Dental Crowns in Duluth, MN
Same-day crowns for back teeth. Master-ceramist crowns for front teeth. One dentist deciding which your tooth needs.
Dr. Camille Zelen, RN, DDS, AAACD, and our team place crowns at our office on Woodland Avenue.
Key highlights
- A dental crown is a cap that covers a damaged tooth to protect it and restore its shape.
- Same-day CEREC crowns are designed, milled, and bonded in one visit. No temporary.
- Front-tooth crowns go to a master ceramist for a closer match.
- We use lithium disilicate and zirconia, chosen by where the tooth sits and how hard you bite.
- Research shows lithium disilicate single crowns survive at about 98% over five years.
- Many cracked teeth need a crown. Some need only an onlay. We tell you which.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a custom cap that covers the whole visible part of a tooth. It protects a weak tooth, restores a broken one, and brings back the shape and color.
The crown takes the chewing force so the tooth underneath doesn't. That's why a cracked or heavily filled tooth gets a crown instead of another filling. A filling sits inside the tooth. A crown wraps around it.
Same-day CEREC crown vs. lab crown
| Same-day CEREC crown | Lab crown | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | One | Two |
| Time | About two hours | Two to three weeks between visits |
| Temporary crown | None | Yes, for the wait |
| Made by | Milled in our office from a ceramic block | Master ceramist, layered by hand |
| Materials | Lithium disilicate or zirconia | Lithium disilicate, zirconia, or layered porcelain |
| Best for | Back teeth and most premolars | Front teeth where the match has to be perfect |
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. We scan the tooth, design the crown on screen, and mill it from a ceramic block in the office. You walk out with the permanent crown.
For front teeth, we send the case to a master ceramist. A machine can match shade. A ceramist can match the translucency and the tiny color shifts that make a front tooth look real.
Crown vs. filling vs. onlay
| Filling | Onlay | Crown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers | Inside the tooth | One or more cusps | The whole tooth |
| Tooth removed | Least | Some | Most |
| Best for | Small to medium cavities | Large cavities with strong walls left | Cracks, big fillings, root canals |
| Same day | Yes | Yes, with CEREC | Yes, with CEREC |
An onlay saves more tooth than a crown. When the walls are strong enough, we choose the onlay. Dr. Zelen's rule for every restoration is to protect tooth structure first.
Crown materials compared
| Lithium disilicate | Zirconia | Layered porcelain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | High | Highest | Moderate |
| Look | Natural, some translucency | Opaque to translucent, by type | Most lifelike |
| Best for | Most teeth, front and back | Heavy grinders, back molars | Front teeth, by the ceramist |
| Same day | Yes | Yes | No |
We don't use metal crowns. Tooth-colored ceramics are strong enough now for every tooth in the mouth.
When a tooth needs a crown
Cracks spread. A crown holds the tooth together before the crack reaches the root. Once it does, the tooth usually can't be saved.
When more of the tooth is filling than tooth, the walls get thin. They break. A crown replaces the filling and protects what's left.
A tooth with a root canal is more brittle. Back teeth almost always get a crown afterward.
A crown rebuilds the shape and height so the tooth works again.
The crown is the visible tooth on a dental implant.
Crowns on the teeth either side anchor a bridge over a gap.
Is a crown right for your tooth?
A crown is likely the answer
- A cracked tooth that hurts when you chew
- A big filling with a broken wall
- A back tooth after a root canal
Let's talk it through first
- A large cavity where an onlay may do
- A chipped front tooth, where bonding may do
- Several worn teeth, where the bite needs planning first
Something else fits better
- A small cavity, which needs a filling
- A crack into the root, which usually means extraction
- A tooth with active gum disease, treated first
What we do, and what we don't
What we do
We make same-day crowns and onlays for back teeth with CEREC. We send front-tooth crowns to a master ceramist. We choose the material by where the tooth sits and how hard you bite. We check the bite before you leave.
