Veneers are a popular way to improve your smile, but if they’re done poorly, they can cause more harm than good.
Turkey has recently become a hub for dental tourism, especially for British tourists who appreciate a good bargain. Over 400,000 people travelled to get dental veneers in Turkey in 2024, further fuelled by social media influencers posting about their experiences going to Turkey for veneers due to its outrageously low cost.
This trend isn’t only in dentistry. Over one million tourists flock to clinics in Istanbul and Antalya every year for medical procedures, and they are mostly visitors from the UK and the US.
The term ‘Turkey Teeth‘ was coined as a nickname for extreme dental veneer makeovers performed in Turkey, where patients undergo aggressive tooth reduction to receive crowns, rather than the veneers most people believe they’re getting. This can leave them with very little natural tooth structure remaining, creating long-term dental issues.
In this blog, we will delve into what turkey teeth are made of, what makes turkey teeth bad, the risks, and professional insights and opinions you need to read before thinking about turkey teeth.
The risks of getting dental veneers in Turkey
Veneer costs can vary based on factors like the type of veneer, material, and amount of veneer needed. However, veneers in Turkey typically cost 30% to 50% less than in the UK.
This makes dental veneers in Turkey a popular choice, but those savings can come with serious risks.
Dental veneer treatments in Turkey are often cheaper due to lower dental and laboratory fees, and less stringent qualification standards.. However, this means procedures can be carried out by less-qualified dentists, increasing the risk of irreversible damage.
Language barriers can create confusion between treatments like crowns vs. veneers. In some cases, patients expecting veneers end up receiving crowns, without realising that’s what they’re getting.
Some clinics may also offer veneers in unsuitable cases, such as:
- Severely damaged or misaligned teeth
- Signs of tooth grinding or nail biting
- Minimal remaining enamel
Differences between veneers: Turkey Teeth vs UK
A dental clinic in the UK will typically take you through the veneer process before it begins. This will usually include an initial assessment and dental health assessment, a trial design, and finally, the fitting of the new veneers to your teeth.
Your teeth are assessed for any potential problems like periodontal disease or tooth decay issues, while a bite evaluation is performed to make sure the veneers improve your bite. Clinics like Bespoke Smile will even provide a trial sample of your new veneers so you can get a preview of the end result.
After your new veneers are fitted, a bite-balancing test and follow-up care help make sure they look great, function properly, and last for years.
In contrast, veneers in Turkey are often completed in a single visit, which can lead to a rushed procedure and a higher risk of:
- Mismatched colour or shape: The veneers might not match your natural teeth, resulting in an unnatural or obvious appearance.
- Improper sizing or placement: This can lead to teeth that look too big, teeth that look too small, or teeth that are completely misaligned with your facial features.
- Poor enamel removal: Removing too much enamel can lead to:
- Tooth sensitivity or pain
- Long-term vulnerability to decay
- Need for future crowns or even root canals
What are Turkey teeth made of?
Many clinics in Turkey use zirconium ceramic for veneers. While durable, zirconium is very hard and can cause wear on opposing teeth. If the veneers come off, any underlying damage or decay (often caused by the aggressive tooth preparation associated with Turkey Teeth) may become visible. Plus, zirconium veneers tend to have a more opaque appearance, which can look less natural compared to the translucency of high-quality porcelain veneers.
Turkey teeth – are they worth it?
Of the 400,000 people who’ve travelled abroad for a smile makeover, 75% have needed to get corrective work done back in the UK due to botched cosmetic dentistry procedures.Poorly fitted veneers can create the big ‘Turkey Teeth’ look or even fall out, leading to dental issues like gum disease, sensitivity, plaque buildup, and exposing damaged or shortened teeth, often called ‘turkey pegs’ or ‘turkey stumps.’
What are Turkey pegs and Turkey stumps?
Most of the dental work completed in Turkey leaves clients with what is known as ‘Turkey teeth pegs’ or ‘Turkey teeth stumps’ because of how much of the natural tooth is drilled down. Not only is this process incredibly painful, but it can also have some irreversible consequences that can lead to further oral health problems.
Getting a Turkish dental procedure also means you won’t have any legal protection; you won’t be able to get reimbursed if the job is done poorly or if you need to spend more money on corrective procedures. However, if something goes wrong with your dental procedure in the UK, you can file a claim under medical negligence.
If you’ve had a botched veneer procedure in Turkey, it’s important to seek emergency dental care as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more pain you’ll experience, and the more damage you could be doing to your teeth.
Contact us here if you’re concerned about a previous dental procedure and would like to discuss any replacement dental work you may need as a result of a botched procedure in Turkey or anywhere else.
Common issues from poor-quality veneers:
- Intense and long-lasting pain
- Removal of the enamel causes your teeth to become overly sensitive, making it difficult to eat or drink
- Ill-fitting veneers can be too big or too small, making them loose or uncomfortable
- Poorly bonded veneers can fall off easily and expose the tooth’s pulp, causing it to die
- Badly sealed edges can lead to poor dental hygiene due to food and debris getting under the veneer, which can cause an infection in the gums. This can spread to the sinuses and even to the bone if left untreated
- The top and bottom teeth don’t match in colour
- Low-quality veneers are prone to cracking
- Excessive swelling of the gums
- Bite issues
Avoid a turkey teeth disaster!
If you’re looking for dental veneers treatment from a reputable dentist, always research the different veneer treatments and clinics available.
Ideally, you’ll want to find a clinic that specialises in cosmetic dentistry procedures, even better if they have dentists with a specialist interest in dental veneers like Bespoke Smile. Make sure to read reviews online to see what other patients have said about their treatment.
We highly recommend that you get your veneers from a UK dentist because of the risks involved in going abroad for dental procedures.
