Dentist Warns About Risks and Errors in Dental Tourism to Turkey

Social media is flooded with ads promising a quick and cheap trip to Turkey to get a perfect smile – implants, veneers, or crowns in just one week. However, Dr. Jūlija Arone, head dentist at "DAP Klīnika," warns that such savings often come at a hidden cost: patients return with problems and have to spend more to fix them.

Over the past two years, the number of patients coming to Latvian dentists to correct mistakes made in Turkish clinics has increased significantly. Arone notes that she only sees the worst outcomes – people come when complications have already arisen. But she has insight into pricing, which explains the trend.

In high-quality Turkish clinics that use European materials and skilled laboratory work, prices are comparable to those in the Baltic states – Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia share a similar market for materials. The trouble arises in clinics that opt for cheaper Asian-made materials, such as implants from Vietnam. These are significantly less expensive, and procedures are completed within days, but their durability is questionable.

Short-term savings often lead to long-term costs, as patients require repeat, often more expensive, treatment. Arone urges people to think critically and carefully assess the true costs before traveling abroad for dental care.