What we don't
We don't crown a tooth that an onlay or filling would serve. We don't place a crown over a crack that's already into the root. And we don't rush a front tooth through the mill to save a visit. The match matters more.
Same-day crown visit, step by step
- 01Numb and prepare.We numb the tooth and shape it for the crown. Old filling and decay come out. This is the longest part.
- 02Scan.A small camera scans the prepared tooth and the teeth around it. No impression material.
- 03Design.We design the crown on screen. You can watch. Shade is matched to your tooth.
- 04Mill.The milling unit cuts the crown from a ceramic block in about 15 minutes. Some materials then go into a small oven to harden and glaze.
- 05Fit and bond.We try the crown in, adjust the fit, and bond it. We check your bite with the numbing still on, and again at your next cleaning.
Plan on about two hours. Bring headphones or watch TV over the chair. Nitrous oxide is available if you'd like it.
Lab crown for a front tooth, step by step
- 01Photos and shade.We photograph the tooth and its neighbors in several lights. Shade matching on a front tooth is the hard part, so we spend time on it.
- 02Prepare and scan.Same as a back tooth, with more care on the edges that will show.
- 03Temporary.You wear a tooth-colored temporary for two to three weeks.
- 04The ceramist.The ceramist layers porcelain by hand to match the translucency and character of your other teeth.
- 05Try-in and bond.We try it in, check the shade in daylight, and bond it only when you and Dr. Zelen both approve.
After your crown
- Wait until the numbness wears off to eat.
- Expect mild sensitivity for a few days.
- Brush and floss the crown like a natural tooth.
- Wear a night guard if you grind.
- Call if your bite feels high. A two-minute adjustment fixes it.
How long crowns last
A well-made ceramic crown lasts many years. A systematic review in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry found lithium disilicate single crowns had a 97.8% survival rate at five years, with limited but good data at ten.
What shortens it
- Grinding without a night guard
- Decay at the edge from skipped flossing
- Chewing ice or opening packages with your teeth
What extends it
The night guard, regular cleanings, and a bite that was adjusted right the first time.
Cost and insurance
Crown cost depends on the material, whether it's a same-day or ceramist crown, and whether the tooth needs a build-up first. You get the cost in writing before we start.
Most dental plans cover a portion of crowns. We file claims on your behalf and offer interest-free CareCredit plans. Financing options
Dental crowns FAQ
Does getting a crown hurt?
Getting a crown doesn't hurt. The tooth is numbed for the preparation, and some sensitivity for a few days afterward is normal.
How long does a same-day crown take?
A same-day CEREC crown takes about two hours from start to finish, and you leave with the permanent crown.
Are same-day crowns as good as lab crowns?
Same-day crowns are made from the same ceramics as lab crowns and perform well on back teeth. For front teeth, a ceramic-made crown gives a closer match.
How long do dental crowns last?
Ceramic crowns last many years. Research shows lithium disilicate crowns survive at about 98% over five years, and a night guard and good flossing extend that.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Back teeth almost always need a crown after a root canal, because the tooth becomes more brittle. Front teeth sometimes don't.
Can a cracked tooth be saved with a crown?
A cracked tooth can usually be saved with a crown if the crack hasn't reached the root. That's why we'd rather see it early.
Do you use metal crowns?
We use tooth-colored ceramic crowns, lithium disilicate, and zirconia. They're strong enough for every tooth.
Where can I get a same-day crown near me in the Duluth area?
Mount Royal Dental makes same-day CEREC crowns at our office on Woodland Avenue in Duluth, MN. Patients come from Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, and Cloquet. Call (218) 464-5222.
Dental crowns on Woodland Avenue
Mount Royal Dental sits at 1624 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, at the corner of Woodland and St. Marie, next to the Mount Royal Shopping Center near UMD.
Monday 8 to 3, Tuesday through Thursday 8 to 4:30, Friday closed. Call (218) 464-5222.
