Dental Crowns in Turkey: Zirconia, E-max and Porcelain Options

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that fits over the whole visible part of a tooth, from the gum line to the biting surface. It is often called a cap or a tooth cover. Once it is cemented or bonded in place, the crown takes over the job of the outer tooth: it restores the shape, protects what is left of the natural tooth underneath and lets you bite and chew normally again.

A crown is usually suggested when a tooth is too damaged, weakened or discoloured for a filling to do the job. A filling repairs part of a tooth; a crown encloses all of it. That extra coverage is what holds a cracked tooth together, protects a tooth after root canal treatment and allows a worn or broken tooth to be rebuilt to its original height. Crowns are also placed on dental implants to replace a missing tooth, and they can anchor a bridge.

You may have seen the term “Turkish crowns” online. It simply describes crowns made during dental treatment in Turkey: the materials and techniques are the same as in other countries, and what really decides the result is how carefully each tooth is assessed and prepared. This guide explains how crowns work, which materials are available at our clinic in Istanbul, who they suit, what treatment involves and what it costs.

Real patients

Before and After at Er Dental Clinic

Photos of Er Dental Clinic patients. Every case is different — ask us to see crown cases similar to yours.

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Every crown has the same three elements. First, the tooth is prepared: a thin layer is removed from all its surfaces so that the crown can sit over it without making the tooth bulky. How much is removed depends on the material, because some ceramics need more thickness than others to be strong. Second, the crown itself is made in a dental laboratory from a digital scan or an impression of the prepared tooth, so that it fits closely and matches your bite and the colour of the neighbouring teeth. Third, the crown is fixed with dental cement or a bonding material, which seals the edge where the crown meets the tooth.

The illustration below shows why a crown is different from a veneer. A veneer is a thin shell that covers only the front surface of a tooth and leaves most of the natural tooth untouched. A crown covers the entire tooth, which is why it is chosen when the tooth needs protection from all sides rather than a cosmetic change at the front.

People rarely start by looking for a crown. They start with a problem, and a crown is one of the ways to solve it. The most common reasons are:

• A broken or cracked tooth. A crack can spread when you bite; a crown holds the tooth together and spreads the force across it.
• Worn teeth. Teeth grinding, acid erosion and years of wear can shorten teeth and change your bite. Crowns can rebuild the lost height.
• After root canal treatment. A back tooth that has had root canal treatment has often lost a lot of its structure and can become brittle, so a crown is frequently recommended to protect it.
• A very large filling. When a filling takes up most of the tooth, the remaining walls are thin and can break; a crown covers and supports them.
• A missing tooth. A crown can be fitted on a dental implant, or two crowns can hold a bridge across a gap.
• Appearance. A badly discoloured, misshapen or heavily restored tooth can be covered with a crown when whitening, bonding or a veneer would not be enough.

Not every damaged tooth needs a crown. A small chip may be repaired with a filling, and a tooth that has lost one or two cusps may be restored with an inlay or onlay, which keeps more of the natural tooth. Your dentist explains which option fits each tooth after an examination.

Patient stories

Hear From Our International Patients

Patients from the UK, Romania, France, Ukraine and Russia talk about their treatment at Er Dental Clinic. Each video shows the treatment the patient had.

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Two problems lead to many crown treatments. A broken, cracked or worn tooth is the most common starting point, and teeth grinding is one of the main reasons that teeth wear down or crack. Both are explained on their own pages.

Most adults with a damaged, weakened or heavily filled tooth can be considered for a crown. Whether a crown is the right choice for a particular tooth depends on a few practical factors, which your dentist checks on X-rays and during the examination:

• Enough tooth to hold the crown. The crown needs a solid core to sit on. If too little tooth is left, a post and core build-up may be needed first, and sometimes a tooth cannot be saved.
• A healthy root. An infected or inflamed nerve should be treated with root canal treatment before the crown is made, not after.
• Healthy gums. Gum disease should be brought under control first, because the edge of a crown sits at the gum line and needs healthy tissue around it.
• Your bite and grinding habits. Heavy grinding or clenching puts crowns under strain. It affects the choice of material and may mean a night guard is recommended.
• Front or back tooth. Front teeth need a natural, translucent look; back teeth need to withstand strong chewing forces. The position of the tooth guides the choice of material.
• Oral hygiene. A crown cannot decay, but the tooth underneath can, especially at the edge of the crown, so daily cleaning matters.

If you are unsure whether you need a crown, send us photos or recent X-rays. A less invasive option, such as a filling or an onlay, may be possible.

Your written plan states which material is proposed for each tooth and why. If you have a preference, for example for a metal-free crown, tell us at the consultation.

The right crown depends mainly on where the tooth is, how strongly you bite or grind and how important a natural, translucent look is for that tooth. The guide below is a starting point; your dentist confirms the choice after examining your teeth.

Crown prices depend mainly on the material and on the number of teeth treated. Our published prices are clinic-direct rates per unit, which means per crown. Your final cost is confirmed after our dentists review your X-rays, photos and clinical needs, and any extra treatment is disclosed in writing before you travel.

