If you kept up with medical news, you would probably hear the term turkey teeth. If not, it essentially means that the teeth of patients are shaved down to a small amount, and crowns are fitted on top, where they would be getting veneers. The surgery removes around 60-70% of a person’s natural teeth, also taking out a healthy tissue and thus impairing the individual where there should have been no effect. The surgery costs around £2000 in Türkiye and involves extensive tooth filling, which can cause severe complications and irreversible damage to the teeth of patients. The veneer process, for example, in the UK only removes a small fraction of 0.5mm of the tooth’s surface enamel. 

Another problem with dental clinics is that they disguise crowns for veneers and remove nerves, which is highly unethical. Shaving the tooth down to an extensive amount can often disturb the nerves in the tooth, and when this happens individuals can be in a large amount of pain. Shaving down the tooth can also lead to quicker tooth decay, which will lead to higher tooth sensitivity, nerve inflation, and irritation. With the procedure arises also the problem of not having informed consent from patients on the procedure that is about to occur. 

Social media became the main tool for spreading the pandemic of turkey teeth. Influencers have gone viral for having the perfect teeth, exerting their experience on many viewers to get their teeth done in Türkiye for a cheap price. Many of these UK residents are keen to get the desirable Hollywood smile while not being aware of the complications that may come from it.

Around 60% of cosmetic dentists have reported to have treated patients whose teeth had been ruined due to the technique of some cosmetic dentists in Türkiye. A famous case of individuals who have had to deal with the complications of this procedure are influencers, Jack Fincham and Katie Price, who have expressed their regret on their decision to undergo the cheap treatment. Around 75% of individuals who had dental work abroad required a corrective treatment, which took place in the UK after already paying the sum of £2000 for the procedure in Türkiye. 

All of this shows that measures should be taken to inform individuals (who may be led to undergo procedures due to factors such as insecurity and they will be less inclined to research before traveling) about what the treatment contains and the complications that may come from it to prevent further negatives from occurring. To go through with a procedure knowing that there is a high risk of complications and that you may be doing your patient more harm than good is unethical. It is essential, while working in the healthcare sector, to ensure no harm is done to patients, as this is a key pillar of medical and dental ethics.

Written by Paula U.

Moderated by Joanna