How Assessment Prevented a £3K Mistake
By Adam Smith, Head of Patient Research
Updated 5 February 2026 · Dental tourism researcher · Clinic vetting specialist · 40+ clinics assessed on-site
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Sarah thought she needed 10 veneers. Our assessment revealed something very different.
Sarah's Story: How Proper Assessment Prevented a £3,000 Mistake
Real patient story, name changed for privacy
The Instagram Fantasy vs. Reality
Sarah spotted her dream smile scrolling through Instagram at 2am. Perfect white veneers, £200 each in Turkey.
Her math was simple: 10 veneers × £200 = £2,000. Book the flight.
But Sarah's teeth had other plans.
What Looked Simple Wasn't
Sarah filled out our assessment thinking she just had "wonky, yellow teeth." Then our dentists started asking questions:
Those dark spots? Actually large fillings in 3 teeth.
That sensitivity? Two previous root canals she'd forgotten about.
Her slightly crooked bite? Would make standard veneers crack within months.
The Real Treatment Plan
Our Turkish clinics reviewed Sarah's case and delivered the bad news:
What she couldn't have veneers on:
- 3 teeth with massive fillings (needed crowns instead)
- 2 root canal teeth (required crown lengthening first)
What actually needed veneers: 5 teeth.
If Sarah had stuck to her original plan, those 3 weak teeth would have snapped off. She'd be flying back within two years, paying for emergency crowns, looking at £3,000+ in fixes.
Pearl
MyDentalFly’s dental consultant
Something worth knowing while you're reading: almost every dental decision comes down to two things a price list can't tell you — what condition the surrounding teeth and bone are in, and how permanent you want the result to be. Those are what make two people's treatment for the 'same' problem look completely different.
What's brought you here today?
What Sarah Actually Paid
| Treatment | Quantity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| E-Max veneers | 5 | £1,250 |
| Zirconia crowns | 3 | £600 |
| Crown lengthening | 2 | £300 |
| Total | £2,150 |
Same budget. Treatment that won't fall apart.
Sarah's Takeaway
"I thought Google made me an expert. Turns out, I couldn't even identify my own fillings properly."
The assessment saved her from flying to Turkey twice — once for cheap veneers, once for expensive repairs.
Get your teeth properly assessed before you book anything. Even if you think you know what you need.
Don't Make Sarah's Almost-Mistake
The dental assessment takes 2 minutes. It builds your bespoke dental package, mapping your teeth, identifies what treatment you actually need, and saves you from flying abroad for the wrong procedure. It's worth about £50 at a private dentist.
We've verified every clinic on our platform. Your dental tourism consultant coordinates everything once you're ready — but the assessment comes first.
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
MDental Clinic
Verified clinicCrowns & restoration · Budapest
Before → AfterTower Dental Clinic
Verified clinicHollywood smile · E-max veneers · Istanbul
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.
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Clinically reviewed before booking
Every dental package built on MyDentalFly is reviewed by a qualified dentist before it gets accepted. Our clinical reviewers include specialists like Dr. Hubert Trępatowski — 800+ All-on-4 procedures, trained under Professor Paulo Malo (pioneer of the All-on-4 technique), graduate of Jagiellonian University Medical Faculty, Krakow.
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.
