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Zirconia crowns

Crowns · Restorative & cosmetic dentistry

Zirconia crowns in Istanbul, Turkey Strong, metal-free crowns and bridges for broken, heavily filled or root-treated teeth, planned tooth by tooth from a digital scan.

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Treatment room at İkon Dental Hadımköy, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey — Zirconia Crowns

Treatment at a glance

How a zirconia crown is fitted, step by step

Zirconium crowns in Istanbul: 3D illustration of lower back teeth showing how a tooth is prepared and a zirconia crown is fitted

Illustration for explanation only. Which teeth need a crown, and the material for each, is decided from your own examination and scan.

In short

A zirconia crown is a tooth-shaped cap made from zirconium oxide, a very strong ceramic. It covers the whole visible part of a tooth that is broken, heavily filled or root-treated, and gives back its shape and colour. There is no metal inside, so there is no metal edge to show as a dark line at the gum. Zirconia is also used for bridges that replace a missing tooth and for crowns on implants. It is not the same as zirconia implants, which replace the root of a missing tooth.

Most people who ask us about zirconia crowns have a cracked back tooth, an old crown with a grey edge, or several teeth held together by large fillings. A crown needs the tooth to be reduced all round, which cannot be undone, so your dentist first checks whether a filling, a veneer or whitening would do. Your written plan names each tooth, its material and the days you would need in Istanbul.

How it works — 4 steps

We look at your photos.A free first assessment from home, before you book flights.
You are examined in Istanbul.An examination, X-rays and a digital scan confirm which teeth need a crown.
Your teeth are prepared and scanned.Under local anaesthesia, with temporary crowns while the final ones are made.
Your crowns are fitted.Fit, shade and bite are checked before anything is fixed.

Material: ZirconiaZirconium oxide ceramic, no metal inside
Used for: Crowns and bridgesBack teeth, root-treated teeth, crowns on implants
Planning: Digital scanIntraoral scanners such as iTero Lumina and 3Shape TRIOS
Anaesthesia: LocalWhile the teeth are prepared
Visits to Istanbul: In your planDays and visits are stated before you book flights
Price: Written quoteAfter a dentist has seen your photosNot reversible: a tooth prepared for a crown always needs one

1 Before you travel · From home

A first answer before you book anything

Send a few photos of your teeth, or a panoramic X-ray if you have one, on WhatsApp or through the form. A dentist reviews them, and our international team replies in your language.

What we ask you

Photos of your teeth or a panoramic X-ray
Your general health and any medication
What bothers you most about your teeth now
Which dates could work for you

What you receive

Your treatment options, explained
A price range
The days and visits you would need in Istanbul
A final plan only after your examination

2 In Istanbul · Arrival and examination

We examine every tooth and confirm the plan

Airport and hotel. We coordinate your airport transfer and your stay with partner hotels near the clinics, including the Sheraton Grand Istanbul Esenyurt and Days Inn by Wyndham Istanbul Esenyurt.
Examination at the clinic. Day one starts with your examination: your teeth and gums, the X-rays needed to check the roots under each tooth, and a digital scan of your mouth. A 3D tomography (CBCT) is added when your dentist needs it.
The plan, in person. Your dentist confirms which teeth need a crown and which do not, or explains any change and why. Treatment then follows the written plan you approve.
Shade and shape. You choose the colour with your dentist in good light and talk through the shape and length you would like. Zirconia cannot be whitened later, so if you want whiter teeth overall, whitening comes first.
In your language. Our international department works in English, Arabic, French and Turkish.

3 In Istanbul · Before the crowns

What is put right before a crown

Deep decay or infection. If decay has reached the nerve, or there is infection at the root tip, the tooth usually needs root canal treatment before it is crowned.
Old fillings. Leaking fillings or decay that would end up under the crown are replaced first.
Gums. Bleeding, inflamed gums are treated first. The edge of a crown sits well only on healthy gum.
Whitening. If you would like your other teeth lighter, teeth whitening is done before the shade of your crowns is chosen.

