Patient guide

Preparing for Dental Treatment in Turkey: A Practical Checklist

Start with a remote assessment: share recent photos or X-rays, your medical history and every medicine you take, and get a written plan before you book flights. Then build spare days into the trip, check how many visits your treatment needs, wait before flying after surgery, and arrange follow-up with a dentist at home.

Published by Vita Smile Dental Clinic Sources (7)

The reception area of the Vita Smile clinic

Key takeaways

  • Tell the dentist about every medicine you take, including blood thinners, and do not stop any of them unless your doctor or dentist tells you to [4].
  • Ask who will treat you, what aftercare is included and what happens if something goes wrong [1].
  • After implant placement, wait at least 72 hours before flying, ideally a week; after a sinus lift, at least two weeks [6].
  • Take out travel insurance and tell your insurer you are having treatment abroad [2].

Clinically reviewed by

Dr. Hediye Nur Uygun

General Dentistry

Last reviewed
Sources 7 sources cited

Before you book

What to share with the dentist first

A good plan starts before you travel. UK regulators advise speaking to your own dentist first, because they know your dental history and can stay aware of your plans in case anything needs attention later [1][7]. Then give the clinic abroad enough information to plan properly:

  • Recent photos or X-raysOur free online consultation starts here. A dentist reviews them and you receive a personalised plan and a written quote, which is confirmed after the examination at the clinic.
  • Your medical historyTell the dentist about any health conditions, including kidney, liver or blood conditions and cancer, which can make you bleed more [4].
  • Every medicine you takePrescribed and non-prescribed, plus herbal or complementary products. Aspirin and other anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen can increase bleeding [4].
  • Blood thinnersSay exactly which anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine you take, and if you take warfarin, bring your INR record. Do not change the dose for dental treatment unless your doctor, specialist or dentist tells you to [4].
  • SmokingIf you smoke and are planning implants, the advice is to stop and stay a non-smoker in the long term [5].
  • Existing dental problemsMention pain, loose teeth, bleeding gums, old crowns or root-filled teeth, so the plan covers them rather than finding them on arrival.

Questions to ask

Get the answers in writing before you travel

The General Dental Council suggests a set of questions for anyone considering treatment abroad [1]. These are the ones that matter most:

  • Who will carry out my treatment, and what qualifications do they have? [1] You can read about our dentists before you decide.
  • Is the clinic regulated, and is the dentist registered? [1]
  • Will the team speak my language, or will an interpreter be there? [1]
  • Is the work guaranteed, and for how long? [1]
  • What aftercare do you provide, and who can I contact after I fly home? [1]
  • If there are complications and I need more treatment, is it included in the cost, and who pays for extra flights and hotel nights? [1]
  • Do you have a complaints procedure? [1]

The NHS also lists warning signs: pressure to decide quickly, too little information, and no discussion of complications or aftercare [2]. A written plan should name the treatment for each tooth, the number of visits and what the quote includes.

Planning the trip

How long to stay and how many visits to expect

Book travel around the treatment, not the other way round. The NHS advises allowing enough recovery time before travelling home and budgeting for a longer stay than planned [2], and crowns, bridges, veneers and implants often need adjustments across more than one visit [7]. At our clinic in Ataşehir, on the Asian side of Istanbul, typical stays look like this:

  • Veneers: 5–7 days, over 2 visits.
  • Hollywood smile: 5–7 days.
  • Dental implants: a first visit of 3–7 days when no bone graft is needed, then 3–6 months of healing before the final teeth are fitted on a second trip.

These are typical figures, not a promise. The examination and 3D scans at the clinic can change the plan, for example if a tooth needs a root canal first or the bone needs grafting, so leave a few spare days and choose flexible tickets where you can. Your written quote lists what your package includes, such as the hotel, airport transfers, an interpreter and a personal coordinator.

Packing list

What to bring to the clinic

Pack these in your hand luggage, so they travel with you:

  • Photo ID or passportFor check-in and your patient record.
  • A written list of your medicinesNames and doses, plus the packs or prescriptions themselves where you can [4].
  • Your INR record if you take warfarin [4].
  • Recent X-rays or scans and any letters from your own dentist or doctor; the NHS suggests asking your doctor how to pass your medical notes to the team abroad [2].
  • Your travel insurance details [2].
  • Your written plan and quote, and the contact details of your coordinator.
  • Painkillers you normally use, after checking with the dentist which ones suit your treatment [4].
Dr. Hediye Nur Uygun

Expert insight

“The best preparation a patient can send me costs nothing: a clear photo or X-ray, a full list of medicines and every health problem, even the ones that seem to have nothing to do with teeth. A blood thinner or a heart condition changes how I plan your treatment. I would much rather adjust a plan while you are still at home than on the morning of treatment.”

