The Three Big Risks of Turkey Teeth
By Celia Burns on 3rd November 2025
What You Need to Know Before You Go Abroad for Dental Work
In recent years, travelling abroad for cosmetic dental treatment, often referred to as getting “Turkey Teeth”, has become increasingly popular. Social media is filled with photos of dazzling new smiles and promises of Hollywood results for a fraction of the UK cost.
But beneath the bright white smiles, there can be serious long-term risks to your dental health. At Nothing But The Tooth, we’re not against international dentistry — in fact, there are many excellent dentists practising in Turkey and around the world. What concerns us is the rise of invasive, rushed, and poorly regulated dental treatments being offered to attract patients with low prices and quick results.
Here are the three biggest risks to be aware of before booking treatment abroad.
Risk 1. Invasive Treatments That Damage Healthy Teeth
Many of the treatments advertised to UK patients overseas involve extremely aggressive dental work — the kind that no ethical UK dentist would perform on healthy teeth.
It’s common for patients to be given full crowns on most or all teeth, even when only minor cosmetic work (like veneers or whitening) would have been appropriate. In some cases, crowns are fitted as one connected block, rather than individually, making them harder to clean and increasing the risk of gum disease.
This level of invasive preparation means your natural teeth are permanently altered. The nerves inside become more vulnerable, often leading to root canal treatment, fractures, or even tooth loss. And because much of the damage occurs beneath the surface, you may not realise there’s a problem until it’s too late.
Risk 2. Limited Options if Something Goes Wrong
If complications arise after treatment abroad, getting help back in the UK can be difficult.
UK dentists are highly regulated and carry expensive insurance to protect patients. However, this also means many practitioners are understandably cautious about taking on cases where overseas work has already caused problems. In dentistry, there’s a saying: “You touch it, you own it.”
If a UK dentist tries to fix failing treatment and it doesn’t hold up (which is often the case with heavily compromised teeth), they could become liable for the outcome. As a result, many are reluctant to intervene, leaving patients with limited options other than returning abroad for repairs.
Risk 3. Loopholes That Leave You Unprotected
Another hidden risk is lack of legal and insurance protection.
In Turkey, many dental packages include accommodation as part of the deal. While this might sound convenient, it’s actually a legal loophole — once accommodation is bundled into the price, the trip is classified as a holiday rather than a medical procedure. That means you may not have the same rights or recourse if something goes wrong.
Unlike the UK, where dentistry is tightly regulated and patient protections are strong, you may have little to no legal support if you experience complications abroad.
Our View: We’re Not Against Turkish Dentists — We’re Against Dodgy Dentistry
There are fantastic, skilled dentists in Turkey and across the world. The issue isn’t geography but rather the growing number of clinics prioritising volume and profit over patient safety.
If you’re considering treatment abroad, do your research thoroughly:
✅ Check the dentist’s qualifications and clinic registration
✅ Look for independent reviews, not just social media promotions
✅ Ask for detailed treatment plans, X-rays, and consent forms
✅ Understand the long-term maintenance and risks involved
Your smile is for life, and so are the consequences of irreversible dental work.
If you’re thinking about improving your smile, talk to us first. We’re always happy to discuss safe, ethical options that protect your health as well as your confidence.
📞 0121 382 8544
✉️ smile@nothingbutthetooth.co.uk
Hear from about Principal Dentist, Dr Celia Burns, about the risk of going abroad for dental care.
