Thousands of UK patients are travelling abroad each year in search of dental care they say is unaffordable or unavailable at home, with Turkey emerging as one of the most popular destinations. Rising costs, staff shortages and long waiting lists in the UK have fuelled a sharp increase in what is known as dental tourism.
Chris, a 30-year-old from West Sussex, is among those who decided to look overseas after years of chronic tooth pain left him unable to chew properly and increasingly self-conscious about his smile. He said repeated treatment in the UK had cost him “thousands and thousands of pounds” without resolving his problems.
After around 18 months of online research, reviewing patient testimonies and speaking with clinics in Istanbul, Chris chose the Dentakay Nish Clinic. Less than an hour after receiving crowns and implants, he described the experience as transformative.
“I was avoiding the dentist back home because of the expense,” he said. “I’ve had all sorts of work done in the UK and it’s cost a fortune, and still the problems weren’t solved.”
Chris paid £8,000 for two implants, crowns, seven root canals and a gingivectomy. The price included flights, accommodation, transfers and a CT scan carried out in London before he travelled. He estimates the same treatment in the UK could have cost close to £50,000.
He is part of a fast-growing movement. Industry estimates suggest between 150,000 and 200,000 people travel to Turkey each year specifically for dental treatment, a rise of around 60 per cent since before the pandemic. British patients are thought to make up as much as 80 per cent of Turkey’s dental tourism market. The main incentive is cost, with procedures often priced 50 to 80 per cent lower than in the UK.
Public discussion in the UK has often focused on “Turkey teeth”, a term associated with influencers seeking dramatic cosmetic makeovers. This has been accompanied by high-profile stories of failed treatments and warnings about poor standards. However, patients and providers argue that this narrative overlooks the fact that many travellers are seeking essential care rather than cosmetic enhancements.
Chris said the level of communication and service he received abroad contrasted sharply with his experiences at home. “As soon as I got here, I was offered a coffee before I even sat down,” he said. “They talked me through everything. I never felt pressured and I felt like I was in control.”
Another patient, 59-year-old Kerie-Lynn from Swindon, said she turned to Turkey after her UK dentist declined to perform a sinus lift and bone graft needed for implants. “They told me they didn’t have the skills or resources,” she said. “I thought they were joking.”
She required eight implants and was quoted around £40,000 in the UK for the implants alone. In Turkey, she paid £11,000 for the full procedure, including two front crowns. “I was scared because of my age and the risks,” she said. “But once I arrived, it was clear they wanted to help me. I never felt pushed into anything.”
Dentakay chief executive Onur Akay said Turkey’s pricing advantage is largely driven by government policy. “Medical tourism is treated as an export and is actively supported,” he said. He noted that the clinic had grown from around 52 UK patients a month in 2022 to almost 6,000.
According to Akay, incentives include VAT exemptions for services to foreign patients, reduced corporation tax, duty-free imports of medical equipment in designated cities, favourable currency exchange rules and lower labour costs. “With these incentives, we can offer better prices without cutting quality,” he said, adding that clinics use European equipment and employ highly trained dentists.
At Dentakay Nish Clinic, patients’ teeth are designed and manufactured on site using 4D digital scans and zirconia materials. The process involves advanced imaging, computer modelling and 3D printing before crowns and implants are finished by hand.
During a routine check-up at the clinic, the reporter was shown detailed projections of potential dental risks over the next 10 to 20 years and given preventative advice. By contrast, a recent NHS check-up delivered the same overall assessment in a matter of minutes, with little explanation.
Despite positive experiences, experts warn that dental tourism carries risks. UK dentists report that many patients return with complications from overseas work, and corrective treatment can be complex and costly. Patients are advised to research clinics thoroughly and avoid rushed decisions.
The surge in dental tourism also highlights deep problems within the UK system. The British Dental Association estimates that 5.4 million adults have stopped trying to access NHS dental care, while around 780,000 remain on waiting lists. NHS dental treatments fell from 39.7 million in 2018–19 to 26.6 million in 2021–22.
Staff shortages are a central issue. The number of dentists per capita in the UK was already the lowest in th