Dr. Hediye Nur Uygun · General Dentistry

Flying home

When is it safe to fly after dental treatment?

Changes in cabin pressure can cause pain or damage after some dental procedures. A 2023 article in the British Dental Journal set out how long to wait before flying [6]:

  • Fillings and other restorative work: at least 24 hours, ideally a week [6].
  • Simple extraction: at least 24–48 hours, ideally a week [6].
  • Root canal treatment, surgical extraction and implant placement: at least 72 hours, ideally a week [6].
  • Sinus lift: at least two weeks, ideally six, and only once you have no sinus symptoms; where possible, it suggests travelling home by land or sea instead [6].

After any surgery, ask whether you are fit to fly: flying after surgery carries a risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs, and some patients need preventive medication [3]. Plan your return date with the dentist before you book it.

  • 72 hours

    minimum wait before flying after implant placement; a week is recommended [6]

  • 2 weeks

    minimum wait after a sinus lift, with no sinus symptoms; 6 weeks recommended [6]

Back home

Aftercare, follow-up and if something goes wrong

Treatment does not end at the airport. Before you leave the clinic:

  • Ask for copies of your treatment records, including prescriptions, scans and X-rays [3].
  • Find out who to contact for advice after you fly home [1]. Our coordinator stays in touch for up to two years after your treatment.
  • Register with a dentist at home and keep regular check-ups. With implants, the long-term care is yours, and a local dentist can look after them, at your own cost [5].
  • Follow the cleaning and diet instructions you are given, and report pain, swelling or anything that feels loose early.

Be realistic about the risks. Follow-up care may not be easy to arrange and may not be covered by the NHS, and putting right a problem from treatment abroad is usually at your own cost [3]. The NHS does not reimburse dental treatment abroad [2], and standard insurance may not cover return trips for corrective work [7]. Take out appropriate travel insurance, tell your insurer you are having treatment, and check what it covers [2].

Questions

Preparing for treatment abroad: frequently asked questions

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How soon can I fly after dental implants?

A 2023 British Dental Journal article advises waiting at least 72 hours after implant placement, and ideally a week [6]. After a sinus lift the minimum is two weeks, with six recommended, and you should have no sinus symptoms before flying [6].

Should I stop my blood thinners before dental treatment?

No, not on your own. Tell the dentist which medicine you take; most people continue as usual, and you should only change the dose if your doctor, specialist or dentist tells you to [4]. If you take warfarin, bring your INR record [4].

How many trips will I need?

It depends on the treatment. Veneers are usually done in one stay of 5–7 days over two visits. Implants usually need two trips: a first visit of 3–7 days without a bone graft, then 3–6 months of healing before the final teeth.

Does travel insurance cover dental treatment abroad?

Not automatically. The NHS advises taking out appropriate travel insurance and telling your insurer about the treatment [2]. Putting right a problem from treatment abroad is usually at your own cost, and NHS follow-up may not be available [3].

What should I ask a clinic before booking?

Who will treat you and their qualifications, whether the work is guaranteed, what aftercare is included, who pays if more treatment is needed, and who to contact after you fly home [1].

Start with a free online consultation

Send a few photos or X-rays. A dentist reviews them and replies with a personalised plan and a written quote, free of charge. The quote is confirmed after your examination at the clinic.

Book a free online consultation Ask on WhatsApp

Sources

Studies and patient guides this page is based on.

  1. [1] Going abroad for your dental care? — General Dental Council · gdc-uk.org
  2. [2] Treatment abroad checklist — NHS (last reviewed 19 November 2023) · nhs.uk
  3. [3] Travelling abroad for treatment? — TravelHealthPro, National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), 20 March 2023 · travelhealthpro.org.uk
  4. [4] Anticoagulant or Antiplatelet Medication and Your Dental Treatment: Information for Patients — Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), NHS Education for Scotland, March 2022 · sdcep.org.uk
  5. [5] Dental implants — Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (last reviewed December 2024) · guysandstthomas.nhs.uk
  6. [6] Felkai PP, Nakdimon I, Felkai T, Levin L, Zadik Y. Dental tourism and the risk of barotrauma and barodontalgia. British Dental Journal, 2023 · doi.org
  7. [7] I am thinking about getting treatment overseas. Is this a good idea? — Oral Health Foundation · dentalhealth.org