Veneers & Hollywood Smile in Turkey

A veneer is a thin covering fixed to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or length, close small gaps or hide chips (Oral Health Foundation). Porcelain veneers - in Turkey usually e.max - are strong, long-lasting and natural-looking but cost more; composite veneers may need less enamel removed and fewer visits, and are easier to repair, but stain and wear more (ADA).

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Veneers; ADA MouthHealthy - Veneers.

A "Hollywood smile" is a full smile makeover, usually with veneers on the teeth that show when you smile: often 8 to 10 on the upper jaw, or 16 to 20 for both jaws. More teeth does not always look better - a good plan matches the rest of your teeth and your face. With the listed e.max price of €210 per tooth, 20 veneers come to €4,200.

Klinik No.1 also lists a 20-tooth smile package with zirconia crowns for €1,750. It is cheaper because it is a crown package: crowns suit damaged or heavily filled teeth, not usually healthy ones - read the next section.

"Turkey teeth" is the name UK media use for smile makeovers abroad where healthy teeth were filed down for crowns, often sold as "veneers". The difference matters:

• A veneer covers the front of a tooth. A small amount of enamel is removed, and that cannot be undone (ADA).
• A crown covers the whole tooth, so far more of the tooth is removed. Crowns are the right choice for teeth that are broken, heavily filled or root-treated - not usually for healthy teeth that only need a new colour or shape.
• In a 2022 survey of UK dentists by the British Dental Association, crowns were the treatment most often needing follow-up work after treatment abroad, followed by implants.

This does not mean crowns are wrong - sometimes they are the best option, and some clinics sell good crown work at a fair price. It means you should know which one you are getting. Ask: is it a veneer or a crown, on which teeth, how much of each tooth will be removed, and why? If healthy teeth are to be crowned for looks, get a second opinion - whitening, bonding or veneers may be enough.

Sources: ADA MouthHealthy - Veneers; Oral Health Foundation - Crowns; British Dental Association - dental tourism survey (2022).

Veneers cannot be undone. For some people a gentler option is enough:

• Whitening lightens natural teeth; it should be done by a dentist or under a dentist's supervision, and it does not change crowns or veneers (NHS).
• Composite bonding repairs chips and small gaps with little or no drilling.
• Braces or clear aligners straighten crooked teeth instead of hiding them (NHS).

If you want whiter teeth and some veneers, whiten first - veneers are matched to the shade of your other teeth.

Sources: NHS - Teeth whitening; NHS - Braces; Oral Health Foundation - Veneers.

• Discoloured teeth that whitening does not fix
• Chipped, worn or uneven front teeth
• Small gaps or slightly crooked teeth
• Healthy teeth and gums - decay and gum disease are treated first

Veneers are often not advised if you grind your teeth, unless you wear a night guard.

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Veneers.

Veneers need at least two appointments: a small amount of enamel is removed and the teeth are scanned or an impression is taken; later the veneers are bonded on (Oral Health Foundation). In Turkey this is usually one trip of 5 to 7 days, with temporary veneers in between and a try-in before the final bonding - check colour, length and bite before they are fixed.

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Veneers.

The treatment is not reversible, because enamel is removed (ADA). Veneers can chip, crack or come loose and then need re-bonding or replacing. Some sensitivity for a few days is common. The Oral Health Foundation lists broken or poorly fitting veneers and crowns among the risks of treatment abroad.

Sources: ADA MouthHealthy - Veneers; Oral Health Foundation - Dental tourism.

With good care veneers can last many years (Oral Health Foundation); porcelain usually lasts longer than composite. Keep brushing and cleaning between the teeth, see your dentist and hygienist regularly, and wear a night guard if you grind.

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Veneers; ADA MouthHealthy - Veneers.

Usually 5 to 7 days for veneers or crowns, in one trip. If you also need implants, the plan has two trips a few months apart.

• Your &NewMe coordinator stays with you after you fly home - send photos and a description first; the clinic reviews them and tells you whether it can wait for your next visit.
• Keep a dentist at home for check-ups and hygiene visits. A loose crown or a chipped veneer can often be checked locally first.
• Ask before you book what follow-up is included and what happens if work has to be corrected - the Oral Health Foundation lists this among the key questions, because corrections at home can be expensive.

For swelling that gets worse, a fever, pus or severe pain, see a dentist or doctor at home straight away, then tell your coordinator.

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Dental tourism; British Dental Association - dental tourism survey (2022).

Some clinics offer a guarantee on implants, crowns or veneers. It is set by the clinic, not by &NewMe, and the terms differ: what is covered, for how long, whether you must return for check-ups, and who pays for flights if something has to be redone. No guarantee is listed with the prices on this page - if a clinic offers one, it is written in your quote, and only that wording counts. The Oral Health Foundation suggests asking these questions before you book.

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Dental tourism.

• A clinic registered with the Turkish Ministry of Health - for international patients you can check it on HealthTürkiye, the Ministry's portal. On &NewMe the Verified by &NewMe badge only appears when we have checked that registration (and, for a named dentist, their own HealthTürkiye record).
• A named dentist for your treatment, and who places the implants.
• A written plan with every item and unit price: implant brand, abutment, crown material, grafts, temporary teeth, the number of trips.
• Before-and-after photos of similar cases, and reviews on independent sites.

Many dental clinics work as a team - the clinic is the provider and names the dentist in your plan. How we verify

Sources: Oral Health Foundation - Dental tourism; British Dental Association - dental tourism survey (2022).