Metal-free crowns made from zirconia
Zirconium Crowns in Turkey
Zirconium crowns are tooth-coloured caps made from zirconia, a very strong ceramic, and they cover the whole tooth above the gum. They suit many damaged or root-filled teeth, especially at the back. However, a crown removes a lot of tooth, so a dentist confirms whether you need one only after examining you in person.
At a glance
- Material
- Zirconia (zirconium dioxide), a metal-free ceramic
- Main types
- Monolithic (solid) or layered with porcelain
- Tooth removed
- About 63% to 72% of the tooth above the gum, for crowns in one lab study
- Visits
- Usually two: prepare, then fit
- 5-year survival in a 2026 review
- 96.8% solid, 97.3% layered
- Most common problem
- Chipping of the porcelain layer
These figures come from research reviews rather than from any one clinic. Your dentist confirms your plan after an in-person examination.
How zirconium crowns work
Many patients search for zirconium crowns, but dentists usually say zirconia. Zirconium is a metal. By contrast, zirconia is its oxide (zirconium dioxide), a white ceramic with no metal look. So zirconium crowns and zirconia crowns mean the same thing.
First, your dentist shapes the tooth to make room for the crown. Then a dental laboratory makes the crown from a scan or impression. Finally, your dentist fixes it in place with dental cement.
However, not all zirconia is the same. Stronger types look more opaque, while more see-through types are a little weaker. For example, one review of lab studies found a mean strength of 803 MPa for 4Y zirconia. By contrast, the clearer 5Y type reached 570 MPa. For this reason, labs often choose the type by where the tooth sits.
- 1
Monolithic zirconium crowns
The whole crown is one solid block of zirconia. In a 2026 review, solid crowns chipped far less than layered ones. However, they can look less lifelike on front teeth.
- 2
Layered zirconium crowns
Here, a zirconia core carries a layer of porcelain on top. As a result, they can look more natural, although the porcelain layer can chip.
- 3
The bond to your tooth
Your dentist may roughen the inside of the crown, apply a primer and use resin cement. Alternatively, they may use a conventional cement, because reviews found similar results with both.
Who zirconium crowns may suit
Suitability is individual. A dentist weighs these points after examining your teeth, gums and bite. So treat them as a guide rather than a checklist.
Zirconium crowns may be considered if
A different plan may be safer if
Zirconium crowns compared with metal-ceramic crowns
Each option has a place. However, the wear figures come from one 2024 review, and a 2026 review found the opposite for metal-ceramic crowns. So compare them with care.
Your zirconium crowns journey
Crowns usually need two visits: one to prepare the tooth and one to fit the crown. In between, the laboratory makes your crown. Then your dentist will confirm how many days you need in Istanbul.
- 1Online
Remote review
First, you send photos and any recent X-rays. Then a dentist explains whether a crown, a filling or another option looks suitable.
- 2Visit 1
Examination and planning
When you arrive, your dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite. Next, you agree on the crown type and shade, and the plan becomes final.
- 3Visit 1
Preparing the tooth
After that, your dentist shapes the tooth and takes a scan or impression. Then they fit a temporary crown to protect it.
- 4In the lab
Making zirconium crowns
Meanwhile, a technician designs and makes each crown to fit your tooth and bite.
- 5Visit 2
Fitting zirconium crowns
At the second visit, your dentist removes the temporary crown. Then they check the fit and comfort, and cement the new crown in place.
- 6At home
Regular check-ups
Afterwards, see a dentist for regular check-ups, ideally close to home. So small problems, such as a chip or a loose crown, get spotted early.
Living with zirconium crowns
Daily cleaning
Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth once a day. The tooth under a crown can still decay, so the edges need care too.
Hard foods and habits
Avoid biting very hard objects, such as ice. Even strong zirconium crowns can chip or crack, especially layered ones.
Grinding and night guards
If you grind your teeth, tell your dentist. One 3-year trial saw no extra problems with solid zirconia in people who grind. Still, reviews list grinding as a risk, so ask about a night guard.
Care of zirconium crowns
Polished zirconia seems gentler on opposing teeth than a glazed surface. So, if your dentist adjusts the bite, ask them to polish the crown again.
Risks of zirconium crowns
Zirconium crowns do well in recent studies. For example, a 2026 review of 64 studies estimated 5-year survival of 96.8% for solid and 97.3% for layered zirconia. That was close to 97.1% for metal-ceramic crowns.
Earlier results, however, were weaker. In a 2015 review, mostly of layered crowns, 92.1% of zirconia crowns survived 5 years. Also, those crowns chipped and came loose more often than metal-ceramic ones. Since then, solid zirconia has become common, although long-term data on it are still limited.
