In this article, we'll go over:
- Turkish dental standards
- How to find a clinic
- Pros and cons of implants in Turkey
- Safety of traveling in Turkey for implants
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about the safety of getting treatment in Turkey.
Are dental implants in Turkey safe?
Dental implants in Turkey are safe only if you ensure that your chosen dentist has the proper licenses, accreditations, and certifications to perform dental implant surgery. And if they go above and beyond the requirements, even better. Let’s have a look at these requirements now:
Dentists in Turkey are required to train for five years at one of the official schools of dentistry in the country, resulting in a Bachelor’s in Dental Science. After that, they can choose to specialize with five more years of study in prosthodontics or orthodontics.
These standards aren’t enough to allow them to perform oral surgery in the UK — in order to do so they would need to register with the General Dental Council. This requires rigorous pre-registration exams and can take a few years. So, it’s recommended that you choose a dentist who has undergone the necessary registration and training to meet UK standards.
At a minimum, your dentist should be registered with the Turkish Dental Association.
Choosing a clinic
One of the easiest ways to find a clinic will be to work with an intermediary dental tourism company. The best of these companies will have years of experience helping patients in the UK connect with reputable clinics abroad. These companies also provide packages to facilitate travel, including transport and hotels.
If you’re searching on your own, you’ll want to keep the following things in mind:
- Make sure your dentist is a member of the Turkish Dental Association
- Check to see that your dentist specializes in implants, oral surgery, prosthodontics, and bone grafts if needed
- Verify their years of experience with implant treatment
- Choose a dentist who speaks English so you can communicate confidently
- Check to see if they offer any guarantees for your work
- Ask if you’ll be able to receive copies of your medical records in English
- Find out what costs include — medications and prescriptions
- Check to see if the clinic offers airport transport
Pros and cons of getting dental implants in Turkey
The main benefit of getting dental implants in Turkey is that they are cheaper than they are in the UK. If you’re up to it, you can also turn your dental procedure into a dental vacation and discover the rich culture of Turkey while you’re there.
There are some risks you should consider, mainly that your UK dentist may not want to do follow-up treatment for that received abroad, so if you do need follow-up treatment, you may have to make more trips back to your Turkish implant dentist.
As mentioned before, you also have to do careful research when choosing your dentist, because standards in some clinics may not be as high in Turkey as they are in the UK, including the standards for proper aftercare.
Is travel for implants in Turkey safe?
In 2022, over 3.8 million Brits travelled to Turkey, and most of the trips were free of trouble. The important thing is to always be vigilant, especially in places that are popular with tourists, as they may be a hotspot for pickpocketing.
Turkey is also at risk for earthquakes, so make sure you are familiar with the proper safety procedures in the case of an earthquake during your visit and always follow the advice you are provided by the local authorities.
Conclusion
Due to the high costs of dental care in the UK, and the lack of adequate coverage through the NHS for treatment like dental implants, more Brits are seeking care abroad for their expensive dental treatment.
Turkey is a popular destination, due to its relative proximity to the UK and the low cost of dental treatment compared to the UK.
If you do decide to go to Turkey for dental implants, you must do thorough research before you choose a clinic. Ensure that your dentist is a member of the Turkish Dental Association, and if you can find a dentist who has received certification to practice in the UK, then that’s even better.
Talk to your primary dentist before travel as well, to find out if they’d be willing to help you with aftercare for the implants you receive in Turkey, as many UK dentists will not.
If you want help finding a clinic, one of the best ways is to find an intermediary company that has years of experience connecting UK nationals with treatment at reputable clinics abroad.
Sources:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey#:~:text=Most%20visits%20are%20trouble%20free,nationals%2C%20including%20during%20festival%20periods.
https://www.dentaly.org/en/dental-implants-abroad/dental-care-turkey/