Dental Crowns in Miami · Edgewater A crown that fits,
lasts, and looks like you.

Crown, filling or onlay: which does your tooth need?

A dental crown is not the answer for every damaged tooth. The right repair depends on how much healthy tooth is left and how much force it takes when you chew. Dr. Rana aims for the smallest repair that will hold up, and he shows you the scan or X-ray so you can see why.

A crown removes more natural tooth than a filling or onlay, so it is chosen when the tooth truly needs full coverage. A cracked molar or a tooth that is more filling than tooth usually does. A small cavity on a strong tooth usually doesn't. For more on the warning signs, read signs you need a filling or a crown.

Crown materials: zirconia, porcelain and porcelain-fused-to-metal

Each material is a trade-off between strength, appearance and how much tooth has to be shaped to make room. There is no single right answer for every mouth.

Zirconia

Zirconia is a very strong ceramic, which makes it a common choice for molars and for people who clench or grind. Newer layered and translucent versions look more natural than older solid ones, though they may not match the glassy look of all-porcelain on a front tooth. It can often be made thinner than some other materials, which may save tooth structure.

Porcelain (all-ceramic)

All-ceramic crowns pass light through much like enamel, so they tend to blend in well on front teeth and premolars where appearance matters most. They are strong enough for many teeth, but for a back tooth under heavy biting force, Dr. Rana may suggest zirconia instead.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal

These crowns have a metal inner shell with porcelain layered on top. They have been used for decades and can be a reasonable option in some cases. Over time, a thin dark line may show at the gum if the gum pulls back, and the porcelain layer can chip. Today many dentists lean toward all-ceramic and zirconia for most teeth, and we explain the pros and cons if one of these is worth considering for you.

Where the tooth sits, how you bite, whether you grind, how much space there is and the shade of your nearby teeth all shape the choice. We talk it through before anything is made.

Your crown visit, from scan to final fit

Here is what a typical crown looks like at Prana, using a digital scan and our in-house lab. Many crowns are finished in a couple of visits; your exact timeline is confirmed at your exam.

Visit one: preparing the tooth

We start with an exam, plus X-rays when they are needed to check the root and bone. After numbing the area, Dr. Rana removes any decay and old filling material and shapes the tooth so the crown has room to sit. If too little tooth is left, he may rebuild the core first. Then a handheld digital scanner captures the tooth and your bite in 3D, which most people find far easier than biting into trays of impression putty. We match the shade to your neighboring teeth and place a temporary crown.

In our lab

The scan goes straight to our in-house lab, where the crown is designed on screen and then made. Because the lab is part of the practice, Dr. Rana can check the design and adjust details like shape and contact points without waiting on an outside lab. You can read more about how that works in inside Prana's digital lab.

Visit two: fitting the crown

The temporary comes off, the tooth is cleaned and the new crown is tried in. Dr. Rana checks how it meets your other teeth, how floss passes between them and how the color looks in natural light. Once you are both happy, it is cemented or bonded in place and your bite is fine-tuned.

Crowns on dental implants

When a tooth is missing, a crown can sit on a dental implant instead of a natural tooth. The implant post heals in the bone first; then a connector called an abutment holds the crown. At Prana, the single implant price starts at $1,999 and includes the implant, abutment and crown.

Implant crowns are either screwed onto the abutment or cemented to it, and Dr. Rana chooses based on the position and angle of the implant. An implant crown can't get a cavity, but the gum and bone around it can still become inflamed, so cleaning around it every day and keeping regular checkups matter just as much as with a natural tooth. If you grind your teeth, a night guard can help protect it.

Caring for a temporary crown

A temporary crown protects the shaped tooth and holds the space while the permanent one is made. It is held with lighter cement on purpose, so it needs a little care:

• Chew mostly on the other side until your final crown is in.
• Skip sticky and very hard foods, like gum, caramel, taffy, hard candy and ice.
• Floss gently, then slide the floss out to the side instead of pulling it back up, which can lift the temporary.
• Some sensitivity to cold is common with a temporary and usually settles once the final crown is in.
• If it comes off, keep it, call or text us, and avoid chewing on the bare tooth. A small dab of temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can hold it in place for a short time.
• Keep your second appointment. A temporary is not built to last, and the tooth underneath can shift or decay if it is left too long.

How long a crown can last

Many crowns last for many years, but no crown lasts forever, and lifespan varies a lot from person to person. The biggest factors are things you can partly control: brushing and flossing along the edge of the crown, regular checkups, and protecting your teeth if you grind at night. The material, the bite force on that tooth and the health of the tooth underneath matter too.

A crown usually needs attention when we see decay starting at its edge, the gum pulling back to expose the margin, a chip or crack in the porcelain, or a crown that feels loose or catches food. Catching these early often means a simpler fix.

What affects the cost of a crown

Your exact price is confirmed in writing before treatment. These are the things that usually move it up or down:

• Material. Zirconia, all-ceramic and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns differ in materials and lab work.
• Rebuilding the tooth first. A core buildup or a post may be needed when a lot of tooth is missing.
• A root canal. If the nerve is infected, the root canal is a separate step before the crown.
• Gum or bone work. Some teeth need gum treatment before a crown can fit well.
• Natural tooth or implant. An implant crown is part of a different treatment with its own pricing.
• How many teeth. Several crowns at once are planned together.
• Imaging and sedation. X-rays when needed and optional oral sedation are listed separately.

When you compare quotes, check whether each one includes the buildup, the temporary and the final crown, and ask what material is being quoted.

Insurance and financing for crowns

Many dental plans treat crowns as a major service, which usually means a lower coverage percentage than checkups and fillings. Your deductible, any waiting period and the plan's yearly maximum all limit what is paid, and those maximums are often in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Some plans only pay to replace a crown after a set number of years, and a crown done purely for looks may not be covered. Plans differ, so we check your benefits for you and can request an estimate from your plan when it helps.

If a balance remains, you can apply for 0% financing on approved credit with CareCredit, Cherry or LendingClub. See financing options.

If your crown falls off or feels loose

A crown that comes off is usually not dangerous, but the tooth under it is exposed and should be seen soon. Keep the crown in a small bag or container, don't try to glue it back with household glue, and call or text (786) 579-0521. Often the original crown can be cleaned and recemented if it is intact and the tooth underneath is healthy. Our post on what to do if you lose a crown or filling walks through the first steps at home.

If the tooth is very painful, the gum is swollen or the tooth broke along with the crown, see our emergency dentist page.

When a crown case needs another dentist's help

Dr. Rana is a general dentist who plans and places crowns himself. Some teeth need help from a specialist we refer you to first, for example an endodontist for a complex root canal, or a periodontist when gum surgery is needed to expose enough tooth for a crown to hold. If that applies to you, we explain why, coordinate with their office and then finish the crown with our lab.

Getting here

You'll find us at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 703, on Biscayne at NE 30th Street in Edgewater, with building and street parking. From the Design District it is often 5 to 10 minutes south, and from Brickell about 15 to 20 minutes north, depending on traffic. Mid-Beach and North Beach patients coming over the Julia Tuttle Causeway from Miami Beach land just a few blocks away.

About the dentist

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.

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