“Turkey teeth” is the UK nickname for cosmetic dental work done in Turkey – most often a full set of crowns or veneers, and increasingly implants and All-on-4 treatment. The phrase carries two meanings at once: for hundreds of thousands of patients it simply means high-quality dentistry at 60-70% below UK private fees, while in the British press it has become shorthand for treatment that went wrong at unverifiable clinics. Both realities exist. This guide explains what the treatments actually involve, why some cases go wrong, and how to verify a clinic properly. It also tells the story of Jack Fincham, who chose DentaFly to redo previous work he was unhappy with.
Written by Dr. Burak Gökdeniz (Head Dentist, Prosthodontics PhD) · Medically reviewed by Asst. Prof. Dr. Gülen Kamak (Periodontology Specialist) · Last reviewed: August 2026
What Are Turkey Teeth?
In practice, “turkey teeth” covers three different treatments: a full set of dental veneers or crowns on natural teeth, dental implants replacing missing teeth, and full-arch restorations such as All-on-4. Which one a patient actually needs depends on how many healthy teeth remain and the condition of the jaw – which is why any serious plan starts with an X-ray, not a price list. Done properly, the result is designed tooth by tooth in a digital smile design process and matched to a natural shade; the glowing white “piano key” look the press mocks is a style choice some clinics push, not a feature of Turkish dentistry.
Why Are They Called Turkey Teeth?
The phrase started in the British media as a sneer – the dental equivalent of calling Istanbul airport “Hairport”. It stuck because the numbers behind it are real. Every year, enormous numbers of UK patients travel to Turkey for treatment that costs a fraction of London private fees, with no waiting list. What the nickname skips over is why: clinic running costs, laboratory fees and salaries in Turkey are far below UK levels, and clinics like DentaFly manufacture crowns in their own on-site laboratory, removing third-party lab charges entirely. The saving is economic, not clinical. Over time the term has drifted from insult to shorthand – many patients now search “turkey teeth” simply meaning a new smile done in Turkey. We break down how the phrase is used on both sides in Turkey teeth vs English teeth.
Jack Fincham: When the Story Runs the Other Way
Few people are more closely tied to this debate than Love Island winner Jack Fincham. His dazzling 2018 smile helped start the trend. He has since spoken openly about wishing he had understood how invasive his first crowns were before having them done. Years on, unhappy with that original work, he did what he now urges everyone to do: he researched clinics properly. He chose DentaFly to redo his smile and documented the journey on camera, with the national press covering the process. His case followed the same protocol as every DentaFly patient: a diagnostic assessment first, a written plan naming every brand and material, treatment by named, registered dentists, and follow-up care afterwards at our London clinic.
What convinced him was seeing the process up close. On his first visit, our clinicians walked Jack through how robotic implant placement works and took him inside our on-site laboratory, where dentists and technicians produce restorations on the same digital case files – a level of integration between clinician and lab that genuinely surprised him. He talks through what he saw in his own words here:
He is not alone: Katie Price and many other well-known faces chose Turkey after being dissatisfied with previous treatment – often quietly, because celebrity dental work in the UK or US routinely costs £25,000-£30,000. The press rarely runs those follow-ups.
Why Do Turkey Teeth Go Wrong – and How to Avoid It
Bad outcomes are real, and they cluster around the same causes. Healthy teeth get shaved aggressively into pegs for crowns when veneers or bonding would have done the job. Treatment is sold on price alone, with no named dentist responsible and no written plan stating brands and counts. And there is no aftercare route once the patient lands back in the UK. Almost every “gone wrong” story in the news traces back to unregistered facilities – not to Turkish dentistry itself, which trains some of the most rigorously selected clinicians in Europe.
The Four-Point Verification Checklist
The protection is verification. Before paying any clinic a deposit, ask for four things in writing:
- Their health tourism licence.
- The name and Ministry of Health registration of the facility where you will actually be treated.
- The names and registrations of the dentists responsible for your treatment.
- A review base large enough to be meaningful, on platforms the clinic cannot edit.
