A dental crown is a cap made for one tooth. It covers the whole visible part of the tooth, holds a cracked or weakened tooth together, and gives it back its shape so you can chew on it again. A filling repairs a hole; a crown is for a tooth that has lost too much of its own structure for a filling to hold.
Crowns come in metal, ceramic and zirconia. Each suits a different tooth: a back molar needs strength more than looks, a front tooth needs to match its neighbours. Most crowns are done in two visits over one to two weeks: one to prepare and scan the tooth, one to fit the finished crown.
At The Smile Super Speciality Dental Clinic, in Kondapur, Hyderabad and in Maharani Peta, Visakhapatnam, you get an X-ray, an iTero 3D scan, the material options for your tooth side by side, and a written plan with the price before anything is done.
What patients tell us when they first come in
- "A piece of my back tooth broke off while eating. It does not hurt, but it feels sharp."
- "I had a root canal last month. Do I really need a crown on it?"
- "This filling has been redone three times and it keeps falling out."
- "My old crown has a dark line at the gum. Can it be changed to something that looks natural?"
- "I was quoted very different prices for a crown at two places. Why?"
Why patients choose us for a crown
- Caring for families in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam since 1997, ISO 9001 certified
- An iTero 3D scan instead of moulds, used both to plan the crown and to send it to the lab
- A written plan with the material, brand and full price before treatment, and the cheaper option named first when it does the job
- Dr. Varsha Reddy, Dental Surgeon, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Y, MDS Orthodontics, Facial Orthopedist and Fellow of Implantology (Germany), so a crown, a root canal and an implant are weighed by people who do all three. Kondapur has an all-women team. Visit Smile Dental Clinic Kondapur or Smile Dental Clinic Vizag.
- No pressure: the plan is yours to take home and think over
Get Your General Answers
A crown is often the right choice when
- A tooth has cracked or a large piece has broken off, and a filling would not hold
- A back tooth has had root canal treatment: these teeth take heavy chewing force, and a crown protects what is left
- A large old filling keeps failing and there is not enough tooth left around it for a new one
- Teeth are worn short from grinding or acid, and the bite needs building back
- An old crown has a dark gum line, a poor fit or decay underneath and needs replacing
- The crown is part of a larger plan: on an implant, as part of a bridge, or in a smile makeover (see dental implants in Kondapur and Vizag and dental bridges)
When a crown may not be the right answer
- A filling can do the job. If the tooth is sound around a small or medium cavity, a tooth-coloured filling keeps more of your own tooth. We will say so.
- The front tooth is sound and only the colour or shape bothers you. Whitening, bonding or a veneer removes far less tooth (see porcelain veneers).
- The crack runs down into the root. A crown cannot hold a tooth split below the gum. The X-ray and scan show this, and then replacing the tooth is usually sounder. More in root canal or implant: save or replace the tooth.
- There is infection or deep decay in the nerve. That is treated first, often with a root canal, and the crown comes after.
- The gums around the tooth are inflamed. We settle the gums first so the crown edge sits on healthy gum and the shade matches.
- You grind your teeth at night. A crown still works, but without a night guard any material can chip or crack (see night guard and jaw care).
How a crown is done at Smile Dental
- Consultation, X-ray and 3D scan (₹500, X-ray ₹200). We look at the tooth, the root and the gum, scan your teeth with the iTero scanner and show you on screen why the tooth needs a crown, or why it does not.
- Written plan. You get the material options for that tooth with the price of each, and any work needed first (filling, root canal, gum care). Take it home and decide.
- Visit 1, preparation (45 to 60 minutes). The tooth is numbed, old filling and weak tooth removed, and the tooth shaped so the crown has room. We scan it again for the lab, match the shade to your teeth and fit a temporary crown.
- Lab work, 7 to 14 days. The crown is made to your scan, shade and bite.
- Visit 2, fitting (30 to 45 minutes). The temporary comes off, the crown is tried in, and we check fit, shade and bite before it is cemented. You should be able to close your teeth without anything feeling high.
- Review. If the bite still feels high after a few days, come back and it is adjusted in a few minutes. Then a check-up every 6 months.
Kondapur is open Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM (2 to 5 PM by appointment). Vizag is open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 8:30 PM. Both clinics are closed on Sunday.
During the preparation visit
The tooth is numbed first, so it feels much like having a filling: some pressure and vibration. This is the longer of the two visits.
With the temporary crown
It protects the tooth for one to two weeks. It feels a little different from your own tooth. Avoid sticky foods such as toffee and chewing gum, and chew hard food on the other side. If it comes loose, call the clinic and we will fix it back the same day where we can.
After the permanent crown
The bite can feel a little odd for one to three days. If it still feels high after that, come in for a quick adjustment.
The first day
Wait until the numbness wears off before you chew on that side. Mild sensitivity to hot and cold is common for a few days and settles on its own.
Looking after a crown
The crown cannot decay, but the tooth under it can, at the edge where the crown meets the gum. Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth, including around the crown. Crowns last between 5 and 15 years with good care, and many last longer (Cleveland Clinic). If you grind your teeth, wear the night guard we make for you.
