e.max Crowns and Veneers

Where it may be suitable

• Discolouration that whitening does not improve
• Small chips, wear or irregular shapes on front teeth
• Gaps between teeth small enough not to need orthodontic treatment
• Teeth with a large loss of structure or a fracture that need protecting with a crown

Where it is not suitable, or another treatment comes first

• Healthy, well-shaped teeth where only the colour bothers you. Teeth whitening should be considered first; veneers are worth considering only if whitening does not give enough improvement. A crown is not a treatment for colour alone: on a healthy tooth it removes far more tissue than a veneer.
• Marked crowding or a bite problem. Rather than correcting teeth by cutting them down, orthodontic treatment should be considered first.
• Untreated gum disease or decay. These are treated first.
• Severe clenching or grinding. The risk of the ceramic fracturing increases, and for some people these restorations may not be suitable. The treating dentist may choose another material or recommend a night guard; a night guard may reduce the risk, but it does not remove it.
• Not enough enamel. Veneers hold most reliably when they are bonded to enamel. Where a veneer has to be bonded to the tissue beneath the enamel (dentine), the risk of failure is higher³. This needs assessing tooth by tooth.
• Long bridges and heavy chewing loads at the back of the mouth. Here zirconia or metal-ceramic restorations may be considered, depending on the bridge design and the bite.

Where it has limits

• Very dark teeth. Thin, translucent veneers may not mask the colour well enough. More opaque options are considered; these may need more tissue removed.

The right option is decided at an examination, with X-rays assessed where needed.

In British media, "Turkey teeth" is a loose label for extensive cosmetic dental work, such as a full row of very white crowns or veneers. One concern raised with it is that healthy front teeth were cut down for full crowns when the patient expected veneers. The criticism is not of the ceramic. It is of a plan that gave healthy teeth more treatment than they needed, without the patient understanding which treatment it was.

How much tooth is removed. For a veneer, usually only a thin layer of enamel is taken from the front. For a crown, the tooth is reduced on every surface, and this often goes through the enamel into the dentine beneath it. Both can be made of e.max, so the name of the material does not tell you which one is planned. Neither can be undone.

The nerve of the tooth. A review pooled 37 studies of teeth that were alive at the start and then received indirect restorations such as crowns. In about 5 in every 100 of these teeth, the nerve lost its vitality⁴. Studies that followed teeth for more than ten years found about 7 in 100. The certainty of this evidence is low, and these figures come from published studies, not from the clinic's own results. If it happens, root canal treatment is needed to keep the tooth.

When a crown is the right choice. A crown protects a tooth that has lost much of its structure; a veneer is not enough there. A fracture or root canal treatment does not settle this on its own: what decides is how much sound tooth remains. On a healthy, straight front tooth, a crown for colour or a small fault in shape reduces the tooth for no clinical reason.

Who crowns are not for. Crowns are not for healthy front teeth when all you want is a different colour or a slightly different shape. Whitening, bonding or veneers are considered first, and so is having no treatment.

The British Dental Association advises that patients should be aware of the risks and alternatives to the treatment they want⁵. Before you agree to crowns on teeth that seem healthy to you, ask:

1. Which teeth will have a veneer, which a crown, and which nothing?
2. For each crown, why is a veneer, bonding or whitening not enough for that tooth?
3. How much will be removed from each tooth, and can I have that in writing?
4. Can I see the X-rays and photographs the decision is based on?

The answers should rest on the state of each tooth, not on a package or a material. A plan that gives every tooth in the mouth the same treatment needs a reason, tooth by tooth. If you are unsure, show the written plan to your own dentist in the UK before you agree to it. You can say no, or ask to stop, at any stage. Once a tooth has been prepared, that step cannot be undone.

A veneer or crown is not the only option, and often it should not be the first.

• Doing nothing. If your teeth are healthy and your concern is only about how they look, leaving them alone is a valid choice.
• Teeth whitening. For concerns about colour, it can work without removing any tooth tissue. It works on natural teeth only: whitening does not lighten crowns or veneers⁶.
• Shaping with composite (bonding). Used for small chips and gaps; often little or no tooth tissue is removed. It stains more easily than ceramic and is easier to repair if damaged¹. It should not be thought of as fully reversible: the tooth surface is treated so the material can bond.
• A filling or a partial restoration. An inlay fills a cavity inside the tooth; an onlay also covers weakened cusps (the raised chewing points) where needed. If enough of the tooth remains, these can take the place of a full crown. Having had root canal treatment does not on its own mean a full crown is needed.
• Orthodontic treatment. Corrects the alignment of the teeth without cutting them down; it takes longer.
• Another ceramic. Zirconia may be preferred for back teeth and bridges, and hand-layered feldspathic porcelain for thin veneers.

