Dental Crown Cost Singapore: Does Insurance Cover Porcelain Crowns?

Given the recent financial rise in healthcare services, Singaporeans are concerned about whether dental insurance will cover their dental treatments. This is especially true when crowns are strongly advised to protect the tooth after root canal treatment.

Some lean towards porcelain crowns in general as they are aesthetically pleasing. Let us see how dental insurance can help with the costs of porcelain crowns and what factors to consider when seeking coverage.

What are porcelain crowns?

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a damaged, decayed, or discoloured tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns are also used to cover dental implants and protect a treated tooth after a root canal treatment. The main types of dental crowns include metal crowns, ceramic or porcelain crowns and porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns.

Porcelain crowns are specialised dental restorations that match the colour of your teeth and provide a durable and natural-looking solution for damaged or decayed teeth. These custom-made crowns offer strength, protection and aesthetic improvement to the overall appearance of your smile. Metal crowns are durable and can withstand biting and chewing forces. They are typically used for out-of-sight molars as their metallic colour makes them less suitable for front teeth.

Thanks to their long-lasting durability and natural look, porcelain crowns are ideal for addressing dental issues such as decay, cracks, chips, discolouration and misalignment. The longevity of dental crowns ranges from 5 to 15 years, with an average of 10 years. Check out our website to learn more about Dental crowns at Dental Designs.

Well, does dental insurance cover crowns?

Dental insurance coverage for porcelain crowns can vary depending on their plans and policies. It may entirely or partially cover the cost of porcelain crowns if deemed necessary for dental health and not solely for cosmetic purposes. If teeth are damaged due to an accident, insurance may be claimed to restore them.

Reading your dental insurance policies to determine what treatments are covered is essential. Some insurance plans might make you wait before they cover certain treatments, like porcelain dental crowns. They might also have a limit on how many crowns they'll cover each year or you might need pre-approval from them first. 

It is advisable to consult with your dentist and insurance provider to learn more about the coverage details and any extra costs you might need to pay, like co-pays or deductibles. Your dentist's office can often help with the insurance claims process to ensure accurate billing and maximise your benefits.

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How much does a dental crown cost in Singapore?

The cost of dental crowns in Singapore ranges from $700 to $2000. The cost of these crowns differs in public and private dental institutions. The list of average fees Singapore's public institutions offer for specific dental procedures can be found on the Ministry of Health (MOH) website. The following table shows the average prices. For more details, please check with the institutions directly.  

*Please note that the data provided is from 2022. We recommend contacting the respective organisations directly for the most current pricing information. 

What else can I use my dental insurance for?

• Check up 
• Professional cleaning 
• Fillings
• X-rays 
• Simple and surgical extractions
• Root canal treatment
• Emergency treatments
• Periodontal treatments
• Certain Medication

Most of Singapore's dental insurance plans do not fully cover procedures that are not considered non-essential or elective, such as orthodontics and fixed restorations like crowns under aesthetic treatments.

Chas Dental Subsidy Claims:

Singaporeans with Chas Dental insurance services may get a subsidy on the standard cost of permanent crowns.

You can check out the following list of Subsidy claims you may get for different Chas Policies below: 

* For more information on CHAS benefits, visit CHAS website.

MediSave Dental Claims:

Most dental treatments are not claimable under the MediSave schemes unless they involve surgery and are performed for medical reasons. Non-surgical dental treatments such as crowns (porcelain or other crowns), simple extractions, professional cleaning and filling, dentures and braces are not Medisave claimable. Medisave can be claimed for the following:

• Dental implants 
• Wisdom tooth surgeries
• Surgical removal of retained roots/fractured teeth
• Sinus lift
• Bone graft surgery
• Gum Surgery

Alternatives to dental crowns include normal fillings for minor tooth damage, dental implants for missing teeth and other procedures that might be more suitable depending on the individual case.

Conclusion

There are some common misconceptions about dental insurance coverage for porcelain crowns. Some dental insurance typically covers porcelain crowns if necessary for dental health reasons, such as restoring a decayed or damaged tooth due to accidents. At the same time, they may also cover a portion of the cost. 

However, coverage may not be provided for cosmetic purposes, such as improving the appearance of a perfectly healthy tooth. You must check with your insurance provider for more information on the procedures you can claim. 

If you have any questions regarding dental crowns, feel free to reach out to us and we will get right back to you! 

WhatsApp us at : +65 8200 9092

Call us at : +65 6221 8284

References:

1. MOH | Average Fee For Dental Procedures. (2019). AVERAGE FEE FOR DENTAL PROCEDURES. https://www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/average-fee-for-dental-procedures 
2. CHAS
   https://www.chas.sg/Documents/Form%20and%20Other%20Materials/Dental%20subsidy%20table_Mar2021.pdf

3. The ultimate guide to restoration longevity in England and Wales. Part 5: crowns: time to next intervention and to the extraction of the restored tooth. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.523