We reply on WhatsAppWhat the GDC says about dental treatment abroad
The GDC regulates dentists and dental professionals in the UK. It can’t regulate a clinic in Turkey, and it says plainly that it can’t guarantee another organisation like it exists in other countries, or that standards are the same. So its guidance puts the questions in your hands: ask as many as you need, and don’t commit on the day if you’re not satisfied with the answers.
The UK government’s travel advice for Turkey adds a point worth taking seriously: private companies have a financial interest in booking your treatment, so their literature shouldn’t be your only source of information. That includes us. We’re paid by clinics, and we explain exactly how on how we’re paid. Use this page as a checklist you can put to any clinic, whether you book through us or not.
Before you ask anything: the GDC's first steps
- Find out how dentistry is regulated there. In Turkey, dental clinics are licensed by the Ministry of Health, dentists are licensed to practise and organised through regional dental chambers under the Turkish Dental Association, and facilities treating international patients must hold an International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate.
- Be assessed by a qualified dentist before you get a plan or price. The GDC says the dentist should take a full medical history: your general health, serious illnesses, long-term conditions, smoking, and any previous surgery or general anaesthetic. A firm quote from a selfie isn’t an assessment.
- Talk to your own dentist. They know your history, can give a second opinion on the plan, and should know what you’re planning in case of complications.
- Be careful with UK “consultation” events. The GDC warns that assessing patients in the UK may count as practising dentistry, which only GDC-registered professionals can legally do.
Who will treat you, and are they regulated?
1
Who will carry out the treatment, and what are their qualifications?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask for the treating dentist's full name, where they qualified, and any specialist training, for example in oral surgery, implantology or prosthodontics.
- A good answer
- A named dentist on your treatment plan, with qualifications you can look up. For surgery, someone who places implants routinely.
- Red flag
- "Our team" with no name, or a different dentist on the day from the one who planned your case, with no explanation.
- How we check it
- Your quote names the treating dentist. We check the licences and qualifications of the dentists at every clinic we work with.
2
Does the team speak English? If not, will a translator be provided?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask whether the dentist will speak to you directly in English, or whether a coordinator will translate, including during the procedure.
- A good answer
- You can ask questions and understand the answers before anything starts, and the consent form is in English.
- Red flag
- Only the sales team speaks English, and you meet the dentist for the first time in the chair.
- How we check it
- We speak Turkish and English and can be on the phone with you and the clinic. Your records come back in English.
5
Are they regulated by a professional body, and are they registered with it?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask for the clinic's Ministry of Health licence, the dentist's registration, and whether the clinic holds the International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate.
- A good answer
- A clinic licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health and authorised to treat international patients, with dentists registered to practise in Turkey.
- Red flag
- Vague answers, or a UK "consultation" by someone who isn't registered with the GDC.
- How we check it
- We check licences and authorisation before working with a clinic. Note that a Turkish dentist isn't on the UK GDC register unless they've registered separately.
Their track record
3
Can they provide references or testimonials from previous patients?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask to speak to a past UK patient who had the same treatment, and look for reviews on independent sites rather than the clinic's own website.
- A good answer
- Willing to put you in touch with a past patient (with their consent), and reviews that mention aftercare as well as the result on the day.
- Red flag
- Only polished before-and-after photos, or reviews that all appeared in the same week.
- How we check it
- Before-and-after photos are easy to curate, so we rely on our own follow-up with patients we've sent, which shapes who we keep working with.
4
How many times have they done this procedure, and what are their success, complication, readmission and infection rates?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask how many of your exact procedure the treating dentist does in a typical month, and how many implants they've had to replace or remake.
- A good answer
- Honest numbers and a plain explanation of what can go wrong for someone like you. Many clinics don't publish audited rates, so a frank answer matters more than a headline figure.
- Red flag
- A suspiciously round "99% success" with nothing behind it, or no discussion of complications at all.
- How we check it
- We send your case only to clinics that do your treatment regularly, and ask how they handle failures before we work with them.
Guarantees, costs and insurance
6
Is the work guaranteed, and for how long?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask for the warranty in writing: what it covers (implant failure, a crown breaking, a veneer coming off), for how long, and what voids it.
- A good answer
- A written warranty with clear periods for each type of work and clear conditions, such as yearly check-ups with a dentist.
- Red flag
- A "lifetime guarantee" that isn't written down, or conditions you only hear about after paying.
- How we check it
- We agree warranty and remedial terms in writing with each clinic, and they're set out in your quote before you book.
