Hollywood Smile

The name usually refers to veneers or crowns, but a plan for the whole smile can combine several treatments. The list below runs roughly from the options that remove the least tooth tissue to those that remove the most. Orthodontic treatment and gum reshaping do not fit neatly on this scale, because some plans involve an extraction or surgery on the gum and bone. It is not a ladder: each treatment answers a different problem, and not all of them need to be done.

1. Whitening. Considered for a colour concern, once the cause of the discolouration has been assessed. Nothing is removed from the tooth, but whitening can cause temporary sensitivity and gum irritation. It does not give the same result on every kind of discolouration, and the teeth partly return to their earlier colour over time. It does not lighten existing fillings, crowns or veneers², so natural teeth whitened afterwards may no longer match them. If veneers or crowns are planned, discuss whitening before their colour is chosen. After whitening, your dentist decides whether to wait before bonding, and for how long.
2. Bonding (adding tooth-coloured composite to the tooth). Small chips, worn edges, small gaps and reshaping a single tooth; the tooth is usually not cut. Composite can also be used to make veneers. Composite veneers may need less enamel removed and fewer visits than ceramic veneers, and are easier to fix if damaged¹. But they are not as stain- or wear-resistant¹.
3. Orthodontic treatment. Crowding, rotated teeth and gaps; it corrects the alignment without cutting the teeth down for veneers or crowns. It takes months and needs retention afterwards. Some plans need limited reshaping of the enamel between the teeth, or an extraction. "Correcting" crowded teeth with veneers or crowns means removing a great deal of tissue from the teeth.
4. Gum reshaping. When too much gum shows, the cause is assessed first. It may lie in the gum level, the supporting bone, the position of the teeth, the jaw or how the lip moves. In suitable cases, the gum, and the supporting bone where needed, is reshaped surgically; in others, orthodontic treatment or different treatments are considered.
5. Veneers. When the colour and shape of several front teeth are to change together, and there is enough enamel. Enamel is usually removed, and removed enamel does not grow back, so the treatment cannot be undone¹.
6. Crowns. Whether a crown is needed depends on the sound tissue left, any cracks and the chewing load. A root canal treatment or a large filling does not on its own mean a crown is needed. Options that remove less tissue, such as fillings and onlays (restorations that cover part of the chewing surface), are considered first. Where too little sound tissue is left, a crown may be the right choice. A crown on a sound tooth only for appearance is not the first option.

Where veneers or crowns may be considered

• Several front teeth whose colour and shape are both to change, where whitening or bonding does not give enough. Veneers need enough enamel, healthy gums and no active decay.
• A tooth with a large loss of structure, a fracture, root canal treatment or a large filling, which a crown may protect. Root canal treatment or a large filling does not by itself mean a crown.
• Earlier fillings or crowns that no longer match.

Where another treatment comes first

• Active decay or gum disease: treated first. Australian government health information (healthdirect) notes that veneers may not be suitable if you grind or clench your teeth or have gum disease³.
• Uncontrolled clenching and grinding: this increases the risk of ceramics breaking. It is assessed first, and for some people veneers may not be suitable. A night guard may be recommended; limited observational data⁴ suggest it may lower the risk of fracture, but the protection is not certain.
• Marked misalignment: orthodontic treatment is assessed first; covering it with veneers or crowns removes a lot of tissue from the teeth.

When it is not the right choice, or not yet

• Sound, straight teeth that you only want whiter: whitening is considered first, because it does not cut the tooth. It does not reach the same shade on every kind of discolouration. The plan may end with whitening alone.
• Teeth that are still developing: in young patients, veneers and crowns are usually postponed.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: cosmetic procedures that are not essential, whitening in particular, are postponed until after this period.
• Expectations that do not match the condition of the teeth: where a trial is possible, it gives an idea of the achievable look. The plan is then discussed again on that basis.

Every plan should give a reason for each tooth. A one-line proposal such as "veneers on all the front teeth" should be explained if it includes sound teeth. The same applies to a plan sent before an examination, from photographs alone.

