A zirconia crown is a fixed restoration, made in a laboratory, that surrounds the visible part of a tooth. In everyday language it is also called a zirconia tooth. It is made from zirconia ceramic suitable for dental use.
It can be considered for teeth with large fillings, fractures, wear or an irregular shape. However, not every cosmetic concern requires a crown. The right method is determined after reviewing the tooth structure, the bite, gum health and your expectations.
What Is a Zirconia Crown?
A zirconia crown is a metal-free restoration placed over a prepared natural tooth or an implant abutment. The material used is a ceramic based on zirconium dioxide, produced from the element zirconium.
A crown is not built up on the tooth during the appointment. It is designed in a laboratory from impression or digital scan data. After computer-aided manufacturing, coloring, sintering and surface finishing are carried out.
A zirconia crown completely surrounds a single tooth. It does not on its own fill the gap left by a missing tooth. Missing teeth may call for different planning, such as a bridge or an implant-supported restoration.
Who May Be Suitable for a Zirconia Crown?
Suitability for a zirconia crown is not decided by tooth color alone. The remaining sound tooth structure, chewing forces and the neighboring teeth are all assessed.
- Teeth weakened by a large filling,
- Fractured or heavily worn teeth,
- Shape irregularities that cannot be corrected predictably with a filling,
- Marked discoloration that does not respond to whitening,
- In suitable cases, as a bridge abutment or an implant-supported crown.
If there is active decay, uncontrolled gum disease or inadequate oral hygiene, these problems are addressed first. Clenching and grinding can also affect planning. Where a more conservative filling or veneer option is possible, unnecessary tooth reduction is avoided.
How Is a Zirconia Crown Fitted?
The procedure varies with the case but consists of several clinical and laboratory stages. Root canal treatment is not compulsory for every crown. The vitality of the tooth and the existing damage are assessed separately.
- Examination and planning: the teeth, gums and bite are examined. Radiographs, intraoral photographs or digital records are taken where needed.
- Shade selection: the tone and translucency of the neighboring teeth are assessed. If whitening is being considered, the shade is usually chosen after that treatment.
- Preparing the tooth: space is created for the crown. How much tissue is removed depends on the condition of the tooth and the type of zirconia to be used.
- Impression or digital scan: the prepared tooth, the surrounding tissues and the opposing jaw are recorded. This data is used in the laboratory design.
- Temporary crown: a temporary crown may be fitted to protect the tooth during the laboratory stage. During this period, take care with hard and sticky foods.
- Try-in and cementation: the fit, shade, contact points and bite are checked. After any adjustments, the crown is fixed in place with a suitable cementation system.
The total time varies with the need for treatment of the tooth and gums. Because of laboratory production, completing the work the same day is not possible in every case. Planning several teeth may require more try-in visits.
What Types of Zirconia Crowns Are There?
Zirconia ceramics do not all have the same optical and mechanical properties. Aesthetic needs at the front and chewing loads at the back may call for different materials.
| Type | Structure | Point Considered in Planning |
|---|---|---|
| Monolithic zirconia | Milled from a single block of zirconia | Can be considered in areas with high chewing loads |
| Layered zirconia | Aesthetic ceramic is applied over a zirconia framework | Color and surface detail can be enhanced; the risk of chipping in the outer ceramic is assessed |
| High-translucency zirconia | A type of zirconia with increased light transmission | Can be considered in visible areas; strength and thickness are planned together |
Monolithic zirconia is not used in the same way for every patient. The thickness of the material, the surface polish and the relationship with the opposing tooth all matter. The laboratory and the dentist choose together, according to where it will be used.
Advantages and Limits of Zirconia Crowns
As zirconia crowns contain no metal framework, they do not create a dark metallic reflection at the gum margin. The range of shades and translucencies can help them blend with the neighboring teeth. CAD/CAM production allows the design to be prepared from digital data.
- Can be used on front and back teeth with appropriate case selection.
- Can be planned as a single crown, a bridge or an implant-supported restoration.
- Monolithic options can be considered where chewing forces are high.
- Smooth, well-polished surfaces can make oral hygiene easier.
Even so, part of the tooth structure has to be prepared before a crown can be made. A crown can loosen, fracture, or decay can develop at its margin. In porcelain-layered versions, chipping can occur in the outer ceramic.
The finish of the zirconia surface can affect wear on the opposing teeth. Checking the bite and polishing the surface are therefore important. In people who clench their teeth, a protective night guard may be considered on a dentist's assessment.
How Long Does a Zirconia Crown Last?
No single range of years applies to everyone. Scientific studies show that zirconia single crowns can be used over the long term. However, study results vary with the type of restoration and the length of follow-up.
A 2026 systematic review reported high survival rates for single zirconia crowns over up to ten years. The certainty of the evidence was rated as low, though. These figures do not indicate how long a crown will last for an individual.
Clenching, inadequate cleaning, biting hard objects and irregular check-ups can all affect how long a crown lasts. One problem we often see at the clinic is decay developing in the natural tooth at the margin while the crown itself is still sound.