8
If you're unhappy with the result, what happens? Who pays for extra flights, hotel and remedial work?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask exactly what the clinic covers if something needs redoing: the treatment, the flights, the hotel and transfers, and up to what amount.
- A good answer
- Written terms that separate a clinical problem (which the warranty covers) from a change of mind about the look (which usually isn't covered).
- Red flag
- "Don't worry, we'll sort it" with nothing in writing.
- How we check it
- This is the GDC question we push hardest on. If a clinic won't put it in writing, we don't send patients there.
9
If complications need further treatment, is that included in the initial cost?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask what's included if you need extra treatment during the trip, such as a graft found to be necessary on the day or an extra night.
- A good answer
- A fixed, all-inclusive written quote that lists what's in and out, and says any change needs your written agreement and a clinical reason.
- Red flag
- A price that goes up on arrival, or pressure to agree extra work there and then.
- How we check it
- If a clinic changes an agreed price without a clinical reason you've agreed to, we take it up with them, and it affects whether we keep working with them.
10
Do they have insurance covering the procedure?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask whether the treating dentist holds professional liability (malpractice) insurance, and separately, look at medical travel insurance for yourself.
- A good answer
- A clear yes for the clinic's cover, and an understanding that it isn't the same as insurance protecting you.
- Red flag
- Being told you don't need any insurance of your own.
- How we check it
- We explain the specialist travel cover available, without selling it. See our insurance guide.
For the money side, see paying for treatment abroad and insurance for dental treatment abroad.
Aftercare and complaints
7
What aftercare is provided?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask what happens after you fly home: check-ups, who you contact, and what you'll be given to take to a UK dentist.
- A good answer
- A written aftercare plan, plus X-rays, notes and implant brand and part details to take home.
- Red flag
- Aftercare that ends at the airport, or records you have to chase for weeks.
- How we check it
- We check you leave with your full records pack and keep a digital copy. Afterwards, you message us and we deal with the clinic.
11
Do they have a complaints system, and can you see it?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask how complaints are handled, who handles them, and how quickly they reply. In Turkey you can also complain to the Ministry of Health.
- A good answer
- A written process with a named contact and a response time.
- Red flag
- No process at all, or complaints only taken through social media messages.
- How we check it
- With us, you don't need to use it alone: we raise problems with the clinic in Turkish and stay on it until it's resolved.
12
Who can you contact for advice after treatment?
- What to ask in Turkey
- Ask for a named contact, how to reach them from the UK, and what to do out of hours.
- A good answer
- A direct contact who answers in English, and a clear plan for urgent symptoms at home.
- Red flag
- A general inbox, or a sales number that stops answering once you've paid.
- How we check it
- You have us on WhatsApp before, during and after. For urgent symptoms, see a UK dentist or call NHS 111 first.
What happens if a problem appears once you’re home is set out step by step in if something goes wrong.
The NHS warning signs, and what they look like in practice
The NHS treatment abroad checklist lists five warning signs. Here’s how they tend to show up:
A hard sell
Daily follow-up messages, or discounts that only last until the weekend.
A lack of information
A price with no named implant brand, crown material or dentist.
Pressure to make a quick decision
Being asked to start treatment the day you arrive, before you've seen the plan in writing.
No discussion of possible complications
No mention of implant failure, nerve risks or what happens to filed-down teeth.
No mention of aftercare
Nothing about records, check-ups or who to contact once you're home.
What we do differently
No sales calls, no deadlines, and quotes that set out materials, the treating dentist, the warranty and the aftercare in writing. If you want to take a quote to your UK dentist for a second opinion first, we’d encourage it. Read how we choose clinics.
Questions people ask
Sources
- General Dental Council: Going abroad for dental treatment
- NHS: Treatment abroad checklist
- FCDO: Turkey travel advice, health (medical tourism)
- Health Türkiye: Certified health service providers
- Turkish Dental Association (TDB)
- GDC: Check a dental professional's registration
The questions above are summarised from the GDC’s guidance as published on the date this page was updated. The answers and checks are ours. This guide is general information, not a substitute for advice from a dentist who has examined you.
How we choose clinicsThe checks a clinic has to pass before we send you a quote.Is dental treatment in Turkey a good idea?The real risks, and how to reduce them.Will UK dentists treat Turkey teeth?What they'll do, and the records that make it easy.Turkey teeth explainedWhat the term means, what it costs, and how to get it right.