Cosmetic Dentistry Center NYC

Treatment

Porcelain Implant Crowns in NYC

Porcelain crowns restore cracked, worn, or missing teeth with a full-coverage ceramic restoration that fits over a prepared tooth or onto a dental implant abutment. At Cosmetic Dentistry NYC, Dr. Pia Lieb, DDS, designs each crown at her Park Avenue South practice in Manhattan.

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What is a porcelain crown?

A porcelain crown is a full-coverage ceramic restoration cemented over a prepared tooth or attached to a dental implant abutment. It rebuilds the tooth’s original shape, biting surface, and appearance above the gum line.

Porcelain transmits and reflects light the way natural enamel does, which is why it replaces metal and acrylic in visible areas. A crown covers the entire clinical crown of the tooth, unlike porcelain veneers, which cover only the front surface.

When do you need a porcelain crown?

A porcelain crown is indicated when a tooth has lost too much structure for a filling, an inlay, or a veneer to restore predictably. Crowns also restore single dental implants after a specialist places the implant.

Not every damaged tooth requires full coverage. Conservative dental inlays and onlays rebuild the biting surface while preserving healthy enamel, and Dr. Pia evaluates that option before recommending a crown.

  1. 1Cracked or fractured teeth. A tooth that requires full-cusp coverage.
  2. 2Failed large fillings. A filling that has left thin remaining walls.
  3. 3Root canal-treated teeth. A tooth left brittle after treatment.
  4. 4Severe decay. Decay that has destroyed the biting surface.
  5. 5A missing tooth. Restored on a dental implant.
  6. 6Misshapen or discolored teeth. A tooth that veneers cannot correct.

How does a porcelain crown restore a dental implant?

A porcelain implant crown attaches to an abutment, which connects to a titanium implant placed in the jawbone. The implant replaces the root, the abutment joins the two components, and the crown is the visible restoration.

Dr. Pia refers implant placement to an oral surgeon or periodontist in her referral network, then restores the finished dental implants with the final crown. Implant-supported single crowns show a 94.5% five-year survival rate, and the supporting implants survive at 96.8%.

Implant crowns are either screw-retained or cement-retained. Screw-retained crowns are removable through an access channel. Cement-retained crowns allow finer control of the emergence profile where the crown meets the gum tissue.

Porcelain crown restoration by Dr. Pia Lieb at Cosmetic Dentistry Center NYC — photo 1
Porcelain crown restoration by Dr. Pia Lieb at Cosmetic Dentistry Center NYC — photo 2

Why must back teeth be restored before front teeth?

Posterior teeth carry the chewing load. Dr. Pia requires missing or compromised back teeth to be restored before anterior crowns or veneers are placed, because front porcelain fractures when it absorbs forces the back teeth should carry.

In Dr. Pia’s words:

“We chew with our back teeth. If we don't have back teeth, we chew with our front teeth. Front teeth are for biting, not chewing. Porcelain will break.”

Occlusion determines whether a restoration survives. Dr. Pia assesses every patient for alignment and may recommend Invisalign before restorative work, so the finished crown meets a stable and evenly loaded bite.

What happens during the porcelain crown process in Manhattan?

Treatment begins with a one-hour consultation with Dr. Pia. She reviews X-rays, evaluates occlusion, and presents every restorative option. Crown treatment then proceeds through preparation, temporary placement, laboratory fabrication, and final delivery.

The practice treats one patient at a time with a 15-minute buffer between appointments, following the Dr. Pia Method. Patients never encounter one another.

  1. 1Booking. A $500 consultation fee is charged at the time of booking and credited in full toward treatment. Appointments require at least 72 hours notice, and the practice does not book online.
  2. 2Records. Patients email existing X-rays before the appointment so Dr. Pia reviews them in advance.
  3. 3Consultation. A full diagnostic evaluation covering X-ray review, occlusion assessment, material selection, and every treatment option, with no pressure to decide that day.
  4. 4Preparation. Dr. Pia prepares the tooth under local anesthesia and takes impressions for the ceramist.
  5. 5Temporary crown. The temporary shapes gum tissue and confirms height, contour, and proportion.
  6. 6Fabrication. A master ceramist layers and fires the final porcelain by hand.
  7. 7Delivery. Dr. Pia verifies fit, shade, and bite, then cements the final crown.

How long do porcelain crowns last?

All-ceramic single crowns show five-year survival rates between 95.4% and 96.4% depending on the ceramic used. Implant-supported single crowns survive at 94.5% over the same period, and the implants beneath them survive at 96.8%.

Three factors govern crown lifespan: occlusion, parafunction, and hygiene. A crown loaded outside its design limit fractures early regardless of material quality. A crown seated on a balanced bite outlasts one placed on an unstable one.

Grinding and clenching load porcelain beyond its intended threshold. Patients who grind are fitted with a night guard to distribute force away from the restoration during sleep.

How much do porcelain crowns cost?

Crown pricing is set after a diagnostic consultation, because the fee depends on the material, the tooth position, and whether the crown restores a natural tooth or an implant. The consultation fee is $500 and is credited in full toward treatment.

The practice operates on a fee-for-service basis. Payment is accepted by credit card, wire transfer, check, and cash. Third-party financing is available through CareCredit for patients who prefer to spread treatment costs over time.

Why choose Dr. Pia Lieb for porcelain crowns in NYC?

Dr. Pia Lieb, DDS, has practiced cosmetic dentistry exclusively for more than 30 years. She graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1988 and holds the title of Clinical Assistant Professor Emerita at NYU College of Dentistry.

