A crown is a cap fitted over a tooth that restores the shape of a badly damaged tooth and carries the chewing load. Unlike a filling, a crown does not fill a cavity — it surrounds the whole clinical crown, holding the tooth together.
When a crown is needed
- Less than half the tooth remains — a filling on such a tooth will fracture sooner or later.
- A root-treated molar. After root canal treatment the tooth becomes brittle, and a vertical crack usually means losing it.
- A broken or cracked tooth.
- On an implant — the implant crown is the final stage of the whole treatment.
- Heavily worn teeth from bruxism.
Prices in Tallinn
- Crown, any material — from €450
- Implant crown — from €550
- Chairside temporary acrylic crown — from €50
- Laboratory-made temporary crown — from €90
- Cementing a crown — €35–40
- Cast post and core — €100, fibreglass post — €45
If too little of the tooth remains, a foundation has to be built first — a post and core or a fibreglass post. That is added to the cost of the crown.
Materials and how to choose
- Zirconia. Very strong, biocompatible, no grey shadow at the gum line. Suits both front and back teeth. Monolithic zirconia is the most durable, layered is the more beautiful.
- Metal-ceramic. A metal framework with a ceramic covering. Strong and cheaper, but a dark line can appear at the gum line over the years if the gum recedes.
- Pressed ceramic. The most natural translucency, preferred for front teeth. Load tolerance is lower on molars.
A simple rule: where it shows, aesthetics matter; on molars, strength does. For bruxism we recommend monolithic zirconia.
How a crown is made
- Visit 1. The tooth is prepared, an impression taken (silicone €35–40) and a temporary crown fitted.
- In the laboratory. The crown is usually made within 1–2 weeks.
- Visit 2. Try-in, checking shade and bite, then cementation.
How long a crown lasts
With good care 10–15 years, often longer. The crown itself does not decay — the problem almost always develops underneath it: if plaque collects between the crown margin and the tooth, decay forms there. A crowned tooth therefore needs the same careful cleaning as a natural one, especially between the teeth with floss or an interdental brush.
Crown or implant?
If your own root is sound and can be kept, a crown is always preferable and cheaper. An implant is the solution when the tooth can no longer be saved. Before an extraction it is always worth asking for a second opinion on whether a crown is still possible.
Book a consultation at Unidenta in Tallinn — we will assess whether the tooth can be saved with a crown and choose the right material.