How do I Know if I Need a Porcelain Crown?

When you have a severely damaged tooth, a filling or bonding may not be strong enough to repair it. Then, you may need a dental crown to restore function and aesthetics to your mouth. Porcelain Crowns are a great option for front tooth restoration because they provide outstanding aesthetics.

Will my Insurance Cover Porcelain Crowns?

Most dental insurance companies do not typically cover cosmetic procedures. However, you should always ask your insurance about coverage for dental crowns because benefits vary from one company (or dental plan) to another. If you have a PPO plan, and your insurance provides you with some kind of coverage, we will be happy to send everything to your company so you get reimbursed directly to your home after the treatment.

How Long Do Porcelain Crowns Last?

Porcelain Crowns are long lasting and very resilient. However, as with most restorations, you should be careful and avoid biting on hard foods or doing anything that can hurt your crown (avoid misusing your teeth to open packages or bottle caps, for example). With a regular dental care and proper hygiene (to stop bacteria from leaking in under your crown) your porcelain crown should last 10-20 years.

How Do I Know If I Need to Replace my Porcelain Crown?

Porcelain crowns are normally safely cemented to your tooth or implant and they fit very well. However, if you feel your crowned tooth has become too sensitive, or if your crown feels wobbly, contact your dentist asap to get your crown properly placed again. You will only need to replace your crown if it cracks, chips or gets loose. But with proper care, none of these problems should affect your treatment. As a general rule, see your dentist every six months and you will make sure your teeth are fine and your crown does not need replacement.

Will Porcelain Crowns Cause my Gums to Darken?

Because porcelain crowns are completely made of porcelain (and not fused to metal) they won't leave a dark line over your gums in case your gum line recedes. All porcelain crowns provide outstanding aesthetics to your mouth, and they represent a cosmetic improvement over older metal-ceramic crowns which typically left a dark grey line a short time after treatment.

Porcelain Crowns Delray Beach

Restore a damaged or weakened tooth with a custom porcelain crown in Delray Beach, planned and placed by Dr. Nicholas Goetz — a fellowship-trained maxillofacial prosthodontist and one of approximately 150 of his specialty in the United States.

A Crown That Protects Your Tooth — And Looks Like It Was Always There

When a tooth is cracked, decayed, weakened after a root canal, or damaged beyond what a filling can fix, a porcelain crown restores its full function and appearance. Custom-fabricated to match your surrounding teeth, a crown covers the entire visible portion of the tooth — protecting it from further damage while looking completely natural.

What Are Porcelain Crowns?

A porcelain crown is a custom-made ceramic cap that fits over the entire visible portion of a tooth, restoring its original shape, size, and strength. Unlike metal or metal-fused crowns, full porcelain crowns match the translucency and natural color variation of your surrounding teeth — there’s no dark metal line at the gum line, even if gum tissue recedes over time. They’re used to protect teeth weakened by decay, large fillings, cracks, or root canal treatment, and to restore implants and anchor dental bridges.

Crown Treatments We Offer

Every crown case is different — the extent of damage, tooth location, bite forces, and esthetic goals all shape the approach. Dr. Goetz evaluates the full picture before recommending the right restoration type.

Porcelain Crowns for Natural Teeth

Used to restore damaged or decayed natural teeth, protect teeth after root canal treatment, repair cracked teeth, or replace large failing fillings that can no longer hold. The crown encases the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance.

Implant Crowns

When a dental implant is placed to replace a missing tooth, a custom porcelain crown is attached on top to serve as the visible tooth. Dr. Goetz designs implant crowns to match the color, shape, and size of your surrounding natural teeth — the finished result is indistinguishable from the original tooth.

Crown & Bridge

When multiple teeth in a row are missing, a porcelain bridge uses crowns on the anchor teeth on either side to support replacement teeth in between. Dr. Goetz ensures the bridge is designed to fit your bite precisely and match your surrounding teeth in color and shape.

Crowns as Part of Full Mouth Reconstruction

When multiple teeth need restoration across the full mouth, crowns are often part of a broader reconstruction plan. Dr. Goetz coordinates the full scope — ensuring each crown integrates with the bite, jaw function, and esthetic goals of the complete treatment.

