A dental crown in Roanoke, VA typically costs roughly $800 to $2,500 per tooth, depending on the material, the location of the tooth, and whether it needs a buildup or root canal first. A crown is a custom cap that covers a damaged tooth completely, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance.
If a large cavity or crack has left too little natural tooth for a filling to hold, dental crowns are often the next step. Here is how crowns work, which types are available, what they cost, and what to expect from the first visit to the final fitting.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over the entire visible part of a tooth, down to the gum line. Unlike a filling, which replaces only the damaged portion, a crown surrounds the whole tooth. That holds a weakened tooth together, protects it from further damage, and restores how it looks and works.
When Do You Need a Dental Crown?
Your dentist may recommend a crown to:
- Restore a tooth that has a large filling and only a small portion of healthy tooth left
- Protect a cracked or fractured tooth from breaking further
- Cover a discolored or misshapen tooth
- Protect a tooth after a root canal
- Cap a dental implant to replace the visible part of a missing tooth
A tooth that has had root canal treatment is a common example. Once the nerve is removed, the tooth can become more brittle over time, so a crown is usually placed afterward to protect it from cracking.
Types of Dental Crowns
All-Porcelain Crowns
All-porcelain (all-ceramic) crowns are tooth-colored throughout, which makes them a natural-looking choice, especially for front teeth that show when you smile.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns
PFM crowns have a metal base for strength, covered with a layer of tooth-colored porcelain. They are durable and are often used on back teeth that handle heavy chewing forces.
Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental makes tooth-colored crowns from all-porcelain or porcelain fused to metal, rather than the all-metal crowns that were common years ago.
Dental Crown Cost in Roanoke, VA
Cost depends on the material, where the tooth sits in your mouth, and whether other treatment is needed first. General ranges per tooth:
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns: roughly $800 to $1,800
- All-porcelain crowns: roughly $1,000 to $2,500
A buildup, root canal, or gum treatment before the crown adds to the total. Many dental plans cover part of the cost when a crown is needed to restore a damaged tooth, often around half after your deductible, but deductibles, waiting periods, and annual maximums vary. Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental offers financing options that can help spread out the cost.
What to Expect When Getting a Crown
Traditional lab-made crowns usually take two visits.
Visit 1: Exam, Shaping, and Impression
After the area is numbed, your dentist removes any decay and shapes the tooth so the crown can fit over it. An impression or scan is sent to a dental lab, and you leave with a temporary crown that protects the tooth while the permanent one is made.
Visit 2: Fitting and Cementing
The temporary crown is removed, and the permanent crown is checked for fit, bite, and color match before it is cemented into place. Small adjustments are made so it feels natural when you bite down.
Some sensitivity to hot and cold for a few days is common. Call the office if your bite feels high or the sensitivity does not settle.
Crown, Filling, or Inlay: Which Do You Need?
Not every damaged tooth needs a crown. A small to moderate cavity is usually repaired with a filling. When the damage is too large for a filling but the tooth is still mostly intact, inlays and onlays can be a more conservative middle option. A crown is typically recommended when a large part of the tooth is missing, cracked, or weakened, because it covers and supports the whole tooth.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
With good care, crowns commonly last ten to fifteen years or longer. Brushing twice a day, flossing around the crown, avoiding chewing on ice or hard objects, and keeping up with regular checkups protect both the crown and the tooth underneath, since decay can still start at the edge of a crown.
If a tooth is too damaged to support a crown, replacing it with a dental implant topped with a crown is often the next option to discuss with your dentist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does getting a dental crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed before the work begins, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Mild sensitivity afterward is common and usually fades within a few days.
How many visits does a dental crown take?
Traditional lab-made crowns usually take two visits: one to prepare the tooth and place a temporary crown, and one to cement the permanent crown. Your dentist will confirm the plan for your tooth at your exam.
Does insurance cover dental crowns?
Many dental plans cover part of the cost when a crown is needed to restore a damaged tooth, but deductibles, waiting periods, and annual maximums apply. Contact our office with your plan details and we can help you understand your options.
Can a dental crown be whitened?
No. Porcelain does not respond to whitening, so a crown stays the shade it was made. If you plan to whiten your natural teeth, do it before the crown is made so the shade can be matched.
What should I do if my crown falls off?
Call our office as soon as possible. Keep the crown in a safe place, do not use glue, and avoid chewing on that side until you are seen. A tooth without its crown is more vulnerable to decay and fracture.
How much does a dental crown cost in Roanoke, VA?
Cost depends on the material and the condition of the tooth. Contact our office for a personalized estimate after an exam, since every treatment plan is different.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Priyanka Dutt, DDS, is the Founder and Clinical Leader of Opulent Dental, overseeing clinical standards and patient care across all Opulent Dental offices, including Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental in Roanoke.