Dentist exposes the dark side of people going for 'Turkey teeth'
A dentist has explained why people who travel abroad to get veneers are unlikely to 'keep their teeth for life'.
Dental tourism has exploded in recent years, with Brits seeking a dazzling Hollywood smile heading abroad to achieve the look while saving on their bills.
Turkey has since emerged as the hotspot for tourists looking to upgrade their smile - hence the phrase 'Turkey teeth' - with one clinic in Antalya offering composite veneers starting at £1,500, while UKSmiles estimates that package deal which includes a full set of new teeth, hotels and transfers can cost anywhere between £3,000 to £6,000.
Compare this to the fact that getting veneers in the UK would likely set you back anywhere depending on £400 to £1,400 per tooth and you can see why so many people are flying overseas.
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However cut-price veneers are a highly controversial topic, with several dentists urging patients to research the dark side of dental tourism before booking themselves a trip abroad.
What are the risks associated with getting 'Turkey teeth'?
In order to insert the dazzling dental implants, dentists are first required to shave a significant portion of the existing tooth away, leaving patients with the infamous 'shark teeth' look before the crowns are fitted.
However veneers do not last forever, with patients needing their teeth replacing anywhere between five to 20 years after the initial treatment, depending on the type of veneer used.
It's for this reason why many dentists are now taking up secondary careers as influencers online in order to sway people away from getting veneers done.
Reacting to a clip of a patient showing off their shaved teeth online, a dentist from London-based Harley Street Dental Studio warned that such patients were unlikely to hang on to their teeth longterm.
"These patients are very unlikely to keep their teeth for life because they are being very heavily prepared," he said. "Please don't do it. "
The dentist went on to explain that he wasn't criticising Turkish or foreign dentistry, but instead warning people about the dark sides of dental tourism.
"People aren’t necessarily thinking in the longterm. So you may save financially but there is a massive biological cost and in years to come I have no doubt that they will regret it because their teeth are generally very, very heavily prepared," he continued.
"It’s not so much about the look for me, you can have big, square white teeth if you want them, it’s more about what they do to the teeth underneath.
"However well we do any dentistry it’s always going to have a lifespan and things can happen… on many levels I would think it’s not a wise choice."
According to research undertaken by BBC News, dentists and consultants are seeing a rise in patients reporting side effects such as infections and sepsis after undergoing cosmetic procedures abroad, which includes dental implants.
It's also worth noting that most dentists in the UK will refuse to treat complications of dental work completed abroad, meaning patients will have to travel back to the original practice should they have complications.
Brenna Cooper