Dental Treatment in Turkey

A healthy smile is a sign of a healthy life. Properly maintained oral health results in healthy gums, teeth, and jaws which, in turn, reflects in a healthy facial appearance.

The Global Oral Health Status Report, 2022 by the WHO informs, about 2 billion people suffer from dental cavities in their permanent teeth and 514 million children suffer from primary dental cavities.

Although dental problems are on a constant hike, it is not rare that many people consider dental treatments as an answer for aesthetic reasons. 

This is absolutely not true and dental treatment is a solution for maintaining good oral hygiene. Research indicated that gum diseases and compromised oral hygiene are leading causes of certain heart and respiratory issues.

Thanks to the advanced techniques that made dental treatment quite comfortable and pain-free, thus stretching healthy smiles across many families.

Why is Dental Care Needed?

The human body itself inhabits plenty of microbes. The natural flora includes trillions of microbes and oral parts shelter a number of microbial species. 

We, humans, chew food with our teeth. When the food particles stick to teeth and bacteria grow on them there will be a deviation in oral hygiene leaving hard deposits of plaques and tartars. 

This leads to tooth decay and gum diseases and finally permanent tooth loss. 

Consumption of sugar and acid-rich foods over prolonged periods attacks the teeth' enamel causing its erosion and exposing the interior soft layers. This causes excessive sensitivity toward consuming hot or cold food. Many people with tooth sensitivity complain about discomfort when drinking hot tea.

What Is Dental Treatment?

Dental treatment procedures aim at securing teeth and other oral structures supporting teeth. 

A general dentist examines dental health while some specialized dental procedures are looked over by orthodontists, periodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.  

Most people think of dentistry as just the treatment of teeth, like fillings, extractions, and root canals, However, It goes beyond that, dentistry extends to other surgical procedures such as jaw and gum surgery.

What Oral Conditions Require Dental Treatment?

Deviated and compromised oral hygiene leads to bad breath (halitosis). Dental problems are diverse and some conditions are severe affecting speech, chewing abilities and facial appearances as well. Some dental problems demand necessary treatment. A few conditions are,

• Red, swollen and bleeding gums called Gingivitis.

• Dental decay or cavities caused by dental plaques.

• Accidents or sports injuries on the delicate tooth roots yield permanent teeth loss.

• Chewing hard food leads to broken or cracked teeth.

• In conditions such as Tooth sensitivity enamel gets eroded exposing the soft dentin outside because of which a person cannot consume hot or cold food.

• Periodontitis with infected gum pockets triggers an inflammatory response.

• Hyperdontia (condition of having extra teeth).

• Grinding teeth during sleep or bad chewing habits.

• Teeth misalignment problems like gaps between the teeth.

What Kind of Tests Are Performed In A Dental Checkup Prior To Treatment?

A clear diagnosis helps to find out the exact root cause of any health problem. With regards to dental problems, the first thing that a dentist diagnoses is whether the pain that the patient is experiencing is due to simple tooth decay, or a serious condition like oral cancer.

The dentist performs a physical examination which includes a detailed extraoral and intraoral observation. 

An extraoral examination allows the dentist to check for neck, lymph, and facial swellings. During the intraoral physical examination, the dentist uses mouth mirrors and probes for observation and checks the teeth for mobility. Percussion tests are also conducted.

In case the doctor needs to have a detailed report, an x-ray may be taken. 

Depending on the severity of the cause, a treatment plan is created and the cost of the treatment is discussed with the patient.

What Does Dental Treatment Include?

Each dental problem is unique and the treatment aims to provide relief from the pain while also allowing proper teeth alignment without gaps. 

1. Tooth cleaning: It removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and cleans them.

2. Sealants: Sealants that act as a barrier to fill in the cracks of molars and premolars. It prevents subsequent tooth decay by inhibiting bacteria.

3. Dental fillings: The decay is removed and the cavity is filled with white-colored composite resin or ceramic. 

4. Crowns and Onlays: These are permanent crowns made of porcelain or metal. They are placed or permanently cemented on the tooth.

5. Tooth Extraction: Severely decayed teeth and troublesome wisdom teeth are extracted under local anesthesia.

6. Root canal treatment: The diseased dental pulp or dental debris inside the root is removed and replaced. This is done in several stages, after which a crown or filling material is filled.

7. Dentures: These are false teeth placed to replace missing teeth. They are complete or partial dentures.

8. Dental implants: This is done in stages where the damaged tooth is first removed and bone grafting is performed. A device such as a metal abutment is placed in the jaw bone where the crown is placed.

9. Orthodontic treatment: Braces are fixed to correct crowded or protruding teeth. 

10. Jaw surgery: Although rare, it is performed to correct chin deformities and ensure proper jaw alignment.

How Long Will Dental Treatment Procedure Take?

Each dental treatment follows a different working procedure and hence the time duration for each procedure varies. 