The steps can vary between clinics. Where a trial is possible, the order below lets you try the planned look before any tooth is prepared. It also helps you choose the route that removes the least tooth tissue. Veneers and crowns on natural teeth are usually completed in two or three appointments; work on several teeth can take longer.

Risks

The risks depend on the treatments in the plan, and each treatment's own page gives the detail. They apply to every tooth that is treated.

• Loss of tissue that cannot be undone. Preparing a tooth for a full crown removes enamel from every surface, and often the dentine beneath it. For a veneer, a more limited layer of enamel is usually removed, and that enamel does not grow back¹. Nor does the tissue removed for a crown. From then on, the tooth needs a restoration to protect it.
• The nerve of the tooth. Teeth that were alive at the start and then receive indirect restorations, such as crowns, partial crowns or bridges, can lose their vitality. This means the nerve inside the tooth dies. In the pooled result of 37 studies with different follow-up periods, this was seen in about 5 in every 100 teeth⁵. This figure comes from published studies, not from our own records. The certainty of the evidence is low, and the review gives no separate figure for veneers. The more crowns there are, the more teeth are exposed to this risk. If the nerve dies, root canal treatment is needed to keep the tooth.
• Enamel and dentine. Keeping the preparation within the enamel is one of the main factors in how long a veneer lasts. One retrospective study followed 580 veneers for up to 12 years. In it, veneers bonded to dentine were about 10 times as likely to fail⁶ as those bonded to enamel. The more a tooth is cut, the less enamel is left.
• Fracture and debonding. These are the main reasons ceramic veneers fail⁷, mostly in the early years. Clenching and grinding increase the risk. Not every small chip means a veneer has to be replaced.
• Sensitivity. Teeth can become more sensitive because some enamel is removed³.
• Colour. The colour of ceramic cannot be changed later. Natural teeth change colour over time, and a difference can appear. Ceramic veneers can also discolour along their edges over the years⁸.
• Decay and gums. A crown or veneer does not protect the tooth from decay. New decay and gum inflammation can develop at the edge of a restoration that does not fit well or is not cleaned well enough. The gum can also recede.
• Repair and replacement. Veneers and crowns need ongoing care, and over time they may need repair or replacement, which has an additional cost. The more teeth are treated, the greater this burden becomes. Each replacement may take a little more tissue from the tooth.
• Gum reshaping, if it is part of the plan. It is surgery on the gum, and sometimes the bone, with its own risks, healing time and aftercare. Our cosmetic gum contouring page describes them; ask about them before you agree to it.
• Expectations. A digital design or a trial is a visualisation, not a promise. The real result depends on the condition of the teeth, the gums and the bite. Images presented as a promise are misleading.

Benefits

• Veneers and crowns can change the colour and shape of several front teeth in one plan.
• A crown can help protect a weakened tooth from breaking.
• Ceramic resists staining better than bonding composite, which is not as stain- or wear-resistant¹.
• Planning the problems together, rather than one by one, aims to avoid unnecessary or conflicting procedures. Where a trial is possible, it lets you assess the planned look before any tooth is prepared, and change your mind.

In media reports, "Turkey teeth" is a loose label for extensive cosmetic dental work, such as a full row of very white crowns or veneers. One concern raised with it is that healthy front teeth were cut down for full crowns when the patient expected veneers. The criticism is not of the ceramic. It is of a plan that gave healthy teeth more treatment than they needed, without the patient understanding which treatment it was.

The difference is how much tooth is removed. For a veneer, usually only a thin layer of enamel is taken from the front. For a crown, the tooth is reduced on every surface, often through the enamel into the dentine beneath. In Turkish both are commonly called kaplama, so ask which one is planned for each tooth. A crown is the right choice for a tooth that has lost much of its structure. On a healthy, straight front tooth, a crown for colour or a small fault in shape removes tissue for no clinical reason.

What dentists in the UK report. The British Dental Association, a UK professional body, surveyed its members about patients treated abroad. Most of the dentists who answered named crowns as the treatment most likely to need follow-up work⁹. That is what responding dentists reported. It does not show how often treatment abroad goes wrong.

