Dental Crown Cost in London

A crown is a cap that covers a damaged tooth to restore its shape, strength and appearance. Creating one takes more than the cap itself. When you compare quotes from different clinics, check what the figure covers. A good quote should explain each of these:

• Your consultation and any images needed to plan the crown.
• Preparing the tooth, which involves removing some of its outer surface so the crown fits.
• A scan or impression of the prepared tooth.
• A temporary crown to protect the tooth while the final one is made.
• Laboratory fees for making the crown.
• Fitting, bonding and a review of your bite.

Some clinics quote the laboratory fee separately, which can make a low headline price look cheaper than it is. [CONFIRM: what is included in the Maida Smiles crown fee, and whether the consultation is charged separately]

There is no national price list for private dentistry, so each clinic sets its own fees. Several things drive the difference.

Material. Ceramic crowns made from e.max or zirconia usually cost more than traditional metal based options because of the materials and the laboratory skill involved. The Oral Health Foundation also notes that some ceramic crowns are designed by computer and fitted in a single visit, which often makes them more expensive.

The state of your tooth. If a tooth has broken down heavily, it may need a build up before the crown can be placed. If it has had root canal treatment, a post or core may be needed to support the crown. According to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, crowns on root filled teeth often need this extra support.

Number of visits and technology. Most crowns take two visits: one to prepare the tooth and fit a temporary, and a second, around two weeks later, to fit the finished crown. Same day systems exist, and they come with their own costs. [CONFIRM: whether same day crowns are currently offered, with price]

Clinical time and standards. Private fees reflect appointment length, the clinician's experience, the laboratory used and the checks done at each stage. It is worth asking about all of these, not only the price.

The crown is sometimes only part of the treatment. Before you decide, ask whether you might need:

• Root canal treatment if the tooth is infected or the nerve is damaged. Our guide to root canal treatment explains when this is needed.
• A core build up or post to rebuild a very broken tooth.
• Gum treatment if the tooth is surrounded by inflamed gums, because crowns need a healthy foundation.
• Replacing an old crown, which can involve removing the old one and checking the tooth underneath.

If a crown comes loose or breaks, do not wait. If you already have a broken crown, we explain what to do and how to book a same day slot. Emergency appointments are charged separately on our fee list.

In England, crowns on the NHS fall under Band 3, the highest of the three NHS charge bands. It covers crowns, bridges, dentures and inlays or onlays, and you pay one fixed charge per course of treatment. The current amount is published on the NHS website.

Maida Smiles is a private practice. [CONFIRM: that no NHS treatment is provided] The NHS charge covers treatment that is clinically necessary, and the NHS says some alternatives, such as non metal crowns, may be offered privately instead. Private care gives you a wider choice of materials and more control over appointment times. Whether that matters to you depends on the tooth, your budget and how you want it to look.

The right material depends on where the tooth sits, how hard you bite and how visible the crown will be. The Oral Health Foundation describes the main options like this. Porcelain bonded to metal is one of the most common types, with a strong metal base under tooth coloured porcelain. All porcelain crowns give a very natural look and are often used on front teeth, but are not as strong as some other options. Gold, mixed with other metals, is very durable and usually used on back teeth, though it is not tooth coloured. Ceramic crowns are metal free, look natural and are described as strong enough for all areas of the mouth.

In plain terms, front teeth usually call for the most lifelike material, and back teeth, which take the heaviest chewing forces, call for strength. Many patients end up with a ceramic crown on both, which is part of why those materials sit higher in the price table. Your dentist will take your bite, your grinding habits and your budget into account before recommending one.

Understanding the process helps explain the fee. At the first visit, the tooth is numbed and shaped so that the crown will fit over it. A scan or impression is taken, and a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth. According to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the finished crown is usually fitted around two weeks later. At the second visit, the temporary crown is removed, your dentist checks the fit, colour and bite, and the crown is bonded in place.

In between, treat the temporary crown with care. Avoid sticky or very hard foods on that side, and clean the area gently. If it comes off, call us rather than leaving the tooth exposed. If your tooth is badly broken but the root is strong, the Oral Health Foundation notes that a post may be used to hold the crown, which is one of the add on costs mentioned above.

