A dental crown is a custom cap that covers the whole visible part of a tooth when too much of it is broken, decayed or weakened for a filling to hold. At Lebanon Dental Studio in Dbayeh, Dr. Rita Kanbar, a prosthodontist, designs and fits every crown, using zirconia where strength matters and E.max where appearance matters most.
Every smile is different. Message Dr. Rita and she will look at your case personally and guide you on the next step.
Ask Dr. Rita on WhatsAppPrefer to explore first? Read what a prosthodontist does.
Key Facts
- Dr. Rita Kanbar (DDS, MSc in Aesthetic and Prosthetic Dentistry) designs and fits crowns, bridges and implant crowns at C.Metric Beauty Dental Clinic, Dbayeh.
- Zirconia is used where strength matters (molars, grinders, bridges). E.max lithium disilicate is used where appearance matters (front teeth).
- A crown on a natural tooth usually takes two visits, about one to two weeks apart.
- An implant crown is fitted after 3 to 6 months of healing, once our oral surgeon has placed the implant.
- A large systematic review found that more than nine in ten lithium disilicate single crowns were still in service after five years.
- Digital X-rays are taken on site. When a case needs 3D imaging, it is arranged at a partner imaging centre.
When Do You Need a Crown?
Dr. Rita chooses the smallest restoration that will last. The options run roughly in this order:
- Filling: a small or medium cavity with strong walls around it.
- Inlay or onlay: a larger gap, or one lost cusp, where the rest of the tooth is still sound. An onlay keeps more natural tooth than a crown.
- Veneer: a healthy front tooth that needs a change of shape or colour, covering only the front surface.
- Crown: a cracked tooth, a tooth that is more filling than tooth, a back tooth after a root canal, or teeth badly worn down by grinding.
If you are unsure where your tooth falls, our article on the difference between a veneer, a crown and a filling explains each one with examples.
Zirconia vs E.max Crowns
Both materials give you a white, metal-free crown with no dark line at the gum. E.max (lithium disilicate) is a glass ceramic with natural translucency. It is bonded to the tooth and suits front teeth and premolars in a normal bite, where it looks closest to enamel.
Monolithic zirconia is milled from a single block of very strong ceramic. It is the usual choice for molars, for patients who grind, for bridges and for most implant crowns. Modern multilayer zirconia has a gradient of shade, so it looks natural at the back of the mouth.
Layered zirconia has a zirconia core with porcelain built over it by a ceramist. It can give front teeth extra strength with good aesthetics, but the outer porcelain can chip. A large review of single crowns found layered zirconia crowns were lost more often to chipping of that outer layer, so Dr. Rita uses layering selectively.
| Material | Where it suits | Appearance | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.max | Front teeth, premolars with a normal bite | Most lifelike translucency | Good for normal bite forces |
| Monolithic zirconia | Molars, grinders, bridges, implant crowns | Natural at the back, a little more opaque | Very high |
| Layered zirconia | Front teeth needing extra strength | Close to E.max | Strong core, outer porcelain can chip |
Front Teeth vs Back Teeth
Front crowns are judged on looks first, so E.max usually wins here. Back crowns are judged on strength first, because molars take most of your chewing force, so zirconia is the safer choice. If you clench or grind, Dr. Rita leans towards zirconia throughout and adds a night guard. Our guide to teeth grinding at night explains why.
Crowns on Implants
When a tooth is missing, an implant can carry a crown. Our oral surgeon places the implant, and the bone needs 3 to 6 months to heal around it. Dr. Rita then takes a precise impression, chooses the abutment and fits the final crown, usually in zirconia. For patients from abroad, implant placement and the final crown are often split across two trips. See our dental implants page for the full sequence.
Bridges, Briefly
A bridge replaces a missing tooth by crowning the teeth on either side and joining a false tooth between them. It makes sense when an implant is not possible, or when the neighbouring teeth already need crowns. You clean under a bridge with floss threaders or small interdental brushes. Our comparison of a dental bridge vs an implant sets out the trade-offs.
What Happens at Each Visit
Visit 1. Dr. Rita examines the tooth, takes digital X-rays and explains the options. If the nerve is affected, our endodontist completes a root canal first. Under local anaesthesia, the tooth is shaped, an impression or scan is taken, the shade is matched, and you leave with a temporary crown.
Visit 2. About one to two weeks later, the final crown is tried in. Fit, contact with the neighbouring teeth and the bite are checked before it is cemented or bonded. Patients from abroad should plan for one to two weeks in Lebanon, longer if a root canal comes first.
How Long Crowns Last and How to Look After Them
Many crowns last 10 to 15 years, and well-made crowns on healthy, well-cleaned teeth often last longer. In a systematic review of more than 14,000 single crowns, more than nine in ten lithium disilicate and metal-ceramic crowns were still in service after five years. Problems usually start at the edge of the crown, where new decay or gum inflammation can begin, so brush along the gum line, floss daily, wear a night guard if you grind, and come in for a check-up twice a year.
What Moves the Cost of a Crown
Lebanese rules do not allow clinics to publish fees, but the factors are clear: the material (E.max, monolithic or layered zirconia), hand finishing by the ceramist, foundation work such as a core build-up, a post or a root canal, the abutment and parts for an implant crown, and the number of units in a bridge. Treatment in Lebanon typically costs much less than in Western Europe, North America or the Gulf. Our dental treatment costs page explains how personal estimates are prepared.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need a crown or a filling?
It depends on how much healthy tooth is left. A filling works when the walls around the cavity are strong. Once a large part of the tooth is filling, cracked, or weakened after a root canal on a back tooth, a filling is likely to break, and an onlay or crown protects it better. Dr. Rita decides after an exam and X-rays.
Is zirconia or E.max better for a crown?
Neither wins everywhere. E.max looks more like natural enamel and suits front teeth and premolars with a normal bite. Zirconia is stronger and suits molars, bridges, implant crowns and patients who grind. Many patients end up with both: E.max at the front and zirconia at the back. The choice is made at your consultation, tooth by tooth.
Does getting a crown hurt?
The preparation visit is done under local anaesthesia, so you should feel pressure but no pain. Once the numbness wears off, the tooth and gum can feel tender for a day or two, and some people notice mild sensitivity to cold. Both usually settle quickly. The second visit, when the final crown is fitted, rarely needs anaesthesia at all.
How long does a zirconia crown last?
A monolithic zirconia crown is very resistant to fracture, and many last 10 to 15 years or longer. The crown itself is rarely the weak point: decay at the margin or gum disease around the tooth are more common reasons for replacement. Good cleaning at the gum line, a night guard if you grind, and regular check-ups make the biggest difference.
Can I get a crown in one trip to Lebanon?
For a crown on a natural tooth, usually yes. The two visits are about one to two weeks apart, so a stay of that length is enough. If the tooth needs a root canal first, add a few days. An implant crown is different: the implant needs 3 to 6 months to heal, so placement and the final crown are often split across two trips.
Book a Crown Consultation
Send a photo of the tooth and any recent X-ray on WhatsApp to +961 71 677 261. Dr. Rita looks at it and replies personally, usually within the hour during clinic hours, and the final plan and quote are confirmed after an in-person exam. Appointments are at C.Metric Beauty Dental Clinic, 6th Floor, Dbayeh 76 Tower, Dbayeh Internal Road, near ABC Dbayeh. Hours are Monday to Friday 10:30 to 19:00 and Saturday 10:30 to 13:30, in English, French or Arabic. For the wider range of prosthetic work, see our prosthetic dentistry page.