Call us if
- The crown feels loose or comes off (keep it and bring it in)
- The bite still feels high after three days
- You notice swelling, a bad taste or pain when you bite on that tooth
Dental crown cost in Kondapur and Vizag
Most crowns cost ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 by material, and premium layered zirconia goes up to ₹25,000. The same price list applies at both clinics.
| Material | Price per crown | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal (including porcelain fused to metal) | ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 | Back teeth that take heavy chewing; very strong, needs the least tooth removed | Metal colour, or a dark line at the gum over time; not for front teeth |
| Ceramic / porcelain | ₹8,000 to ₹15,000 | Front teeth, where a natural shade matters most | Less strong under a heavy bite or grinding |
| Zirconia | ₹12,000 to ₹20,000 | Back or front teeth; strong and tooth coloured, no metal | Costs more than metal; slightly less see-through than porcelain |
| Premium layered zirconia | up to ₹25,000 | Front teeth that must match the neighbours closely | Highest price; a standard zirconia often does the job on back teeth |
The brands within each material and their prices are listed in dental crown cost in Vizag: materials compared.
What moves the price
- The material, from the table above. For a back molar that nobody sees, a metal or standard zirconia crown usually does the job.
- Work needed first. A root canal costs ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 by tooth, and a core build-up to rebuild a broken tooth before the crown is ₹2,000 to ₹3,000. See root canal cost in Kondapur.
- The X-ray. An IOPA X-ray of one tooth is ₹200; a full-mouth OPG is ₹500 when we need to see more.
- A crown on an implant is priced differently: ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 (MLS / DMLS) or ₹18,000 (zirconia), on top of the implant.
- How many teeth. Each crown is priced per tooth; a bridge joins crowns together and has its own price list.
Why crown quotes vary so much
Two quotes for "a crown" can be for different materials, different brands, or one may leave out the core build-up or X-ray. Ask each clinic which material and brand the price is for and what it includes. Your written plan from us names all three.
Match the crown to the tooth, not to the price tag
The most expensive crown is not always the one your tooth needs. A molar at the back of the mouth takes the heaviest chewing force and is rarely seen, so strength comes first and a metal or standard zirconia crown is often the sensible choice. A front tooth sits next to your own teeth in every photo, so the shade and how light passes through it matter more, and that is where porcelain or layered zirconia earns its price.
So at the consultation we ask two questions about the tooth: how hard does it work, and how much does it show? Most of the time those two answers pick the material for you, and we show you the cheaper option first when it does the job.
A dental crown during your India visit
A crown fits a two-week trip.
- Day 1 or 2: consultation, X-ray, 3D scan, written plan, and preparation if you decide to go ahead
- 7 to 14 days: the crown is made in the lab while you wear a temporary
- Before you fly: fitting and bite check
If the tooth also needs a root canal, plan for three visits over two to three weeks. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and an old X-ray if you have one, and we will tell you whether the timeline works before you book.
Live outside India? See how to plan your treatment from home →
How much does a dental crown cost in Kondapur?
At our Kondapur clinic most crowns cost ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 depending on the material: metal ₹5,000 to ₹8,000, ceramic ₹8,000 to ₹15,000, zirconia ₹12,000 to ₹20,000, and premium layered zirconia up to ₹25,000. The consultation with a 3D scan is ₹500, and your written plan shows the full total first.
How much does a dental crown cost in Vizag?
The same price list applies at Smile Dental Clinic Vizag in Maharani Peta: ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 for most crowns by material, premium zirconia up to ₹25,000, priced in your written plan after the ₹500 consultation.
Which crown material is right for my tooth?
It depends on how hard the tooth works and how much it shows. Back molars need strength, so metal or zirconia usually suits them. Front teeth need a natural shade, so ceramic or layered zirconia suits them. We show you the options for your tooth side by side, cheaper option first when it does the job.
How long does a dental crown last?
Most crowns last 5 to 15 years with good care, and many last longer. Cleaning around the crown edge every day, a check-up every 6 months and a night guard if you grind make the biggest difference.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Usually yes for a back tooth, because a tooth that has had a root canal is weaker and takes heavy chewing force. A front tooth with plenty of its own structure left can sometimes be restored with a filling instead. The X-ray and scan show which applies to you.
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed before it is shaped, so it feels much like having a filling. Mild sensitivity to cold for a few days afterwards is common and settles on its own.
Crown or veneer: what is the difference?
A crown covers the whole tooth and gives back strength, so it suits broken or weakened teeth. A veneer covers only the front surface and changes the look of a tooth that is already strong. Damaged teeth need crowns; sound teeth that only need a better colour or shape suit veneers or bonding.
Who makes dental crowns at your clinics, and where?
Crowns are planned and fitted by the team at The Smile Super Speciality Dental Clinic, with Dr. Varsha Reddy, Dental Surgeon, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Y, MDS Orthodontics, Facial Orthopedist and Fellow of Implantology (Germany), who plans cases involving implants or the bite. Visit Smile Dental Clinic Kondapur on Masjid Banda Road, Hyderabad, or Smile Dental Clinic Vizag at SLN Towers, Maharani Peta, Visakhapatnam.