Professional teeth cleaning and tooth extraction take around 20 minutes to one hour. 

It takes around  30-90 minutes to complete a root canal treatment. 

Dental implant placement is quite a complex procedure and may require a certain time for recovery. Although the surgical process takes around 1-2 hours per implant and it takes about 3 months to heal the initial sutures and further to proceed to the second stage to fix the crown. 

Jaw surgeries are complex where small incisions are made along the chin line which may take around 2-5 hours.

Is Anesthesia Required For Dental Treatment?

Simple dental treatments such as teeth cleaning do not require anesthesia. While complicated procedures like root canal treatment, and extraction require local anesthesia.

There are some minor side effects that are associated with dental anesthesia such as numbness around the injected area, hematoma, and nerve damage.

Why Should One Choose Turkey as the Country for Dental Tourism?

Turkey is a country with a rich history and dental tourism in Turkey has gained much popularity owing to its highly skilled dentists providing high-quality treatment at affordable rates. The country is spreading happy smiles on many faces by using the latest and advanced technology. 

The state of art technology along with the doctor's skills promises a high success rate making Turkey a preferred destination for dental treatment.  

Best Hospitals for Dental Treatment in Turkey

1. Istanbul Dental and Plastic & Esthetic Group (IPEG), Istanbul: This hospital follows strict standards to provide the best dental treatment in Istanbul. It has facilities to treat hundreds of patients every year along with language translation services.

2. Avrupadis Atasehir Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic, Atasehir: This dental polyclinic offers 24 hours medical services and has internationally trained and skilled doctors in all fields of dentistry.

3. Medical Park Group, İstanbul: It is a JCI-accredited hospital and is the largest hospital and the best-chosen medical destination in the entire of Turkey.

4. ClinicPlast, Istanbul: This hospital has the latest equipment and is the best for addressing cosmetic issues. The dentistry branch at this hospital provides solutions for many dental issues at an international quality standard.

5. Medipol University Hospital, İstanbul: The dental facility at this JCI-accredited hospital meets international quality standards by highly skilled doctors. Many international patients prefer to choose this hospital because of its money transaction services, airport transport services, and language translation services.

Best Doctors for Dental Treatment in Turkey

1. Dr Can Tokman​: With over 25 years of experience in dentistry, he is a well-known orthodontist, prosthodontist, and implantologist.

2. Dr Mete Yurtseven: He is a reputed prosthodontist of Istanbul having 35 years of rich experience in dealing with root canal treatment and dental veneers.

3. Dr Halil Pamukcu: He is a specialized endodontist with 23 years of rich experience in dealing with tooth whitening, surgical extraction of embedded teeth, aesthetic fillings, etc.

4. Dr Ozgun Senyurt: He is a well-known dentist with 18 years of experience in dealing with oral dental and maxillofacial surgeries. 

How Much Will it Cost for Dental Treatment in Turkey?

Dental treatment follows various procedures and follows three classes of services. The cost of dental treatment varies with each procedure having basic procedures confined to normal restorative procedures. The class 3 procedures involve complex restorative surgeries. 

The procedures and prices for cosmetic dental treatments are entirely different.

Procedure to Obtain a Medical Visa for Dental Treatment in Turkey

You can obtain a Turkish Medical visa either from the Consulate or get an online e-visa by applying through the government of Turkey’s online portal. 

All medical travelers should obtain a medical visa from the consulate unless they are from the list of visa-exempt countries.

Documents required for the visa process:

• Passport size photos, travel insurance

• Patient acceptance letter from a healthcare provider or hospital.

• Valid passport.

Turkish medical visa is valid for 90 days within 180 days period and it is better you plan your medical travel within this period after you obtain your visa.

In case there is a need for extending your visa, you should contact the Turkish embassy or immigration office. 

Role of Vaidam Healthcare 

Vaidam has been helping medical travelers from different countries to get the best treatment in the best hospitals in different nations including Turkey. To get support from Vaidam’s team, you are free to raise a query.

Conclusion

Turkey has numerous hospitals with international accreditation including the JCI accreditation. Dental treatment in Turkey is quite affordable and you get treatment from skilled medical professionals at affordable prices. Choosing Turkey as your dental destination is a good option if you wish to go for a dental vacation and enjoy warm beaches and rich Turkish culture.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I take a dental x-ray while I am pregnant?

Ans: Dental X-ray machines focus the X-ray on the mouth area. However, your dentist covers your body with an apron to protect the abdominal area from x-ray exposure. 

Q2. How long will it pain after dental treatment?

Ans: Dental treatments are done under local anesthesia and you are likely to experience pain after the sedation gets down. The pain may last for a couple of weeks and slowly get lost.

Q3. What causes tooth decay?

Answer: When bacteria live in the tooth and utilize the sugars from food, they produce acids that damage the outer hard enamel. Further damage occurs when bacteria decays the softer dentin as well.