Our pages on porcelain veneers and dental crowns explain each type of restoration in more detail. All of these options are also available from dentists in the UK, and a UK dentist can give you an independent opinion before you decide.

The treatment is usually completed in two or three appointments. How they fit a stay in Antalya is covered in "Treatment in Antalya when you live in the UK".

How much tissue is removed from the tooth depends on its colour, its position, any existing loss of structure and the restoration chosen. For the ceramic itself, the smallest thickness the manufacturer gives for its product is 0.4 mm for a veneer and 1 mm for a crown⁷. These are lower limits that apply only to particular products, designs and bonding methods set out in the manufacturer's instructions. Whether they apply to your tooth is decided by the treating dentist. They are not the amount of tissue removed from the tooth. Because a crown needs tissue removed from every surface of the tooth, the total loss is clearly greater than for a veneer.

Before any tooth is prepared, ask for the plan in writing. It should say which teeth get a veneer, which a crown and which nothing (see "Crowns on healthy teeth").

Risks and disadvantages

• It cannot be undone. Tooth tissue that is removed does not grow back¹; from then on, the treated tooth will always need a restoration.
• New decay. A veneer or crown does not protect the tooth beneath it from decay. New decay can develop at its edges or underneath it, and further treatment may be needed.
• Sensitivity. Sensitivity to heat and cold may follow the procedure. Tell a dentist if it does not settle or keeps getting worse.
• Fracture or cracking. Biting hard objects, clenching and knocks can break the ceramic. Small surface chips can sometimes be repaired; larger cracks and fractures may mean the restoration has to be replaced.
• Coming loose. This happens with veneers, especially when they are bonded to the tissue beneath the enamel.
• Effect on the nerve. Under a veneer or a crown, the living tissue inside the tooth can be affected, and some teeth later need root canal treatment. The deeper the preparation, the higher this risk, so it is higher for a crown (see "The nerve of the tooth").
• Staining at the edges and receding gums. Over the years, the edge of the restoration can become visible.
• Need for repair or replacement. A veneer or crown may eventually need repair or replacement. Replacement may take a little more tissue from the tooth.

Benefits

• With no metal framework, no metal edge shows. The colour of the tooth underneath, staining at the edges or receding gums can still make it look darker.
• It lets light through in a way similar to a natural tooth.
• Its surface stains less than composite¹.
• Veneers bonded to enamel have good long-term results (see "How long does it last?").

After the procedure, wait until the anaesthetic has worn off before eating or drinking. Mild sensitivity and tender gums are common in the first days. While you wear temporaries, avoid hard and sticky food.

Daily care

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth every day.
• Do not bite hard objects, and do not use your teeth as tools.
• If you clench or grind your teeth, wear the night guard your dentist recommends.
• Keep up regular check-ups with your own dentist in the UK; small problems are easier to solve when they are found early.

Studies do not give a lifespan in years. They report how many restorations are still in place after a period of time. The figures below come from published studies, not from the clinic's own results. They describe restorations staying in the mouth; they do not mean that no problem or repair was needed during that time.

Veneers

A 2025 review combining 29 studies found that, of every 100 lithium disilicate veneers, about 97 were still in the mouth after about 10 years⁸. The same review found no significant difference in this respect between lithium disilicate and feldspathic porcelain. For zirconia veneers there were no long-term data. Another review, from 2024, looked at different glass-ceramic veneers together. After an average follow-up of 6.5 years, about 90 in every 100 veneers were still in the mouth⁹. The two results come from different studies, so they cannot be compared directly.

For veneers, keeping the enamel is one of the important factors. A retrospective study followed 580 porcelain veneers for up to 12 years. 99 in 100 survived where the preparation stayed in enamel³. Veneers bonded to the tissue beneath the enamel had about 10 times the risk of failure³.

Crowns

For single crowns, the differences between the three materials below are small. A 2026 review reported how many of every 100 crowns were still in the mouth after five years: about 98 to 99¹⁰ for monolithic (single-piece) lithium disilicate, 97 for metal-ceramic and 97 for monolithic zirconia. These estimates are for single crowns on natural teeth. In other words, "a stronger material" and "a restoration that stays in the mouth longer" are not the same thing.

