What Is an E-max Crown?
An E-max crown is a full-coverage cap pressed or milled from lithium disilicate — a glass-ceramic made by Ivoclar Vivadent under the IPS e.max name. It contains no metal and no opaque core, which is why light passes through it much the way it passes through natural enamel.
That translucency is the whole point. On a front tooth, a restoration that blocks light reads as flat and artificial no matter how well the shade is matched. E-max is the material chosen when the restoration has to disappear.
E-max comes as both a crown (full coverage, for teeth already filled or worn) and a veneer (front surface only, for healthy teeth). Same material, very different amount of tooth removed. See porcelain veneers for the conservative option.
How Much Do E-max Crowns Cost in Turkey?
An E-max ceramic crown at Soho Dental is from $400 (€350 / £300) per unit, and a 20-unit smile package is from $8,120 — roughly 73% less than the same work in the US.
| Treatment | Turkey (Soho Dental) | US Average | UK Average | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 E-max Ceramic Crowns | from $8,120 | $30,000+ | £14,000+ | up to 73% |
| 20 Zirconia Crowns | from $5,800 | $24,000+ | £12,000+ | up to 76% |
| Single E-max Ceramic Crown | from $400 | $1,500+ | £700+ | up to 73% |
| Single E-max Ceramic Veneer | from $400 | $1,800+ | £800+ | up to 77% |
E-max costs more per unit than zirconia because the material and the pressing process cost more — not because it is a higher standard of care. The complete Turkey teeth price list covers every other treatment we offer.
What affects the price
The number of units, whether any teeth need root canal treatment, fillings or gum treatment first, and whether E-max is being combined with zirconia further back. Every possible extra is disclosed in writing after your examination and X-rays — before you travel.
E-max vs Zirconia — Which Crown Do You Need?
This is the comparison that actually decides your plan, and the answer is usually "both, in different places".
| Factor | E-max (lithium disilicate) | Zirconia |
|---|---|---|
| Translucency / light reflection | ✓ Best — closest to enamel | Good; layered better than monolithic |
| Strength under chewing load | High | ✓ Highest |
| Best position in the mouth | ✓ Front smile zone | ✓ Back teeth, full arches |
| Wear on opposing natural teeth | ✓ Gentler | Harder — bite adjustment matters |
| Metal content | ✓ None | ✓ None |
| Soho Dental price per unit | from $400 | from $290 |
A common full-smile plan is E-max on the front six to eight teeth and zirconia further back, where force matters more than translucency. Which restoration each tooth receives is confirmed at clinical examination and stated in writing before any preparation begins.
What's Included — E-max Crown Package
Soho Dental crown packages are quoted with transparent pricing. A 20-unit E-max package covers:
- 20x Ivoclar E-Max Crowns (10 upper / 10 lower)
- Digital smile design and consultation
- Clinical examination and 3D impressions
- Shade selection
- Temporary crowns during your stay
- All laboratory work
- Final fitting and bite adjustments
- VIP airport ↔ hotel transfers
- 7 nights hotel with bed & breakfast
What may not be included
Root canal treatment, fillings or gum treatment needed before the restorative stage, tooth extractions, implants, and extra hotel nights are quoted separately. Flights and travel insurance are not included. Hotel accommodation is provided according to package conditions — your coordinator confirms the arrangement for your plan.
Who Is a Good Candidate for E-max Crowns?
E-max is usually the right choice when
- You are restoring front teeth where appearance matters most
- The tooth is already filled, worn or root-treated
- You want the most natural light reflection available
- An old PFM crown with a dark gum line needs replacing
- Your bite is stable and not heavily worn
Zirconia may suit you better when
- The tooth is a back molar carrying heavy load
- You grind your teeth significantly
- You are restoring a full arch on implants
- Maximum fracture resistance is the priority
- You want the lower per-unit price
The E-max Crown Procedure — Step by Step
- 1
Free Online Consultation & Quote
Send clear photos of your smile — front, both sides and an upper arch view — on WhatsApp or by email. A dentist reviews your case and sends a transparent treatment plan and quote within 24 hours, with no obligation.
- 2
Day 1 — Examination & Digital Smile Design
Clinical examination, X-rays, gum health check and shade selection. Shade matters more with E-max than with any other material, because translucency means the underlying tooth colour shows through.
- 3
Day 2 — Preparation & Impressions
Teeth are prepared under local anaesthetic, digital impressions taken, and temporary crowns fitted so you leave the clinic with a complete smile.
