Dental Crowns
Restoration for damaged or worn teeth

You can browse a list of clinics that provide dental crowns here on RevaHealth.com. If you need any help deciding which clinic to choose, just ask us for help.

Crowns tend to be quite expensive and therefore individuals are increasingly looking to other destinations to cut down the cost.  In addition there have been several advances in the field with newer porcelain crowns offering a better cosmetic appearance and only requiring a single visit.

What are Dental Crowns?

A crown is a cap that typically completely covers a single tooth and adds strength, stability and durability to an otherwise weakened structure. It can be made out of gold or ceramic and is typically fitted by a dentist in one or two visits. Crowns tend to be expensive with US pricing ranging from $600 to $3,000 dollar and are therefore one of the more common treatment sought by dental tourists.

You might need a crown if:

• If a lot of your tooth has decayed and there isn't enough tooth structure to fill in the same way that small cavities are filled
• A large section of your tooth has fractured off
• You have a large cavity and are opting for the addition protection that a crown offers against fracture and decay
• You have implants and are opting for crowns to be fitted
• If you have had a root canal on one of your rear teeth then a crown is typically required to strengthen the tooth
• If you want a better smile but veneers/implants are not appropriate
• Grinding or acid erosion has significantly reduced the tooth

What is the procedure like?

The tooth in question needs to be prepared by stripping off the entire top covering (enamel) of the tooth where the crown is to be fitted. It should be noted that this process is not reversible.  From this point on, the procedure differs greatly according to the type of crown being fitted. In the instance of gold crowns, a mould is taken and sent to a laboratory so that the crown can be manufactured. This can take anywhere from days to weeks, so a second visit is required for the crown to be fitted. Your dentist should supply you with a temporary crown or ‘flipper’ for you to wear in the interim. Certain ceramic crowns can be made in the dentist’s surgery and fitted in a single visit.

What different types exist?

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Full gold crowns – Although called full gold these are normally an alloy of various metals. Check with your dentist that the ‘gold’ they are using contains at least 75% noble metal. Gold crowns are typically made by taking a wax impression and having the crown fabricated in a laboratory and then fitted in a latter visit.  As gold crowns require at least two visits to a dentist, many dental tourist opt for ceramic varieties, however it should be noted that many dentist still regard full gold crowns as being superior in the long terms.

Porcelain fused to Metal Crowns – In order to achieve a more natural look on visible teeth, porcelain can be fused to metal crowns.  This is a different process to full gold crowns as more of the original tooth needs to be removed in order to make space for the porcelain. Although gold can be used normally, a different metal alloy is used because of the intense heat of the fabrication process. The latest and most expensive material used is circoniumoxide.  

Porcelain Crowns - There are two main types of porcelain crown. The traditional variety is felspathic and is created in a lab making porcelain. The newer type is created by a single ingot and can be created by specialised equipment in the dentist’s surgery.  This makes porcelain crowns particularly attractive to the dental tourist as they can be completed in a single visit.

Procera (Alumina or zironia) – Procera AllCeram is a brand name for natural looking crown created by covering a alumina or zironia core with ceramic.  The crown is created by computer- aided manufacturing rather than the traditional casting process. Studies by Procera have shown a very high success rate over 5 and 10 years.

CERAC – Is the current leader in computer aided crown manufacture in the US. The crown is created out of ceramic and rather than being fabricated in a laboratory, it is build in specialized (and expensive) equipment in the Dentist’s surgery. This can result in crowns being fitted in a single visit.

What affects the price?

There are a huge number of factors that determine the price. It is important when you are comparing prices, you are comparing like with like.  Look for details like:

• The type of crown you are getting
• Is a pin required to anchor the crown?
• Is root canal work required?
• Additional work that may need to be performed

Price Comparison

Price lists should always be viewed with caution as many factors can increase or decrease the resulting price. The follow table gives some indicative costs for crowns across the world:

Dentists in Turkey
Save yourself up to 70% on cosmetic dentistry in Turkey

Turkey, meeting point of Europe and Asia stands at the brink of joining EU. Harmonisation of procedures and training to facilitate a smooth transition towards membership creates a reassuring feeling of familiarity for visitors from Western Europe.

Our three most popular dental clinics are:

Benefits of travelling to Turkey

Turkey offers EU standards of care in a low cost environment. Infrastructure is of a high level, surpassing that of many of its European neighbours. A long established tourism industry makes language no hinderance to travel and English is widely spoken. Materials and laboratories are covered by the same regulatory practices as the rest of Europe.

Of course the country itself is another reason for travel, with some of the world's most famous classical sites, a vast coastline of endless beaches and Istambul, a true metropolis.

Dentists in Turkey - Qualifications

Following 5 years of training in one of Turkey's 15 dental schools graduates receive a degree of D.D.S. Though there is no madatory continuing education, joining the Turkish Dental Association obligates its members to attend training and skills development programmes.

The Council of Higher Education is responsible for regulating dental education and the Ministry of Health is the registering authority.

There are two recognised specialties: Prosthodontics and Orthodonty.

Though there is no mandatory continuing education, members of the Turkish Dental Association have an obligation to develop and update their skills, in accordance with the associations commitment to high standards of dental care.

Dentists in Turkey - Additional Information

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Travel Options

Though Istanmbul the capital is well served with airlines, the coastal destinations can sometimes offer cheaper fights, particularly during holiday season. Kusadasi and Izmir are major charter flights destinations.

Dental Organizations

Dentistry falls under the supervision of the Ministry of Health which is responsible for regulating Dental colleges and the legal framework within which Turkish dentistry operates.

The Turkish Dental Association (TDA) is the central body responsible for co-ordinating the professional development of dentistry within Turkey. The organization is spread across the country, with about 33 dental chambers regulating locally issues. These chambers send delegates to a centralized committee structure that decides the national direction of the profession.

Dental Ethics

The Turkish Dental Association provides a comprehensive ethical guide for its members, covering their commiment to improving standards of care, their relationship with their patients, fair pricing etc... The TDA is a member of international dental organizations and its ethical standards are informed by and contribute to European and world dentistry.

Complaints

The TDA can appoint an arbitrator in case of disagreement between a dentist and their patient. If arbitration is not achieved the Supreme Disiplinary Committee meets 3 times a year and has the power to censure, fine or dismiss a dentist from practice. Recourse through the civil courts is always an option for either party if they are unhappy with the TDA's response.

Data Protection

Turkey is working on an implementation of its draft for the Protection of Personal Data Act. This is based on the European Data Protection Directive. Individuals also have a right to access information about them through Law No: 4982: Turkish Law on the Right to Information.

Resources

Ministry of Health:
TC Sağlık Bakanlığı,
Mithatpaşa Cad.
No : 3, 06434 Sıhhıye /ANKARA
Turkey
website: http://www.saglik.gov.tr

Turkish Dental Association
Ziya Gökalp Caddesi No 37/11,
Kolej/Ankara,
Kizilay,
Turkey.
tel: +90 312 435 9394
fax: +90 312 430 2959
email: tdb@tdb.org.tr
website: www.tdb.org.tr

Data Proctection and Access
European Data Protection Directive
Turkish Law for Data Access