Six in every 10 of Britain's under-pressure dentists are having to fix issues caused by patients who have gone abroad to have treatments to give them Hollywood-style white teeth on the cheap, according to figures just released.
The figures are thought to have been fuelled by the new social media craze for "Turkey teeth", which offers customers a full mouth of bright white veneers. Videos uploaded by patients, which have been viewed millions of times, show before, after and in-between stages where full sets of natural teeth are filed down to tiny stumps in order to fit in the new artificial veneers.
Statistics show that around 35,000 British and Irish citizens have gone abroad for treatment in just the past year as cash-strapped NHS dentists struggle to meet the post-pandemic demand for appointments, The Mirror reports.
The sudden boom in "dental tourism" will pile on even more pressure, say dentists, who warn that in most cases "Turkey teeth" is akin to a full mouth of crowns and not the less invasive type of veneer that would be considered appropriate in the UK. Many going abroad and paying for the extensive dental work would be turned down here and dentists in this country say they are more likely to suffer problems in years to come as the new teeth would require maintenance and replacements — something patients could have difficulty in paying for privately because technically NHS dentists could refuse to treat them.
Dr Trishala Lakhani works in London but as a Tik Tok user herself became concerned about the trend after watching the number of uploaded videos go into overdrive. The top dentist became so worried that she launched an investigation into the Turkey Teeth phenomenon that appears to have won the favour of the likes of Katie Price and Love Island’s Jack Fincham and a myriad so-called social media "influencers".
She said many of those lured by the promise of cheap deals have not thought about the long-term consequences. “On TikTok alone, the hashtag Turkey Teeth had over 100 million views," she said. "You can see why it seems an attractive proposition — some clinics even throw a luxury hotel included in the price.
“But it is shocking that people on social media have no clue what they have done to their teeth. Everyone talks about veneers — mouldings bonded to the front surface of a tooth — but in reality they are having crowns placed, which means much more aggressive tooth reduction.”
Dr Lakhani said a UK dentist was duty-bound to explain the pros and cons of treatments but there was no legislation in Turkey to protect customers. “Most dentists who operate internationally are ethical and professional, but the risk is there,” she said.
A BBC documentary, Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake, available on iPlayer, surveyed 1,000 dentists, and found 597 said they had seen patients who had complications specifically from getting this treatment abroad. Lisa Martyn, 48, was one customer who found out about the hidden downside of cheap dental care and sunshine offers. The care assistant has warned young influencers to ensure they are fully informed after her dream cosmetic work became a nightmare she’s still paying for years after the work was done.
She said: “I was duped into the dream of having a full set of perfect teeth that I was never going to have any issues with — but I was grossly misled about what I was having done — they were sold to me as veneers, not a full set of crowns. No one sat down and told me the risks or if there were any other options. I thought that once they put the new teeth into my mouth that would be it, there would never be any more problems.
“But not only have I been in crippling pain every day since, but it has also cost me thousands. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.” She first had dental work in Turkey in 2011, paying £1,800 to have her top set of teeth replaced while on holiday in Kusadasi. She only decided to go ahead when handed a leaflet at the resort. “I didn’t plan on it but I’ve always had a lot of trouble with my teeth and had spent a lot of money back home already,” she said. “So I decided to go for it.“
She thought she was having veneers on the top row of teeth. In September 2021 she returned as one had cracked. “I think I would have lived with the crack but my son had just got engaged and set a date for his wedding. I didn’t want to look terrible in the pictures so I thought I’d go back to Turkey and get that one tooth fixed.
“So I booked the flights and went to see that same dentist. She told me she couldn’t just replace the one tooth that had a crack in it but would have to replace the whole top. She quoted me £3,500 for 26 new teeth. So I thought, okay.”
The dentist then hammered out her entire set of teeth in a horrendous procedure that, she said, left her traumatised. “I never in my life experienced anything like it — they were drilling, then banging and hammering. I was jumping out of that chair for two hours. No one asked how I was or even offered me a drink of water. My mouth was so swollen — it was like a horror movie.
“I was numb from my neck up to the top of my nose but I could still feel the sensation. I still didn’t know that all my natural teeth were filed down and these were crowns, not veneers. It was only after I returned home that I was told by a dentist here.
“I’m still in pain and I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will have to have dentures and live with pain every day. I wanted to look nice for my son’s wedding but now I would give anything to just know that day I won’t be in agony.”
Dr MJ Rowland Warmann, a dentist in Liverpool and co-founder of cosmetic teeth company Smileworks, said she had up to three calls every day from people who had problems with their teeth after going abroad for treatment. However, she said her clinic was unable to treat them.
“Some can’t floss because their crowns are stuck together or they’re in pain because they have bleeding gums,” she said. “But it’s easier for us not to take that patient. At the point when you inherit that patient and do any work, that’s when the problems really start and that’s when the UK dentist becomes liable — a risk we cannot take.
“This leaves patients in very vulnerable positions trying to scrabble around for help and it becomes very costly trying to fix the damage.”
But not all people who go abroad for Turkey Teeth have had bad experiences. Tilly Entwhistle, 20, from Manchester, remains thrilled with hers. She said: “I was bullied as a child because of my teeth — and called names like ‘Bugs Bunny’. Dentists in Harley Street quoted me up to £10,000 just to get my top set of teeth done. In Turkey, it is not even a quarter of that price. Plus it was like a holiday, so that was a bonus.”
However, since returning from her trip, Tilly visited a dentist in Manchester who was horrified at the work she’d had done at such a young age. “The dentist said she would never touch my teeth as they wouldn’t want to take any responsibility in case I had any future issues. But the improvement it’s made to my life means the risk is more than worth it. It’s sad that dentists can't sympathise with what it's been like for me.”
But Dr Warmann said: “If I offered a 20-year-old 20 crowns for the purpose of changing the colour I would be struck off in the UK. And it’s unlikely you will find a dentist here willing to assume responsibility for a patient who has been abroad."
Dr Lakhani added: “There are quality dentists working abroad — but it is about being informed. The amount of tooth reduction required for Tilly’s treatment increases massively the risk of having nerve damage and root canal treatment. I hope for Tilly’s sake she does not have to deal with the daily hell Lisa has to now live with every day.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
Find recommendations for eating out, attractions and events near you here on our sister website 2Chill
Find recommendations for dog owners and more doggy stories on our sister site Teamdogs