Contact a dentist if any of the following happens. While you are in Antalya, that is the clinic; once you are home, it is usually your own dentist in the UK.

• The veneer or crown cracks, breaks or moves
• It comes off (keep the piece, and do not glue it back yourself)
• Sensitivity that does not settle, or keeps getting worse
• Pain that starts on its own or wakes you at night
• Swelling, bleeding or discharge from the gum
• It feels high when you bite, or your jaw feels tired

If you think you have a dental abscess, do not wait. An abscess does not go away on its own and needs urgent treatment by a dentist¹¹. If pain is increasing, or you have facial swelling or a fever, see a dentist where you are the same day. Do not wait for the clinic's reply. In England, the NHS advises asking for an urgent dentist appointment or getting help from NHS 111¹¹ if you think you have a dental abscess. If you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment, it says to call 111 or use 111 online¹¹. This is the NHS England route; elsewhere in the UK, check the local arrangements.

Emergencies. The following need urgent medical help¹¹. Do not wait for a dental appointment or for the clinic's reply. In the UK, call 999 or go to A&E. In Turkey, the emergency number is 112.

• Swelling that makes it hard to breathe, speak or swallow
• Swelling in your neck¹²
• A swollen or painful eye, or sudden problems with your sight
• A lot of swelling inside your mouth
• Difficulty opening your mouth

Before you fly home

Make sure your bite has been checked, and that you have written care instructions and a written record of your treatment. If you need a night guard, make sure it has been handed over.

Once you are back in the UK

If a problem comes up that is not urgent, write to the clinic and send photographs. For anything that needs someone to look in your mouth, your own dentist in the UK is usually the first to see it. If you do not have a dentist, use NHS 111 as described above. In the emergencies above, do not wait for a reply.

Appointments and days

e.max veneers and crowns usually need two or three appointments. The ceramic is usually made in a laboratory between preparing the teeth and bonding it, and you may wear temporaries in between. The number of days in Antalya depends on how many teeth are treated and whether they are veneers or crowns. It also depends on whether anything is needed first, such as whitening, root canal treatment or treatment for decay or gum disease. Before you book, you receive a written preliminary plan based on the photographs and any X-rays you send. It sets out the appointments and how many days the treatment will take. It is not a diagnosis: the examination confirms or changes it, and with it the days and the cost. If it changes, you receive the revised plan in writing before treatment starts. After the examination, you can still decide not to go ahead, before any tooth is prepared.

Flying home

A 2023 review of flying after dental treatment suggests waiting at least 24 hours after restorative treatment¹³, and longer after surgical procedures. These times assume there is no pain, swelling or bleeding where you were treated. The authors note that the research is limited and comes mainly from military aviation. Treat it as a starting point for your dentist's advice, not as a rule.

Your own dentist and your records

The UK General Dental Council suggests talking to your own dentist¹⁴ before you go. They need to know the plan in case problems come up later. If you do not have a dentist in the UK, it helps to find one before you travel. The NHS lists exchanging medical records and arranging aftercare back home¹⁵ among the things to consider before treatment abroad.

Ask for a written record of the treatment to take back to your dentist. It should show which teeth have veneers or crowns and the materials used. In Turkey, the health tourism regulation entitles international patients to an itemised bill. On request, they also get free copies of the records of the materials used, the tests and the imaging¹⁶.

Veneers and crowns need regular check-ups for as long as they are in the mouth. National guidance in England (NICE) says the interval between check-ups should be set for each person according to their risk¹⁷ and discussed with them.

What the NHS does and does not do

If you later need NHS dental care in England or Wales, having been treated abroad does not by itself shut you out of it. An NHS dental practice that accepts you as a patient provides clinically necessary treatment, with your consent¹⁸. This means the treatment that every NHS dental contract must offer, and it may not be a new e.max crown or veneer. However, the NHS free-repair and replacement provisions do not apply¹⁸ to work done by another provider. So the free repair or replacement an NHS practice gives for its own work does not cover a crown or veneer made abroad. The NHS also states that it is not liable for negligence or failure of treatment¹⁵ when you have treatment abroad.

The NHS guidance quoted here is for England, and for England and Wales where stated. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own NHS rules, which this page does not cover; if you live there, check the arrangements.

