Materials guide · Ceramics· 30 September 2026
Zirconia vs E-max: choosing the right material for each tooth
Two ceramics dominate modern crowns and veneers: zirconia, a very strong white oxide ceramic, and lithium disilicate — sold as E-max by Ivoclar — which is more translucent and mimics enamel better. Neither is 'better'; each belongs on different teeth. Our partner clinic uses both, names the brand on your plan, makes the restorations in its own laboratory, and warrants zirconia for five years and E-max for ten. This guide explains where each material goes, what it costs, and why an unnamed 'porcelain' quote should make you ask questions.
Get your written plan and exact price →Zirconia
Strongest ceramic; back teeth, bridges, implant crowns; from €149; 5-year warranty
E-max (lithium disilicate)
Most natural translucency; front teeth, veneers; from €165; 10-year warranty
Porcelain fused to metal
Older standard; strong, but grey margin at the gum over time; rarely the best choice now
Composite bonding
No-drill alternative for small cosmetic fixes; 3–7 year lifespan
Who decides
The tooth's position, your bite, and the amount of tooth structure left
Zirconia: strength first
Zirconium dioxide is the toughest dental ceramic available — flexural strength several times that of glass ceramics — which makes it the default for molars and premolars, for bridges, and for crowns on implants. Monolithic zirconia (milled from a single block, no porcelain layer) does not chip the way layered crowns do. Its historical weakness was appearance: early zirconia was opaque and chalky. Modern multi-layer, high-translucency zirconia has largely closed that gap for back teeth and many front-tooth cases, though it still does not match E-max at the very front of a smile. From €149 per crown at our partner clinic, made in-house, five-year written warranty.
E-max: appearance first
Lithium disilicate glass ceramic, made by Ivoclar under the E-max name, transmits light much as enamel does; it is the material for veneers and for crowns on the six front teeth where translucency is visible in daylight. It is strong enough for front-tooth loads and for premolars, less so for molars in heavy bites or in patients who grind. It also allows a more conservative preparation — a veneer removes as little as 0.3–0.7 mm of enamel — which is why E-max veneers, not crowns, are the honest answer for most cosmetic front-tooth cases. From €165 per tooth, ten-year written warranty.
Where each belongs, tooth by tooth
Front six teeth for a cosmetic result: E-max veneers if the teeth are sound, E-max crowns if they are heavily filled or root-treated. Premolars: either; E-max if visible in the smile, zirconia in a heavy bite. Molars: zirconia. Bridges of any length: zirconia. Crowns on implants: zirconia. Patients who grind: zirconia everywhere, with a night guard. A plan that specifies 'zirconia on all twenty teeth' or 'E-max on the molars' has been written for the clinic's convenience, not your mouth.
Porcelain fused to metal, and why it is fading
PFM crowns — porcelain layered over a metal core — were the standard for decades and still work. Their drawbacks: the metal margin shows as a dark line at the gum as tissue recedes, the porcelain layer can chip off the core, and the opacity needed to hide the metal makes them look flatter than ceramic. Budget clinics still use them because the metal is cheap. If a quote says 'porcelain crown' without naming a ceramic, ask whether there is metal underneath and what alloy it is.
Composite bonding: the option before ceramics
For small chips, gaps and minor shape corrections, composite resin sculpted directly onto the tooth needs little or no drilling and is reversible. It stains and wears faster than ceramic — 3–7 years typically — but it is the responsible first step for a patient with healthy teeth who wants a modest improvement. A clinic that jumps straight to twenty crowns for a case that bonding or whitening would handle is the clinic the 'Turkey teeth' stories are about.
Questions that expose unnamed ceramics
Which ceramic, and which manufacturer? Is it monolithic or layered? Where is it made — in-house or an outside lab, and in which country? What is the warranty term and what does it exclude? Can I see the shade matched in daylight at try-in before cementation? Our partner clinic answers these on the written plan: Ivoclar E-max and premium zirconia blanks, milled in the clinic's own lab, try-in before bonding, and warranties in your name — ten years on E-max, five on zirconia, implant fixture cover stated in your plan.
Transparent all-inclusive prices
Treatment, 5-star hotel and VIP transfers are included in full-mouth and multi-day packages. Your exact price is confirmed in writing after our clinical team reviews your photos or X-ray.
Indicative 2026 starting prices in euro. All-on-4 / All-on-6 prices are per arch; the whole mouth (both jaws) is double.
Get your written price →FAQ
＋Is zirconia or E-max better?
Neither universally. Zirconia is stronger and belongs on back teeth, bridges and implant crowns; E-max is more natural-looking and belongs on front teeth and veneers.
＋How much do zirconia and E-max cost in Turkey?
Zirconia crowns from €149 and E-max veneers or crowns from €165 per tooth at our partner clinic, made in-house, with five- and ten-year written warranties respectively.
＋Can zirconia be used on front teeth?
Yes, with modern high-translucency zirconia — and it is the right choice for front teeth in heavy bites or grinders. For the most natural appearance E-max still leads.
＋What is a PFM crown?
Porcelain fused to a metal core. Durable, but the metal margin shows over time and the porcelain can chip; largely replaced by all-ceramic crowns.
＋Should I have veneers or crowns on my front teeth?
Veneers if the teeth are sound — they remove far less enamel. Crowns only if teeth are heavily filled, cracked or root-treated. Be wary of crowns proposed for healthy teeth.
＋Do I need a night guard with ceramic restorations?
If you grind or clench, yes. It protects both the ceramic and the opposing teeth and is inexpensive insurance on a large case.
Treatments
More guides
- →Denture implants: what they really cost in 2026
- →Dental tourism in Turkey: how it actually works, start to finish
- →Failed dental implant: what it looks like and what to do
- →Dental implants for seniors: suitability and cost
- →Implant brands: why the name on the fixture matters
- →Implant aftercare once you are home
Get your written plan and exact price
Send a photo or a recent X-ray. Our clinical team will prepare a free written plan naming each procedure, the materials and the guarantee — and will tell you honestly if the trip is not worth it for your case.