Zirconia crowns in Turkey: strong, metal-free, planned tooth by tooth

Time in Antalya

About 5 to 7 days (package: 5 hotel nights)

Trips

1

Anaesthetic

Local; sedation by an anaesthetist on request

Guarantee

5 years on crowns and bridges

Our price

£150 per tooth

Zirconia crowns in Turkey are what many UK patients picture when they think of a dental trip, and at Precious Dental in Antalya zirconia is the material we use for most crowns and bridges. It is strong, it has no metal inside, and it does not leave the dark line at the gum that older crowns often show. This page goes into the material itself, how a set of zirconia crowns is planned with you, where zirconia is not the best choice, and what it costs.

What zirconia is

Zirconia, or zirconium dioxide, is a ceramic. In dentistry it is milled from a solid block using a design made on a computer, then heated in a furnace until it becomes dense and hard. The finished crown is tooth-coloured right through, so there is no metal core to show at the edge if the gum recedes a little over the years.

There are two broad ways to use it. A crown can be made entirely from zirconia, which is the toughest option and suits back teeth and people with a strong bite. Or a zirconia base can be covered with a thin layer of more glass-like ceramic for extra lifelike colour, which looks lovely at the front but adds a layer that can chip. The dentist chooses tooth by tooth.

Why we choose zirconia so often

• It is strong enough for molars and for bridges across a gap
• It is metal-free, so there is no grey shadow at the gum
• It resists staining from tea, coffee and red wine
• It is milled from a digital scan, which gives a precise fit

Research on single crowns supports zirconia as a reliable option over the medium term. A large review of tooth-supported crowns found most all-ceramic materials did well, with the outer ceramic layer chipping as one of the more common problems. That finding is one reason we use solid zirconia for teeth that take heavy chewing loads.

Where zirconia is not the first choice

Zirconia is not perfect for everything, and a good plan says so.

• A single front tooth beside natural teeth can be easier to match in E-max, which lets more light through. See crowns and bridges for that comparison.
• A healthy front tooth that only needs a colour or shape change is usually better with a veneer, which removes far less tooth.
• Worn teeth in a heavy grinder can be crowned in zirconia, but the opposing teeth and the crowns themselves need protecting with a night guard.

Planning a set of zirconia crowns

Many of our zirconia patients are not after one crown. They have a mix of old crowns, large fillings and worn teeth, and want everything to match. In that case the dentist works out which teeth truly need crowning and which can be left alone or treated more simply.

Numbers vary. A smile that shows only eight upper teeth might need eight crowns. Someone replacing old work on both jaws might need twenty or more. A full set of 24 zirconia teeth is priced as a package. Whatever the number, each tooth appears on your written plan with a reason. If a tooth is healthy and does not need a crown, we will tell you, even if that means a smaller bill.

Digital smile design and an intraoral scan let us show you the planned shapes first, and for front teeth we can make a trial version so you see length and shade in the mirror before the teeth are prepared.

Your zirconia trip, step by step

1. Photos or X-ray from home A dentist reviews them and sends a preliminary written plan and itemised price. You pay nothing to receive it.
2. Examination and scans On day one we check every tooth and its root, treat anything urgent first, and confirm the final plan in writing.
3. Shade and shape We agree the shade in natural light and, for visible teeth, check the design with you.
4. Preparation Under local anaesthetic the teeth are shaped and scanned. Temporaries protect them while the crowns are milled.
5. Try-in The crowns are tried on. Fit, bite and colour are checked and adjusted.
6. Final fitting The crowns are cemented, the bite is balanced across the mouth, and you receive written aftercare.

The zirconia package includes 5 hotel nights plus airport and clinic transfers, and most cases fit a stay of about 5 to 7 days. Read how it works for the travel details.

Afterwards

Your mouth needs a few days to get used to new crowns. Some cold sensitivity is normal at first. If several back teeth were crowned, your bite may feel unfamiliar; tell us before you fly so we can adjust it. Clean the gum margins carefully every day and see a dentist at home for regular check-ups, because the tooth beneath a crown can still decay at the edge.

Risks and honest limits

• Tooth removal is permanent. A crowned tooth will always need a crown.
• Nerve problems. Teeth that were badly damaged before crowning occasionally need root canal treatment later.
• Wear on opposing teeth. Rough zirconia can wear the teeth it bites against, so a well-polished surface and a checked bite matter.
• Chipping of layered ceramic, mostly in grinders.
• Repairs are harder. A chip in zirconia often means replacing the crown rather than patching it.

Price and what is included

The zirconia package includes 5 hotel nights and transfers. Extractions are free. Flights are not included. Payment is made at the clinic against the plan you approved. Compare everything on prices.

Guarantee

Zirconia crowns and bridges carry a 5-year written guarantee. To keep it, look after your gums, keep your check-ups and wear a night guard if you grind. Sports and accident damage, root canal treatment and earlier work by other dentists are not covered. If guarantee work is needed it is done in Antalya; we cover the hotel for the treatment period and you cover flights. See the guarantee page.

Get a written zirconia plan

Send photos or a recent X-ray and a dentist will reply with a written plan that lists each tooth and its price, free of charge. Contact us through the contact page or on WhatsApp.

Common questions

Do zirconia crowns look natural?

Modern zirconia can look very natural, especially when the shade is matched in daylight. It is a little less translucent than E-max, so for a single front tooth next to natural teeth we sometimes suggest E-max instead.

How many zirconia crowns do I need for a full smile?

It depends on which teeth show and which are damaged. Some people need 8, others 20 or more. The dentist counts them with you; we do not crown healthy teeth just to reach a round number.

Are zirconia crowns safe for people with metal allergies?

Zirconia contains no metal alloy, which is one reason people choose it. Tell us about any allergy so the dentist can review all the materials used, including cements.

Can zirconia crowns break?

It is uncommon, but the outer layer can chip, particularly in people who grind. A night guard reduces the risk, and wearing one is a condition of our guarantee for grinders.

Is there a package for a full set?

Yes. A set of 24 zirconia teeth is £3,600, and the zirconia package includes 5 hotel nights and airport and clinic transfers. See prices.

Sources

1. Sailer I et al. (2015) All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses? Part I: Single crowns. Dent Mater
2. Oral Health Foundation: Dental crowns
3. NHS: Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.