Flawless dental crowns crafted in our in house lab.
Restore your natural smile with custom zirconia, porcelain, and ceramic crowns at Andent Clinic. Because we operate our own advanced digital lab in Tirana, we mill every crown on site for a perfect fit and aesthetic finish. Get permanently cemented, long lasting crowns during a quick four to five day stay.
When is a dental crown
the right solution?
Dental crowns offer complete full coverage protection by encasing the tooth above the gum line. Selecting the right treatment between a crown, filling, porcelain veneer, or inlay is essential for restoring bite strength and appearance.
A filling restores a section of a tooth. A crown restores the whole tooth. The threshold between the two depends on how much of the natural tooth structure remains. When more than half the tooth has been destroyed by decay, fracture, or wear, a filling cannot provide adequate structural support and a crown becomes the correct choice.
The distinction between a crown and a veneer is equally important. A veneer covers only the front-facing surface of a tooth and requires minimal preparation of the enamel. A crown encases the entire tooth and requires more preparation. Veneers are appropriate for cosmetic changes to intact healthy teeth. Crowns are appropriate for teeth that are structurally compromised and need full protection.
Crown or veneer — the clinical rule
If the tooth is structurally sound and the change is purely aesthetic, a veneer is the more conservative choice. If the tooth has existing large restorations, post-endodontic weakness, or significant tooth structure loss, a crown provides the protection a veneer cannot. When in doubt, send us an X-ray and photo of the tooth and we will give you a straightforward recommendation within 24 hours.
Severely decayed tooth
When caries has destroyed more than half the tooth structure, a crown is the only restoration that can distribute bite forces safely across the remaining tooth.
Cracked or fractured tooth
A crack running into the dentine is at constant risk of propagating further under bite pressure. A crown binds the tooth and prevents the fracture from progressing to the root.
After root canal treatment
An endodontically treated tooth loses moisture and becomes brittle. Without a crown, it has a high probability of fracturing within two to three years. A crown protects the investment of the root canal.
Bridge abutment tooth
When a dental bridge replaces a missing tooth, the adjacent teeth act as pillars and receive crowns that anchor the bridge. The crown is an integral part of the bridge design.
Crown on a dental implant
An implant is the titanium root. The crown is the visible tooth that attaches to it. Implant crowns at Andent Clinic are milled in the same in-house laboratory and matched precisely to adjacent teeth in colour and form.
Severely discoloured or misshapen tooth
When bleaching cannot correct the colour of a tooth — as in fluorosis, tetracycline staining, or a devitalised tooth — a crown provides a permanent, reliable aesthetic correction.
Three materials. One right choice
for each tooth position.
Choosing the wrong crown material is one of the most avoidable clinical errors in restorative dentistry. The material determines strength, aesthetics, and longevity.
E.max Lithium Disilicate
| Flexural strength | 350 to 450 MPa |
| Translucency | Superior |
| Metal-free | Yes |
| Estimated lifespan | 12 to 18 years |
| UK equivalent price | £1,000 to £1,600 |
E.max is our premier, highly recommended choice for patients seeking the ultimate in natural aesthetics and premium quality. It achieves a light-transmission behaviour that is nearly identical to natural tooth enamel, making it virtually indistinguishable from adjacent natural teeth. It is the clinical gold standard for smile makeovers and front-zone restorations where perfection is the priority.
Monolithic Zirconia Crown
| Flexural strength | 900 to 1,200 MPa |
| Translucency | Very good |
| Metal-free | Yes |
| Estimated lifespan | 15 to 20 years |
| UK equivalent price | £900 to £1,400 |
For posterior teeth or patients with a heavy bite, the Monolithic Zirconia Crown offers exceptional durability. Its massive flexural strength easily handles molar bite forces that would stress other ceramics. While it does not have the exact translucent mimicry of E.max, it provides a highly natural, metal-free appearance that eliminates any risk of gum darkening over time. The premium Zirconia blocks used in Andent’s laboratory are globally certified and sourced from industry-leading manufacturers, including Ivoclar.
