We all want that ‘Hollywood Smile’ – but how far would you go to get it?
‘Turkey Teeth’ are trending on social media, with the topic receiving over 100 million views on TikTok and being promoted by celebrities including Katie Price.
As a result, many UK dental patients are travelling thousands of miles to save money on invasive cosmetic dentistry. But without fully knowing which Turkish dentists are reputable, ethical professionals – and which are not – you risk invasive and poor-quality dental treatment that compromises your dental health in the long-term.
In fact, data from the Irish Dental Association found that of the 300,000 people who travelled abroad for dental work in 2022, a whopping 75% of them required corrective dentistry on their return to the UK.
And to top it all off, they may not even look good! The results of the ‘Turkey Teeth’ procedure often appear fake, and some patients have lost teeth in just a matter of weeks following the procedure.
In this article, we will address the risks associated with the ‘Turkey Teeth’ trend and explore the dentist-approved alternatives.
What Are Turkey Teeth?
The ‘Turkey Teeth’ procedure generally uses dental crowns to achieve the appearance of straighter, whiter, and more evenly spaced teeth. Your teeth are shaved down individually into ‘peg teeth’, removing between 60-70% of your natural tooth, and a crown is then placed over the top to mimic the natural tooth.
As a result of this, you will lose healthy tooth enamel, which is unnecessary in the majority of dental cases, and can cause several risks to your dental health.
The Risks Of Turkey Teeth
– Overseas clinics offering turkey teeth have on average, a 17% risk of complications, in comparison to treatments available in the UK, which have a 98% success rate
– Unlike the UK, Turkey does not have a trade body for dentistry. This means that there is very little regulation of dental practices
– Complications from the procedure include sensitive teeth, rotting teeth, crowns falling out, infected gums, severe and enduring pain due to exposed nerves, and infections and abscesses that can lead to tooth loss
– Any complications resulting from Turkey Teeth will require corrective dental work, which could involve multiple, expensive procedures
– In cases of severe complications, you may need to have teeth removed entirely
– Some unethical dentists may persuade you to undergo cosmetic dentistry that you do not need, or carry out work without informed consent
– You will need to have your crowns replaced regularly for the rest of your life
– You will be at higher risk of needing dentures early
– Many UK dentists will not treat Turkey Teeth, and corrective dentistry is not available on the NHS as it is considered a cosmetic procedure
The Alternatives To Turkey Teeth
UK dentists offer a range of cosmetic procedures which achieve the effect of the ‘Turkey Teeth’ procedure, with far fewer risks. These include:
Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is used to correct minor damage, gaps, and discolouration of teeth. It involves attaching a composite resin to the imperfection and shaping it to match the shape of your tooth. The composite is then colour-matched to your teeth for a natural appearance.
Unlike Turkey Teeth or veneers, composite bonding does not require the tooth to be shaved, making it a non-invasive procedure. Composite bonding is also a considerably faster procedure, and requires less healing time than either Turkey Teeth or veneers.
Composite Veneers
Composite veneers use a similar process and materials to composite bonding, but cover the front surface of the tooth entirely, and are used for more significant corrections. Composite veneers are less invasive than porcelain veneers, and are reversible in most cases.
Porcelain Veneers
Unlike crowns, which cover the whole tooth, porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain that stick to the front teeth.
The veneer procedure shaves off just 5% of your natural tooth, leaving 95% of your tooth intact. This therefore preserves your natural tooth structure and reduces the risks of the procedure.
Invisalign
If you are more concerned with the spacing and evenness of your teeth than discolouration or damage, Invisalign aligners may be a good option for you. Invisalign braces use a series of clear, nearly invisible aligners to adjust your teeth over a period of two weeks per aligner.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign does not use any wires or brackets, making it more comfortable – and allowing you to eat normally – while keeping your teeth clean.
Tooth Whitening
If you are preoccupied with tooth discolouration, tooth whitening is available at the majority of dental practices that offer cosmetic procedures. Tooth whitening procedures use a bleaching product to whiten the teeth, which is then activated using a light or laser. This procedure typically takes just 1 hour.
Alternatively, you can choose a home treatment. This involves applying a whitening gel and covering it with a mouthguard to keep the gel in place. For faster results, you can leave some gels on for up to 8 hours.
Want to have better looking teeth with minimal risk of things going wrong? Make an appointment with our expert dentists!
