Looking at the back of your mouth is not very pleasant : most of us, especially after 40, can find one or even several weakened, damaged, worn, chipped or deeply decayed molars, sometimes devitalized, because of an undergone root canal. Your oral health is vital, it is time to protect it well. A sick tooth can damage other teeth, a bit like a virus that spreads slowly but surely. It can break off in small pieces, which can lead to its complete removal.
To preserve the tooth, but also to limit the damage and protect the entire dental structure, your dentist may prescribe a dental crown. The crown, an artificial dental prosthesis with a natural tooth structure perfectly adapted to the mouth, will be fixed on the damaged tooth, to cover it like a protective shell.
The dental crown generally refers to a prosthetic device that perfectly reconstructs the tooth in order to ensure its function, shape and aesthetics. It can be made on living or devitalized teeth. It can be glued to the original tooth, mounted on a pin inserted in the original tooth, or can reconstitute a whole tooth, mounted on a dental implant aimed in the jawbone.
A dental crown is used to rebuild or restore worn or damaged, devitalized or broken teeth. It is also recommended when a tooth is too deeply decayed, filled with a large amount of filling and when its healthy structure is too fragile and insufficient to consider a classic conservative treatment (in composite resin, inlay or amalgam). It can also be used to restore a discoloured tooth, and thus even out the colour of your smile. If the discoloration is only partial and concerns visible teeth, a veneer, mounted on the front of the tooth, may be preferred to a crown. Finally, a crown allows you to regain better oral health, strong chewing, and a more beautiful smile. And a crown can be placed without risk at any age, whether teenagers or seniors.
In extreme cases of severely damaged teeth, but when the patient reveals a dental or bone condition that is incompatible with the placement of implants (insufficient bone, certain mucosal diseases, severe bruxism, periodontal diseases…), he or she may be prescribed the creation of several crowns, mounted together on a dental bridge.
In order for a crown to be firmly anchored in the jaw and to take on all its vital functions, it needs a healthy base, or it must be present in sufficient volume. When the tooth itself is too broken, worn or decayed, an intermediate piece, called an inlay-core, will be fixed on the remaining tooth. If the tooth is devitalized, its root must still be strong enough to anchor a post (or inlay-core) that will be inserted and support the crown. If the root is not healthy or large enough, it will have to be extracted to make room for an implant or a dental bridge, on which the crown will then be placed.
In case of severe bruxism (grinding or clenching of the teeth), a crown can damage or break, depending on the material used, or damage healthy teeth, if the crowns are made of a material that is stronger than enamel.
The price of dental crowns remains high, and only a small part of dental crown cost is covered by National Health systems. A good complementary health insurance is needed to cover the rest of the costs, and only if the patient agrees to have the cheapest crowns, especially metal ones, since they are not considered as “visible”.
In the UK, in the US or in the Netherlands, a metal crown can cost from 500€ to 800$, or 500£ to 800 £, depending on the material chosen. For a ceramic crown, the best option in terms of solidity and aesthetics, the price can reach 1000£ or 1200 $ per unit, especially those made of zirconium or Emax, considered the best currently available on the market. When only one dental crown is needed, it is still affordable. But if several crowns are necessary, the bill quickly climbs. And the option of a dental trip can then be considered, allowing to lower the bill by 60 to 80%, without sacrificing quality or aesthetics. All this, in a much shorter time frame.
| Type of crown | Prices in Turkey | Prices in USA | Prices in UK | Prices in Switzerland |
| Zirconia Crown | 150-300€ | $800 to $1,700 | £600 to £800 | 1100 CHF to 2000 CHF |
| Emax crown | 200-350€ | $1,000 to $2,000 | £800 to £1000 | 1600 CHF to 2500 CHF |
When it comes to having several teeth replaced, dental tourism is a natural solution, since it often allows you to save at least 40 to 60% on your final dental bill, especially in Hungary or Spain. On the other hand, by choosing Turkey, and particularly Istanbul, its cultural and economic capital, the price difference can reach 80%, while choosing the best possible materials for your teeth. In addition to the excellent quality/price ratio of the crowns themselves, there is the quality of the care, the individual accompaniment, in terms of medical and reception services: in the dental clinics chosen by İstanbul White, everything is done so that the patient feels listened to, reassured and pampered. Moreover, the intervention times are unbeatable. While it often takes several weeks, sometimes even months, to get an appointment, in The UK, The US or The Netherlands, the treatment in Turkey is immediate. Just the time to get organised, prepare your trip and arrive at your destination. Moreover, the entire procedure can be performed in four to five days, compared to two appointments spaced 10 days to two weeks apart in the UK, the time required to produce the crowns in the laboratory.
Only 3-4 hours flight from the UK, with affordable airfares (except during the summer season), an impeccable quality of welcome and hotel services, Istanbul is a close and affordable destination, vibrant with modernity and historical heritage. The professionalism and international reputation of its dental clinics, the quality of its medical facilities and the use of the latest dental technology, make it possible to consider the installation of dental crowns with complete peace of mind. And with medical tourism agencies such as İstanbul White, offering a personalised welcome with a dedicated assistant who speaks your language, everything becomes easier, from making appointments with the best dental surgeons to post-operative follow-up. In the end, the satisfaction rate is very high and thousands of patients regain their smiles.
