reality
Woman Left With £15,000 Dental Repair Bill After Traveling to Turkey for Veneers
Vanessa explained that she chose to have the procedure abroad after learning it would cost around £15,000 to have similar treatment in the United Kingdom.
Follow the Elizabethblog channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDQN5lI1rcbSgriLG2M
She admitted that the decision came during one of the most difficult periods of her life, shortly after losing her mother to cancer.
She said:
“At the time, I had just suddenly lost my mum to cancer and wasn’t in a good place emotionally.
“Looking back, travelling abroad for cosmetic dentistry was a flippant decision that I didn’t fully think through.
“My natural teeth were healthy but they were slightly misaligned and not as white as I wanted them to be.
“The cost in the UK was considerably higher than treatment abroad, which was one factor in my decision.
“I was also impatient and didn’t want to wait up to 18 months, which is something I now deeply regret.
“Some days the teeth are very uncomfortable, which can stop me eating altogether, so as not to make the situation worse.”
She initially planned to have 20 teeth treated but said the dentist advised increasing the number to 24, explaining that she had a wide smile and that all of the teeth would be fitted with zirconia crowns.
During her stay in Istanbul, her natural teeth were shaved down and temporary restorations were fitted. However, she said she became alarmed later that day when her gums began bleeding and turned what she described as a “grey colour.”
Vanessa later learned that gum contouring had also been carried out during the procedure, something she believes was not clearly explained to her beforehand.
She said:
“Throughout the entire process, my understanding remained that I was receiving 24 individual crowns.
“At no point do I recall anyone explaining that multiple teeth would be permanently joined together as bridges.
“Cosmetically, I was delighted with the result.”
Although she was pleased with the appearance of her new smile, Vanessa said she continued to experience pain and extreme sensitivity. Believing it was a normal part of the recovery process, she endured the discomfort for about six months.
As the pain worsened and her gums began bleeding more frequently, she sought advice from her dentist in the UK.
According to Vanessa, her dentist immediately suspected she had undergone treatment overseas.
She recalled:
“My dentist immediately asked whether I had received my treatment abroad.
“In his opinion, 16 of what I believed were individual crowns were actually connected together as multiple bridges.
“These included bridges joining my four upper front teeth, my four lower front teeth, and additional bridges joining teeth on both sides of my mouth.
“My dentist explained that he believed this treatment wasn’t appropriate in my case because joining the teeth together makes it impossible to floss properly or clean between each individual tooth.
“He diagnosed gum disease and advised that the connected bridges should be removed and replaced with individually restored teeth.
“I was completely shocked.
“I genuinely believed I had paid for and received 24 individual zirconia crowns.
“Discovering that 16 of those restorations were actually connected bridges was devastating.
“I felt angry, disappointed and incredibly upset.
“I also blamed myself for not carrying out more research before making such an irreversible decision.
“Every day I worry about what’s happening underneath the restorations and whether my natural teeth are deteriorating.”
Vanessa said that since undergoing the procedure in September 2024, her gum recession has progressed rapidly, while persistent pain in her teeth and gums has continued both day and night.
Her UK dentist reportedly believes the crowns were fitted too tightly against her gum line, contributing to the ongoing problems.
She has now been informed that removing the bridges and replacing them with individual restorations could cost between £8,000 and £15,000, although she is still waiting for a final estimate.
Despite everything she has experienced, Vanessa said she is not trying to blame the clinic or the dentist who carried out the treatment and has chosen not to publicly identify them.
She said:
“My concerns only arose later when I began experiencing ongoing problems and sought advice from my UK dentist.
“I’m sharing my experience because I want people to understand that cosmetic dentistry isn’t just about how your smile looks on the day you leave the clinic.
“It’s also about the long-term health of your teeth and gums.
“I wish I’d taken the longer route in the UK and preserved the health of my natural teeth.
“My aim isn’t to stop people travelling abroad for treatment or to attack one particular clinic.
“My aim is simply to educate people about the risks of choosing what can appear to be a quick fix, so they can make a genuinely informed decision before undergoing irreversible dental treatment.”
