Replacment Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a common restorative dental procedure designed to protect and strengthen a damaged tooth. They can be made from various materials, such as tooth coloured porcelain, tooth coloured ceramic, or metal, depending on your specific needs.
Crowns are often used in cases where a tooth has suffered significant decay, trauma, or has undergone root canal treatment. By covering the entire visible portion of the tooth, crowns help restore its shape, size, and function, ensuring a natural appearance and enhancing the overall health of the dentition.
What is a Dental Crown?
A crown is a strong shell or helmet (about a 1mm thick) that is made of porcelain (can be used for anterior and posterior teeth) or sometimes a gold/metal crown (just for back teeth when recommended) that protects a tooth. This shell is more resistant to pressures from biting than natural teeth and protects tooth structure from divisive forces.
A crown is made and shaped like a natural teeth with proper anatomy. Once on the tooth, no one can tell it was lab-fabricated. Mimicing nature has it’s challenges but is possible!
Dental Crown Indications
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Large Fillings
If you have had a large filling on a tooth that has compromised the structural integrity of a tooth, a crown would help to prevent further deterioration of the tooth.
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Root Canals
If a tooth has had root canal treatment, there is usually a previous large filling or missing tooth structure. Root canaled teeth are also more brittle and prone to fracture if exposure to pressure.
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Fractures
If a tooth has a crack (cracked tooth syndrome) or fractured, a crown is considered to prevent further damage to the natural tooth structure of the tooth.
We follow the Alberta Dental Fee Guide
Dental Crown Costs in 2026
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Porcelain Crown
Tooth Coloured
+ Preparation
+ Digital Scan (no goop)
+ Same-day or Lab Fabrication
+ Temporary Crown (if needed)
+ Includes Lab Fee
+ Includes Verification Image$1,426 each (incl. lab)
Alberta Dental Fee Guide Codes: 27201; 99111 (lab) -
Gold Crown
Metal Alloy
+ Preparation
+ Digital Scan (no goop)
+ Temporary Crown
+ Includes Lab Fee
+ Includes Verification Image$1,526 each (incl. lab)
Alberta Dental Fee Guide Code: 27301; 99111 (lab) -
Temporary Crown
Tooth Coloured Acrylic
+ Design & template
+ Same day fabrication
+ Preparation
+ Fabrication$441 each (incl. lab)
Alberta Dental Fee Guide Code: 27121; 99111 (lab)
Adjunctive Dental Crown Procedures
We have added this section for patients to read about adjunctive procedures that may need to be completed either before a crown can be placed or during preparation of a tooth for a crown. We believe in being transparent about the procedures we provide and the costs involved.
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If you are having a new or replacement crown on your front tooth, this may be an opportune time to whiten your teeth first.
Why? The newly fabricated crown will be made to match the existing adjunctive teeth. The colour of a fabricated dental crown can not be lightened or darkened once it has been cemented to your tooth.
However, there is always the option to replace a crown in the future should you make this decision later. We explain this as an option now to avoid having additional dental procedures in the future.
Read more: Teeth Whitening →
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If a tooth needs root canal treatment due to decay or fracture, this must be completed as a separate procedure prior to placement of a new crown.
In rare cases, root canal treatment may need to be completed after the placement of a crown.
Read more: Root Canal Treatment →
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If the existing filling or core material has a space or dental decay, it should be replaced in order to prevent failure of the underlying structure which will remain under a crown. The filling material other than the outside 1mm will remain as a part of the tooth envelope.
While this is not needed in every case, it can sometimes be needed when either placing a new crown or replacing an existing crown.
Read more: Fillings →
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The existing crown on a tooth needs to be carefully removed by sectioning the existing crown prior to preparing the tooth for a new crown. This critical step requires time to avoid damaging the core of the tooth. This process can take about 15-30 minutes alone to complete.
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In some cases of severe tooth damage, additional retention may be desired by placing a very small post into a root canal treated tooth in order to prevent failure of the crown and core.
Sometimes this can be done at the same time as the crown preparation while in other situations we may have the lab create the post and core.
Post and core procedures are not normally included with the Dental Crown fee.
New Patients Welcome!
Not every tooth needs a Dental Crown
Examination
Our dentists will take the time to examine your teeth and determine whether your tooth would benefit from a crown. There are certain criteria that make a natural tooth receive the benefit from having a crown placed. In some cases where there is a smaller area of decay or fracture, a smaller filling can suffice. A certain amount of the tooth would have to receive damage in order to benefit from a crown.
Options
There are many options that can be considered instead of crowns such as composite fillings, porcelain inlays/onlays, porcelain veneers or composite veneers. It all depends on what the history of the tooth is, existing condition and the desired goals for the tooth (strength vs. esthetics).
Tooth Conservation
At our practice, we consistently prioritize the decision to conserve valuable tooth structure while also working to prevent any further deterioration from occurring. This approach not only helps maintain the integrity of the teeth but also supports overall oral health in the long run.
Treatment process for Dental Crowns
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Preparation
In most cases, there is a large filling on the tooth (which we sometimes refer to as the “core”) and the intended crown is about 1mm thick.
Therefore, we need to remove from the surface about 1mm of existing filling and remaining natural structure in order to fit a crown.
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Digital Impression
In many cases, we can avoid a goopy impression in your mouth by having a video scan of the prepared tooth.
This is then either electronically sent to the lab or we can design in our clinic and mill a crown from porcelain on site.
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Cementation
Once the crown is made, we check the fit of the crown for fit, contacts with adjacent teeth and have you review the generated colour of the crown.
If it meets our clinical criteria, we cement or “glue” it onto your tooth.
Smile Design Services
Restoring your natural smile is something we offer with our Smile Design services.
Smile Design is a multi-diciplinary approach to dentistry where we address several factors to improve the health and esthetics of your front teeth.
A Smile Design Evaluation would take into account:
Alignment of the existing teeth (also known as orthodontics) → Invisalign Clear Aligners
Colour of existing teeth (teeth whitening) → take home or in-office Zoom! Whitening
Contour or shape of the existing teeth (prosthodontics) → crowns, veneers or fillings.
Replacement of missing teeth → dental implants, fixed bridges or remoavable dentures
Once we review these factors, we can blueprint a dental plan to give you the smile of your dreams.