4 In Istanbul · Preparing the teeth

Your teeth are prepared, scanned and protected

Local anaesthesia. The teeth are numbed, so you should feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Your dentist explains the anaesthesia options for your case beforehand.
Preparation. A layer is removed all round each tooth to make room for the crown. The aim is to remove no more than the material needs.
Digital scan. The prepared teeth and your bite are recorded with an intraoral scanner, without trays of impression paste. Your crowns are designed from this scan and milled from zirconia.
Temporary crowns. You wear temporary crowns while the final ones are made; our clinics can print them on 3D resin printers. They protect the prepared teeth but are not as strong, so you eat carefully.

5 In Istanbul · Your new crowns

You approve the crowns, then they are fitted

Try-in. The temporaries come off and the new crowns are placed without being fixed. Your dentist checks the edges at the gum and the contacts with the neighbouring teeth.
Your look. You check shade and shape in the mirror. Please say if something bothers you: this is when changes are easiest.
Fitting. The crowns are cemented or bonded in place, and any excess is cleaned away from the gum line.
Bite check. Your dentist checks how your teeth meet and adjusts any crown that touches too early. You are shown how to clean around your crowns, and under a bridge if you have one.

6 Aftercare · Back home

Looking after your zirconia crowns

Zirconia crowns are cleaned like natural teeth: brushing every day and cleaning between the teeth. The tooth underneath can still decay at the edge and the gum can still become inflamed, so check-ups matter. Routine check-ups can be done with a dentist near your home.

After you fly home, your coordinator stays in touch and your dentist is one message away for questions and follow-up.

Your treatment journey

Your zirconia crown journey,
step by step.

From your first photos to your new crowns, one international team coordinates every step.

Step 1 / 5 · From home

Get in touch

Send a few clear photos of your teeth, and a panoramic X-ray if you have one, on WhatsApp or through the form. A dentist reviews them, and our international team replies in your language.

Photos on WhatsApp
Reviewed by a dentist
English · Arabic · French · Turkish

Step 4 / 5 · At the clinic

Preparation & fitting

Your visit starts with an examination and a digital scan. The teeth are prepared under local anaesthesia and scanned again, you wear temporary crowns, and your zirconia crowns are tried in and fitted, following the plan you approve.

Examination & digital scan
Shade agreed with you
Bite checked

Often a good fit if …

A back tooth is cracked, broken or heavily filled
A root-treated tooth needs protecting
An old metal-ceramic crown shows a grey edge at the gum
You need a bridge, or a crown on an implant
Several teeth need crowns and strength matters

Worth discussing first if …

Sound teeth that only need a change of colour or shape → porcelain veneers or whitening may be enough
A front tooth where translucency matters most → E-max crowns may suit it better
A missing tooth → a crown on a dental implant, or a bridge
Active gum disease or untreated decay → treated first, then crowns

Not sure? Send us a few photos of your teeth. A dentist will tell you which teeth need a crown, and which do not.

Get my free assessment

Feature	Zirconia crowns	E-max crowns	Metal-ceramic crowns
Material	Zirconium oxide, a very strong ceramic	Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic	Porcelain fired over a metal core
Strength	Very high; suits heavy chewing forces	High; can crack under very heavy load	High; the porcelain layer can chip
Look	Natural; less translucent than E-max, though newer types let more light through	Lets light through much like natural enamel	Opaque core; a dark edge can show if the gum recedes
Often chosen for	Back teeth, bridges and crowns on implants	Front teeth and single crowns where the look matters most	Many older crowns are this type
Metal inside	None	None	A metal core
Reversible	No	No	No

E-max crowns Porcelain veneers Smile makeover Before & after cases

Everyday life with new crowns

Eating and drinking	Once the numbness has worn off
Work and daily routine	Usually straight away
With temporary crowns	Softer food, nothing sticky or hard
Hot and cold sensitivity	Common at first; it usually fades
Normal diet	After the final crowns are fitted

How you look after them

Brush every day, along the gum line
Clean between your teeth, and under a bridge if you have one
Wear a night guard if your dentist recommends one
Do not open packets or crack nuts with your teeth
Keep up check-ups and professional cleaning

Contact us if …

A crown feels loose or comes off, your bite still feels high after the first days, a tooth aches when you bite or starts to throb, or the gum around a crown stays sore or bleeds.