A legitimate clinic answers all four without hesitation. DentaFly’s answers are public: AACI international accreditation, CQC registration in the UK, named dentists with published credentials, and 1,800+ Trustpilot reviews rated 4.8/5. And there is one safeguard no price list can offer: you can book a free in-person assessment at our London clinic (NW9) and have a dentist examine you before you decide anything – then travel only with a confirmed written plan in hand. Every routine follow-up after treatment happens in London too, so aftercare never depends on another flight. More on the safety question: is it safe to have dental treatment in Turkey?
How Long Do Turkey Teeth Last?
Longevity depends on the material and on how conservatively the natural teeth were prepared – research links aggressive cutting directly to higher failure rates, which is another reason the “shaved to pegs” approach is the wrong one. DentaFly’s warranty periods reflect the materials’ real-world durability:
| Dental treatment in Turkey | Average warranty period |
|---|---|
| Composite bonding | No warranty |
| Porcelain crown | 3 years |
| Zirconium crown | 5-8 years |
| E-max / veneer crowns | 2-3 years |
| Dental implants | Lifetime warranty |
What Do Turkey Teeth Cost?
A full set starts from £1,960 at DentaFly, with All-on-4 fixed implants from £6,604 for both jaws and single E-max veneers from £210. The honest answer beyond that is: it depends on the route, the material and the number of teeth – which is exactly what a written, itemised quote establishes. For the complete picture, see the full 2026 price list and the full set of teeth cost guide, or build your own estimate with the implant price calculator.
What Turkey Teeth Really Look Like
Natural shade, proportions matched to the face, and conservative preparation underneath – that is what the treatment looks like when it is planned properly. Browse dozens of documented UK patient cases in the turkey teeth before and after gallery.
What Our Patients Say
Google Reviews – London Clinic
Google Reviews – Antalya Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions
What are turkey teeth?
“Turkey teeth” is the UK nickname for cosmetic dental treatment done in Turkey – most commonly a full set of crowns or veneers, and increasingly dental implants and All-on-4 restorations. The phrase covers several clinically distinct treatments; which one a patient needs is determined by an X-ray assessment, not by the name.
Are turkey teeth bad?
The treatments themselves are standard modern dentistry using the same brands found in UK practices. Bad outcomes cluster around unverifiable providers: aggressive cutting of healthy teeth, no named dentist, no written plan and no aftercare. Verify the clinic’s health tourism licence, Ministry registration, named dentists and independent reviews before booking, and the risk profile matches having treatment at home.
How much do turkey teeth cost?
At DentaFly, a full set of teeth starts from £1,960, All-on-4 fixed implants from £6,604 for both jaws, and single E-max veneers from £210. The final figure depends on the route, material and number of teeth, and is confirmed in a fixed written quote after a free assessment. See the full price list for every treatment.
How long do turkey teeth last?
It depends on the material: dental implants placed at DentaFly carry a lifetime warranty, zirconium crowns 5-8 years, porcelain crowns 3 years and E-max veneers 2-3 years, while composite bonding carries no warranty. Conservative tooth preparation also matters – research links aggressive cutting to higher failure rates.
Do turkey teeth look fake and too white?
Only if they are designed that way. The extreme white “piano key” look is a style choice pushed by some providers, not a feature of Turkish dentistry. A properly planned smile is designed digitally tooth by tooth, matched to a natural shade and to the proportions of your face – as the results in our before and after gallery show.
What happened with Jack Fincham’s teeth?
Love Island winner Jack Fincham came to DentaFly in Antalya to put right dental work he was unhappy with, and documented the treatment on video. His case followed the standard DentaFly protocol: diagnostic assessment, a written itemised plan, treatment by named registered dentists, and follow-up care at our London clinic.
How do I avoid turkey teeth gone wrong?
Ask every clinic for four things in writing before paying: their health tourism licence, the Ministry of Health registration of the treating facility, the names and registrations of the responsible dentists, and independent reviews they cannot edit. Better still, have a free in-person assessment at DentaFly’s London clinic first and travel only with a confirmed written plan.