Restore Your Smile with Natural Beauty & Strength
Are you searching for a durable, beautiful solution for a damaged or discolored tooth? Porcelain dental crowns are a premier restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatment designed to fully encapsulate a vulnerable tooth, restoring both its function and its appearance. Unlike older methods, today’s advanced porcelain crowns are crafted with digital precision to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, giving you a confident, healthy-looking smile.
At the Chicago cosmetic dental practice of Dr. Bianca Clark, we combine artistic vision with cutting-edge digital technology to create porcelain crowns that are not just restorations but works of art. If you’re in Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, or nearby communities, discover a better way to rebuild your smile. Schedule your dental crown consultation with our Chicago cosmetic dentist by calling (312) 212-3304.
What Are Porcelain Crowns?
Porcelain dental crowns—also referred to as ceramic crowns—are custom-made caps designed to cover and protect a damaged or weakened tooth. Crafted from high-quality ceramic materials, these crowns mimic the color, translucency, and strength of natural enamel, making them an ideal solution for both cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
Types of Porcelain Crowns:
- Full Porcelain/All-Ceramic Crowns: Made entirely of high-strength ceramic, these crowns offer the most natural color match and translucency. They’re completely metal-free, making them an excellent choice for patients with metal allergies and for highly visible front teeth.
- Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns: These feature a strong metal substructure for durability, fused with an outer layer of tooth-colored porcelain. While strong, a potential drawback is a dark line that can become visible at the gum line over time.
- Zirconia Crowns: A subtype of all-ceramic crowns, zirconia offers exceptional strength and durability, making it ideal for back teeth that withstand heavy chewing forces. We skillfully layer porcelain over the zirconia to achieve a stunning natural look.
Why Choose Dr. Bianca Clark for Your Porcelain Crowns in Chicago?
When your smile is on the line, the skill of your cosmetic dentist matters. Dr. Clark is not just a dentist; she is a recognized leader in cosmetic dentistry and biomimetic restorations.
What this means for your smile:
- A Digital-First, Precise Experience: Dr. Clark utilizes state-of-the-art advanced techniques like in-house 3D scanning and printing and EXOCAD digital design software. This eliminates messy, uncomfortable impressions and allows for unparalleled accuracy in crafting your crown.
- An Artist’s Eye for Aesthetics: With specialized training from the Nejad Institute and Nash Ross, Dr. Clark understands how to create crowns that match your natural teeth in shape, color, and texture, ensuring a harmonious and beautiful appearance.
- A Focus on Preserving Your Tooth: As a biomimetic dentist, Dr. Clark’s primary goal is to save as much of your healthy tooth structure as possible while still providing a strong, long-lasting restoration.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: As a Key Opinion Leader for leading dental tech companies, Dr. Clark has early access to the latest materials and methods, including advanced 3D printing with complex resins, ensuring you receive the future of dentistry today.
Ready to experience the difference that expertise and advanced technology make? Call our Chicago dental office at (312) 212-3304.
Do You Need a Porcelain Dental Crown? Signs to Look For
You might be an ideal candidate for a porcelain crown in Chicago if you have a tooth that is:
- Cracked, Chipped, or Fractured: A crown holds the tooth together, preventing further damage.
- Severely Worn Down: From grinding (bruxism) or erosion.
- Weakened by a Large Filling: When there’s more filling than natural tooth left.
- Root Canal Treated: A crown is essential to protect a tooth after a root canal procedure.
- Misshapen or Discolored: For teeth that detract from your smile’s aesthetics.
- Supporting a Dental Bridge: Crowns are used as anchors on either side of a missing tooth.
Benefits of Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns offer both functional and cosmetic benefits for patients seeking durable, aesthetic dental restorations:
- Natural Appearance: Matches your surrounding teeth in color, shape, and translucency.
- Durability: Designed to withstand daily chewing and biting forces for years.
- Stain Resistance: Porcelain resists discoloration from coffee, tea, and wine.
- Comfortable Fit: Custom-designed to feel seamless in your mouth.
- Versatile Solution: Ideal for restoring cracked teeth, worn enamel, or post-root canal treatment.
Potential Drawbacks of Porcelain Crowns
While porcelain crowns are among the most aesthetic and durable restoration options, it’s helpful to understand potential drawbacks:
- Higher Cost: Porcelain materials and digital customization can make these crowns more expensive than standard options.
- Possible Sensitivity: Mild temperature sensitivity can occur temporarily after placement.
- Chipping Risk: Though strong, porcelain can chip under extreme pressure, such as teeth grinding or biting hard foods.
The Advanced Digital Crown Process: Two Visits to Your Perfect Smile
We have revolutionized the traditional crown process to make it faster, more comfortable, and more predictable.
Digital Consultation and Smile Design
Using a high-resolution 3D scanner, we capture a precise digital model of your mouth. Dr. Clark then uses EXOCAD software to digitally design your new crown, considering your facial harmony and desired outcome. You get to see a preview of your new smile!
Tooth Preparation & Prototyping
After applying a local anesthetic for your comfort, Dr. Clark will carefully prepare your tooth. We then create a physical prototype of your final crown for you to evaluate, ensuring the shape and fit are perfect.
48-Hour Evaluation and Final Scan
You’ll return to our Chicago cosmetic dental office so Dr. Clark can check the prototype in your mouth and make any fine-tuning adjustments. Once approved, a final digital scan is sent to our master ceramic lab.
Crown Delivery and Follow-Up
When your final porcelain crown is ready, you’ll return for placement. Dr. Clark will ensure the fit and color are flawless before it’s securely cemented. A follow-up appointment ensures everything feels and functions perfectly.
Porcelain Crowns vs. Alternatives: Making an Informed Choice
While porcelain crowns are an excellent solution, your dentist in Chicago will help you explore all options.
- Porcelain Crowns: Ideal for maximum aesthetics, strength, and a natural look. They’re best for both front and back teeth.
- Zirconia Crowns: Ideal for ultimate strength for back teeth and metal-free patients.
- Gold Crowns: Ideal for extreme durability and minimal tooth reduction. Often preferred for out-of-sight molars.
- Composite Resin Bonding: Ideal for minor chips and cracks. A more affordable but less durable and stain-resistant option.
- Dental Veneers: Ideal for cosmetic improvements on otherwise healthy front teeth, addressing color, shape, or slight gaps.
The Cost of Porcelain Dental Crowns in Chicago, IL
The cost of porcelain crowns in Chicago typically ranges from $1,200 to $2,000 per tooth, depending on factors such as:
- The complexity of the restoration
- Materials used (full porcelain vs. porcelain-fused)
- Digital customization and 3D design technology
- Whether additional procedures are needed (root canal, buildup, or gum contouring)
While porcelain crowns are an investment, they offer exceptional longevity, aesthetics, and protection for your teeth. Many dental insurance plans partially cover crown procedures when medically necessary.
Financing and payment plans are available—our team will help you maximize your insurance benefits and explore flexible options.