Crowns and bridges are the treatments most people actually need abroad, even when they arrived thinking about implants: a cracked molar, an old metal crown showing at the gum, a gap where a bridge would be quicker than surgery. A zirconia crown is £213 in Tbilisi against £700–£1,200 in the UK, and the whole job takes five to seven days. This guide covers the materials, the bridge-or-implant decision, and the honest maths on when it is worth flying for.
Crown materials, and which one you want
- Monolithic zirconia: milled from a single block, the strongest ceramic option, ideal for molars and for bridges. Modern multilayer zirconia is translucent enough for front teeth too. Our standard crown, £213.
- E.max (lithium disilicate): more translucent than zirconia, the most natural choice for front teeth and veneers, slightly less strong. Same price with us, £213.
- Porcelain fused to metal: the old standard. Strong, but the metal margin shows as a dark line when the gum recedes, and the porcelain can chip. We do not recommend it for anything visible.
- Full metal (gold or alloy): still the longest-lasting option for a back molar nobody sees, and rarely chosen for that reason.
Whatever the material, ask the clinic to name it and the manufacturer in writing. “Ceramic crown” tells you nothing.
Bridge or implant: how the decision is made
A conventional bridge replaces a missing tooth by crowning the two teeth either side and hanging a false tooth between them. An implant replaces the tooth on its own root and leaves the neighbours alone. The rules of thumb:
- Choose a bridge when the neighbouring teeth already have crowns or large fillings (nothing healthy is being ground down), when there is too little bone for an implant and you do not want grafting, when you need the gap closed in a week, or when budget is the deciding factor: a three-unit zirconia bridge is 3 × £213 = £639.
- Choose an implant when the neighbouring teeth are healthy, when the gap is at the end of the arch with no tooth behind it, or when you want the solution that lasts longest: a single implant with a crown is £540 and does not load the teeth next to it.
- Choose an implant-supported bridge when three or more teeth in a row are missing: two implants carry a bridge of three or four teeth, which is cheaper per tooth than an implant each.
What crowns and bridges cost abroad
UK private prices: £700–£1,200 for a zirconia or E.max crown, £2,000–£3,500 for a three-unit bridge. In Tbilisi: £213 per crown, £639 for a three-unit bridge, £131 for a standard ceramic crown on a back tooth, all with the scan, temporaries and fitting included; the full list is on the price list. One crown plus a seven-day trip costs more than the crown at home, so do not travel for one crown; from three or four units the trip pays for itself, and a full set of crowns on worn or old dentistry saves thousands.
The process, day by day
- Day 1: examination, X-ray or CBCT, any root canal or core build-up the tooth needs, preparation under local anaesthetic, digital scan, temporary crown.
- Days 2–5: the lab mills and finishes the crown or bridge; you are free.
- Day 5–6: try-in, bite check, bonding. A check the next day, then home.
Root canal treatment adds a day; our root canal and oral surgery page has prices. A crown on a tooth that has had a root canal usually needs a post and core first, which is included in the plan when the scan shows it.
How long they last
A well-made zirconia crown or bridge lasts 10–15 years and often longer; the usual reason for replacement is decay at the margin or gum recession, not the ceramic failing. Daily flossing under a bridge with superfloss or a water flosser is what protects the supporting teeth. A night guard if you grind.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a dental crown abroad?
£213 for zirconia or E.max in Tbilisi, all-in, against £700–£1,200 privately in the UK.
Is a bridge cheaper than an implant?
Per gap, a three-unit bridge (£639) costs more than a single implant with a crown (£540) in Tbilisi, but it needs no surgery and is done in a week. Choose on the health of the neighbouring teeth, not the price.
How long does it take to get crowns abroad?
Five to seven days, including the lab work, because the crowns are milled in-house.
Can old crowns be replaced abroad?
Yes; replacing old metal-ceramic crowns with zirconia is one of the most common treatments we plan, often combined with implants or veneers in one stay.
The short version
- Zirconia or E.max, named in writing; avoid metal-ceramic on anything visible.
- Bridge when the neighbours are already crowned; implant when they are healthy.
- £213 a crown and five to seven days in Tbilisi; worth the trip from three or four units.
Send a photo of the tooth or an X-ray on WhatsApp and a dentist tells you whether it needs a crown, a bridge or an implant, with a fixed price. Free, no deposit.