• Zirconia crown: from £215 / €250 / $290 per unit.
• E-max ceramic crown: £300 / €350 / $400 per unit.
• 20 Zirconia Crowns — Smile Rehabilitation Package (10 upper / 10 lower): £4,300 / €5,000 / $5,800.
• 20 E-max Ceramic Crowns — Smile Rehabilitation Package (10 upper / 10 lower): £6,020 / €7,000 / $8,120.

The two smile rehabilitation packages include digital smile design, a clinical examination with X-rays or 3D impressions, tooth preparation, temporary crowns during your stay, all laboratory work, and the final fitting and bite adjustments. The E-max package uses Ivoclar E-max ceramic. PFM crowns are quoted individually after your X-rays have been reviewed. If a tooth needs root canal treatment or a post and core build-up before the crown, this is quoted separately and only when it is clinically required. The price page lists every treatment and what each package includes.

Three comparisons come up in most consultations. The first is zirconia vs E-max: zirconia is usually chosen where strength matters most, such as back teeth and patients who grind, while E-max is usually chosen where a translucent, natural look matters most, such as front teeth. The second is whether a tooth needs a full crown at all. An inlay or onlay repairs only the damaged part of a back tooth and keeps more of the natural tooth, while a crown covers the whole tooth and is preferred when the damage is extensive or after root canal treatment. The third is crown or veneer: a veneer changes the front of a healthy tooth for cosmetic reasons, while a crown rebuilds and protects a damaged one. The first two comparisons have their own pages.

A crown is only as good as the tooth underneath it, so every crown plan starts with checking that tooth.

Crown treatment is planned tooth by tooth. The aim is to keep as much natural tooth as possible, to choose a material that suits the position of each tooth and your bite, and to make crowns that fit closely at the gum line, where problems usually begin.

The clinic holds an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate issued by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health (certificate no. ST-6264, dated 27 August 2025), which carries the HealthTürkiye logo. You can check it yourself on the e-Devlet document verification service at turkiye.gov.tr/saglik-bakanligi-ebys with the code 3D0867DC-7D38-4EBF-B6D7-7B8F049AC725.

Every crown plan follows the same sequence:

1. 1Online review. Your photos and X-rays are assessed and you receive a written treatment plan and quote before you travel.
2. 2Tooth-by-tooth diagnosis. A clinical examination and X-rays check each tooth, its root and the surrounding gum.
3. 3Material matched to the tooth. Zirconia, E-max or PFM is proposed for each tooth according to its position, your bite and your wishes.
4. 4Careful preparation. Only as much tooth is reshaped as the chosen material needs, and temporary crowns protect the teeth meanwhile.
5. 5Written warranty. Crowns, bridges and veneers are covered by a 5-year warranty, provided you keep to the recommended hygiene and check-up schedule.
6. 6Remote follow-up. Aftercare instructions and your treatment documents before you leave, and remote follow-up once you are home.

Crown treatment on natural teeth is usually completed in one trip to Istanbul, with a gap of several working days between preparing the teeth and fitting the final crowns while the laboratory makes them. If a tooth needs root canal treatment or other work first, or if crowns are fitted on implants, the timeline changes. The number of appointments and days is written into your plan before you book.

1. 1Examination and X-rays. Your dentist confirms the plan, treats any decay or nerve problems and agrees the shade and shape with you.
2. 2Tooth preparation. Under local anaesthesia, each tooth is reshaped so the crown can fit over it.
3. 3Digital scan or impression. The prepared teeth and your bite are recorded with an intraoral scan or a traditional impression.
4. 4Temporary crowns. Temporary crowns protect the prepared teeth and let you eat and smile while the final crowns are made.
5. 5Laboratory work. The dental laboratory makes the crowns in the chosen material and shade.
6. 6Fitting and bite adjustment. The crowns are tried in, checked for fit and colour, fixed in place and your bite is adjusted.

After the crowns are fitted, your teeth may feel slightly sensitive to hot and cold for a few days, and the new shape can take a little getting used to. If your bite feels high or uneven when you close, tell your dentist before you leave, because a small adjustment usually solves it.

In the long term, crowns need the same care as natural teeth:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, paying attention to the edge where the crown meets the gum.
• Clean between the teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes.
• Avoid biting very hard objects such as ice, pen lids or hard sweets, and do not use your teeth to open packaging.
• If you grind or clench your teeth, a night guard may be recommended to protect the crowns.
• Keep regular check-ups and professional cleanings, either with us or with your dentist at home.

Before you leave Istanbul, you receive written aftercare instructions and your treatment documents, so you can share the details with your dentist at home. After you return, we stay in touch for remote follow-up.

Crowns are one of the most established treatments in dentistry, but like any treatment they have possible drawbacks that you should understand before deciding:

Your dentist explains the risks that apply to your teeth, based on your X-rays and examination, before you give your consent.

Send us your photos or X-rays for a free online consultation. Our dentists review them and reply with a written treatment plan that states the proposed crown material for each tooth and a clear quote, so you can compare your options before you decide to travel.