Vanessa Thornton-Yates, from Cheshire, travelled to Istanbul for cosmetic dental treatment expecting 24 individual zirconia crowns. Instead, she discovered that 16 of the restorations were permanently joined together as bridges, leaving her with bleeding gums, pain, and a potential £15,000 bill to correct the issue.
The Decision to Go Abroad
After losing her mother to cancer, Vanessa, a celebrity make-up artist, opted for treatment in Turkey after being quoted a higher price and facing a 12–18 month wait for aligners in the UK. She 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.'
The Procedure and Immediate Concerns
Vanessa chose the clinic based on positive online reviews and a 5-star Google rating. She originally planned 20 teeth but agreed to 24 after being told she had a wide smile, believing she would receive individual crowns. During four days in Istanbul, her teeth were shaved down and temporary sets fitted. That evening, her gums bled and turned a 'grey colour'. She later learned gum contouring had been performed, though she says this was not clearly communicated. The final restorations were cemented on the third day before she could inspect them individually.
She said: '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. Cosmetically, I was delighted with the result.'
Pain and Diagnosis After Return
Vanessa experienced pain from the moment she flew home, initially assuming it was normal. But her gums began bleeding more frequently, prompting a visit to her UK dentist. She said: '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.'
The bridges joined her four upper front teeth, four lower front teeth, and additional teeth on both sides. Her dentist said this made flossing and cleaning between teeth impossible, diagnosed gum disease, and advised removing the bridges for individually restored teeth. Vanessa said: 'I was completely shocked. 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.'
Long-Term Impact and Cost
Since her treatment in September 2024, Vanessa's gum recession has 'rapidly increased', with aching gums and teeth. Her UK dentist believes the crowns are too tight to her gum line. The cost to remove bridges and replace with individual restorations is estimated between £8,000 and £15,000, though no final quote has been given.
Despite her ordeal, Vanessa has chosen not to name the clinic or dentist. She said: 'My concerns only arose later when I began experiencing ongoing problems and sought advice from my UK dentist.'
Warning to Others
Vanessa hopes her story will educate others: '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.'
She added: 'I wish I'd taken the longer route in the UK and preserved the health of my natural teeth. My aim isn't to stop people travelling abroad for treatment or to attack one particular clinic. My aim is simply to educate people about the risks of choosing what can appear to be a quick fix, so they can make a genuinely informed decision before undergoing irreversible dental treatment.'
