Dental Crowns & Bridges

Typically around 10–15 years, and often longer with good care, though no crown is guaranteed for life. Common reasons for replacement are new decay at the crown’s edge, gum recession exposing the margin, and wear or chipping over time. The crown itself can’t decay, but the tooth underneath can, so brush twice a day, floss, and keep up regular check-ups and teeth cleaning.

Zirconia is very strong and unlikely to chip in everyday use, but biting ice or bones, or grinding at night, can still damage it; if you grind, your dentist may suggest a night guard. The material resists staining, but it also won’t lighten with whitening, so if you’re planning teeth whitening, do it first and have the crown matched to your new shade.

Zirconia is very strong, which suits back teeth and people who grind. All-ceramic crowns, such as lithium disilicate, let light through much like natural enamel, so they’re often used on front teeth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns have a metal core: durable, but less natural-looking. All our crowns are made without metal, from zirconia or tooth-coloured ceramic, and your dentist will recommend a material based on the tooth’s position, your bite and how it needs to look.

Not necessarily a crown. If the cavity is small and enough healthy tooth remains, a filling is usually enough. Your dentist will suggest a crown when decay is too large for a filling to hold, the tooth is cracked, or it’s badly worn from grinding. Back teeth that have had root canal treatment are more brittle, so a crown or similar cusp-covering restoration is usually recommended to protect them.

It shouldn’t be painful. The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before it’s shaped, and most people feel only light pressure or vibration. For 1–3 days after the crown is fitted, the tooth may be slightly sensitive to hot, cold or biting, which usually settles on its own. Contact the clinic if the pain lasts more than three days, keeps you awake, or hurts when you bite.

Each suits different situations. A bridge needs no surgery and is quicker to complete, but the teeth on either side must be trimmed to hold it, it usually needs replacing after about 10–15 years, and the bone under the gap can still shrink. A dental implant leaves neighbouring teeth untouched and helps preserve the jawbone, but involves minor surgery and a few months of healing. If the neighbouring teeth already need crowns, a bridge may make sense; your dentist will advise based on your bone, gums and adjacent teeth.

Based on the Prince Philip Dental Hospital (PPDH) private patient fee schedule, a crown, bridge, inlay or veneer is about HK$7,700–$12,000 per unit, and a bridge is charged by the number of units involved; these ranges exclude outsourced dental laboratory work and special materials. The actual cost depends on the material, your tooth and how many units you need. For reference only; this is not our clinic’s actual pricing, and your fee is confirmed after an examination. See the full fee reference.