An older, well-established crown type — not a downgrade, a different option
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns have been used in dentistry for decades, well before zirconia became widely available. They remain a legitimate, commonly used option today, not an outdated one.
What a porcelain crown typically costs
In Istanbul, a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown commonly costs in the range of roughly €80–100 per unit — one of the more accessible crown options price-wise, generally lower than a monolithic zirconia crown.
How it's actually built
A PFM crown has a metal substructure (usually a base metal alloy) for strength, with porcelain layered on top for a tooth-colored appearance. This combination gives real durability, particularly for back teeth that handle heavy chewing force.
The one honest trade-off worth knowing
Over many years, the metal margin at the gumline can occasionally become slightly visible as gums naturally recede with age — something all-ceramic options like zirconia don't have, since they contain no metal at all. This is a long-term cosmetic consideration, not a functional one.
Where porcelain crowns genuinely make sense
For back molars where the crown is rarely visible when you smile, and where budget is a real consideration, a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is a sensible, well-proven choice — not a compromise choice, a reasonable one.
Where zirconia is usually preferred instead
For front, visible teeth, most patients and dentists now lean toward zirconia specifically because of the metal-margin consideration over time — but this is a preference driven by long-term aesthetics, not because PFM crowns are unreliable.
What a fair quote specifies
A proper quote should clearly state whether it's PFM or zirconia, since the price and long-term appearance differ meaningfully between the two — don't assume "crown" always means the same material.