What is the price of a dental bridge in Turkey?
The price of a dental bridge in Turkey ranges from £450 to £1,300 depending on the number of teeth, compared with £1,800 in the UK. This all-inclusive price covers local anaesthesia, the crowns and accommodation. The procedure takes 1 to 2 hours as a day case, with no overnight stay, spread over a 5-day trip.
📊 Price table 2026
| Type of work | Turkey price | UK price |
|---|---|---|
| Metal-ceramic bridge (3 units) | £350 - £520 | £1,150 - £1,600 |
| Zirconia bridge (3 units) | £480 - £780 | £1,600 - £2,400 |
| E-max bridge (3 units) | £610 - £950 | £1,950 - £2,900 |
| Full bridge (zirconia - 12 teeth) | £1,900 - £3,050 | £6,200 - £9,700 |
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge in Turkey is a dental device in which one or more custom-made replacement teeth fill the space where one or more neighbouring teeth are missing. A dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis made up of several artificial teeth joined together. This structure is anchored to the supporting teeth on either side of the gap.
Dental bridges are one of the most widely used tooth replacement techniques. This article covers the materials used to make dental bridges, the fitting procedure itself and the cost of a bridge at dental clinics in Istanbul.
Fitting a dental bridge
Bridges at dental centres in Turkey (Antalya, Marmaris, Istanbul and Fethiye) are fitted by experienced dental surgeons using advanced materials.
Dental care in Turkey relies on practitioners trained in prosthodontics and on well-equipped laboratories. What a bridge restores first is function: chewing and speech, ahead of appearance.
When is a dental bridge indicated?
- mild or moderate gaps in the back or front of the dental arch (up to 4 teeth);
- a single missing molar in the chewing area.
The patient needs healthy supporting teeth that can bear sufficient load. If not, dental implants must be placed before a bridge can be fitted.
Contraindications for dental bridges:
- bruxism;
- severe inflammation of the oral cavity or throat (stomatitis, gingivitis, sore throat: temporary contraindication);
- more than one missing molar, three or more missing premolars, or four missing teeth in the smile zone;
- occlusal disorders;
- osteoporosis and other diseases of the jawbone tissue;
- severe periodontal disease;
- periodontitis;
- pathological tooth wear.
Read next: Dental veneers in Istanbul
Steps in fitting a dental bridge in Turkey
- Examination of the oral cavity. The Turkish dentist examines the teeth that the crown will cover. These teeth must be healthy and able to bear the increased chewing load.
- Preparation. If the supporting teeth are damaged, the dentist removes the pulp, fills the canals and, where necessary, reinforces the teeth with inlays. If the bridge is made on healthy supporting teeth, removing the nerves is not compulsory.
- Reduction. With metal-ceramic bridges, a thicker layer of enamel has to be removed, whereas non-metal bridges need only minimal reduction.
- Taking impressions. Impressions of the upper and lower jaw are taken and sent to the laboratory.
- Making the bridge. The turnaround depends on the materials used and the complexity of the work. During this time, a temporary prosthesis is fitted in the smile zone.
- Try-in. The bridge is fitted and adjusted.
Types of material for dental bridges
Dental bridges can be made of metal, ceramic, metal-ceramic or zirconium dioxide. Appearance, price, strength and durability depend directly on the material chosen.
- Metal dental bridges are all but obsolete today: despite their strength and low price, they fall short aesthetically and can damage the supporting teeth.
- Metal-ceramic dental bridges are strong, reliable and safe. They consist of ceramic built over a metal framework. They look natural and remain the cheapest of the ceramic options.
- Plastic dental bridges are light, inexpensive and hypoallergenic, and are fitted for a fairly short period. Their limited durability and quick manufacture make them useful as a temporary measure to close gaps in the dental arch.
- Zirconia dental bridges are ceramic teeth on a zirconium dioxide framework. They are fairly light and strong, place minimal pressure on the supporting teeth and can bear heavier loads. Zirconia bridges look natural; they are hypoallergenic and fully biocompatible with human tissue.
Which is better: dental implants or bridges?
A bridge on natural teeth is a well-established technique: its survival rate reaches 93.8% at five years and 89.2% at ten years[1]. A dental bridge is a good alternative to dental implants, though it remains inferior to them.
How much does a full implant-supported bridge cost in Turkey?
