Question: Are crowns cheaper with dental insurance?

Reply: Short answer Yes. But in some cases, it means planning. Some dental insurance plans have waiting periods, so you should buy them before needing major dental services. 

Average Cost for Crowns in California without Dental Insurance 

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can cost around $500-$1,500 or more per tooth.
• Metal crowns of gold alloy or base metal alloys can cost $600-$2,500 or more per tooth
• All-porcelain crowns require a higher level of skill and take more time to install than metal or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and can cost $800-$3,000 or more per tooth.

Average Cost for Crowns in California with Insurance

• Generally, dental PPO insurance plans will pay out 50% of the cost of major services (after any waiting periods the plan may have)
• With HMO dental insurance plans they are fee-based, which means they will have a schedule of Services breaking down the cost for each covered item so that the price will vary. However, in many cases, crowns would still be much cheaper, averaging around $200 – $400, than not having dental insurance.
• It is important to note that not all dental insurance plans will cover all-porcelain crowns, so make sure you read the plan’s terms and conditions.