How much would you be willing to pay for a perfect movie star smile? For some, trying to achieve dazzlingly white, perfectly straight teeth without a Hollywood budget comes at a cost to their health as well as their wallet.
The UK social media trend of “turkey’s teeth” – named after influencers’ penchant for traveling abroad for financial veneers – can provide cheaper alternative to more expensive cosmetic dentistry in reputable clinics – but it can come at the cost of oral health and can even prove life-threatening.
But the health risks don’t always outweigh the prospect of a sparkling smile. Of course, the teeth should be off-white because the yellow dentin (the middle layer of the tooth – between the enamel and the pulp – which makes up most of the tooth structure) shows through the thin, hard, white outer enamel. layer of the tooth. But the natural color of healthy teeth is currently out of fashion and there is a high demand for sparkling white veneers.
While there are plenty of people rejoicing in their new nibbles, there seem to be just as many horror stories. From staying in “constant pain“in development”rotten gums,” correcting problems caused by the discounted price of cosmetic dentistry can end up costing much more than it would have cost to get the procedures done right in the first place.
This is something Ramadan Yilmaz he found out when his dental implants at a private clinic in Bursa, Turkey went disastrously wrong. During the surgery, the dentist allegedly “pushed” the implant through Ramazan’s jaw and into the area behind the eye where the brain and spinal fluid are located. The dentist reportedly took him to the emergency room of a local hospital and fled.
But the experiences don’t have to be as extreme as Ramazan’s to cause serious problems. Even the best cosmetic dentistry can lead to oral health problems if thorough oral hygiene is not observed. Poorly fitted veneers, for example, can allow plaque, food and drink to enter the space between the veneer and the tooth, causing bad breath, stains, tooth decay and gum disease.
Gum disease is also associated with liver disease, chronic kidney disease, mouth cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
Risky business
There are many options to achieve the turkey teeth look popular in the UK from reality shows, such as Towie and Island of lovefrom veneer in more invasive procedures such as crowns the implants that are screwed into your jawbone.
Veneers are thin shells applied to the surface of existing teeth to hide imperfections. They are the least invasive of the cosmetic dental procedures, but usually require the removal of enamel. Improper preparation of the tooth for this procedure leaves the tooth susceptible to tooth decay.
There are several types of veneers, including porcelain, composite, and no-prep. No preparatory veneers preserve tooth structure with little, if any, enamel removal, but they tend to last only five to seven years. With proper care, well-placed porcelain and composite veneers can last up to 20 years.
Dental crowns are permanent tooth-shaped caps that cover broken, worn or damaged teeth. Crowns are placed over existing teeth, which are filed down into pegs that look like fangs. Filing teeth removes the protective material that softens the soft living tissues and can open these areas to pathogens that cause local the systemic infectionwhich may lead to death.
Similar risks exist for dental implants. However, they can take much longer to bond to your existing bone and so it can be months before potential problems arise.
Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth or to support dentures. Implants are screw-like metal components that are surgically attached to the jawbone, below the gums. Implants are expensive and a challenging procedure – prone to them damage and fracture if placed without proper attention to the force of the bite and the way the mouth works when eating.
Replacing teeth can cause significant changes in the way the bite forces are was transmitted through the jawbones and the rest of the face.
Bone takes time to remodel and, because many people have all their teeth done at once, implants can cause large-scale alteration of the bone microstructure of the mouth, resulting in pain and discomfort in the gums, jaw joints and facial muscles that can last for months. Dental implants can bone loss in the mouth from up to 22% three years after admission.
Free house… or not
Cosmetic dental procedures can be dangerous – but so can the journey home. Patients who have undergone restorative treatments such as veneers should avoid flying for at least 24 hours after the procedure. Those who have had implants and extractions – without complications – should wait at least 72 hours before hopping on the plane home to reduce the risk of in-flight swelling.
There is one serious complicating factor for anyone suffering from problematic dental work on their return to the UK: who will correct any problems and to what extent? The lack of NHS dental provision in the UK means dentists are unable to help patients who had done defective work abroad.
The UK regulator for dental professionals, the General Dental Council, has produced a useful “must know driver” for anyone thinking of working abroad.
Don’t forget that while cosmetic dentistry abroad may seem like an opportunity, it could turn out to be a very expensive – and painful – mistake.
