Veneers in Turkey: Cost, Process & UK Patient Guide

Who veneers are for

Veneers are used for chipped, worn, discoloured or unevenly shaped teeth, and for small gaps. They are a cosmetic treatment on teeth that are otherwise sound; teeth that are heavily broken down usually need crowns instead. A good dentist will also ask whether a less invasive option — whitening, composite bonding or orthodontics — would give you the result you want.

Porcelain, zirconia and composite

• Porcelain (for example e.max) is thin and translucent and is the usual choice for natural-looking front teeth.
• Zirconia is more opaque and strong, sometimes chosen when a tooth needs more coverage.
• Composite is applied directly to the tooth, usually needs less or no enamel removal, and is priced and lasts very differently. It is a different product, not a cheap version of porcelain.

Trips and timeline

Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory, so the usual pattern is preparation and temporary veneers first, then fitting of the finished set a few days later — often within a single stay of about a week. Ask for the dates in writing and how many fittings are planned, and whether the shape and shade can be approved on a mock-up first.

Risks and limits

• Enamel removal is permanent. Preparing a tooth for a porcelain veneer usually means shaving some enamel, which cannot be put back. Ask how much will be removed from each tooth.
• Sensitivity, chipping or debonding, and the need to replace veneers in future.
• Results depend heavily on the dentist's aesthetic judgement and planning, not only on the material.

Treating many healthy teeth at once is a bigger decision than treating one or two. See Hollywood smile for full-set makeovers.

Turkey and the UK

Veneer prices are quoted per tooth, so compare per tooth to per tooth — never a per-tooth price against a full-set price. See the veneer cost comparison for the ranges, units and sources.

What to check before you book

• The number of teeth, the material and the price per tooth, in writing.
• How much enamel will be removed, and whether a less invasive option was considered.
• Photographs of the dentist's own comparable cases, and a mock-up of the planned result if possible.
• What the warranty covers, and what happens if a veneer chips or comes off after you have gone home.

Aftercare when you are back in the UK

Keep your records and the details of the materials used, and tell your own dentist your plans before you travel. See dental aftercare when you return to the UK.