5 Risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey

5 Risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey

Read this to learn about 5 risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey, and why so many opt for dental tourism instead of going to UK dentists.

Dental tourism is a growing issue, with one of the most popular countries to go to being Turkey. However, there are lots of risks associated with travelling abroad for medical procedures that you may not think about initially.

In this article, we will go through 5 risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey, with the primary focus being on getting veneers. This is because veneers are among the most popular dental procedures carried out by dental tourists, and many of the issues can be applied to other procedures, too.

Why do people go to Turkey to get their teeth done?

The biggest reason for people to go to Turkey to get their teeth done is the affordable price. In the case of veneers, both composite and porcelain veneers are far more affordable there than they are in the UK – but at what cost?

In the UK, composite veneers can cost you anywhere from £650 to £1000 per tooth, so the price for a full set can add up to several thousand.

Getting veneers – the process

Getting veneers is painless since you will be under a local anaesthetic. They are fitted by bonding the shells to your teeth. This will happen towards the end of the process. To get veneers done, you will have an initial consultation and get your teeth prepared. After that, you will select your choice of veneer shade to get them to match your natural teeth as closely as possible.

Once you select your shade, we will get an impression of your mouth, and temporary veneers will be put in place before you get your permanent ones bonded to your teeth. After a little while, you will be asked to attend a follow-up appointment to see how you are getting on and how your gums are reacting to the veneers.

Since veneers don’t respond well to teeth whitening treatments, you should check in with your dentist if you are thinking of whitening your teeth.

5 Risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey

Most veneers are permanent, while others – such as low or no prep veneers – are reversible. You cannot get veneers if you have missing teeth or gum disease, but the procedure can be perfect for people with slightly crooked teeth.

With all that information in mind, what are the 5 risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey?

Below, we will go through the following risks:

• The language barrier.
• Lax dental regulations.
• Cheap teeth.
• Additional costs due to complications.
• More damage due to cheap dental work.

The language barrier can make things more difficult

This risk can be applied to more than just teeth, but it is crucial to take into account the language barrier. Turkish is the official language of the country of Turkey, with Zazaki being the second most common language, followed by Arabic. Other languages include Kurdish, Greek, and Armenian.

While there will be plenty of Turkish dentists who speak English, if you stray from the tourist areas of the country, this will not be the case.

Medical conversations can be incredibly difficult to effectively carry out when not speaking in your native language, or at least a language you are proficient in. Because of this, the language barrier can be a risk in itself if you were to travel to Turkey for dental work.

Dentistry regulations are lax in Turkey

In the UK, the General Dental Council is here to safeguard patients and ensure that dental practices are up to scratch. There are tight restrictions here, but in many other countries – Turkey being one of them – these regulations do not apply, and the rules are lax.

A lack of regulations can result in a wide array of medical issues, and this has been seen in people who have received dental work in Turkey. Since 2019, 22 British people have died during their trips to Turkey to get their teeth done, and many people have been known to get terribly ill.

The biological risk of getting ‘Turkey teeth’ is not something that you should ignore, and there are serious – even fatal – risks associated with it.

Teeth are not detailed

When getting composite veneers or porcelain veneers in Turkey, one of the most notable issues is that the teeth are not detailed. When getting veneers in countries where there are regulations and the cost of the teeth reflects their quality, you will notice that the veneers offered in Turkey and other countries with cheap dental procedures are not as detailed as they should be.

This is because machines are used to make the teeth rather than trained lab technicians, who hand-craft teeth to suit every individual person. In the UK, this intricate process can take several weeks, but quality is ensured. In Turkey, machine-made teeth rarely resemble your natural teeth.

Costs can add up due to complications

The initial cost of getting your teeth done in Turkey might be significantly lower than getting veneers in the UK, but it pays to look ahead. It is common for costs to add up if you get ‘Turkey teeth’ because of all the complications that can arise from it.

Not only the monetary cost, but there are other costs to factor in as well. Getting cheaper teeth is not worth your health or your life, and unfortunately, both of these things are put at risk if you go to Turkey to get your teeth done.

Cheap dental work can result in more damage

Finally, did you know that by getting cheap dental work, even more damage can be caused? What do we mean by this?

Getting your teeth done by people who are not properly trained, where there are no adequate regulations, or using the incorrect material can all result in a wide array of additional issues. You could suffer from a changed bite, which can cause dental and jaw pain, or your teeth can be overprepared, which can lead to severe sensitivity and pain.

Depending on what procedure you aim to get, there are different risks associated with it. You could lose teeth unnecessarily, or suffer from pain that you would not have to go through if there were adequate dentistry regulations.

Visit Eye & Dental Clinic

We understand the appeal of wanting to get your teeth done for a more affordable price in countries like Turkey, but if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Although there are likely plenty of respectable dentists in Turkey who will give you what you are looking for safely, you need to weigh the risks.

The regulations in the UK have led to dentistry that can be trusted. While procedures here are more costly, your safety and health are the top priority, and things like veneers are tailored to every person, every tooth, and are custom-made. The price is higher, but we give you the dentistry that you deserve.

At Eye & Dental Clinic, we offer a wide range of dental procedures to give you your perfect smile, and our blogs cover a range of dental topics. From dental vs composite bonding and how much composite bonding costs, to what you need to know about emergency dental treatment – including what to do if you need it and how to get it.

We want you to stay informed about everything, ranging from dental emergencies to our own policies, like our complaints procedure and cancellations. Now that you know the 5 risks of getting your teeth done in Turkey, hopefully, you will think twice about being a part of the dental tourism trend that has resulted in 22 Britons losing their lives since 2019.

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