How much does a dental crown cost without insurance?

Dental crown cost without insurance

Without insurance you pay the full fee for the crown. The national averages in the table above come from three data sets that do not agree exactly: Pearl uses ADA fee survey data, Real Dental Costs uses state averages, and CareCredit uses its 2023 to 2024 cost study, which spans $697 to $1,399 across crown types.^[1][2][3]

A standard crown fee usually covers the temporary crown, the lab-made permanent crown, tooth preparation and cementing. It generally does not include a core buildup ($150 to $500) or a post and core ($250 to $650), which are billed separately when the tooth needs them.^[2]

What is the cheapest tooth crown you can get?

• Stainless steel: $200 to $500, used mainly for children’s baby teeth.^[2]
• Resin: generally less expensive than other crown types but more fragile than porcelain-fused-to-metal, per Cleveland Clinic.^[8] CareCredit lists a resin or temporary crown at $697 on average.^[3]
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal: usually the most affordable tooth-colored option for an adult tooth.^[2]

Most plans reimburse porcelain, zirconia and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns at the same allowed fee, so the cheapest material may not lower your share with insurance.^[1]

Crown cost with insurance

Crowns are major restorations. Most PPO plans pay 50% of the allowed fee after the deductible, up to the annual maximum.^[1] Real Dental Costs says that leaves most patients paying $500 to $900 per crown.^[2]

• Waiting period: newly enrolled patients often face 6 to 12 months before major benefits apply.^[1]
• Replacement rule: a new crown within five years of the original is typically denied.^[1]
• Medical necessity: plans may deny a crown on a tooth that a filling could fix.^[1]

Root canal and crown cost

Back teeth usually need a crown after a root canal. ValuePenguin’s ADA-based figure for a crown alone is $1,142, below Pearl’s $1,560, because the two use different survey cuts.^[1][4] See root canal cost for the root canal side of the bill.

Is it cheaper to have a tooth pulled or get a crown?

Up front, yes: a simple extraction averages $260 against $1,560 for a crown in Pearl’s national data.^[1][9] The gap closes if you replace the tooth, because a single implant with crown costs about $3,760 to $5,733.^[10] Compare tooth extraction cost and implant cost before you choose, and ask your dentist whether the tooth can be saved.

Can a tooth rot under a crown?

Yes. The crown itself cannot decay, but the natural tooth underneath can. Cleveland Clinic notes that a crown that does not fit properly can trap bacteria and lead to decay.^[8] Pearl says a well-made crown on a sound tooth typically lasts 10 to 15 years; Cleveland Clinic gives an average of 5 to 15 years.^[1][8] Regular checkups and X-rays are how a dentist spots decay at the crown edge.

What happens if I can’t afford a crown?

Ask your dentist which of these fits the tooth:

• A smaller restoration. Cleveland Clinic says an inlay or onlay can restore a tooth that is too damaged for a filling but too healthy to need a crown.^[8]
• A lower-cost material, such as porcelain-fused-to-metal (see the cheapest crowns above).^[2]
• A school clinic or discount plan, both covered in the steps below.

If the crown protects a tooth after a root canal or a large break, ask your dentist how long the tooth can safely wait.

Crown cost by state

Pearl’s state averages run from $1,355 in Oklahoma and $1,375 in Louisiana to $1,905 in New York and $1,975 in Hawaii.^[1] Real Dental Costs’ state averages run from $1,046 in Alabama to $2,331 in California.^[2]

Crowns vs veneers cost

Pearl’s national averages are $1,560 for a crown^[1] and $1,425 for a porcelain veneer.^[6] A veneer covers only the front of the tooth and is usually treated as cosmetic, so insurance rarely pays for it.^[6] See veneers cost.

How to pay less for a crown

1. Match the material to the tooth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal is usually the most affordable tooth-colored option.^[2]
2. Split crowns across two calendar years. If you need more than one, staging them can use two annual maximums.^[2]
3. Try a school clinic. California State University Northridge’s student dental clinic lists a crown at a $425 base fee for its students.^[5]
4. Use a dental discount plan. Care Anytime’s dental benefit shows a sample porcelain-fused-to-noble-metal crown at $804 against a regular cost of $1,557, based on 2021 FAIR Health data for Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago and New York City.^[7] See how dental discount plans work.