PFM / Porcelain Fused to Metal Crown
| Fracture resistance | Very high |
| Translucency | Lower (opaque base) |
| Metal-free | No |
| Estimated lifespan | 10 to 15 years |
| UK equivalent price | £700 to £1,100 |
The porcelain-fused-to-metal crown has been the global standard in restorative dentistry for over fifty years. A metal substructure covered by ceramic delivers outstanding fracture resistance, making it a reliable choice for posterior teeth bearing high bite forces. The aesthetic limitation is a potential grey line at the gum margin that can become visible if gums recede. For hidden molars, this is clinically irrelevant and the PFM remains a valid, cost-effective solution.
| Criterion | E.max | Monolithic Zirconia | PFM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength (MPa) | 350 to 450 | 900 to 1,200 | Very high |
| Aesthetics / translucency | Superior | Very good | Good |
| Metal-free | Yes | Yes | No |
| Suitable for molars | With caution | Ideal | Ideal |
| Suitable for front teeth | Ideal | Yes | Acceptable |
| Gum darkening risk | None | None | Possible over time |
| Price at Andent | €250–€350 save 82% | €180–€250 save 70% | €130–€160 save 70% |
| Price in UK (private) | £1,000 to £1,600 | £900 to £1,400 | £700 to £1,100 |
The right material depends
on. where the tooth sits
Tooth position determines both the aesthetic requirement and the mechanical load on the crown. This guide shows which material we recommend in each zone of the mouth.
Upper central and lateral incisors
The highest aesthetic demand in the mouth. Light transmission is the deciding factor. E.max is the first choice for patients with high cosmetic expectations. High-translucency crown is the alternative when strength is also a concern.
E.max preferred
Upper and lower canines
Canines receive both biting and lateral forces. Crown handles these combined loads well and still provides good aesthetics. E.max is viable for patients without bruxism who prioritise colour matching with adjacent incisors.
Crown first choice
First and second premolars
Visible when smiling, subject to moderate bite forces. A Monolithic Crown provides the right balance between aesthetics and strength. E.max is a reasonable alternative for upper premolars in non-bruxist patients with strong aesthetic goals.
Monolithic Crown recommended
First, second and third molars
Peak bite forces, low visibility. Strength is the priority. Crown monolithic is the optimal choice. PFM is a perfectly valid and reliable alternative for the most posterior molars where the aesthetic argument for crown is minimal.
Dental Crown or PFMThe in-house laboratory.
Your crown in 48 hours.
Why having a lab
inside the clinic changes everything
In the standard model, a dentist takes your impressions and sends them to an external laboratory. The lab returns the crown days or weeks later. If the shade is off or the bite needs adjustment, the crown goes back to the lab. The patient waits again.
At Andent Clinic, the laboratory is in the same building as the treatment room. The dental technician who mills your crown can look at your tooth directly. If the shade needs a refinement, it happens in real time. If a margin adjustment is needed before cementation, it is done in minutes, not days.
For international patients, this distinction is not cosmetic. It is the reason you can arrive on Day 1, have your tooth prepared on Day 2, and leave on Day 5 with a permanently cemented crown. No second trip. No postal delays. No waiting at home with a provisional in place for three weeks.
- Shade matching reviewed directly on your tooth — not estimated from an impression alone
- Same-day adjustments if any refinement is needed before cementation
- Significantly shorter treatment timeline versus clinics using external laboratories
- Reduced risk of errors caused by communication between separate entities
- Multiple crowns milled in parallel — 6 crowns take the same 48 hours as 1
One trip.
Permanent crown.
From clinical assessment to permanent cementation, the complete dental crown treatment process at Andent Clinic in Tirana takes 4 to 5 days. Multiple crowns follow the same timeline because all are milled in parallel in the in-house laboratory. For international patients, this makes dental tourism in Albania faster, easier, and more predictable.
