Vanessa Thornton-Yates, 35, from Cheshire, faces a £15,000 bill to correct cosmetic dental work she had in Istanbul, Turkey. The celebrity makeup artist says she was left in pain with bleeding gums after the procedure.
She opted for treatment abroad after being quoted a higher price in the UK. She had 24 individual crowns fitted, but later discovered 16 of them were actually permanently joined together as bridges.
Pain and Bleeding After Treatment
Vanessa told NeedToKnow: "At the time, I had just suddenly lost my mum to cancer and wasn't in a good place emotionally. Looking back, travelling abroad for cosmetic dentistry was a flippant decision that I didn't fully think through."
She added: "My natural teeth were healthy but they were slightly misaligned and not as white as I wanted them to be. The cost in the UK was considerably higher than treatment abroad, which was one factor in my decision. I was also impatient and didn't want to wait up to 18 months, which is something I now deeply regret."
Vanessa found a clinic with favourable reviews, a 5-star Google rating and a social media portfolio that "looked natural". She initially intended to have 20 teeth treated but consented to 24 after being told she has a wide smile. She says she was told she would receive individually fitted zirconia crowns.
Gums Turned Grey
During her four days in Istanbul, her teeth were shaved down and fitted with a temporary set. That evening her gums bled and turned a "grey colour", which alarmed her. She later realised gum contouring had been done, though she says it wasn't clearly communicated.
On the third day, her final teeth were cemented. She claims she was not allowed to examine them individually. "Throughout the entire process, my understanding remained that I was receiving 24 individual crowns. At no point do I recall anyone explaining that multiple teeth would be permanently joined together as bridges," she said.
Cosmetically, she was delighted, but her teeth were extremely painful and sensitive from the moment she returned home. The pain persisted and her gums bled regularly, leading her to see a UK dentist.
UK Dentist Diagnosed Gum Disease
Vanessa continued: "My dentist immediately asked whether I had received my treatment abroad. In his opinion, 16 of what I believed were individual crowns were actually connected together as multiple bridges. These included bridges joining my four upper front teeth, my four lower front teeth, and additional bridges joining teeth on both sides of my mouth."
Her dentist explained the treatment wasn't appropriate because joining teeth makes flossing and cleaning impossible. He diagnosed gum disease and advised removing the bridges and replacing them with individually restored teeth.
Vanessa said the news "completely shocked" her. "I genuinely believed I had paid for and received 24 individual zirconia crowns. Discovering that 16 of those restorations were actually connected bridges was devastating," she said.
Cost of Corrective Work
She has been advised that removing the bridges and replacing them will cost between £8,000 and £15,000. She has not yet received a final quote.
Despite her experience, Vanessa is not criticising the clinic or dentist and has chosen not to identify them. "My concerns only arose later when I began experiencing ongoing problems and sought advice from my UK dentist," she said.
She added: "I'm sharing my experience because I want people to understand that cosmetic dentistry isn't just about how your smile looks on the day you leave the clinic. It's also about the long-term health of your teeth and gums. I wish I'd taken the longer route in the UK and preserved the health of my natural teeth."
