Frequently Asked Questions

What problem does a crown solve?

A dental crown is a custom cap that covers a damaged or weakened tooth — restoring its shape, strength, and appearance. You need one when a tooth has been compromised beyond what a filling can safely handle: after a root canal, for a heavily decayed tooth, for a cracked tooth, to cover a dental implant, or to correct the appearance of a severely discoloured or misshapen front tooth.

At Smile Dental Visakhapatnam, three situations account for most of our crown cases: patients who just had an RCT and need the tooth protected, patients with old crowns that have worn out after 10-15 years, and patients wanting to upgrade front teeth aesthetically.

Crown materials — honest trade-offs

There are seven categories of crowns we fit at Vizag, from affordable to premium. Here's how they actually compare:

PFM / CAD PFM — ₹6,000-₹8,000: Porcelain fused to metal. The workhorse option — 30+ years of proven track record. A metal substructure with porcelain on top. Strong, affordable, and looks acceptable. Main limitation: a thin dark line may show at the gumline over time, so not ideal for front teeth if you smile high.

MLS / DMLS — ₹8,000-₹12,000: Metal laser sintering — a precision-milled cobalt-chromium substructure with layered porcelain. Better fit than traditional PFM because it's digitally designed. Good choice for back teeth where strength matters more than a perfect cosmetic match.

Zirconium — ₹12,000-₹15,000: Full zirconia or zirconia-based crowns. No metal at all, so no dark gumline. Translucent enough to look natural but strong enough for molars. This is our most commonly chosen option — good balance of aesthetics, strength, and cost.

Bruxzir / Bruxcare — ₹15,000: Monolithic zirconia designed specifically for patients with heavy bite forces or bruxism (teeth grinding). Near-unbreakable. Aesthetic is good but not as natural-looking as layered zirconia.

iTouch Live / Elite / Diamond — ₹18,000-₹22,000: Premium zirconia with advanced translucency layering. Multiple shade gradients built in, mimicking natural tooth structure. For front teeth where perfect aesthetics matter most.

Zir CAD — ₹25,000: Top of range. Digital design and milling with the most advanced zirconia available. Typically chosen for front teeth in smile makeovers, or for patients who want the absolute best.

Laser RCT add-on — ₹1,500: If your crown is going on a tooth that needs root canal first, laser-assisted RCT improves disinfection of the canal before sealing.

Which crown should you choose?

Three honest rules we follow with Vizag patients:

Back molars (hidden when you smile): Zirconium (₹12K-15K) or MLS/DMLS (₹8K-12K) are usually the sweet spot. Strength matters more than perfect aesthetics. Premium crowns here are usually unnecessary spend.

Front teeth (highly visible): Zirconia at minimum, and iTouch Elite or Zir CAD if aesthetics matter for work, social, or upcoming events. The ₹10,000+ difference between a standard and premium front crown is usually worth it for something you see and smile with every day.

Bruxism/heavy grinders: Bruxzir or monolithic zirconia. Aesthetic compromises are worth avoiding a broken crown.

Tight budget: PFM is a completely valid choice. Millions of well-functioning PFM crowns exist worldwide. It's not premium, but it works.

The process — what to expect

A crown typically takes 2 visits over 2-3 weeks. Here's the sequence:

Visit 1 — Preparation (60-90 minutes): The tooth is shaped to accept the crown. If RCT is also needed, this happens in the same or adjacent visit. A digital scan (or traditional impression) captures the prepared tooth shape. A temporary crown is fitted while the lab makes the permanent one.

Lab work (10-14 days): Your crown is designed digitally and either milled (zirconia, PFM, iTouch) or layered by a technician.

Visit 2 — Fitting (30-45 minutes): Dr. Rajesh removes the temporary, tries the permanent crown, checks fit and bite, and cements it in place. You leave with a functioning, natural-looking tooth.

Premium crowns (iTouch Elite, Diamond, Zir CAD) with 3D scan and models add minor time and cost but deliver more accurate fit.

How long do crowns last?

A well-made and well-cared-for crown lasts 10-20+ years. Factors affecting longevity:

• Material: Zirconia generally outlasts PFM; monolithic zirconia (Bruxzir) lasts longest.
• Bite alignment: Heavy grinders wear crowns faster. A night guard extends life considerably.
• Gum health: Gum recession exposes the crown margin. Regular cleaning prevents this.
• Oral hygiene: Decay can still form where the crown meets the tooth. Flossing around crowns is essential.

Why patients choose Smile Dental Visakhapatnam for crowns

Dr. Rajesh Kumar (MDS, 29 years) has fitted several thousand crowns. Experience matters because a crown's longevity depends heavily on how precisely the tooth was prepared, how accurately the impression captures it, and how well the final fit was adjusted. We also work with multiple labs to match the right material to each case, rather than pushing whatever is in inventory.

The clinic offers in-house digital scanning and 3D model generation for premium cases, eliminating the discomfort of putty impressions.

Frequently asked questions

Covered in the FAQ section below.