What it does not do

Zirconia itself cannot decay, but the tooth underneath and the gum around it still can. The edge where the crown meets the tooth needs cleaning every day. Zirconia also does not respond to whitening, so the shade you choose is the shade you keep.

Not reversible

Enamel removed for a crown does not grow back. A prepared tooth will always need to be covered, now and when the crown is replaced one day.

Sensitivity

Prepared teeth are often sensitive to cold at first. It usually settles; tell us if it does not.

The nerve of the tooth

A tooth that was already deeply filled or cracked may need root canal treatment later, even under a well-made crown.

Coming loose or chipping

A crown can come loose, and the ceramic can chip, especially where a layer of porcelain is added on top. Grinding, very sticky food and biting hard objects raise this risk.

Gums at the edge

The gum at the edge of a crown can become inflamed if plaque builds up there, and gums can recede over the years. Daily cleaning and check-ups help.

Wear on opposite teeth

A rough ceramic surface can wear the teeth it bites against. Crowns are polished or glazed and your bite is checked to lower this risk.

What changes the price

The number of crowns, whether a bridge is needed, whether a crown sits on a tooth or an implant, and any root canal treatment, fillings or gum treatment your teeth need first.

What to ask for in writing

The teeth to be crowned and the material for each, by name
What the price includes
The days and visits planned in Istanbul

Travel and stay

We coordinate airport transfers and accommodation with partner hotels near the clinics. Ask your coordinator what your quote includes.

Only if your case needs it

Extra steps such as root canal treatment, gum treatment or a night guard are explained and written into your plan before treatment starts.

No price is final until a dentist has examined you. Your plan is confirmed after your examination and digital scan in Istanbul.

Patient storiesA zirconia crown patient, in her own words

Zulfia travelled from Russia to Istanbul for zirconia crowns. Tap the card to watch.

Zulfia from Russia: zirconia crowns at İkon Dental in Istanbul, Turkey (patient video review)

See all patient stories

Before & afterZirconia crowns: before and after

Real patients treated with zirconia crowns at İkon Dental. Tap a photo to enlarge it.

Zirconia crowns before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: photos of a patient at İkon Dental — **Zirconia crowns**

Zirconia crowns before (top) and after (bottom), close-up: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul — **Zirconia crowns**

Zirconia crowns before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: the smile of a patient at İkon Dental — **Zirconia crowns**

Zirconia crowns, upper jaw before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: photos of a patient at İkon Dental — **Zirconia crowns, upper jaw**

Zirconia crowns, upper jaw before (top) and after (bottom), close-up: a patient treated at İkon Dental, Istanbul — **Zirconia crowns, upper jaw**

Smile design with zirconia crowns before and after in Istanbul, Turkey: photos of a patient from the Netherlands at İkon Dental — NetherlandsSmile design with zirconia crowns

Smile design with zirconia crowns in Istanbul, Turkey: a patient from the Netherlands after treatment at İkon Dental — NetherlandsSmile design with zirconia crowns

Results differ from person to person. What is possible for you depends on your own teeth, gums and bone, which your dentist assesses at the examination.

See all before and after cases

Questions about zirconia crowns

The questions we hear most often. If yours is not here, ask us on WhatsApp.

Is a zirconium crown the same as a zirconia crown?

Yes. Zirconia is the everyday name for zirconium oxide. You may also see "zirconium crown", "all-ceramic crown" or "full ceramic crown" used for this kind of metal-free crown.

Zirconia or E-max: which is better?

Neither is better everywhere. Zirconia is stronger and is often chosen for back teeth, bridges and crowns on implants. E-max lets light through more like natural enamel and is often chosen for front teeth. Your dentist recommends one for each tooth, and many plans use both.

Do zirconia crowns look natural?

