What is the cost of 2 crowns?

Without insurance, two dental crowns typically cost between $1,600 and $5,000, with the national average landing around $2,700 to $2,800 total.

The exact price depends heavily on the materials used, your location, and whether you have dental insurance.

Cost Breakdown by Material (For 2 Crowns)

The type of material your dentist uses is the biggest factor in your final bill:

⚠️ The Insurance "Catch" for Two Crowns

Most dental insurance plans cover up to 50% of the cost for medically necessary crowns. With insurance, you might expect to pay about $1,000 to $1,800 out of pocket for a pair of crowns.

However, you need to watch out for your annual maximum benefit, which is usually capped between $1,000 and $2,000 per year. Because crowns are expensive, the cost of the very first crown will often max out your insurance for the year. This means you may have to pay 100% out of pocket for the second crown.

Tip: If the work isn't an emergency, ask your dentist if you can split the treatment—putting one crown on in December and the second in January—to utilize two different insurance benefit years.

Additional Costs to Expect

Rarely does a crown procedure just include the cap itself. Depending on the condition of your teeth, you may face these extra per-tooth fees:

• Core Build-up: $200 – $500 (Needed to reconstruct the tooth structure so the crown has something to hold onto).
• Root Canal: $700 – $1,600 (Required if the tooth's nerve is dead or infected).
• Diagnostic Exams & X-rays: $75 – $350.

Two typical dental crowns cost between $1,600 and $5,000 total out-of-pocket if you do not have insurance, with most standard single crowns averaging $800 to $2,500 per tooth. If you have dental insurance, the out-of-pocket cost for two crowns is typically cut in half, dropping to between $800 and $2,400 total.

Cost Breakdown by Material (For Two Crowns)

The material used to make the crowns is the biggest factor driving the total price:

Potential Additional Fees

When getting a crown, the cap itself is often not the only expense. Depending on the condition of your teeth, you may face additional charges per tooth:

• Diagnostic Fees: Routine exams and X-rays add $75 to $350.
• Core Buildup: If a tooth is heavily decayed or broken, the dentist must reconstruct the base first, adding $200 to $600 per tooth.
• Root Canal Therapy: If the tooth's nerve is infected, a root canal will add $600 to $1,600 per tooth before the crown can be placed.

How Insurance Affects the Cost

Most private dental insurance policies categorize crowns as "major restorative services" and will cover 50% of the cost.

However, you must keep the annual maximum in mind. Most insurance plans cap their annual payouts between $1,000 and $2,000 per calendar year. Because two crowns can easily max out your policy limits, you may have to pay the standard 50% copay for the first crown, and a much higher percentage out-of-pocket for the second crown once the annual limit is reached.

A cost of $2,000 for a single dental crown is on the higher end of the typical average, but it is within the normal price range for many areas in the United States.

Average Costs

• National range: Dental crowns typically cost between $800 and $3,000 per tooth without insurance.
• Average price: Most patients pay around $1,200 to $1,500 for a standard crown.
• High-end pricing: A $2,000 quote is normal for high-cost-of-living metropolitan areas or premium materials.

What Drives the Price Up

• Material: High-end all-porcelain/ceramic or premium zirconia crowns cost more than basic metal or porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) options.
• Location: Dental offices in major cities or wealthy suburbs charge higher overhead fees.
• Additional prep work: Make sure the $2,000 quote is only for the crown itself and does not include extra fees for a core buildup, temporary crown, post-and-core, or root canal if the tooth needs underlying repairs.

A traditional dental crown procedure takes two to three weeks in total, spread across two separate appointments.

The Timeline Breakdown

• First Visit (Preparation): Lasts 60 to 90 minutes. The dentist numbs the area, shapes the tooth, takes an impression, and places a temporary crown.
• The Waiting Period: Takes 2 to 3 weeks while an outside dental lab makes your permanent crown. You wear the temporary crown during this time.
• Second Visit (Placement): Lasts 30 to 45 minutes. The dentist removes the temporary crown and permanently bonds the new, custom permanent crown into place.

Note: If your dentist offers same-day crowns using in-office milling technology (like CEREC), the entire process takes about 2 hours in a single visit.

Two front teeth crowns typically cost between $1,600 and $6,000 total without insurance, averaging about $2,000 to $3,000 per pair for standard porcelain or ceramic materials.

Cost Breakdown Per Tooth

• Porcelain or All-Ceramic: $1,000 to $3,000 per tooth (most common for front teeth due to natural color matching).
• Zirconia: $1,000 to $3,000 per tooth (very strong and tooth-colored).
• Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM): $800 to $2,500 per tooth (less ideal for front teeth because a dark metal line can show near the gums).

Additional Fees

• Exams and X-rays: $75 to $250
• Core Build-ups or Posts: $200 to $650 per tooth (if the teeth are structurally weak or broken down)
• Root Canals: $700 to $1,600 per tooth (if the nerves are damaged)

Insurance and Savings

• Dental Insurance: Most plans cover up to 50% of medically necessary crowns after deductibles, lowering your out-of-pocket cost for two teeth to roughly $600 to $2,400 total. Purely cosmetic crowns are usually not covered.
• Payment Options: You can use an Aspen Dental Savings Plan, flexible spending accounts (FSA/HSA), or office financing via providers like CareCredit.