Meet Dr. Nicholas Goetz

Porcelain crowns look simple but require precise planning — shade matching, bite alignment, and margin fit all affect how the restoration performs and how long it lasts. Dr. Nicholas Goetz holds a DMD and MS from the University of Florida, where he completed his Prosthodontic Residency, and went on to complete a Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Fellowship at UCLA — training focused on complex oral and facial reconstruction.

He is one of approximately 150 board-certified maxillofacial prosthodontists in the United States, with clinical experience from U.S. Army and VA Medical Hospital settings. For crown patients, that level of training means every restoration is planned with the full picture in mind — not just the tooth, but the bite, the surrounding teeth, and long-term durability.

Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, UCLA
DMD, MS, and Prosthodontic Residency at the University of Florida
Civilian Maxillofacial Prosthodontist with the U.S. Army and VA Medical Hospital
Among a select group of 150 maxillofacial prosthodontists in the United States

Your Porcelain Crown Appointment

Exam, Imaging & Tooth Preparation

At your first appointment, Dr. Goetz examines the tooth and takes digital X-rays or a CBCT scan to assess the extent of damage and confirm the tooth is a good crown candidate. The tooth is then shaped — a small amount of enamel is removed around the circumference to create space for the crown. Precise impressions are taken and sent to the dental lab. A temporary crown is placed to protect the prepared tooth while your permanent restoration is being made.

Temporary Crown & Lab Fabrication

Your permanent porcelain crown is custom-fabricated at a dental laboratory from your impressions and shade selection. The lab creates a crown designed to match the exact color, translucency, and contour of your surrounding teeth. This stage typically takes one to two weeks. Your temporary crown keeps the tooth protected and functional in the meantime.

Final Crown Placement

When your permanent crown arrives from the lab, the temporary is removed and the new crown is test-fitted before final bonding. Dr. Goetz checks the fit, bite, and color carefully. Once confirmed, the crown is permanently cemented in place and polished. Most patients leave with a fully restored tooth the same day.

Caring for Your Porcelain Crown

Porcelain crowns are cared for just like natural teeth — regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings. Avoid biting hard objects (ice, hard candy, fingernails) that can chip the porcelain. With proper care, a well-placed crown typically lasts 15 years or longer.

Dental and Prosthodontic Financing Available

We believe financial concerns shouldn’t keep you from treatment that can change your daily life. Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics offers flexible financing options so the path to a complete smile feels manageable from the very first visit.

While we are not in-network with insurance companies, we’ll still help you get the most out of your plan. We file claims on your behalf and assist you in securing any reimbursement your PPO plan allows.

Smile Transformations

See the Results for Yourself

Our before and after gallery shows porcelain crown restorations — from single cracked teeth to full smile rebuilds. Each case reflects Dr. Goetz’s precision in matching natural tooth color and restoring full function.

FAQs

Porcelain Crowns FAQs

How long will the implant post and crown last?

When decay, a crack, or damage is too extensive for a filling to adequately restore the tooth’s strength and shape, a crown is the appropriate next step. This is also the standard recommendation after root canal treatment, since the tooth becomes more brittle and needs full coverage protection.

How do I know if I am a candidate for dental implants?

With proper care, porcelain crowns typically last 15 years or longer. Longevity depends on bite forces, oral hygiene habits, and whether you grind your teeth. Dr. Goetz factors in these variables when selecting the crown material and design.

Are dental implants painful?

Coverage varies by plan. Most dental insurance plans provide partial coverage when the crown is clinically necessary — for example, after a root canal or to repair a broken tooth. Cosmetic crown replacements are typically not covered. Our team can help you review your benefits before treatment.

What are the downsides of dental implants?

Yes. Full porcelain crowns are shade-matched to your surrounding teeth using a detailed color mapping process. Unlike metal-fused crowns, all-porcelain restorations have no dark metal base, so there is no gray line at the gum line even if gum tissue recedes over time.

Are dental implants covered by dental insurance?

The preparation appointment is done under local anesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Some sensitivity around the prepared tooth is normal for a few days after. Once the permanent crown is placed and seated correctly, most patients experience no ongoing discomfort.

What Our Patients Say

Transform Your Smile, Transform Your Life

If you’re ready to reclaim your confidence and rediscover the freedom of a complete smile, we’re here for you. Get started by scheduling a consultation or calling our Delray Beach office today.