The hidden cost of ‘Turkey Teeth’

Brits are more commonly seeking ‘bargain’ dental work abroad, but are being warned by experts of the surge in complications associated with dental tourism.

In search of lower-priced dental treatment, many patients are travelling to countries like Hungary, Mexico, and Turkey – hence the finished result being commonly labelled ‘Turkey Teeth’.

However, the seemingly budget-friendly treatment options are joined by a growing number of patients returning to the UK with unexpected problems. A recent overview from BBC news shares the dire consequences for so many individuals.

According to a survey by the British Dental Association (BDA), 95% of UK dentists say they have treated patients who travelled abroad for dental work. Of those, 86% reported treating cases that developed complications. The most common treatments needing remedial work were crowns, followed by implants.

Key concerns surrounding dental tourism include:

• Unanticipated follow-up costs: Two-thirds of dentists said that complications cost patients at least £500 to repair the damage caused from dental tourism; more than half reported it was more than £1,000; and one-in-five said costs exceeded £5,000.
• Continuity of care problems: Almost all dentists surveyed declared their concerns regarding continued patient protection. Oftentimes, once overseas treatment is completed, patients struggle to attain the reassurance of after-care or to make complaints if things go wrong.
• Communication issues and standards differences: Over two-thirds of dentists flagged concerns over patient to practitioner communication and that overseas clinics might have different regulatory regimes.
• Deceptive marketing: The ubiquity of ‘perfect smiles’ at discounted prices, shorter wait times, and untrustworthy social media posts each play a part in obscuring the hidden risks and important information.

As explained in a recent study, not only are UK dentists increasingly seeing patients who have experienced complications and require re-treatment, some are even requiring more complex procedures than they required in the first place – costing even more money and time, as well as more invasive treatment.

The BDA’s chair, Eddie Crouch, explains “dentists are aware that many people are struggling to access care and may be tempted to go overseas for cut-price treatment.” He reiterates that: “patients need to provide informed consent for any treatment they have and be wary of a hard-sell, as the reality is rarely as simple as it appears on Instagram.”

While more individuals see dental tourism as a cheaper and fast-tracked method of attaining their desired smile, professionals argue that the complications and the lack of rectification options make it a duplicitous industry. Those considering the short-term cost and time benefits must appraise the value of UK dentistry and the security it provides.

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