How Should You Care for a Crown?
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean the crown margins with floss or a suitable interdental brush.
- Do not use your teeth to break hard objects such as ice, nuts or packaging.
- Tell your dentist if you have signs of teeth clenching.
- Plan the frequency of your check-ups with your dentist, based on your oral health.
A zirconia crown does not change color like a natural tooth during later teeth whitening. That is why shade planning matters. If whitening of the neighboring teeth is being considered, the order of treatment should be decided in advance.
When Should You See a Dentist?
Mild, short-lived sensitivity can occur after a crown is fitted. However, if you have increasing pain, swelling, a bad taste, fever or marked pain when chewing, do not delay an assessment.
A crown that is loose, has come off or has cracked, or a bite that feels high, also needs to be checked. Do not try to glue a crown back on at home. Keep it in a clean container and take it to your dentist.
Zirconia Crown Prices 2026
The Turkish Dental Association's 2026 guide fee schedule publishes VAT-exclusive and VAT-inclusive amounts for zirconia crowns. Taken together, these give a reference range of 12,500–13,750 TL (Turkish lira).
| Procedure | 2026 TDB Reference Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zirconia crown | 12,500–13,750 TL | The range between the VAT-exclusive and VAT-inclusive guide amounts |
The price information is for guidance only; the final fee is set after an examination. The guide amount is not the final service fee of the Private MFSDENT Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic.
The total cost can vary with the number of crowns, the condition of the tooth, the type of zirconia used and the laboratory work. Removing an old crown, replacing a filling or gum treatment may also be needed.
Root canal treatment, building up a core, a temporary crown or implant components can also affect planning. General information given over the phone alone is therefore no substitute for a clinical examination.
Zirconia Crowns in Bursa
The Private MFSDENT Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic is at Davutkadı Mah. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Cad. No: 57/B, Yıldırım, Bursa, Turkey. The clinic is open 7 days a week.
When planning a zirconia crown, the existing tooth structure, the gum level, your color expectations and the bite are reviewed together. The aim is not simply to choose a lighter shade. How well the crown functions within your mouth is assessed too.
Which Areas Do Patients Come From?
As well as Yıldırım, patients come from Nilüfer, Osmangazi, Gürsu, Kestel, Mudanya and other districts of Bursa. Travel times within the city vary with traffic and your starting point.
If you are using public transport, we suggest checking current routes toward Davutkadı and Yıldırım. If you are driving, you can enter the clinic address in your preferred map app.
For appointments and directions you can reach the polyclinic on +90 (541) 363 34 42. At the examination, alternative restorations and the stages of treatment are explained according to your individual findings.
Sources
- Turkish Dental Association (TDB) 2026 Guide Fee Schedule Booklet
- Clinical Outcomes of Zirconia Dental Restorations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Clinical Performance of Monolithic CAD/CAM Tooth-Supported Zirconia Restorations
- Do Tooth-Supported Zirconia Restorations Present More Technical Failures?
- Crowns: Patient Information and Long-Term Care
Guides
- Porcelain Dental Crowns: Cost and How They Are Made
- What Are Porcelain Veneers and How Much Do They Cost? (2026)
- Yellow Teeth: Causes and How to Get Rid of Them
- Zirconia Crowns: Risks, Benefits and Satisfaction
- Smile Design: What It Is, How It Works and How Long It Takes
- Tooth Reshaping: What It Is and How It Works
Our Zirconia Crown Dentists
Mehmet Fatih Sever
Dentist
Muhammed Ali Kurmuş
Dentist
İremnur Yıldız
Dentist
Beyzanur Şaşmaz
Dentist
Hasan Köken
DentistFrequently Asked Questions
A zirconia crown is a fixed restoration made in a laboratory from zirconia ceramic that surrounds a prepared tooth. It can be placed on a natural tooth or on a suitable implant abutment.
The VAT-exclusive and VAT-inclusive amounts in the TDB 2026 guide give a reference range of 12,500–13,750 TL for a zirconia crown. This is for information only; the final fee is set after an examination.
The time depends on the number of crowns, the condition of the gums and the laboratory stages. Most cases need more than one visit for preparation, try-in and cementation.
Monolithic zirconia is the option where the crown is milled from a single block of zirconia. It can be used, on a dentist's assessment, particularly in areas with high chewing loads.
A1 is generally seen as a warmer, more natural tone and B1 as a lighter one. Shade selection should not be based on the code alone but on comparing the neighboring teeth under different lighting.
Root canal treatment is not needed for every zirconia crown. The vitality of the tooth, the depth of decay, any fracture and your current symptoms are assessed at the examination.
Teeth whitening does not change the color of a zirconia crown. If you are considering whitening, the shade of your natural teeth should be planned before the crown is made.
How long it lasts depends on oral hygiene, the bite, teeth clenching and regular check-ups. Although it can last a long time, an individual figure cannot be stated in advance.
The content on this page is published for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a curative health service. For diagnosis and treatment, please consult your dentist.