Turkey teeth: veneers vs crowns, the price per tooth and how much tooth is removed

Before you book Turkey teeth, find out whether the plan is for veneers or crowns, because the two remove very different amounts of your own teeth. A veneer is a thin shell bonded to the front of the tooth after a small amount of enamel is taken off; a crown is a cap that covers the whole tooth, which is shaped all round to make room for it, the Oral Health Foundation explains. Crowns are fixed and cannot be removed. On price per tooth the two are close in Turkey: Dentakay, the one Turkish clinic we found that publishes both, lists $359 per veneer and $199 to $369 per porcelain crown, read on 3 November 2026. So a cheap quote does not tell you which one you are getting. Ask for the plan in writing, tooth by tooth.

Veneers vs crowns: what each does to your teeth

The Oral Health Foundation, a UK dental health charity, describes the two treatments like this (veneers, crowns):

• Veneer. A thin covering fixed to the front surface of a tooth, made of porcelain or tooth-coloured composite, "in a similar way to how a false nail fits over a natural nail". A small amount of enamel is removed from the front of the tooth so the veneer does not feel bulky. It is used for discoloured teeth that do not respond to whitening, chipped or worn teeth, small gaps, and teeth that are uneven or slightly crooked-looking. It usually takes more than one visit.
• Crown. A custom-made cover that fits over the remaining part of a tooth. The tooth is shaped to make space for it, and a crown is fixed in place and cannot be removed. It may be recommended for a tooth that is badly damaged or broken, has a large filling, has had root canal treatment, or is discoloured or uneven. Fitting usually takes two visits, with a temporary crown in between, though some ceramic crowns are made on the same day.

Dentakay's own page puts the difference the same way: a crown "covers the prepared tooth and is often used when more strength or protection is needed", while a veneer "covers mainly the front surface and may suit certain cosmetic concerns" (Dentakay). So two plans for the same smile can mean very different amounts of your own enamel. The Foundation lists "how much natural tooth is removed" and "willingness to extract teeth instead of saving them" among the things that vary between countries (Oral Health Foundation).

Turkey teeth prices per tooth: veneers and crowns

These are the prices each clinic publishes on its own page, read on 3 November 2026. Dentakay is the only clinic in Turkey we found that publishes a price for both; other quotes come by message or from booking sites, which we do not use.

Pounds are our conversion at a fixed rate. Dentakay says its prices are approximate and cover the veneer or crown only; your written estimate sets the final price. Listing a clinic is not a recommendation.

Dentakay's worked example for six veneers is $2,159, about £1,620, with the consultation, X-rays and smile design shown as $0 (Dentakay). Six porcelain crowns at its published range would be $1,194 to $2,214, our multiplication. At the Essex practice, six veneers or six ceramic crowns would be £5,100 before the exam and X-rays. Every country's veneer prices are on cheapest country for veneers, and the Turkish clinics we track are on veneers in Turkey.

Composite bonding: the option that removes no tooth

Composite bonding is often compared with veneers. The Oral Health Foundation says veneers are usually made from porcelain or tooth-coloured composite, the same material as a white filling (Oral Health Foundation). With bonding, the dentist builds the composite onto your own teeth in the chair.

• What it does. Old Harlow Dental Practice describes composite bonding as white filling material placed at the tips or edges of the teeth to change their shape, colour-matched to your teeth, in a single visit. It says it does not remove healthy tooth tissue and usually needs no local anaesthetic injection (Old Harlow Dental Practice).
• How long it lasts. The same practice gives a usual life span of 5 to 7 years, after which the composite may need repairing or replacing. It can stain, but is easy to repolish; it can chip, especially if you grind your teeth, and is easy to repair.
• What it costs in the UK. £150 to £350 per tooth at Old Harlow, against £850 for a porcelain veneer there (private fees 2026).
• In Turkey. Dentakay mentions composite veneers and bonding as part of a smile plan, but none of the Turkish clinics we read publishes a price for composite bonding, so ask for one in writing.

Because bonding adds material instead of removing it, it is the easiest of the three to change your mind about later. But on the practice's own figure, it may need redoing after 5 to 7 years.

How to tell which one you are being offered

A price per tooth does not say how much of each tooth will be removed. Before you pay a deposit, ask for these in writing:

1. A plan tooth by toothWhich teeth get a veneer, which a crown, and which are left alone, with the material for each (porcelain, E Max, zirconia or composite).
2. The reason for each crownA crown is usually for a tooth that is broken, heavily filled or root treated. Ask why a healthy tooth would get one instead of a veneer.
3. X-rays and the dentist's nameThe General Dental Council says you should always be assessed by a qualified dentist before being given a treatment plan and cost estimate, with your full medical history (GDC).
4. A second opinion at homeTake the plan to a dentist at home. The Oral Health Foundation strongly recommends speaking to your own dentist first (Oral Health Foundation).
5. The guarantee and the aftercareAsk how long the work is guaranteed, what aftercare is included, and who pays for flights, hotel and corrective work if something goes wrong.

What UK dental bodies warn about

The Oral Health Foundation lists broken or poorly fitting crowns, veneers or bridges, treatment that was more extensive than expected, and difficulty getting follow-up care among the problems that can happen, and warns that fixing problems later can cost more than the original treatment (Oral Health Foundation). It adds that views on cosmetic appearance differ between countries, so what feels normal in one may not match what you expect.

The General Dental Council regulates dentists in the UK only. It says it cannot guarantee that another country has a regulator like it, or that standards are the same, and suggests checking whether the country has a professional regulator and whether registration is compulsory (GDC). It also warns about overseas providers holding events in UK hotels: assessments and advice can count as practising dentistry, which only people on its register can legally do in the UK.

The UK Foreign Office says dental procedures are among the most common treatments for medical tourists in Turkey (FCDO). What else it advises before any treatment in Turkey is in is surgery in Turkey safe?

What the same teeth cost at home

The NHS provides the dental treatment you need to keep your mouth and teeth healthy, and says you will usually need to get cosmetic treatments privately (NHS). A crown is in Band 3, £332.10 in England, when your dentist says it is clinically needed, and on a back tooth you may be offered a metal-coloured crown (NHS). Veneers to change how your teeth look are not on that list. If you cannot find an NHS dentist to check your teeth first, see NHS dentist waiting list.

Privately, Old Harlow Dental Practice in Essex charges £850 for a porcelain veneer, £700 for a bonded crown and £850 for a zirconia, full porcelain or E Max crown (Old Harlow Dental Practice). With flights and hotel nights added, the full comparison for a UK reader is on veneers in Turkey from the UK.