In a recent episode of BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, a few contestants revealed they had their dental work done in Turkey. This revelation reignited the #TurkeyTeeth debate on British social media. After the show aired, many people started asking: why are Brits choosing Turkey for their dental treatments, how has this trend been portrayed in the media, and what experiences have patients had?
In the UK, dental procedures tend to be very thorough and cautious because dentists can face serious legal consequences if something goes wrong. Procedures under the NHS, in particular, involve a lot of bureaucracy and strain clinics both administratively and clinically. These hurdles have pushed many British patients to consider alternative options abroad.
Why Brits Are Choosing Turkey for Dental Care
Many factors are drawing British patients to Turkey for dental work:
- Long Waiting Times in the UK: It’s become really difficult to get a timely dental appointment in England. According to the British Dental Association, one in four Brits is still waiting for dental treatment. Among people who can’t secure a local appointment, one in five goes overseas to get treated.
- Experience and Quality: Turkish clinics have been treating British patients since around 2018, and their reputations have spread by word of mouth across the UK. Patient satisfaction with these clinics is very high. For example, Antlara Dental in Antalya has over a thousand reviews and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 – a level of satisfaction that’s almost unheard of in the UK. Interestingly, most of the reviews for this clinic come from British, German, and Russian patients.
- Dental Holiday Packages: Clinics in Turkey often offer “dental holiday” packages that include inexpensive accommodation and airport transfers. In these packages, the patient packs a suitcase, hops on a plane as if going on holiday, and has everything arranged by the clinic. Patients praise the VIP cars and the dedicated patient chaperones who accompany them.
- Lower Cost: Dental treatments in Turkey are much cheaper than in the UK. For instance, one patient mentioned at a UK health fair that a full set of dental implants costs around £8,000 in Turkey, whereas just a single implant would cost about £4,000 in the UK. A survey by the British Dental Association found that 98% of patients who go abroad for dental work do so mainly because of the “cheaper prices”.
- Quick Treatment Times (and a Holiday): The speedy process abroad is also appealing. Dental procedures like implants or crowns that would normally take weeks in the UK can be completed in just a few days in Turkey. In the end, patients essentially get a chance to go on holiday and have their dental treatment done at the same time.
Because of these reasons, tens of thousands of Britons choose Turkey for dental tourism every year. In fact, data show that the number of British patients seeking treatment abroad jumped from 234,000 to 431,000 between 2021 and 2023.
Top Cities and Clinics in Turkey
Across Turkey, Istanbul and Antalya stand out as the most popular hubs for dental tourism. Antalya, in particular, is a favourite for British tourists because it’s already a well-loved holiday destination and the prices are very affordable. Many clinics in Antalya offer special package deals for patients from the UK. Another city on the rise is Izmir: the “pearl of the Aegean” is seeing more cosmetic dental clinics opening up, and there are more affordable treatment packages available there as well.