Which teeth get crowns?
A crown is placed to wrap all the way around a tooth that has too little wall left to withstand biting force. I'm often asked, “I'm told I need a crown. What should I get it made of?” but before the material, I look at whether the tooth really needs a crown.
Typical cases are teeth weakened after root canal treatment, large cavities where a composite filling or inlay can't preserve the walls, teeth that are badly broken or cracked, and restorations on implants. If the damage is small, a treatment that fills only part of the tooth comes first.
How do the types of crowns differ?
| Category | All-ceramic | Zirconia | PFM (porcelain fused to metal) | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Metal-free porcelain | High-strength ceramic | Porcelain over a metal frame | Gold alloy |
| Color and translucency | Closest to a natural tooth | Less translucent than all-ceramic | The gum margin can show through dark | The gold color shows as is |
| Strength | Limited when strong forces repeatedly hit large molars | High, so it tends to break less | Stable, but the outer porcelain sometimes chips | Wears similarly to natural teeth and fits well at the edges |
| Best position | Front teeth | Molars, canines, on implants | Molars that aren't visible | Molars that aren't visible |
Porcelain fused to metal has been used for a long time, but over time the metal can show through at the gum margin and the outer porcelain sometimes chips. I don't use it for people who react to metals like nickel.
Which crown is right for front teeth and molars?
| Position | Check first | Best-suited restoration |
|---|---|---|
| Front teeth | Color and light, the edge near the gum | All-ceramic |
| Premolars | Visible when smiling and also take biting force | All-ceramic or zirconia |
| Molars | Biting force and breakage | Zirconia |
| On implants, bridges | Strength to withstand the connection | Zirconia, or porcelain fused to metal in some cases |
No single material suits every tooth. I don't put zirconia on every tooth just because it's strong, and I don't insist on translucent porcelain alone for large molars that take a lot of force. The process is described on the Front tooth crowns and Zirconia crowns pages.
How much does each type of crown cost?
| Crown | Price |
|---|---|
| Anterior (front tooth) ceramic crown | ₩800,000 |
| Anterior (front tooth) zirconia crown | ₩700,000 |
| Posterior (molar) zirconia crown | ₩500,000 |
| Posterior gold crown | ₩800,000 |
| Posterior PFM crown | ₩400,000 |
As of September 2026, VAT included (cosmetic treatment). All items are listed in All fees.
How do I care for a crown so it lasts?
Cleaning the margin makes more difference to how long it lasts than the name of the material. Clean the line where the crown meets the tooth thoroughly with floss and an interdental brush, and cut back on habits that concentrate force in one spot, like chewing ice or dried squid. Even if you choose a high-strength material, its lifespan gets shorter if the margin gets dirty.
If you grind your teeth, distributing nighttime forces with a night guard is also an option. At regular checkups, we check whether the crown has lifted, whether the bite is concentrated on one side, and whether the gums are swollen.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
I don't recommend a material first. After checking where the tooth is, how much wall remains, how the upper and lower teeth bite, and how hard you usually use your teeth, I explain the limits of each material. I don't recommend only translucent porcelain to people who enjoy hard foods or grind their teeth. The number of visits and treatment time are written up separately in How long a dental crown takes.
Frequently asked questions
Do zirconia crowns wear down the opposing teeth?
When the surface is polished smooth, wear on the opposing teeth is known to be relatively small. If it is left rough, wear can increase, so on the day of bonding we check the surface and height.
Are gold crowns no longer used these days?
They are. Gold wears similarly to natural teeth and fits well at the edges, so some people want it for molars that aren't visible. The downside is that the color shows.
Can cavities form under a crown?
They can. The crown itself doesn't decay, but the natural tooth at the margin can, so caring for the margin and regular checkups are important.
If I want to change the crown material, does it have to be redone?
Yes, a crown that is already bonded has to be removed and a new one made. During removal, we check the condition of the tooth underneath again and, if needed, reinforce it with a core build-up or root canal treatment before placing the crown.
