Why UK patients look abroad for dentistry
Most people who contact a Turkish dental clinic did not start out wanting to travel. They started out trying to see a dentist at home. Here is what the official picture looks like, and what to think about before going abroad.
Checked for accuracy by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, our implant surgeon · Last updated October 2026Many UK adults struggle to find an NHS dentist taking new patients, and NHS charges do not cover everything, for example implants are rarely available on the NHS. Private fees for crowns, implants and full-arch work run into thousands of pounds. Those two pressures, documented by NHS England, Healthwatch, the BDA and the government's own recovery plan, are the main reasons people look at dental work in Turkey and elsewhere.
UK patients look abroad for dentistry mainly for two reasons: it can be hard to find an NHS dentist taking new adult patients, and private fees for bigger treatments such as crowns and implants are high. These problems are not just anecdote. NHS England publishes the activity data, Healthwatch has reported dental access as one of the most common concerns people raise with it, the British Dental Association has campaigned on it for years, and the government set out a recovery plan in 2024. We are a Turkish dental clinic, so we have an obvious interest in this subject. That is exactly why we want to set out the official picture plainly, and the things worth weighing up, rather than just say "come to Turkey".
How NHS dentistry works for adults
A lot of confusion starts here. NHS dentistry in England is not free for most adults, and it does not work like a GP surgery.
- No registration. You do not register with a dentist for life. A practice may see you for a course of treatment and then not be able to see you again for some time. The NHS website explains you can contact any NHS practice, and its search tool shows whether a practice says it is accepting new patients.
- Three charge bands. In England, NHS treatment is charged in bands. Band 1 covers an examination and X-rays, Band 2 adds fillings, root canal treatment and extractions, and Band 3 adds crowns, dentures and bridges. Band 3 is currently a little over £300 for a whole course of treatment. The nhs.uk charges page has the current amounts.
- What is not on the NHS. Treatment that is mainly cosmetic, such as veneers or whitening for appearance, is not provided. Dental implants are only provided on the NHS in limited cases of clinical need, usually in hospital.
- Different rules across the UK. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own charges and arrangements, so the details depend on where you live.
For someone who can get an NHS appointment, Band 3 is good value for crowns or a denture. The trouble is getting through the door.
What the official sources say about access
Several bodies have described the access problem in their own words, and they broadly agree.
The government. In February 2024 the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England published "Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry". The fact that a recovery plan was needed says a lot. It included measures such as a payment to practices for taking on new patients who had not seen an NHS dentist for some time, and mobile dental vans for areas with few practices.
NHS England data. NHS England publishes regular NHS Dental Statistics for England, showing how many adults and children have been seen by an NHS dentist in a given period. These figures are the best place to check the current situation for yourself, because they are updated and broken down by area.
Healthwatch England. Healthwatch, the independent body that gathers patients' views of health and care services, has repeatedly reported dentistry as one of the main issues people contact it about, including people unable to find a practice and people paying privately because they could not get NHS care.
The British Dental Association. The BDA, the professional body for UK dentists, has argued for years that the NHS dental contract in England does not fund enough care, and that dentists are leaving NHS work as a result. It has also, it is worth saying, warned about the risks of some cosmetic dental tourism.
The private fee gap
When the NHS route is closed, the alternative at home is private care. UK private fees are set by each practice, so there is no single price list. A single private crown can cost more than the NHS Band 3 charge for a whole course of treatment. For implants, and especially full-arch implant work, the totals can run into many thousands of pounds.
Dental insurance and payment plans can help with routine care, but many policies cap what they pay each year and exclude implants or treatment for problems that existed before the policy started. Check the small print before assuming a policy will cover major work.
That gap is the other half of the reason people travel. A patient who needs one filling will usually find a way at home. A patient who needs several crowns, a bridge or implants faces a much bigger decision, and that is where clinics abroad become part of the conversation. For reference, our own prices are set out on our prices page: an implant is £300 and a zirconia crown is £150 per tooth.
