How much of my tooth gets shaved down for veneers?
By Adam Smith, Head of Patient Research
Updated August 2026 · Dental tourism researcher · Clinic vetting specialist · 40+ clinics assessed on-site
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ertan Etemoglu
Tower Dental Clinic, Istanbul
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Pearl, our dental consultant
Pearl
Pearl · online
Hi, I'm Pearl 👋 Ask me anything about veneers abroad — or tell me what you need and I'll build your package.
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Short answer
A conventional porcelain veneer usually needs around half a millimetre of enamel removed from the front of the tooth. That is a genuine, permanent change — enamel does not grow back — but it is a fraction of what a crown requires, which takes the tooth down on all sides. The number that should worry you is not the half millimetre; it is a clinic that proposes crowns while calling them veneers.
The full cost, line by line
Typical 2026 prices in GBP. Every part of the bill, not just the advertised one.
| What you pay for | Turkey | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Composite veneerBuilt up in the mouth in one visit. Often needs little or no enamel removed, and is reversible in a way the others are not. | £100 | £400 |
| Porcelain veneerMade in a laboratory and bonded on. Typically around 0.5mm of enamel from the front face. | £220 | £900 |
| Crown, for comparisonNot a veneer. Covers the whole tooth, so substantially more tooth is removed on every surface. | £160 | £850 |
Typical mid-range figures, not quotes. Individual clinics price differently and a CT scan can change what a case needs. Last reviewed 2026-08-24.
Why the honest answer is a range, not a number
How much enamel comes off depends on what is being corrected. A tooth that is already the right shape and only needs a colour change may need almost nothing. A tooth that sits forward of the others, or is rotated, needs more removed to bring the finished surface into line — because the veneer has to end up flush with its neighbours, and it can only do that by starting further back.
This is why nobody can give you a figure from a photograph, including us and including any clinic quoting you online. It is decided tooth by tooth once someone has looked in your mouth, and a clinic willing to commit to a precise number in advance is guessing.
The substitution that causes most of the regret
The "Turkey teeth" stories that reached the British press were very largely not about veneers. They were about crowns — teeth reduced to pegs on every surface — presented and sold as veneers. The distinction matters enormously: a crown removes far more tooth, and once a tooth has been prepared that way there is no going back to a veneer, ever.
There are cases where crowns are the correct answer and a good dentist will say so. What should stop you is the word being used loosely. Ask directly: is this a veneer or a crown, how much of each tooth is being removed, and why is that necessary for this particular tooth? A clinic that answers that clearly is one you can work with.
Pearl
MyDentalFly’s dental consultant
The bit that matters most and gets discussed least: veneers and crowns are not the same treatment. A veneer is a thin facing that keeps most of your own tooth; a crown means the tooth is reduced right down first, and that can't be undone. A lot of very cheap 'veneer' packages abroad are actually crowns.
What are you hoping to change?
What to ask before you agree
Ask whether any of your teeth could be treated with composite instead, since it is the one option that is largely reversible. Ask to see the proposed preparation described tooth by tooth rather than as a package of eight. Ask what happens in fifteen years, because veneers are replaced eventually and each replacement tends to take a little more.
None of this is an argument against having the work done. It is an argument for knowing which procedure you are agreeing to. We are not a clinic and we do not diagnose — but we do make sure the plan in front of you says plainly what is being removed, and we will tell you when a plan looks heavier than the case needs.
Real results from verified clinics
Drag the slider to compare before & after
Suave Clinic
Verified clinicFull smile restoration · Istanbul
MDental Clinic
Verified clinicFull smile makeover · E-max veneers · Budapest
Before → AfterTower Dental Clinic
Verified clinicHollywood smile · E-max veneers · Istanbul
Related questions
References & Sources
All clinical claims, pricing data, and statistics in this article are based on peer-reviewed research, official regulatory sources, and publicly verifiable data. We invite you to verify anything before making a treatment decision.
- 1.BBC News, "Turkey teeth: The dental tourism risks patients don't see." February 2023.
- 2.BBC, "Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake?" — documentary investigating dental tourism risks, 2022.
- 3.Euronews, "Medical tourism: Dental expert explains why Turkey teeth can be a costly mistake." October 2024.
- 4.General Dental Council (UK), "Going abroad for dental treatment" — patient guidance.
- 5.British Dental Association (BDA), "Dental tourism: Patients need to know the risks."
- 6.T.C. Saglik Bakanligi (Turkish Ministry of Health), Health Tourism Authorisation Regulations.
- 7.Kontakiotis, E.G. et al. (2015), "A prospective study of the incidence of asymptomatic pulp necrosis following crown preparation," Int. Endod. J., 48(6), 512-517.
- 8.Pjetursson, B.E. et al. (2012), "A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses after at least 5 years," Clin. Oral Implants Res., 23(S6), 22-38.
- 9.Sailer, I. et al. (2015), "All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses: a systematic review," Dent. Mater., 31(6), 603-624.
- 10.Türkiye Today, "1.5 million health tourists visited Türkiye in 2024, generating $3 billion in revenue." 2025.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and does not replace a clinical examination. Treatment outcomes vary between patients. Always consult a qualified dental professional.
About MyDentalFly
MyDentalFly is a UK-based platform that builds your treatment plan and matches you with vetted specialist clinics abroad — and a dentist at the clinic reviews and confirms every plan before you pay anything.
Our interactive assessment evaluates your dental needs and builds a bespoke package: every treatment explained, a matched clinic with reasons why, your named dentist, flight estimates, transport, and accommodation — all in one place. We maintain a small, vetted network across Turkey, Hungary and Poland, visit clinics in person, help arrange CBCT scans before you fly, and stay with you through the entire journey. Compare. Save. Smile.
Pearl
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About the author
Adam Smith
Head of Patient Research, MyDentalFly
Adam leads patient research at MyDentalFly, personally vetting clinics across Turkey, Hungary, and Poland. He has reviewed over 200 clinic proposals, analysed patient outcomes, and helped coordinate treatment plans for patients across the UK, USA, and Europe.
Clinically reviewed by
Dr. Ertan Etemoglu
Tower Dental Clinic, Istanbul