How much is a crown in the UK?

Private UK crowns typically cost GBP 484–GBP 1,210 per unit depending on material and city. Manchester and London practices often charge GBP 871–GBP 1,210 for premium ceramic. NHS Band 3 covers crowns at GBP 319.10 in England (2025/26 rates) but materials and timing are clinic-dependent.

Crown vs veneer — which do I need?

Crowns cover the entire tooth for structural strength. Veneers cover only the visible front surface for aesthetics. Back teeth that are root-treated, cracked, or heavily filled need crowns. Front teeth that are healthy but poorly shaped or discoloured are candidates for veneers.

How long do I stay in Vietnam for crowns?

5–8 days for lab-fabricated porcelain crowns. Multiple crowns on the same trip do not extend the timeline significantly — prep and impressions happen day 1–2, the lab turn is 3–4 working days, and fitting is the final day.

Can crowns be done after root canal?

Yes, and they usually should be. Most root-treated molars and premolars become brittle over time. Plan the crown on the same trip as the root canal — see /root-canal/.

Do porcelain crowns look natural?

Emax and Lava crowns are the most natural-looking options. Shade is matched to your adjacent teeth or, if you are having a full smile plan, to the target shade chosen at the wax-up stage.

Is Emax or zirconia better for front teeth?

Emax is generally preferred for front teeth because of its translucency and layered aesthetics. Zirconia is stronger and suits molars. Lava zirconia combines both properties with a 10-year warranty.

Crowns

Dental crowns from GBP 145 - restore broken teeth | Picasso Vietnam

Porcelain and zirconia crowns at Picasso Dental Clinic Vietnam - material comparison table, GBP pricing, single-trip options, and when crowns beat veneers for UK patients.

Dental crowns at Picasso Dental Clinic start at GBP 145 per unit (porcelain fused to titanium) and reach GBP 493 for premium ORODENT ceramic - compared with GBP 484–GBP 1,210 per crown at UK private clinics - restoring heavily filled, cracked, or root-treated teeth with full-coverage ceramics.

Dental crowns at Picasso Dental Clinic start at GBP 145 per unit and reach GBP 493 for ORODENT premium ceramic. UK private clinics typically charge GBP 484–GBP 1,210 per crown. A crown is a full-coverage ceramic cap cemented over a prepared tooth — the standard restoration when a tooth is cracked, heavily filled, root-treated, or structurally compromised.

This page covers which material suits which situation, the complete GBP price table, how crowns differ from veneers, and what the Vietnam trip looks like when crowns are part of a treatment plan.

Material comparison table

Material	GBP per unit	Warranty	Best for
Porcelain fused to titanium	GBP 145	5 years	Functional restorations where aesthetics are secondary
Zirconia	GBP 203	5 years	Molars needing strength; white but not translucent
CERCON HT / Ceramill Zolid	GBP 232	5–7 years	High-strength zirconia with improved aesthetics
Emax	GBP 261	7 years	Front teeth and premolars — best translucency and aesthetics
Lava	GBP 319	10 years	Front and back teeth — combines Emax-class aesthetics with molar strength
Lava Plus	GBP 348	10 years	Full-arch cases where consistency matters across all teeth
ORODENT	GBP 493	10 years	Premium full-arch and complex restorations

Prices correct as at May 2026. Material choice is confirmed in your written plan before treatment begins.

How UK prices compare

Crown type	Typical UK private price
Zirconia or Emax equivalent	GBP 484 – GBP 871
Premium lab ceramic	GBP 871 – GBP 1,210
Manchester / London premium tier	GBP 1,045 – GBP 1,210

A patient replacing six molar crowns at a UK practice faces GBP 2,904–GBP 7,260. At Picasso, the same six zirconia crowns cost GBP 1,218. Combining the crown trip with other treatments (whitening, implant planning, veneers on visible teeth) improves the overall value of the visit.