- 4
Days 3–5 — Laboratory Work & Try-In
Your crowns are produced by our partner laboratory using CAD/CAM lab work. The try-in checks shade, shape, length and bite before anything is bonded permanently.
- 5
Days 6–7 — Bonding & Final Adjustments
E-max is adhesively bonded rather than simply cemented — the bond is part of its strength. The bite is adjusted and margins polished before you leave with aftercare instructions and your warranty conditions.
How Long Do I Need to Stay in Istanbul?
Crowns are completed in one visit of 6–7 working days — unlike implants, there is no healing period requiring a second trip.
- Days 1–2: examination, X-rays, smile design, preparation and temporary crowns.
- Days 3–5: laboratory production and try-in appointment.
- Days 6–7: bonding, bite adjustment, polishing and final checks.
Hotel accommodation and VIP airport ↔ hotel transfers are arranged by your coordinator according to your flights and individual package conditions. All relevant details are shared transparently with you before you travel. See the full treatment journey for international patients.
How Long Do E-max Crowns Last?
Lithium disilicate is strong enough for routine use on front and premolar teeth, and the crown itself is rarely what fails. What fails is usually the biology around it — decay at the margin where cleaning stops, or gum disease undermining the tooth beneath.
Your warranty at Soho Dental
Crowns, bridges and veneers are covered for 5 years, provided you keep to the recommended hygiene and check-up schedule. Should a covered restoration fail inside its guarantee period, we remake and refit it at no charge for the treatment itself. Your warranty conditions are issued in writing with your treatment documents.
A warranty should never be presented as though biological complications were impossible. Accidental damage, untreated gum disease and grinding without a night guard fall outside the cover.
E-max Crown Aftercare
- 1
First 48 hours
Gums may feel tender at the crown margins. Avoid very hot or very cold food and drink while the tissue settles.
- 2
First weeks
Return to normal eating gradually. Do not bite directly into ice, nuts or bottle tops with crowned front teeth — glass-ceramic is strong but not indestructible under point loading.
- 3
Long term
Brush twice daily, clean between the teeth every day, and see a hygienist every six months. The crown margin is where decay starts if cleaning stops.
- 4
If you grind
Wear the night guard. Clenching is the single biggest controllable factor in how long any ceramic restoration survives.
Advantages & Disadvantages of E-max Crowns
Advantages
- The most natural light reflection of the ceramic options
- Metal-free — no dark line at the gum as tissue recedes
- Gentler on opposing natural teeth than zirconia
- Adhesively bonded, which adds strength to the prepared tooth
- Completed in a single 6–7 day visit
Disadvantages
- Less fracture-resistant than zirconia under heavy load
- Not the first choice for back molars or heavy grinders
- Full coverage — more tooth removed than a veneer
- Costs more per unit than zirconia
- Irreversible once the tooth is prepared
Before & After — Ceramic Crown Results
Real ceramic crown and smile rehabilitation transformations from Soho Dental Clinic patients in Istanbul.
From First Visit to Final Smile.
Explore real patient stories captured in every transformation. These are more than smiles — they are renewed confidence, achieved with care and precision at Soho Dental Clinic.
Real Patients. Real Smiles.
Our Cosmetic Dentists
Crown cases are planned and treated through a doctor-led multidisciplinary model, with the co-founders directly involved in prosthetic planning and full-arch rehabilitation, supported by a partner laboratory that produces every unit according to the approved smile design.
Is Crown Treatment Safe in Turkey? What International Patients Should Check
Crown treatment can be performed safely in Türkiye when it is provided by an appropriately authorized healthcare facility and planned according to the patient's individual clinical needs.
Soho Dental Clinic holds an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate under the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health framework. Our authorization can be verified through the Ministry of Health's official list of authorized healthcare providers, and our clinic profile is listed on Health Türkiye, the Ministry's health-tourism platform.
For restorative work, authorization is only one part of the decision. Patients should also consider who is planning the treatment, whether a try-in stage is included before anything is bonded, which ceramic is being used on which tooth, and what aftercare is available after returning home.
Independent patient reviews and video interviews are worth checking for any clinic you shortlist, including ours.
TDB Member Dentists
Ivoclar IPS e.max Ceramics
International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate · Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health.
A note on very low prices: ask which ceramic is actually being used. "Porcelain crown" is a loose term, and E-max is a specific branded material with a specific cost. Always request a full written price and verify authorization before committing anywhere.
Why Choose Soho Dental for E-max Crowns?