Zirconia can look natural, and newer, more translucent types more so. Because there is no metal inside, no dark metal edge shows at the gum. For a single front tooth where the look is everything, your dentist may suggest E-max instead.

Will my healthy teeth be filed down?

A crown needs the tooth to be reduced all round, and this cannot be undone. That is why a crown is suggested for a tooth that needs the protection. If a tooth is sound and you only want a different colour or shape, ask whether whitening, bonding or veneers could do the job with less.

Does getting a crown hurt?

The tooth is numbed with local anaesthesia while it is prepared, so you should feel pressure rather than pain. Sensitivity to cold afterwards is common and usually settles on its own.

How much do zirconia crowns cost in Istanbul, Turkey?

We do not publish fixed prices, because the cost depends on the number of crowns and on what each tooth needs first. Send us photos of your teeth and you receive a price range with your written plan, free and with no obligation. No price is final until a dentist has examined you.

How long do I need to stay in Istanbul?

It depends on how many teeth are crowned and whether root canal or gum treatment comes first. Your written plan states the days and visits you would need, before you book flights. Crowns on implants follow the implant plan.

How long do zirconia crowns last?

They can last many years when they are cleaned well and checked regularly, but not for ever. Gum health, your bite, grinding and the tooth underneath all play a part.

Zirconia crowns or zirconia implants: what is the difference?

A zirconia crown covers a tooth you still have, or sits on an implant. A zirconia implant is a metal-free implant that replaces the root of a missing tooth, and it carries a crown of its own.

Who will treat me?

Our dentists. Your plan tells you who does what before treatment starts, and you can ask for a specific dentist. You can read about each of them on our dentists page.

This page is general information and does not replace an examination by a dentist.

Why İkonWhy patients choose our clinics

Treatment abroad is a big decision, so here is what you are choosing: three clinics in Istanbul, one standard of care, and an international team that stays in touch from your first message to your follow-up at home.

Reception at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

Another treatment room at İkon Dental Kıraç, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

Dental X-ray and 3D imaging room at İkon Dental Kıraç, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

Sterilisation room at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

2008Founded in Hadımköy

Built on one rule

İkon began as a two-chair practice. It grew into three clinics by offering only what is useful to the patient. Nothing is sold because it is profitable.

3Clinics in Istanbul

One team, one standard

All our dentists provide general dental treatment, and each brings fields of special interest from their training. Cases that need more than one field are planned together by the team.

MoHAuthorised

Approved for international patients

International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Health, for the Başakşehir and Hadımköy clinics.

4Languages spoken

Understood from the first message

Our international department works in English, Arabic, French and Turkish, from your first photo on WhatsApp to the follow-up after you fly home.

Why İkon?Our clinics Our doctors International patients

Other treatmentsWhich treatment suits your teeth?

Crowns, veneers or implants: your examination shows which treatment fits each tooth.

Hollywood smile and smile makeover in Istanbul: smiling woman in her thirties holding a hand mirror (illustrative image, not a patient)

Smile MakeoverVeneers, Crowns & Aesthetic Smile Design

Dental implants in Istanbul, Turkey: smiling woman in her forties with her hand on her chin (illustrative image, not a patient)

Single & Multiple Dental ImplantsPermanent Replacement for One or More Teeth

Zirconia dental implants in Turkey: smiling woman around sixty with short blonde hair (illustrative image, not a patient)

Zirconia Dental ImplantsMetal-Free Ceramic Implant Option

Braces and clear aligners in Istanbul: smiling man in his thirties holding a clear aligner (illustrative image, not a patient)

Orthodontics & Clear AlignersClear Aligners & Braces for a Straighter Smile

Your journey starts here

Your next chapter
begins with a conversation.

Tell us what you would like to change. We reply with options, the days you would need in Istanbul and a price range. Free, and with no obligation.

Bahçeşehir

2. Kısım, Mercedes Bulvarı No:28-A D:78, 34488 Başakşehir

+90 546 690 88 10 View on map

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Your details are used only to answer this request. No price is final until a dentist has examined you.