Chipping is the most common technical problem with zirconia crowns. Usually it affects the porcelain layer, so solid crowns chip far less. Even so, chips still happen on any crown.
Zirconia contains no glass, so dentists cannot etch it like glass-ceramics. Instead, they use special bonding steps. Even so, reviews list loss of retention among the common problems.
Solid crowns rarely chip, but a crown can crack right through. In some cases, the tooth or root under it can also break. Therefore, your dentist checks your bite and tooth before treatment.
Ceramic crowns, including zirconia, can wear the opposing teeth more than natural enamel does. However, studies disagree on which material wears them most, and a polished surface seems to help.
Colour mismatch was the only aesthetic problem reported in one large review. Also, clearer zirconia is still less see-through than glass-ceramics, so agree on shade before your crown is made.
A crown preparation removes much more tooth than a veneer. In one lab study, crowns removed about 63% to 72% of the tooth above the gum. For this reason, a crown on a healthy tooth deserves careful thought.
What your zirconium crowns plan should answer
Ask any clinic, including us, for clear written answers before you book.
- 1Does this tooth need a crown, or could a filling or veneer protect it?
- 2Will the crown be solid zirconia or layered with porcelain, and why?
- 3How much tooth will you remove?
- 4Which zirconia type suits this tooth?
- 5Which cement will you use?
- 6Do I grind my teeth, and do I need a night guard?
- 7What is covered if a crown chips, cracks or comes loose?
Zirconium crowns: your questions
Not quite. Zirconium is a metal, while zirconia is its oxide, a white ceramic. Dental crowns use zirconia, so zirconium crowns and zirconia crowns are the same thing.
A 2026 review found 5-year survival of 96.8% for solid and 97.3% for layered zirconia crowns. However, nobody can promise a lifetime, and long-term data on solid crowns are still limited.
Often, yes, because zirconia is very strong. In addition, reviews support solid zirconia for back teeth. Still, your dentist decides after checking your bite and the tooth.
They can. Layered zirconia or a porcelain front often looks more lifelike than solid zirconia. So ask your dentist which option suits your smile.
Sometimes. One 3-year trial found no extra problems with solid zirconia crowns in people who grind. However, reviews still list grinding as a risk, so your dentist may suggest a night guard.
Usually two. First, your dentist prepares the tooth and fits a temporary crown. Then, once the lab has made the crown, you return to have it fitted. Your dentist will confirm how long to stay in Istanbul.
Related guides
Medical review required before publication · General information only; it does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalised treatment plan.
- Pjetursson BE et al. Survival, failure and complication rates of metal-ceramic, veneered and monolithic all-ceramic tooth-supported single crowns. Part 1 (2026)
- Sailer I et al. All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses? A systematic review of the survival and complication rates. Part I: single crowns (2015)
- Laumbacher H et al. Long-term clinical performance and complications of zirconia-based tooth- and implant-supported restorations: a summary of systematic reviews (2021)
- Leitão CIMB et al. Clinical performance of monolithic CAD/CAM tooth-supported zirconia restorations: systematic review and meta-analysis (2022)
- Miura S et al. Zirconia in fixed prosthodontics: a review of the literature (2025)
- Bömicke W et al. Ceramic crowns and sleep bruxism: 3-year results of a randomized controlled trial (2026)
- Maroulakos G et al. Effect of cement type on the clinical performance and complications of zirconia and lithium disilicate tooth-supported crowns: a systematic review (2019)
- Sulaiman TA et al. Zirconia restoration types, properties, tooth preparation design, and bonding: a narrative review (2024)
- Cesar PF et al. Recent advances in dental zirconia: 15 years of material and processing evolution (2024)
- Fathy SM et al. Flexural strength and translucency characterization of aesthetic monolithic zirconia and relevance to clinical indications: a systematic review (2021)
- Bernauer SA et al. Flexural strength of translucent zirconia for single crowns and fixed dental prostheses: a systematic review (2026)
- Mao Z et al. Antagonist enamel tooth wear produced by different dental ceramic systems: a systematic review and network meta-analysis (2024)
- Rosa CDDRD et al. Comparative wear of opposing natural enamel by different ceramic materials in fixed dental prostheses: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026)
- Shah N et al. Antagonist enamel wear opposing full-coverage zirconia crowns versus other ceramics and natural enamel: an umbrella review (2024)
- Edelhoff D, Sorensen JA. Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs for anterior teeth (2002)
- Oral Health Foundation. Crowns (updated 2026)
Are zirconium
crowns right
for you?
Send a few clear photos and any recent X-rays. A dentist will then review them and explain whether zirconium crowns, another crown type or a smaller repair looks suitable. Your plan stays provisional until you're examined in person.