Temporary crown in Turkey: what it is and why you need one
A temporary crown is a short-term cover made of acrylic or composite resin that is cemented over a tooth after the dentist has shaped it for a permanent crown. Shaping a tooth means removing a layer of enamel and dentine all round, which leaves it small, rough and sensitive. The temporary crown protects that stump from hot, cold and chewing, keeps the gum from closing the space and stops neighbouring teeth drifting, until the permanent crown is made and fitted. In Turkey it is usually made the same day, in the chair or milled from a digital scan.
It is not a lesser version of the final crown: it has a different job. This guide explains how it is made, what it is made of, how long it may stay in, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, how to look after it and what to do if it comes loose. For the wider picture of treatments see our dental treatments in Turkey hub.
How is a temporary crown made and fitted?
There are two common routes. In the chairside method, the dentist takes an impression or scan before preparing the tooth, then fills a mould of the original tooth shape with tooth-coloured resin, places it over the prepared tooth, trims it and checks your bite. In the digital method, the prepared tooth is scanned and a small milling unit cuts the crown from a block of resin in a few minutes, which usually gives a closer fit at the edge. Either way, the crown is held with a weak temporary cement, so the dentist can remove it easily when the permanent crown is ready.
The prepared tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic during the visit, so fitting the temporary crown is not painful. Expect a few minutes of polishing and bite checking; many clinics also adjust the shade so the temporary crown does not stand out in a smile.
What is a temporary crown made of?
- Acrylic (PMMA): a hard plastic, either shaped in the chair or milled from a block. Milled PMMA is denser and more stable than hand-shaped acrylic.
- Bis-acryl composite: a resin that sets quickly in the mould, often chosen for front teeth because the shade and edge look more natural.
- Preformed metal or polycarbonate shells: ready-made shells adapted to the tooth, used mainly as a quick fix or in children.
All of these are weaker than porcelain or zirconia. That is deliberate: a temporary crown is meant to be taken off again, not to last for years.
How long can a temporary crown stay in?
A temporary crown is designed for days to a few weeks. Patients travelling to Turkey for a crown often have the tooth prepared in the first appointment, wear the temporary crown for several days while the laboratory or milling unit makes the permanent crown, and have the final crown fitted before flying home. If the permanent crown is made elsewhere, the temporary crown may have to last two to three weeks. Beyond that, the resin can wear, stain, chip or leak at the edge, allowing bacteria in under the crown and causing decay or gum inflammation. Longer-term provisional crowns exist, for example over implants or during a smile makeover, but they are a different, stronger type and the dentist plans them in advance.
Temporary crown cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges per tooth, not clinic quotes. In many clinics the temporary crown is included in the price of the permanent crown; the ranges below apply when it is charged separately or provided as a longer-term provisional.
| Country | Approximate cost range per tooth |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €20 – €120 |
| United Kingdom | €70 – €300 |
| United States | €100 – €450 |
| Germany | €60 – €250 |
What changes the price: the material (hand-made acrylic or milled PMMA), whether the crown is a single unit or part of a temporary bridge, how many teeth are treated, and whether a replacement is needed because the first one broke. Ask whether the temporary crown, the tooth preparation and any repair are listed separately in the written quote.
Temporary crown or permanent crown on the same day?
Some clinics mill a permanent ceramic crown in the chair, so no temporary is needed. Others use the laboratory route, where a temporary crown is essential for a few days. The table compares the options you may be offered.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Chairside acrylic temporary | Short wait of a few days, back teeth | Less precise edge; may stain or loosen |
| Milled PMMA temporary | Front teeth, waits of one to three weeks | Needs digital scanner and milling unit |
| Same-day permanent crown | Single crowns when a visit must be short | Not suited to every bite or shade |
If you need several crowns joined together, the temporary may be a short bridge; read our guide to dental bridge installation for how that works.
Is a temporary crown painful, and what does it feel like?
You should feel pressure rather than pain. The prepared tooth can be sensitive to cold, hot and sweet food for a few days, and the gum around it may be tender or slightly red where it was shaped. The crown can also feel bulkier than the final one and slightly rough to the tongue. Mild anti-inflammatory painkillers are usually enough. See the dentist if the pain is severe, throbbing, wakes you at night or the crown feels high when you bite, since the bite can be adjusted in a few minutes.
How do I look after a temporary crown?