Crowns are designed as one element of a complete smile makeover rather than as isolated repairs, so shade, proportion, and midline stay consistent across the entire smile.

Cosmetic-only practice, with general dentistry declined by design

Single provider and single location, so Dr. Pia designs and places every crown herself

Approximately 19 years teaching at NYU College of Dentistry and Tel Aviv University

One patient at a time, with a 15-minute buffer between every appointment

All staff sign non-disclosure agreements, and no patient name or likeness is ever used in marketing

Patients travel from New Jersey, Connecticut, and internationally for treatment

Frequently asked questions about porcelain crowns

Feldspathic crowns are layered and fired by hand by a master ceramist, which reproduces the translucency of natural enamel. 3D printed ceramic crowns are produced digitally from a single block. Dr. Pia recommends feldspathic porcelain for front teeth, where an exact match matters, and 3D printed ceramic for back teeth, where chewing strength outranks shade precision.

Patient Reviews

Featured Review

Nancy Edsparr

Dr Pia is the absolute best! Her attention to detail, her care and concern for her patient, and her hard-headed determination to settle for nothing but perfection makes both the experience in her chair and the resulting smile exemplary. I consulted with 5 different cosmetic dentists before finding Dr Pia and realizing that she was the only one I could trust with my teeth. While her results are magnificent, her care for the health and well being of your teeth is really unmatched. She doesn't unnecessarily cut your gums or grind your teeth. She spent a full day making sure that all my teeth were healthy and there was no decay before starting the cosmetic part of my case. When I finally saw my beautiful veneers, Dr Pia felt the margin between the gum and veneer on one of them was not tight enough and needed to be fixed. I didn't even notice it, but she wasn't satisfied. Veneers are a big investment in money and time, but healthy teeth are the most important. When you put yourself in Dr Pia's care, you can rest easy that under the beautiful smile she creates for you, you have a healthy foundation that will keep your new smile looking good for years to come.

Brooke Shields

Dr. Pia is a perfectionist and this is what you want for a dentist! She goes out of her way to accommodate her clients. Thanks, Pia!

Achilles Zarbis

I've been seeing Dr Pia for 20 years and she is the best- Dr. Pia is amazing, after my visit I felt much more clean and confident than any other dentist has ever made me feel. I am so appreciative of how much she helped me, her great office, and her kind personality, and I am excited to come back.

Patti Schmidt

Dr. Pia has an attention to detail like my own and really listens to what you want for your teeth. She’s a true artist, and my experience has been wonderful!

Eric Price

Dr. Pia was very helpful and straightforward with options available to me. She took her time to understand what I was looking for and how to be of best help. Unlike other dentists, she doesn’t rush you in/out, and you can tell immediately she actually cares about her work & patients. 10/10 would recommend for anyone seeking cosmetic dentistry work. Thanks!

Agnes Lermani

Dr. Pia is the ultimate cosmetic dentist in New York. Her precision, artistry, and expertise in smile makeovers are unmatched. My results are natural and flawless. Truly life changing. If you want the best, Dr. Pia is the one to trust.

Danielle T

Dr. Pia at Cosmetic Dentistry Center is the best cosmetic dentist I’ve ever been to! I’ve been seeing her for years and I’ve never had a dentist take better care of me. And the best part is they have a massage chair for while you’re waiting!

Aymun Salman

Dr. Pia is the best! Her practice is a far cry from your usual stuffy and boring dentist's office. I came to her specifically because she has been a cosmetic dentistry mainstay in Manhattan for a long time, and her results are consistent and natural.

Emily Van Raay

Dr. Pia is the best for cosmetic dentistry - she flawlessly fixed a discoloration on my tooth as well as my alignment !!

Alina Senkiv

I came here for the Dr.Pia’s experience for do my veneers, and I left very satisfied. The consultation lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the doctor provided me with all the information. She saw me and helped bring all my wishes to life.

Nathalie Lyon

Pia is amazing. She is an excellent doctor. Clear communicator and painless as possible. Her knowledge and craftsmanship is incredible. No one compares. She always goes above and beyond, she gave me my smile back!

Electra Zarbis

Dr. Pia changed my life and gave me better advice than any other dentist. I have had a lot of dental issues and the orthodontists I’ve been to haven’t been very helpful, but Dr. Pia told me exactly what I need to do and what help I need to request from my orthodontist.

Theodora Z

Dr. Pia is a smile MIRACLE WORKER! I had some very challenging dental problems that I had tried to resolve at two other dental offices. I was so disappointed that my front teeth supposedly could not be restored properly.

Paul Marron

I've been seeing Dr Pia for 20 years and she is the best- she's always paid close attention to my dental health and pointed out exactly what was happening (in my case it was grinding) she helped get me fixed up with a proper night guard. She also gave excellent advice to take with me after my appointment. Her staff is also exceptional with scheduling- thank you Maryem for sorting us all out! see you in 6 months!

Nicole

Dra Pia is one of a kind an the best in every way. Her work is outstanding, she is the Michelangelo of smiles! I had the experience myself and highly recommend Cosmetic Dentistry Center NYC. You will be treated as royalty, she is so good in what she does! Her office is beautiful, elegant and chic, and her staff very nice and friendly.

Bryanna John

I just had the best experience with Dr.Pia and her assistant Luz! I had a veneer emergency and Dr.Pia saw me right away. She is so skilled, so knowledgeable, funny, and her office is really a vibe. I love it here. If you ever thought about coming here don’t think about it, JUST DO IT! This office is really the best

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