What Is a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown?
Feldspathic porcelain is the classic dental porcelain, made from the mineral feldspar and containing a high proportion of glass. This type of porcelain is also used as the outer layer of porcelain-fused-to-metal and zirconia crowns. A feldspathic porcelain crown, however, has no core: the whole crown is porcelain.
The crown can be made in two ways. The dental technician can build up porcelain powder layer by layer and fire it, or the crown can be milled by computer from ready-made feldspathic ceramic blocks. Milling can sometimes even allow the crown to be made on the same day.
The great strength of feldspathic porcelain is its appearance: its translucency, depth of colour and surface gloss are very close to natural enamel. Its weakness is that its fracture resistance is clearly lower than that of lithium disilicate and zirconia. That is why today it is used mostly for thin restorations such as veneers and on front teeth.
Porcelain on its own is fragile, but once it is bonded to the tooth with resin, the tooth and the crown work together and the crown becomes stronger. The success of a feldspathic porcelain crown therefore depends largely on the bonding technique being carried out correctly.
Material
Classic feldspathic porcelain with a high glass content; there is no core.
Appearance
Its translucency and depth of colour are very close to natural enamel.
Where it is used
Front teeth where bite forces are low; selected cases on back teeth.
Bonding
The inside is etched with hydrofluoric acid, silane is applied and the crown is bonded with resin cement.
Limits
Its fracture resistance is lower than other ceramics; risky in people who grind and on molars.
Who Might a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown Suit?
A feldspathic porcelain crown is considered for teeth where a natural look is the priority and bite forces stay low.
Front teeth
On incisors and canines that show when you smile, it can give a look very close to the translucency of the neighbouring teeth.
Teeth that have kept their colour
If the tooth underneath has not darkened, the translucent porcelain makes use of the tooth's natural shade.
Teeth with enough enamel
Resin bonding gives a stronger bond when enamel is preserved on the tooth.
Bite and grinding
If you clench or grind your teeth, or have a deep bite at the front, the risk of fracture increases. A stronger ceramic may then be suggested.
Colour of the tooth
Because the porcelain is thin and translucent, a dark tooth or a metal post may show through the crown.
Bonding conditions
The tooth must be kept completely free of saliva; this is harder on teeth whose edges sit deep under the gum.
Molars and bridges
Feldspathic porcelain is not strong enough for high chewing forces or bridge spans.
Untreated decay or gum disease
Decay, gum inflammation or an infection at the root tip should be treated before the crown.
Possible Risks and Limits of a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown
The main risk with a feldspathic porcelain crown is fracture. Careful case selection and bonding help reduce this risk.
Fracture or cracking
Because its fracture resistance is lower than other ceramics, it can break, especially when biting hard objects or in people who grind their teeth.
Weakened bond
If the tooth cannot be kept dry enough during bonding, the bond weakens and the risk of fracture increases.
Colour show-through
Thin, translucent porcelain may not fully hide the colour of a dark tooth.
Temporary sensitivity
There may be brief sensitivity after the tooth is prepared and the crown is bonded.
Permanent loss of tooth tissue
The tooth is reduced for the crown and this cannot be undone.
How Is a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown Made?
The crown is either layered in the laboratory or milled from a block, and is completed by bonding it with resin.
- 1
Examination and shade analysis
Your dentist checks the condition and colour of the tooth, your gums and your bite. The shade and translucency of the neighbouring teeth are recorded in detail.
- 2
Preparing the tooth
Under local anaesthetic, the tooth is reduced to the thickness the porcelain needs. Keeping as much enamel as possible matters for bonding.
- 3
Digital scan or impression
The prepared tooth is scanned or an impression is taken, and a temporary crown is fitted.
- 4
Making the crown
The crown is either built up layer by layer and fired by the dental technician, or milled from a feldspathic ceramic block. Its shade and surface texture are matched to the neighbouring teeth.
- 5
Try-in
The fit, edges and shade are checked. Because the porcelain is thin, it is handled carefully during the try-in; try-in pastes can be used to check the colour.
- 6
Bonding the crown
The inside of the crown is etched with hydrofluoric acid for longer than lithium disilicate, for about a minute. It is then rinsed, dried and coated with silane. The tooth is kept free of saliva and the crown is bonded with resin cement, using light-cure or dual-cure cements. This bonding is an essential step for the strength of the crown.
Alternatives to a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown
When more strength is needed, or only part of the tooth needs covering, these options can be considered.
Lithium disilicate crown
Keeps a natural look while being clearly stronger; used on front and some back teeth.
Layered zirconia crown
Porcelain added over a zirconia core; it hides dark teeth better.
Veneer
A thin porcelain shell covering only the front surface of the tooth, with less tooth removed.
Composite bonding
Small changes to shape and colour can be made with tooth-coloured filling material applied directly to the tooth.
