A badly broken tooth, a tooth that has had root canal treatment, or a gap left by a missing tooth can all be restored in shape and chewing function. Crowns and other restorations are the solutions for cases where a filling is no longer enough.

1. When is a restoration needed?

The tooth is badly broken down, or fillings keep falling out.
A root-filled tooth, especially a back tooth, needs protecting from fracture.
The tooth is discoloured or misshapen and whitening does not help.
One or more teeth are missing.

2. Types of restoration

Crown: covers the whole visible part of a prepared tooth. Used for heavily damaged or root-filled teeth.
Bridge: replaces a missing tooth by anchoring to the two neighbouring teeth. No surgery, but the supporting teeth have to be prepared.
Inlay / Onlay: a ceramic piece made to fit the missing part of the tooth, with less reduction than a crown.
Veneer: a thin ceramic shell bonded to the front of a tooth to improve colour and shape.
Removable denture: an economical option when several teeth are missing.

For a missing tooth, a dental implant avoids preparing the neighbouring teeth. The dentist will compare the options based on your teeth, health and budget.

Crowns and restorations — Illustration — Illustration

3. How a crown is made at HiDentist

Examination and X-ray: the nerve, root and gum are checked. An inflamed tooth needs root canal treatment first. The examination and X-ray are free.
Tooth preparation under local anaesthetic to make room for the crown. A heavily damaged tooth may need a post and core.
Impression and shade selection to match the neighbouring teeth.
Temporary crown to protect the tooth while the final one is made.
Try-in and cementation: the fit, bite and colour are checked, then the crown is fixed in place.

4. How long does it take?

Two visits are usually needed: preparation and impression, then fitting. HiDentist has its own in-house dental laboratory, so we control the timing ourselves: a crown is usually ready in about 3 days, depending on the material and the number of teeth.

Each crown is made individually for the tooth — Illustration — Illustration

5. Cost and warranty

Crown prices are per tooth:

Zirconia (Korea): 2,000,000 ₫ — 3-year warranty
DDBIO (Germany): 3,000,000 ₫ — 7-year warranty
Cercon HT (Germany): 5,000,000 ₫ — 10-year warranty
Lava 3M (USA): 7,000,000 ₫ — 15-year warranty
Orodent Bleach (Italy): 10,000,000 ₫ — 20-year warranty

Inlay / Onlay E.max (Germany): 2,000,000 ₫ per tooth — 2-year warranty
Overlay E.max (Germany): 3,000,000 ₫ per tooth — 7-year warranty
Veneer: 4,000,000 – 8,000,000 ₫ per tooth — 10–15-year warranty depending on the type
Post and core: 300,000 ₫ (metal) or 500,000 ₫ (ceramic)
Removable denture: from 200,000 ₫ per tooth, base not included

See the full price list, including approximate prices in US dollars. The dentist gives you a total after the examination, before treatment starts.

6. If you are visiting Nha Trang

A crown takes about 3 days and two visits, so it is best to start in the first days of your trip.
Send us your arrival and departure dates beforehand — we will tell you honestly whether there is enough time and, if not, suggest a temporary solution.
The warranty is honoured only at our clinic: for a warranty claim you need to come back so the dentist can examine the tooth. Keep this in mind if you live outside Vietnam.

More in Dental treatment while visiting Nha Trang.

7. Looking after crowns

Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth — ceramic does not decay, but the tooth underneath and the gum still can.
Avoid biting very hard things such as ice, bones or bottle caps.
If you grind your teeth at night, tell the dentist; a night guard may be advised.
Have a check-up every six months so the crown margin and gum can be examined.

8. Frequently asked questions

How much of the tooth is removed?

That depends on the restoration. A crown needs the tooth reduced all round; inlays, onlays and veneers preserve more tooth structure. A crown is only recommended when the tooth really needs one.

Does the preparation hurt?

It is done under local anaesthetic, so there is no pain. A living tooth may be slightly sensitive while the temporary crown is in place.

Which material should I choose?

It depends on the position of the tooth, the chewing load and how it needs to look. The materials differ in translucency, strength and warranty period. The dentist will suggest an option that fits your budget.