Crown costs in New Zealand vary with the material, which tooth it's on, and whether the tooth needs other work first - a root canal or a build-up under the crown are common additions. Always ask whether the quote covers the preparation, the temporary crown, the laboratory work and the fitting, or only some of those.
We'll give you a figure, not a range
Quoting a national average here wouldn't help you much - the cost depends on your teeth. After an examination we'll give you a written plan with the cost of each item, before any treatment is booked. Ring 03 441 8248 and we'll arrange it.
What changes the price
- The crown material - porcelain, porcelain bonded to metal, or zirconia
- Which tooth it is; front teeth need more careful shade matching
- Whether the tooth needs root canal treatment first
- Whether a core build-up or post is needed to support the crown
- Laboratory costs, which vary between labs
What you're paying for
A crown involves two appointments and a laboratory. The first appointment prepares the tooth and takes an impression, and you leave with a temporary. The laboratory makes the crown. The second appointment checks the fit, the bite and the shade, then cements it.
A significant part of the cost is the laboratory work - a crown is a custom-made object, not a stock part.
When the total is more than the crown
A tooth broken down enough to need a crown often needs work underneath it first. Root canal treatment, or a build-up to give the crown something to sit on, are both common and both add to the total.
This is the most frequent reason a final bill differs from an initial expectation, so it's worth asking directly: is anything else likely to be needed before the crown goes on?
Is a crown always the answer?
Not always. Where enough sound tooth remains, a large filling or an onlay may do the job for less. Where the tooth is beyond saving, the honest comparison is extraction plus replacement rather than a crown that won't last. We'll tell you which situation you're in.