What makes the difference
- Genuine Ivoclar IPS e.max ceramics, named in your plan
- Written plan stating which restoration each tooth receives
- Digital smile design approved by you before preparation
- Try-in appointment before anything is bonded permanently
- CAD/CAM lab work through our partner laboratory
- English-speaking coordination from first message to aftercare
Guarantee & aftercare
- Crowns, bridges and veneers covered for 5 years
- Warranty conditions issued in writing with your documents
- Free follow-up checks during your stay
- Continuous remote aftercare once you are home
- Clear aftercare guidance to protect your result long-term
Crown & Veneer Package Prices
VIP airport & hotel transfers, examination, X-rays and laboratory fees are included according to package conditions. Any possible extras outside of your package will always be shared with you before you travel.
E-MAX CROWNS PACKAGE
- 20x Ivoclar E-Max Crowns (10 upper / 10 lower)
- Digital smile design and consultation
- Clinical examination and 3D impressions
- Shade selection
- Temporary crowns during your stay
- All laboratory work
- Final fitting and bite adjustments
- Airport-hotel transfers
- 7 Nights Hotel with Bed & Breakfast
ZIRCONIUM CROWNS PACKAGE
- 20x Zirconium Crowns (10 upper / 10 lower)
- Digital smile design
- Clinical examination and X-rays
- Tooth preparation
- Temporary crowns during your stay
- All laboratory work
- Final fitting and bite adjustments
- Airport-hotel transfers
PORCELAIN LAMINATE VENEERS PACKAGE
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- 20x Porcelain Laminate Veneers (10 upper / 10 lower)
- Digital smile design
- Clinical examination and X-rays
- Minimal preparation (0.3–0.5 mm enamel)
- Temporary veneers during your stay
- All laboratory work
- Bonding, polishing and final adjustments
- Airport-hotel transfers
- 7 Nights Hotel with Bed & Breakfast
Frequently Asked Questions
More answers on travelling to Istanbul for treatment are in our full patient FAQ.
Everything international patients ask about E-max crowns — cost, how they compare with zirconia, where they belong in the mouth, and how long they last. Still unsure? Message us for a free, no-obligation assessment.
An E-max ceramic crown at Soho Dental is from $400 (€350 / £300) per unit, and a 20-unit smile package is from $8,120. That is roughly 73% less than the $30,000+ typically charged for the same 20 units in the US.
Lithium disilicate, a glass-ceramic made by Ivoclar Vivadent under the IPS e.max name. It contains no metal and no opaque core, which is why light passes through it much the way it passes through natural enamel.
Neither, universally. E-max is more translucent and reads more naturally in the front smile zone; zirconia is more fracture-resistant and better for back teeth, full arches and heavy grinders. A common plan uses E-max on the front six to eight teeth and zirconia further back.
For front and premolar teeth, yes — and adhesive bonding adds to the strength of the prepared tooth. For back molars carrying heavy chewing load, or for patients who grind significantly, zirconia is the more robust choice.
Same material, very different amount of tooth removed. A crown covers the whole tooth and is used where it is already filled, worn or root-treated. A veneer covers only the front surface and removes about 0.3–0.5 mm of enamel. Both are $400 per unit at Soho Dental.
The crown itself is rarely what fails — decay at the margin or gum disease beneath it is. At Soho Dental crowns, bridges and veneers are covered for 5 years, provided you keep to the recommended hygiene and check-up schedule.
One visit of 6–7 working days. Days 1–2 cover examination, X-rays, smile design, preparation and temporary crowns; days 3–5 are laboratory production and a try-in; days 6–7 are bonding, bite adjustment and final checks.
The ceramic does not absorb stain the way composite does, and the glazed surface resists discolouration well. Surface film from coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco can still build up and is removed at a routine hygiene appointment. Whitening products do not lighten ceramic.
E-max is gentler on opposing natural teeth than zirconia, which is one reason it is favoured in the smile zone. Either way the bite is adjusted at the try-in and fitting stages — an unadjusted crown of any material can wear the tooth it bites against.
They can be used as the visible restoration in some cases, but full-arch implant work is normally restored with a zirconia bridge for strength. Which applies to your case is decided from your CBCT scan and bite assessment — see full mouth dental implants.
Most patients treat the smile zone rather than every tooth — typically 8 to 10 units per arch, so 16 or 20 in total. Treating more than that rarely looks more natural and removes healthy tooth structure unnecessarily.
Because we name the ceramic in your plan, give you a design to approve, and include a try-in before anything is bonded. "Porcelain crown" is a loose term; E-max is a specific branded material with a specific cost. You still save up to 73% versus US prices.