A full bridge of twelve zirconia teeth costs £1,900 to £3,050 in Turkey, compared with £6,200 to £9,700 in the UK. That price does not include the implants that support it: their number is decided after examination, and it is what makes the quote vary from one mouth to another.
For implant-supported bridges, a meta-analysis reports 98.7% five-year survival for metal-ceramic versus 93.0% for veneered zirconia[2]. The difference lies in the veneering, not the zirconia: monolithic pieces show no such disadvantage[3].
Advantages of a dental bridge:
- The procedure requires no surgery and carries no long rehabilitation period or risk of implant failure.
- A bridge is fitted in a few appointments, with no need to wait for the osseointegration an implant requires.
- Once the bridge is fixed, any discomfort settles within a few days as you get used to the prosthesis.
- A bridge is the only option when the gap between adjacent teeth is very small. In that case, implants cannot be placed.
Advantages of dental implants:
- A single implant crown has a ten-year survival rate of 89.4%[1]. Bridges, by contrast, have a limited lifespan and have to be replaced once that period is up. The short life of these prostheses comes down to the properties of the material used to fix the crowns.
- There is no need for resurfacing or pulp removal.
- Dental implants prevent problems linked to bone tissue atrophy because they keep the bone loaded, whereas a bridge leaves the bone under the missing tooth unstimulated, and it gradually resorbs.
Looking after a dental bridge
- Clean your dental bridge properly twice a day.
- Cleaning a dental bridge means paying particular attention to the inner surface that touches the gums and to the interdental spaces (a single-tufted brush or dental floss works well for this).
- When you brush, hold the toothbrush at a 45° angle and use sweeping motions to remove as much food debris and plaque as possible.
- A single-tufted brush or dental floss can be used with a small amount of toothpaste.
- After cleaning the bridge, use a little mouthwash, but remember that it is no substitute for the steps above.
Following all of these recommendations helps extend the life of a dental bridge and protect the patient’s health.
Removable and fixed dental bridges should be cleaned with gentle products so as not to damage the surface of the appliance. If the bridge is damaged, do not try to repair it yourself - see your dentist straight away.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
What is the price of a dental bridge in the UK?
In the UK, a three-unit bridge runs from about £1,150 to £2,900 depending on the material, against £350 to £950 in Turkey for the same work. A full twelve-tooth zirconia bridge reaches £6,200 to £9,700 in the UK.
Is a bridge fitted in Turkey covered by the NHS?
Coverage for planned treatment abroad depends on your own situation and on the rules of your health service. Check with your provider before committing to treatment overseas[4].
How much does a four-tooth bridge cost?
The quote is based on the number of units to replace and abutment teeth to crown. The table above gives the ranges for three units; each additional unit is added on, and the clinic can only price it after an X-ray.
Are a dental bridge and a pontic the same thing?
Yes. The two words describe the same fixed prosthesis anchored to the neighbouring teeth. A Turkish quote translated into English may use either term without the prosthesis being any different.
Can a whole jaw be replaced with a bridge?
Not on natural teeth: beyond a few units, there are no longer enough healthy abutments to use. A full jaw then calls for implant-based protocols such as All-on-4, where the bridge is carried on screws.
What if the bridge comes loose after returning to the UK?
A loose bridge is dealt with by a UK practitioner, who will need the report and the itemised quote issued by the clinic. Follow-up arrangements are set out in our guide to medical tourism in Turkey.
What should a dental bridge quote include?
A clear quote states the number of units, the framework and cosmetic material, whether it is monolithic or veneered, the laboratory making it and what the package covers. Those details let you compare two offers for the same work.
Sources & References
- Pjetursson BE, Brägger U, Lang NP, Zwahlen M. Comparison of survival and complication rates of tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) and implant-supported FDPs and single crowns (SCs). Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2007. View source
- Sailer I, Strasding M, Valente NA, Zwahlen M, Liu S, Pjetursson BE. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of zirconia-ceramic and metal-ceramic multiple-unit fixed dental prostheses. Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2018. View source
- Pjetursson BE, Sailer I, Merino-Higuera E, et al. Systematic review evaluating the influence of the prosthetic material and prosthetic design on the clinical outcomes of implant-supported multi-unit fixed dental prosthesis in the posterior area. Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2023. View source
- Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr). Soins programmés à l’étranger : votre prise en charge. 2026. View source
