Zirconia (Zirconium) Crowns in Turkey: Strength and Natural Colour

A zirconia crown, sometimes called a zirconium crown, is a metal-free ceramic cap that covers a tooth that has been broken, heavily filled, worn down or weakened after a root canal treatment. It is milled from a block of zirconia, a strong dental ceramic, and shaded to blend with the teeth either side of it.

Zirconia is one of several materials used for dental crowns, alongside E-max ceramic and porcelain fused to metal. Its main advantage is strength combined with a tooth-like colour, which is why it is often chosen for back teeth that carry heavy biting forces, though it is also used at the front of the mouth.

This page explains how a zirconia crown is made and fitted, who it tends to suit, and how it compares with the other crown materials offered at Er Dental Clinic. For an overview of every type of crown we offer, see our dental crowns page.

Material: zirconia ceramic, either monolithic (a single block) or layered with a thin porcelain outer surface for extra translucency.

Colour: shade-matched to your surrounding teeth; white and opaque rather than the grey-metallic tone that can show through a porcelain fused to metal crown.

Use: suited to both back teeth, where strength matters most, and front teeth, where a monolithic or layered zirconia crown can still give a natural appearance.

Anaesthesia: tooth preparation is carried out under local anaesthesia; the procedure itself is not usually painful once the area is numb.

A zirconia crown is considered whenever a tooth is too damaged for a filling alone but still has a healthy root. Common reasons include a large fracture or crack, a tooth worn down by years of grinding, a tooth with a large old filling that is failing, or a tooth that has had root canal treatment and needs a full-coverage restoration to protect it from further breakage. The causes of broken and worn teeth, and the full range of repair options from bonding to extraction, are covered in more detail on our broken and worn teeth page; this page focuses on the zirconia crown material itself.

A zirconia crown may not be the first choice where a very high level of translucency is wanted for a single front tooth, since E-max ceramic crowns are generally more light-transmitting and can blend more closely with untreated neighbouring teeth in some cases. Patients who have already had extensive work in porcelain fused to metal and want the new crown to match an existing bridge or crown in the same material may also be advised to stay with that option. Your dentist reviews your X-rays and the surrounding teeth before recommending zirconia, E-max or porcelain fused to metal for your specific tooth.

Before you travel. The process starts with a free online consultation. You send recent photos and, if you have them, X-rays, and our dentists give an initial view on whether a zirconia crown suits your tooth before you book anything.

At the clinic. A clinical examination and X-rays confirm the condition of the tooth and the surrounding gum and bone, and whether root canal treatment or a filling build-up is needed before the crown itself is prepared.

Choosing the material. Where more than one crown material could work for your tooth, your dentist explains the trade-offs between zirconia, E-max and porcelain fused to metal so you can decide together which suits your case and budget.

Fitting a zirconia crown starts with reshaping the tooth, known as preparation, so that the crown has room to fit over it without changing your bite. A digital scan or a physical impression is then taken of the prepared tooth and the surrounding teeth, and a temporary crown is fitted to protect the tooth while the definitive zirconia crown is made in a dental laboratory.

Once the zirconia crown is ready, it is tried in to check the fit, shade and bite before it is cemented onto the prepared tooth. The layers involved, from the visible crown down to the tooth root, are shown in the illustration below.

With a well-fitted zirconia crown, the treated tooth regains its normal chewing function and its colour blends with the surrounding teeth, so the crown is not obvious in everyday conversation or a smile. Because zirconia contains no metal, there is no risk of a grey line showing at the gum in the way that can happen with a porcelain fused to metal crown over time. Many crowns last for years with good care; how long any individual crown lasts depends on the material, your bite, whether you grind your teeth, and how well you keep up your hygiene and check-up routine.

Real patients

Before and After at Er Dental Clinic

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

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Tooth reduction cannot be undone. Preparing a tooth for any crown, including zirconia, removes a layer of the natural tooth structure, and this cannot be reversed once done.

Colour is fixed once made. Unlike a natural tooth, a finished zirconia crown does not change shade if you later whiten your other teeth, so shade is agreed and checked before the crown is cemented.

Translucency is more limited than E-max. A monolithic zirconia crown is generally less light-transmitting than an E-max ceramic crown, which can matter for a single crown placed among very translucent natural front teeth.

Your dentist explains the risks that apply to your specific tooth, based on your X-rays and dental history, before you give your consent.

Zirconia crown treatment at Er Dental Clinic is assessed and planned by Dt. Vijdan Aslanoğlu, alongside our other general dentists. The material recommended for your tooth is confirmed from your X-rays and a clinical examination, and your written treatment plan states which crown material is proposed and why. The clinic holds an International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate issued by the Republic of Turkiye Ministry of Health (certificate no. ST-6264), which you can check on the e-Devlet document verification service at turkiye.gov.tr/saglik-bakanligi-ebys.

If zirconia is not the right fit for your tooth, an E-max ceramic crown is generally more light-transmitting and is often preferred for single front teeth where translucency matters most. A porcelain fused to metal crown remains an option with a long clinical history, particularly where cost is the main factor. Where you are still deciding which material suits your case, our which dental crown is right for me page walks through the main factors, and our full ceramic crowns page explains how zirconia and E-max sit together as the two metal-free options.

Zirconia is one of several crown materials offered at Er Dental Clinic. The pages below cover the other options and related decisions in detail.

Zirconia, E-max ceramic and porcelain fused to metal (PFM) are the three main crown materials offered at Er Dental Clinic, and each balances strength, colour and cost differently. The comparison below sets out three straightforward, non-controversial differences between them; your dentist weighs these against your own tooth, bite and budget.

Most patients go back to normal eating and speaking within a day or two of the temporary crown being fitted, and there is usually no need to take time off work or daily activities during either visit. Some mild sensitivity to hot or cold around the prepared tooth is common in the first few days and settles on its own or with an ordinary painkiller if needed. Once the definitive zirconia crown is cemented in place, it is treated like a natural tooth for eating and cleaning, and your dentist explains when it is safe to fly home.

Send us your photos or X-rays for a free online consultation. Our dentists will give an initial view on whether a zirconia crown suits your tooth and reply with a written treatment plan and a clear quote, so you can compare your options before you decide to travel. You can also contact us directly with any questions.