Materials and Bonding in Feldspathic Porcelain Crowns
The high glass content of feldspathic porcelain is the source of both its natural look and its fragility. The acid dissolves this glassy structure and creates microscopic roughness on the inside, and silane forms a chemical bond between this surface and the resin cement. If these two steps are skipped, the crown does not bond well enough to the tooth.
When bonded with resin cement, the porcelain is supported by the tooth beneath it and passes chewing forces on to the tooth. This is why feldspathic porcelain crowns are not fixed with conventional cements, which do not create this shared support.
Clinical studies following computer-milled feldspathic crowns over long periods show that, in suitable cases, these crowns can be used for many years. These results, however, depend on careful case selection and careful bonding.
Layering or milling
The crown is either layered by hand or milled by computer from ready-made blocks.
Hydrofluoric acid etching
The inside is prepared for bonding with acid, for longer than with lithium disilicate.
Silane and resin cement
Silane bonds the porcelain to the cement, and the resin cement joins the crown to the tooth.
Isolation
Keeping the tooth free of saliva directly affects the quality of the bond and the strength of the crown.
Settling In and Caring for a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown
You can use the crown on the day it is bonded. A few habits help protect the porcelain.
- 1
The first few hours
Avoid eating and hot drinks until the numbness wears off.
- 2
The first few days
There may be brief sensitivity to hot and cold, which usually settles on its own.
- 3
The first few weeks
If the crown feels high when you bite, go back for a check. Thin porcelain is sensitive to high spots.
- 4
Long term
At regular check-ups your dentist looks at the crown surface, its edges, your gums and your bite.
Daily cleaning
Brush the crown twice a day with a soft toothbrush and floss between the teeth. Avoid abrasive whitening toothpastes.
Biting with front teeth
Do not bite off hard foods with your front teeth; cut them into small pieces. Avoid biting nails, pens or ice.
Night guard
If you grind your teeth, wear the night guard your dentist recommends.
A crack or break in the crown
If you see a crack or a piece has broken off, go for a check. Small chips at the edge can sometimes be smoothed, but in most cases the crown needs replacing.
Pain when biting
If biting still hurts a few days after bonding, it needs assessing.
The crown feels loose
If the crown moves or comes off, keep it and contact the clinic. Do not try to glue it back yourself.
What Affects the Cost of a Feldspathic Porcelain Crown
The cost depends on the number of crowns, how they are made and the level of aesthetic detail. You will get exact information with your treatment plan after the examination.
Number of crowns
A single crown and a plan covering several front teeth need different design and laboratory work.
How the crown is made
Hand-layered crowns and crowns milled from a block go through different processes.
Aesthetic details
Extra try-ins may be needed for colour gradients and surface texture.
Treatment needed first
Decay treatment, root canal treatment or gum treatment are added to the plan if needed.
Appointment plan
For patients coming from abroad, laboratory time and try-in appointments are planned together with the length of your stay in Antalya.
Before / After
Frequently Asked Questions About Feldspathic Porcelain Crowns
Is a feldspathic porcelain crown the same as an ordinary porcelain crown?
In everyday language, 'porcelain crown' can mean different materials. A feldspathic porcelain crown has no core and is made entirely of classic feldspathic porcelain. In porcelain-fused-to-metal or zirconia crowns, porcelain is only the outer layer.
Can a feldspathic porcelain crown be used on back teeth?
It is usually not recommended for molars or bridges because chewing forces are high. Milled crowns may be considered on some selected premolars, but lithium disilicate or zirconia is preferred in most cases.
How is a feldspathic porcelain crown bonded to the tooth?
The inside of the crown is etched with hydrofluoric acid for about a minute, rinsed, dried and coated with silane. The tooth is then kept free of saliva and the crown is bonded with resin cement. This bonding is essential for the strength of the crown.
Why isn't it fixed with conventional cement?
Feldspathic porcelain is fragile on its own and gets its strength from being bonded firmly to the tooth. Conventional cements do not create this bond, so the risk of the crown breaking increases.
How long does a feldspathic porcelain crown last?
On a suitable tooth and when bonded correctly, it can be used for many years. Grinding, biting hard objects and bite forces are the main factors that determine how long it lasts.
Does the colour of the crown change?
The porcelain surface does not change colour. The cement at the edge or the natural teeth around it may change colour over time.
How many days do I need to stay in Antalya?
If the crown is milled from a block, the time can be shorter; if it is hand-layered, a few days are needed for laboratory work and the try-in. The exact time is confirmed after the examination.
Medical sources
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Medically reviewed by
Nilufar Tulanova Şener
Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry
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Eren Koluaçık
Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry
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Şerife Nur Kerpiçci
Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry
View doctor profileLast medical review: 12 October 2026