The demand for a perfect smile continues to rise in the UK, with brits seeking cheaper dental cosmetic procedures overseas in Turkey. Despite repeated warnings from the UK Government, the controversial Turkey teeth trend continues to gain popularity.
While there are legitimate, accredited medical companies which provide care and proper treatment, the Foreign Office has warned of 17 deaths over the last three years due to botched procedures.
Attracted by the promise of a Hollywood smile on the cheap, the booming industry has seen a rise in 'underground establishments' cropping up online that appear to be legitimate, but are actually not approved by Turkish authorities.
There is further worry that such establishments are performing invasive procedures on younger people who have perfectly healthy teeth. This puts them at major risk for problems later in life, as these treatments are intended for older people with damaged teeth.
Deals for dental treatment in Turkey often come complete with flights, accommodation and transfers included in the pearly white package. Here is everything you need to know about Turkey teeth, as reported by Birmingham Live.
What are Turkey teeth?
Turkey teeth is the nickname given to a trend which sees people head to Turkey for cheap dental work, in a process which sees 70 percent of the patient's teeth filed down into fangs and replaced with crowns. Influencers to have documented their experience in Turkey include Katie Price and former Love Island contestant Jack Fincham.
Fincham had his teeth filled down and replaced before entering the Love Island villa in 2018.
However, not every procedure is as successful as some influencers make out. Describing her experience to the BBC, TikTok user Lisa Martyn told of her horrifying ordeal:
"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."
Taking to the social media platform, Lisa said: "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."
According to the BBC, Lisa cannot eat properly and as a result, has lost two stone since the treatment.
"I've resigned myself to the fact that I will have to have dentures and live with pain every day. I would give anything to just know that one day I won't be in agony."
One of the highest profile cases saw Katie Price fly to Turkey, which saw her document the experience. After her first session, the former glamour model shared a snap of her filed down fangs.
Weeks later, she showed off her all new set of Turkey teeth with glee. They are likely to have cost thousands of pounds more if the procedure was done in the UK.
However, as you are essentially reducing your natural teeth to small stubs, those who get crowns are setting themselves up for a lifetime of expensive treatment to keep them in working order. On average, dental veneers and crowns only last between five to 15 years depending on their quality.
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