Two quotes for a crown can look very different and still be describing the same thing, or describing quite different treatment. When you compare, ask each practice these questions.

• Is the figure for the crown only, or does it include the preparation, temporary crown, laboratory fee and fitting?
• Is the consultation, any imaging or a bite review charged separately?
• What material is being quoted, and why is it suitable for this tooth?
• Will the tooth need a build up, a post or root canal treatment first, and what would that add?
• What happens if the crown comes loose or breaks, and is there any review or adjustment period included?
• Is the quote written down and itemised?

A practice that is happy to answer all of these is usually a practice you can trust with the work.

A crown removes some of the outer tooth structure to make room for itself, which Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust points out is a real consideration. It lists situations where crowns are generally not advised, including poor oral hygiene, a high rate of decay, active and extensive gum disease, and teeth that have only had minimal restoration. Clenching and grinding also make crowns more vulnerable, and in young patients other options are usually preferred.

That is why a good consultation is not just a sales conversation. Sometimes the best advice is to treat gum disease first, to repair the tooth with a filling, or to monitor it. If a crown is recommended, it should be because the tooth really does need it, for example after a large filling has weakened it, following root canal treatment, because of wear or cracking, or to support a bridge or denture.

According to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, a crown should normally last around 8 to 10 years, depending on regular check ups, good brushing and flossing, and a low sugar diet. The Oral Health Foundation says many crowns last for years with proper care. Clinics sometimes quote much higher figures, but your own habits, such as grinding your teeth at night, make a big difference.

A crown protects the tooth. It does not make the tooth immune to decay at the edge, so cleaning around it matters.

Not every damaged tooth needs a crown. Depending on the problem, your dentist may suggest a large white filling, an onlay (a partial restoration that covers the biting surface), or a veneer for a front tooth that only needs its front surface repaired. According to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, a veneer removes less of the tooth than a crown but only covers the front. If a tooth cannot be saved, a bridge or implant may be better, and the costs of a dental bridge show how that route compares.

Treatment costing more than £250 can be spread over 12 months interest free. Longer terms may carry interest, and the options are set out under dental finance. We also accept many private health insurers, so it is worth checking whether your policy contributes. Contact us and we can advise on the paperwork.

It is a fair question. A crown costs more than a filling, and it only makes sense when a filling cannot do the job. When a tooth is heavily broken down, a large filling can leave the remaining walls weak, and a crown protects them by covering the whole tooth. If you took the 8 to 10 years the NHS suggests as a typical lifespan, a crown that starts from £950 works out at roughly £95 to £119 per year of use. That figure is only an illustration, because some crowns last less and some far longer.

What matters more is the cost of not treating a tooth that needs protection. A cracked or heavily filled tooth that fails can end up needing an extraction and a replacement, which costs more and takes longer. We would rather talk you through this plainly than push you towards the more expensive route.

We are a private practice in Maida Vale, two minutes on foot from the tube, open until 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your crown plan is explained and priced in writing before anything starts. If you are not sure whether you need a crown at all, we are happy to give you a second opinion.

It depends on the material and the dentist, but visible teeth are usually restored with ceramic crowns. At Maida Smiles, porcelain starts from £950 and e.max from £1,250. We confirm the exact figure after examining the tooth.

At our practice, zirconia crowns start from £1,250 and porcelain from £950. Zirconia is a ceramic material and suits many teeth, including back teeth. Your dentist will advise which is right for your bite.

Not always, and it varies between clinics. Check what is included before you compare quotes. We list the new patient examination at £110 on our fee page, and your treatment plan will itemise anything else.

Yes, in England crowns fall under NHS Band 3 when they are clinically necessary and you see an NHS dentist. The NHS website shows the current charge. Maida Smiles is a private practice, so our crown fees are private fees.

Usually two visits about two weeks apart. You wear a temporary crown in between.

The tooth is numbed before it is prepared, so you should not feel pain during treatment. Some sensitivity afterwards is common and usually settles. If it does not, or your bite feels high, contact us.

Yes. Treatments over £250 can be spread over 12 months at 0% finance.