- Brush gently, including along the gum line, but pull dental floss out sideways instead of lifting it up, so you do not lift the crown.
- Avoid sticky foods such as toffee, chewing gum and very hard foods such as nuts or ice on that side.
- Do not use the tooth to bite hard bread or an apple; cut food into small pieces.
- Limit strongly staining drinks such as coffee, tea and red wine, which can discolour the resin.
Good hygiene matters more than usual because the resin edge is less smooth than ceramic and plaque collects there easily.
What if my temporary crown comes off or breaks?
This happens fairly often because the cement is weak on purpose. Keep the crown in a clean container, do not leave the tooth exposed for long, and contact your clinic the same day. If you are at home and cannot get an appointment, a pharmacy sells temporary dental cement that lets you reseat the crown for a short time; follow the instructions on the pack and do not use household glue. The NHS advises seeing a dentist promptly if a crown comes off, because the tooth underneath is unprotected. Tell the Turkish clinic at once, so it can adapt the fitting date if needed.
Your trip to Turkey: how many days do you need?
For a single crown with a laboratory-made final crown, most plans use three to five days: preparation and temporary crown on day one, a fitting check around day three, and the permanent crown cemented on day four or five. Milling units can shorten this. Several crowns or additional work such as root canal treatment add days. Whatever the plan, make sure you leave with the permanent crown fitted and your bite checked, instead of flying home on a temporary that has to last weeks. Read how our process works to see how the plan and the dates are agreed before you travel.
Risks and problems with a temporary crown
The most common problems are the crown coming loose, a chipped or worn edge, sensitivity, gum soreness and a bite that feels high. Less often, leakage at the edge lets bacteria in, causing decay or infection before the final crown is fitted. A poorly shaped temporary can also irritate the gum or let the tooth move, so that the permanent crown fits less well. Dental regulators and organisations such as the NHS and the American Dental Association describe temporary crowns as protective only. Ask what the clinic does if the crown fails, and who treats you if it happens after you are back home.
How to choose a dentist, and red flags
Check that your dentist is a registered dental surgeon, that the clinic uses a named laboratory or in-house milling with sterilised instruments, and that you receive a written plan with the number of visits, the materials and a price before you pay a deposit. Red flags are no information about the permanent crown material, pressure to book immediately, a temporary crown that is meant to last months with no plan, and a refusal to put guarantees in writing. You can also ask for a clinic that fits the final crown before you fly. Our free quote page sends your details to the clinic, which replies with a written plan and price.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Is the temporary crown included in the price of the permanent crown?
- Which material is used, and is it made in the chair or milled?
- How many days will I wear it before the final crown is fitted?
- What happens if it comes off while I am still in Turkey, or after I return?
- Who adjusts the bite, and are any repairs free of charge?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
A temporary crown is a short-term resin cover cemented over a tooth that has been shaped for a permanent crown. It protects the sensitive tooth and gum and holds the space until the final crown is made and fitted.
It is designed for days to a few weeks. Longer than about three weeks the resin can wear, stain or leak at the edge, so the permanent crown should be fitted as soon as it is ready.
Approximate ranges are €20 to €120 per tooth in Turkey, against about €70 to €300 in the UK. Many clinics include it in the price of the permanent crown, so check the written quote.
Usually acrylic (PMMA) or a bis-acryl composite resin, either shaped in the chair or milled from a digital scan. Preformed metal or plastic shells are used mainly as a quick fix.
Fitting is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards the tooth can be sensitive to hot, cold and sweet foods for a few days, and the gum may be sore. Severe or throbbing pain should be checked by a dentist.
Avoid sticky foods, chewing gum, nuts, ice and hard bread on that side. Cut food into small pieces, and floss by pulling the thread out sideways so you do not lift the crown.
Keep the crown clean and contact your dentist the same day. A pharmacy sells temporary dental cement to reseat it briefly, but the tooth underneath is unprotected, so do not delay seeing a dentist.
You can eat soft and moderately firm food, chewing on the other side where possible. The cement is weak by design, so hard or sticky food is the main risk.
Yes. A temporary crown is weaker resin held with weak cement and meant to be removed. A permanent crown is made of ceramic, zirconia or metal alloy and cemented firmly for years of use.
Most plans take three to five days: preparation and temporary crown first, a fitting check, then the permanent crown. Several crowns or extra treatment such as root canal work add days.