A model has issued a stark warning to Brits considering dental tourism after his £3,000 veneer treatment in Turkey left him with a serious infection and teeth resembling a shark's.
Jack James, 22, from Manchester, travelled to Istanbul last September to get veneers fitted to improve his appearance on camera. Initially satisfied, he soon suffered bleeding gums, terrible breath, and pus. An emergency dentist in the UK told him his teeth were in a terrible state with an infection, and quoted £20,000 to fix the damage.
Unable to afford UK costs, Jack contacted the Turkish clinic, which blamed him and demanded another payment. He returned to Turkey in June 2023, paying £4,500 to have the veneers removed and refitted. He was shocked to discover his real teeth had been shaved down to look 'like a shark'. After the procedure, one crown fell off while brushing, leaving a gap he described as 'something out of a horror movie'.
Jack now urges others to research thoroughly before seeking dental treatment abroad. The warning comes as one in four Brits struggle to get NHS dentist appointments, driving many to seek cheaper options overseas. Dr Gülay Akay of Dentakay in Turkey confirmed a surge in UK patients due to the NHS crisis, noting some 'real horror stories'.