Crown vs veneer — the clinical difference

	Crown	Veneer
Coverage	Full tooth	Front surface only
Tooth preparation	All surfaces reduced	Front surface, minimal prep
Best use	Cracked, root-treated, or heavily filled teeth	Healthy teeth needing shape or colour change
Typical position	Molars, premolars, and structurally weak front teeth	Upper front teeth, lower visible teeth
Material	Zirconia or Emax	Emax Press (GBP 261), Lisi, or composite
Strength	Higher — full cap	Lower — thin shell on intact tooth

If you are unsure whether you need crowns or veneers on your front teeth, submit photos via /free-quote/ and the clinical response will distinguish the two.

When a crown is the right choice

You almost certainly need a crown rather than a veneer if:

The tooth has had a root canal (brittle; needs protection from splitting)
More than 50% of the original tooth structure is filled or decayed
There is a crack that extends into the body of the tooth
You have a heavily worn tooth from grinding
A previous large filling has failed repeatedly

Crowns are the correct choice for most back teeth restorations.

The crown procedure at Picasso

Day 1:

Examination, existing X-rays reviewed or new X-ray taken
Any decay removed; old filling cleared; root canal completed if needed
Core buildup placed if tooth structure is insufficient (GBP 29)
Tooth reduced evenly on all surfaces — typically 1.5–2mm
Digital scan or impression taken for lab
Temporary crown placed — protects the prepared tooth while lab fabricates the final

Days 2–5:

Lab fabrication in 3–4 working days (Emax, Zirconia, Lava)

Day 5–7:

Temporary removed; tooth cleaned
Final crown trialled for fit, bite, and shade match
Cemented; bite adjusted; final photographs

All sterilisation protocols follow ISO 17665 standards — details at /safety/sterilisation-standards/.

Combining crowns with other work

Crowns are most cost-effective when combined with other treatment on the same trip. Common combinations:

Combination	Why it makes sense
Crowns + root canal	Already on the same teeth — one trip covers both
Crowns + veneers	Back teeth get crowns, front teeth get veneers — full smile plan
Crowns + implants	Missing teeth filled while damaged teeth are capped
Crowns + bridge	Abutment teeth capped as part of the bridge unit

See /pricing/ for all itemised line prices.

Shade matching and cosmetic precision

When crowns are placed alongside veneers or whitening, shade choice is critical. Picasso uses the Vita shade system and photographs at each stage. For full smile plans:

Whitening is done first to establish baseline shade of natural teeth
Wax-up mock-up is reviewed before any tooth is prepared
Emax or Lava is chosen for anterior crowns to match veneer translucency
Written approval before permanent cement

UK cost context for multiple crowns

Replacing six molars in the UK at GBP 871–GBP 1,210 each comes to GBP 5,226–GBP 7,260. Flights to Hanoi from London are typically GBP 580–GBP 870 return. Even accounting for 7 days of accommodation (GBP 35–GBP 70 per night near the clinic), the total Picasso cost for six Emax crowns is around GBP 1,566–GBP 2,156 all-in including flights and accommodation — substantially below the UK range.

The calculation tips further in Vietnam’s favour when you add a smile makeover, whitening, or additional restorations.

Who should stay local

Crowns are not worth flying for if:

You need a single crown and have no other treatment — the flight cost narrows the saving significantly
Your prepared tooth has acute infection requiring urgent UK attention
You have a medical condition requiring management before elective dentistry

For urgent dental problems, see your UK dentist first and use Vietnam for planned restorative work.

Trip planning for crowns

Treatment count	Recommended stay
1–3 crowns	5–7 days
4–8 crowns	7–9 days (same lab cycle)
8+ crowns or full-arch	10–14 days; confirm with coordinator

Use /uk-guide/timeline/ for annual-leave planning.

Next step

Upload a recent OPG or dental photos at Free GBP quote with a note on which teeth need work. The response names the material recommended, the GBP total, and the trip length.

Veneers — front teeth aesthetics
Bridges — span a missing tooth using crowned neighbours
Root canal — commonly followed by a crown
Smile makeover — crowns as part of a full aesthetic plan
Full mouth reconstruction — complex mixed cases