dental insurance, we'll help you understand what may be covered under your policy.

Next Steps:

Wondering what a dental crown might cost for your tooth? Get in touch with our friendly team at Accent Dentists. Whether you're dealing with a broken tooth, considering a cosmetic improvement or simply exploring your options, we're happy to answer your questions and help you arrange a consultation. There's no need to have all the answers before you call — that's what we're here for.

You might benefit from a dental crown if your tooth is cracked, broken, weakened by a large filling or simply showing the effects of years of wear and tear. Dental crowns are also often recommended after root canal treatment, particularly when a tooth needs extra strength and protection to cope with everyday biting and chewing.

For some patients, it's about restoring a tooth's strength and function. For others, a dental crown is about bringing back the natural beauty of a front tooth that's become discoloured, worn, misshapen or out of balance with the rest of their smile. And quite often, it's about achieving both — a tooth that looks beautiful and works just as well, only better.

Of course, not every damaged tooth needs a full crown. At Accent Dentists, we believe in keeping as much of your healthy natural tooth as possible. Sometimes, a more conservative treatment, such as a ceramic inlay, onlay or dental bonding, may be all that's needed.

We'll look at the condition of your tooth, how much healthy structure remains and the demands of your bite, then help you choose the solution that makes the most sense for your teeth, your smile and your long-term dental health.

Porcelain Crowns (or Zirconia Crowns) are often recommended when a tooth is too damaged for simpler treatments. They provide both structural support and cosmetic improvement.

You may Need a Ceramic Porcelain Dental Crown if You:

• Have a cracked or broken tooth

• Have a large filling weakening the tooth

• Have had a root canal

• Want to restore shape and appearance

Your May Need a Zirconia Dental Crown if:

• You need additional durability

• You need super sonic strength in your crown (often due to bite pressures)

Not all porcelain crowns are created equal. Just as you wouldn't choose the same pair of shoes for running a marathon and attending a wedding, different teeth have different jobs to do. A front tooth needs to look beautifully natural when you smile, while a back molar needs to withstand years of serious chewing.

At Accent Dentists, we work with a range of modern ceramic materials, choosing the one best suited to your tooth, your bite and your cosmetic expectations.

Porcelain and Glass-Ceramic Crowns - Beautifully natural appearance

• These crowns, including lithium disilicate ceramics, are particularly good at recreating the subtle colour and light-reflecting qualities of natural teeth. They're a popular choice for front teeth and other visible areas, combining excellent aesthetics with reliable strength.

• Their main consideration is that some glass-ceramics can be less resistant to very heavy biting forces than stronger zirconia options.
  

Zirconia Crowns - Extra strength for hardworking teeth

• Zirconia is an exceptionally strong type of dental ceramic, often recommended for back molars or patients who place greater pressure on their teeth. It offers excellent resistance to fractures while maintaining a natural tooth-coloured appearance.

• Although modern zirconia looks increasingly lifelike, some varieties don't reproduce the subtle translucency of natural enamel quite as beautifully as glass-ceramics.
  

Composite Resin Crowns - A More Budget-Friendly Option

• Composite resin crowns are made from a tooth-coloured material that can be carefully shaped and colour-matched to blend naturally with your surrounding teeth. They're generally a more affordable option than porcelain or zirconia crowns, making them worth considering when budget is an important factor.

• While composite can provide a good cosmetic result, it isn't quite as strong or resistant to wear and staining as ceramic materials, so it may need repairing or replacing sooner. For some patients, particularly where a more economical or shorter-term solution is needed, composite can offer a practical way to restore the appearance and function of a damaged tooth.

We offer both same-day cerec dental crowns and lab-made porcelain ceramic crowns and zirconia dental crowns, depending on your needs, timeline and aesthetic goals. They can be made of porcelain, ceramic or zirconia.

CEREC (same-day crowns)

• Designed and made in one visit

• No temporary crown needed

• Quick and convenient

• Most appropriate for cracked molars or cracked, broken back teeth

• Less Chair time (same day)

• Made using advanced CAD/CAM technology

• Made for busy people who need a fix immediate

Traditional Ceramic Dental Crowns

• Hand-crafted in a dental lab

• Ideal for high aesthetic areas (front teeth)

• Highly detailed and customised finish

• Typically completed over 2–3 weeks
  

Traditional Zirconia Dental Crowns

• Similar process to ceramic porcelain crowns but different material

• Used when more durability and stregnth required

We take a tailored approach to ensure your crown fits perfectly, functions well and looks natural. The choice between CEREC same day dental crowns and traditional zirconia or ceramic porcelain dental crowns is guided by your needs and what will give you the best outcome.

Our Process Includes:

• Detailed assessment of your tooth and bite

• Selecting the most suitable crown type (porcelain ceramic dental crowns and zirconia crowns are both sent to the lab, but use different materials) whereas cerec crowns are made in house and can be fitted in the same day

• Precise digital or impression-based design

• Focus on long-term durability and aesthetics

Every smile is different, which is why every treatment begins with a personalised consultation.

We'll take the time to understand your priorities and goals, assess your oral health and recommend the treatment that's right for you.

During your consultation, we'll discuss:

• Your personalised treatment options

• Your expected treatment timeline

• Upfront treatment costs

• Available payment options where applicable

Our goal is to make the process clear, transparent and stress-free, so you feel informed and confident before moving forward with your treatment.

Process for Making a Dental Crown

Whether your dental  crown is made in-house or at a laboratory, the process begins in much the same way: understanding what your tooth needs and planning a restoration that will look good, feel comfortable and stand up to everyday life.

Step 1: Assessing Your Tooth

We'll examine your tooth, check your bite and take any necessary X-rays or digital images. This helps us decide whether a crown is the best option and which ceramic material will provide the right protection.

Step 2: Preparing and Scanning

Your tooth is gently reshaped to create space for the crown, usually under local anaesthetic. We then capture a precise digital scan or impression so your new crown can be designed to fit comfortably alongside your surrounding teeth.

Step 3: Creating Your Dental Crown

For a same-day crown, our in-house milling machine creates your restoration from a solid ceramic block at our dental practice. For a laboratory-made crown, the design is sent to a dental technician for fabrication and finishing. A temporary crown is usually fitted in the meantime.

Step 4: Fitting Your New Crown

Once your crown is ready, we'll check its fit, colour and bite before carefully securing it to your tooth. The result is a beautifully restored tooth designed to feel comfortable, function naturally and blend into your smile.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

A beautifully made ceramic, zirconia or porcelain dental crown is an investment in the future of your tooth. With good care, many dental crowns last 10–15 years or longer, although their lifespan depends on the material, the health of the underlying tooth and the demands of your bite.

The good news is that caring for a crown is much like caring for your natural teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, hygiene appointments and dental check-ups all help protect the tooth underneath. If you grind or clench your teeth, we may also recommend a night guard to protect your crown — and the rest of your smile — from unnecessary wear.

The Right Dental Crown for the Right Tooth

At Accent Dentists, we combine modern digital technology with the craftsmanship and clinical experience needed to create restorations that look as good as they function. Whether your crown is made in-house in a single appointment or individually crafted by a dental laboratory, our priority is always the same: protecting your natural tooth and creating a result that feels entirely your own.

Thinking a damaged or worn tooth might need a dental crown? Come and have a chat with us. We'll explain your options, including more conservative alternatives where appropriate, and help you choose the solution that makes the most sense for your teeth, your lifestyle and your budget.