Although lower dental costs abroad still attract many patients, the dental industry should set clear guidelines and regulations for practitioners facing unfamiliar and even high-risk treatments.
Dental tourism is not a new phenomenon. As early as decades ago, some patients traveled to Central and Eastern Europe for low-cost dental implant treatments. At that time, there were fewer cases and the treatment content was relatively limited.
But in the past five years, the trend of “Turkish teeth” has rapidly heated up, and social media has played a decisive role in fueling it. Although Turkey is not the only dental tourism destination, it has become the representative of this phenomenon.
I recently joined a Facebook group introducing Turkish dental clinics. Reading the constantly updated shares and photos in it, I couldn’t help but feel sad and shocked.
A mouth of teeth as white as dentures often includes 24 zirconia teeth or even full-mouth restorations that rely entirely on four to six implants.
Many pre-operative photos show that the teeth are actually healthy and can be improved with simple bleaching or orthodontics. But patients choose high-intensity treatments that completely grind away their teeth, which is a pity.
A recent report by the British Dental Journal (BDJ) noted that the number of new dental clinics in Turkey has surged, with little regulation.
Some senior local dentists are concerned that this trend is undermining the professional standards and ethical framework they have built over the years. In contrast, the UK has a more rigorous patient protection system.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has partnered with the BBC to launch a survey on the risks of “turkey teeth”, and almost all of the 1,000 dentists involved have encountered complications and additional costs associated with such treatments.
The BBC also conducted an experiment in which “mysterious customers” with healthy teeth visited 50 dental clinics in the UK, and all clinics unanimously recommended not to install crowns. But overseas, some clinics strongly recommended that he undergo a full-mouth zirconia restoration.
In the Facebook post, the problem of forced sales, sudden price changes and lack of informed consent was also exposed.
We must emphasize that patients have the right to choose cosmetic treatments to improve their appearance. But from an ethical point of view, dentists should help patients choose treatments that are truly in their interests and resolutely stop inappropriate treatments when necessary.
I receive similar cosmetic consultation requests almost every day. In most cases, minimally invasive and ethical alternatives can be found after detailed discussions.
But in some overseas clinics, as long as you are willing to accept and pay for the treatment, they will accept it regardless of whether the treatment is appropriate or risky.
British dentists sometimes even advise patients not to undergo treatment, but if the patient insists, the subsequent cleaning and maintenance costs may be unaffordable.
The three main factors leading to dental tourism are:
Patients want “perfect white teeth” that are beyond the capabilities of local dentists;
Local dental resources are scarce;
High costs.
The reason why dental treatment in the UK is expensive is that dentists practice under a strictly regulated ethical framework, which naturally has higher operating costs.
But accepting 24 unnecessary cheap crowns to save money is not only not worth the cost, but may also cause serious damage to teeth or even shorten their lifespan.
The lack of access to NHS dental services is the original reason why many patients seek treatment overseas. But they are often hard-sold a set of restoration solutions overseas.
A couple was recently on holiday in Turkey when they were recommended to have 28 zirconia trays installed without any temporary restorations, simply for a routine check-up and cleaning.
A few days later, they returned home with sensitivity issues caused by the trays, but the local dentist who had served them for 30 years was also confused and could not give an explanation.
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