Shade matching:
why your crown looks natural
The most technically precise dental crown can look artificial if the shade selection is wrong. Colour matching in dental ceramics is a skill that sits between clinical dentistry and artistic craft.
Natural teeth are not a single colour. They have variations in hue from the gingival third to the incisal edge. The cervical region is typically warmer and more opaque. The incisal edge is more translucent. The body of the tooth sits between these two extremes. A crown that ignores this gradient looks flat, regardless of how well it fits.
At Andent Clinic in Tirana, shade selection for every crown is a collaborative process. The dental technician who will fabricate the crown is present during the shade consultation. This is unusual. Most clinics leave shade selection to the dentist alone and then communicate it to an external lab as a code on a form. Our technician looks at your teeth in person, evaluates them under different lighting conditions, and notes the specific characteristics of the adjacent teeth before a single block of ceramic is touched.
For multi-crown cases such as a full smile restoration, the shade consultation includes a digital preview of the planned outcome. Any concerns about colour or form are resolved before fabrication begins, not after. You can view real patient transformations in our Smile Gallery, or learn how international patients plan the full process through dental tourism in Albania.
Vita A1 to A2
Naturally light, cool tone. Common in patients with minimal staining history. Typically chosen for anterior crowns where neighbouring teeth match this range.
Vita A3 to B3
Mid-range warmth. The most commonly chosen shade range across all patient populations. Matches well with aged or slightly discoloured adjacent teeth.
Vita C and D range
Warmer, more saturated tones. Selected when crowns need to match older natural teeth or as part of a plan to harmonise a smile with significant existing discolouration.
If you are planning to whiten your teeth
Ceramic crowns do not respond to bleaching agents. Only natural tooth enamel changes colour. If you intend to bleach your teeth, do so before the crown is fabricated. The crown shade will then be matched to your post-bleaching tooth colour, and the result will remain consistent as your natural teeth gradually return to their baseline shade.
How long do dental crowns last
and what determines it?
Survival rates by material and hygiene level
Clinical studies consistently show that hygiene behaviour and bruxism management have a larger impact on crown longevity than material choice. A PFM crown maintained with excellent interdental cleaning will outlast a dental crown on a patient who does not floss.
How to maximise your crown’s lifespan
- Brush twice daily and use interdental brushes or floss around the crown margin — secondary decay at the crown edge is the most common cause of early replacement
- Use a night guard if you grind your teeth — bruxism generates forces three to five times higher than normal chewing and is the single largest risk factor for crown fracture
- Avoid biting hard objects with crowned teeth — pens, ice, nut shells, and bottle caps all create localised stress concentrations that can fracture ceramic
- Schedule an annual check-up with your home dentist — early detection of a loose margin prevents secondary decay from developing under the crown undetected
- If the crown feels high on the bite in the first days, report it immediately — an incorrect bite relationship accelerates wear and can cause jaw joint discomfort
If your crown is part of a larger treatment plan, such as a dental bridge, a dental implant, or a full smile restoration, the team at Andent Clinic in Tirana will give you clear long-term maintenance instructions. International patients can also plan follow-up care through our dental tourism in Albania process.
Crown costs: Albania vs UK,
Germany and beyond
Andent Clinic prices cover the full process: clinical assessment, tooth preparation, provisional crown, in-house fabrication, permanent cementation, and clinical documentation in English. There are no additional fees.
Everything patients ask
before booking
Send your X-ray for a free quote
We review every case individually. Send a periapical X-ray or photo and receive a material recommendation and exact price within 24 hours.
Mon–Fri · 09:00–18:00 · Sat · 09:00–14:00 (CET)
WhatsApp available 7 days
What patients say about
crowns at Andent Clinic
Other treatments to combine
in the same trip
Your crown. Our lab.
Your result in 4 days.
Send us an X-ray or photo of the tooth you need treating. We will review it and send a personalised material recommendation, treatment plan, and exact price within 24 hours. Free, no obligation.