What to weigh up before going abroad
A lower price is real, but it is not the whole picture. These are the points we think every patient should think through, whichever clinic they choose.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does the treatment need crowns at all? | Cheaper crowns on healthy teeth are still a lifetime commitment. See why teeth are filed down for crowns. |
| How many trips, and how long? | Implants usually need two trips months apart. Time off work and flights add up. |
| Who looks after you at home? | You will still need check-ups and hygiene visits in the UK. Some practices are reluctant to repair complex work done elsewhere. |
| What is in writing? | Ask for an itemised plan, the materials and implant brands, and the guarantee terms. |
| What if something goes wrong? | UK consumer protections may not apply in the same way. Know how the clinic handles problems and whether you would need to travel back. |
| Is your health ready? | Gum disease, diabetes, smoking and some medicines affect healing. Tell any clinic about them. |
Keeping a UK dentist matters
Even if your main treatment happens abroad, you need a dentist at home. Crowns, veneers and implants all need regular checks, X-rays from time to time and professional cleaning. The decay and gum problems that cause most long-term trouble start slowly and are best caught early. If you can get onto an NHS dentist's list for check-ups, it is worth doing so, even if you choose to have larger work done privately or abroad. Bring your records so they know what was done. We explain what tends to happen over time in Turkish teeth ten years on.
How we approach UK patients at our clinic
We are a private dental clinic in Antalya, licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health and authorised for health tourism. We do not have a UK clinic. Our UK company, Precious Teeth Ltd (Companies House 14018597), does not provide treatment. What we can do is give you a clear written plan before you travel, so you can compare it fairly with UK options.
You send photos or a recent X-ray by WhatsApp on +44 7575 589099 or through our contact page. A dentist replies with an itemised plan, and the final plan is confirmed after the 3D scan here. Implant patients get an implant passport and copies of their X-rays and scans to take to their UK dentist. Our packages include hotel nights and transfers, not flights. You can read more about our implants and our approach to Turkish teeth.
A fair way to decide
Start at home. Check the NHS find a dentist service, ask local practices about NHS waiting lists, and get at least one private UK quote for the treatment you need. Then, if you are considering travel, get a written plan from a clinic abroad and compare the two side by side, including flights, time and aftercare. Going abroad makes sense for some people and not for others. The best decision is the one you make with both sets of facts in front of you.
Sources
- NHS: Find a dentist
- NHS: Understanding NHS dental charges
- GOV.UK: Our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry (2024)
- NHS England Digital: NHS Dental Statistics for England
- Healthwatch England
- British Dental Association
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Common questions
Do I have to register with an NHS dentist?
No. In England you do not register with a dentist the way you do with a GP. You can contact any practice offering NHS care, and the NHS website lists practices and whether they say they are taking new patients.
What if I need urgent dental care and cannot find an NHS dentist?
In England you can call NHS 111 for help finding urgent dental treatment. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements, listed on their NHS websites.
Are dental implants available on the NHS?
Only in limited cases, usually where there is a clinical need such as after cancer surgery or injury, and normally through a hospital. For most adults, implants are private treatment.
Will a UK dentist treat me after dental work abroad?
Many will examine you and provide routine NHS or private care. Some may not want to take on repairs to complex work they did not plan. Bring your X-rays, scans and treatment records.
Is treatment abroad covered by UK consumer law?
Generally a contract with a clinic outside the UK is not covered in the same way as UK treatment. Read the clinic's written terms and guarantee before you pay. Ours are on our guarantee page.
Is it cheaper to go abroad once flights and hotels are counted?
For larger treatments it often is, but compare the full total, including flights, time off work and possible return trips. Our package prices include hotel nights and transfers but not flights.
Ask a Turkish dentist for a free written plan
Phone photos of your smile or an old X-ray are enough. You get the treatment, the implant brand and the price in pounds on paper, with no obligation to book.