If a crown or veneer fails after you are home

Your own dentist in the UK is usually the first to see the problem. A new e.max crown or veneer usually needs a laboratory and more than one appointment, wherever it is made. Its colour also has to match the teeth beside it. Ask any dentist about the cost before they repair or replace it. Ask before treatment whether the clinic's written terms cover a crown or veneer that fails after you are home (see the questions below).

Travel insurance

The NHS says that most travel insurance policies will not cover you for planned treatment abroad, so you may need specialist cover¹⁵. Tell your insurer about your plans. Ask before you book whether anything linked to the treatment is covered, such as a complication or an extra trip.

The General Dental Council lists questions to ask before treatment abroad¹⁴. Below are most of them, with what this page can answer today and what to ask for in writing.

1. Who will carry out my treatment, and what are their qualifications? The treatment is provided by our clinic in Antalya, Turkey, and carried out there by the clinic's dentists. Ask for the name of the dentist who will prepare your teeth and fit the crowns or veneers. Ask where they qualified and what their title is.
2. Are you regulated by a professional body and registered with it? In Turkey, a health facility needs an authorisation certificate¹⁶ from the Ministry of Health to treat international patients. Authorised facilities appear in a register the Ministry publishes¹⁹, so you can check it yourself. The authorisation belongs to the facility, not to the dentist, and it says nothing about the result of your treatment. Ask for the treating dentist's own registration details as well. See health tourism authorisation.
3. Will a dentist assess me before I get a plan and a cost estimate? The GDC says you should always be assessed by a qualified dentist before a treatment plan and cost estimate¹⁴. A plan made from photographs is preliminary. The examination decides, tooth by tooth, between a veneer, a crown and no treatment. Ask for the final plan in writing before any tooth is prepared, with the reason for each crown.
4. Is the work guaranteed, are the terms in writing, and for how long do they apply? This page makes no guarantee. Ask for the clinic's written terms for remaking a veneer or crown and for handling complications, and read them before you commit. Check what they say about a crown or veneer that fails after you are back in the UK.
5. If there are complications, who pays for further treatment, extra flights and the hotel? Ask for the answer in writing before you commit. A remade crown or veneer usually needs laboratory time, so it can mean another trip.
6. What aftercare do you provide, and who can I contact after the treatment? Your written plan should name who to contact, how, and in which language. For a problem that is not urgent, you write to the clinic and send photographs.
7. Will the dental team speak English, or will you provide a translator? Ask who will explain your plan and your consent form to you, and in which language.
8. How many times have you done this, and what are your success and complication rates? The figures on this page come from published studies, not from the clinic's own results; this page gives no figures for the clinic. Ask for the clinic's answer in writing, and how its figures were collected.
9. Do you have insurance to cover this treatment? In Turkey a facility treating international patients must take out complication insurance for surgical and interventional procedures carried out in an operating theatre¹⁶. That does not by itself tell you whether your treatment is covered, so ask which procedures in your plan, if any, fall under it. Ask too, in writing, whether the clinic or the treating dentist holds insurance for complications or errors, what it covers and whom it protects.
10. Do you have a complaints system, and can I see a copy? Ask for it before treatment. The GDC says it cannot resolve complaints or help with refunds²⁰; its investigations concern the dentists on its own register. Turkey's health tourism regulation makes the facility responsible for complications and medical malpractice arising after the health service it provided¹⁶.
11. What happens if the examination shows that a veneer or crown is not needed, or not right for me? You can say no, or ask to stop, at any stage. Once a tooth has been prepared, that step cannot be undone. Ask before you book what you would pay in that case.

The NHS names warning signs to think about before booking any treatment abroad. They are a hard sell, a lack of information, pressure to make a quick decision, no discussion of possible complications, and no mention of aftercare²¹. Apply them to this clinic too.

This page does not show prices. A treatment plan is prepared for you after an examination, with X-rays where needed. The main factors that shape it are:

• How many teeth need treatment, and which type of restoration (veneer or crown)
• Treatment needed first: decay, root canal treatment, gum treatment
• The ceramic used and the laboratory work
• A night guard, if needed
• The number of trips the appointments need

Ask for the plan in writing, including what it covers and what would be charged separately. Ask too who pays for further treatment and extra travel if there is a complication.

If you are comparing with a quote from a UK practice, compare what each one includes, tooth by tooth: veneer or crown, and which material.