The British Dental Association says patients "should be aware of the risks and alternatives to the treatment desired¹⁰". Before any tooth is prepared, ask:

1. Which teeth will have a veneer, which a crown, and which nothing?
2. For each crown, why is a veneer, bonding or whitening not enough for that tooth?
3. How much will be removed from each tooth, and can I have that in writing?

A plan that gives every tooth the same treatment needs a reason for each tooth.

No result is guaranteed for life. The figures below come from published studies, not from our own records. Studies report how many restorations are still in place after a period of time; they do not give a lifespan in years.

• Veneers. A 2025 review that pooled 29 studies looked at feldspathic, leucite-reinforced and lithium disilicate veneers. About 94 to 97 per cent of them were still in place⁸ after an average follow-up of about 10 years. There are no long-term data for zirconia veneers.
• Crowns. The great majority of single crowns on natural teeth are still in place after five years¹¹.
• Whitening. The effect of whitening fades over time¹² and the teeth partly return to their earlier colour.

Still being in place does not mean that there were no complications. A restoration still in place may have needed repair, and in time it may need replacing. The result depends on the condition of the teeth, the bite, your habits and your care.

After the procedure, wait until the anaesthetic has worn off before eating or drinking. Mild sensitivity and tender gums are normal in the first days.

Daily care

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Clean the edges of restorations and between your teeth every day.
• Do not bite hard objects with your front teeth, such as fingernails, pens or ice.
• If you clench or grind your teeth, a night guard may be recommended; wear it as advised.
• The colour of whitened teeth partly returns over time, and whitening does not lighten ceramic. Colour differences between restorations and your natural teeth are assessed at check-ups.
• If you have had orthodontic treatment, wear the retainer for as long as your dentist recommends.
• Keep up regular check-ups. The edges of restorations, the gums and the bite are assessed. Small chips at the edge can be put right if they are found early.

Contact a dentist if any of the following happens after treatment. While you are in Antalya, that is the clinic; once you are home, it is usually your own dentist.

• Sensitivity that does not settle, or keeps getting worse
• Pain that starts on its own or wakes you at night, or pain when you bite
• A feeling that the bite is too high
• A break, crack or movement in a restoration; a crown or veneer coming off (keep the piece, and do not glue it back yourself)
• Bleeding, recession or a dark line in the gum at the edge of a restoration

If you think you have a dental abscess, do not wait. An abscess does not go away on its own and needs urgent treatment by a dentist¹³. Ask your own dentist for an urgent appointment, or see a dentist where you are. If you have facial swelling or a fever, see a dentist the same day, without waiting for the clinic's reply.

Emergencies. The following need urgent medical help¹³. Do not wait for a dental appointment or for the clinic's reply. Go to the nearest emergency department or call the emergency number where you are (112 if you are in Turkey).

• Swelling that makes it hard to breathe, speak or swallow
• Swelling around your eye or in your neck¹⁴
• A swollen or painful eye, or sudden problems with your sight
• A lot of swelling inside the mouth
• Difficulty opening your mouth

Before you fly home

Make sure your bite has been checked, and that you have written care instructions and a written record of your treatment. If a night guard or a retainer is part of the plan, make sure it has been handed over.

Once you are home

If a problem comes up that is not urgent, write to the clinic and send photographs. Photographs do not replace an examination, so see your dentist at home as well. In the emergencies above, do not wait for a reply.

Appointments and time

The treatments in a plan fit a trip in different ways.

• Whitening. In the clinic it usually takes one appointment. Whitening at home goes on for weeks, so most of it happens after you leave. If veneers or crowns follow, ask whether a wait is planned after whitening and how it fits your days in Antalya.
• Bonding. Usually one appointment, with no laboratory work. It is checked regularly and may need polishing, repair or replacement over time, so it is often simpler to have near home.
• Orthodontic treatment. Treatment runs over months and the result needs retention afterwards, so it is often simpler to have near home. If it comes first in your plan, veneers or crowns follow later.
• Gum reshaping. This is surgery on the gum, and sometimes the bone. Crown lengthening is one form of it. A review looked at studies of crown lengthening. In them, the gum margin may grow back part of the way over the tooth while it heals, mostly in the first three months¹⁵. The same review lists the timing of the final restorations as an open question¹⁵, so ask whether gum reshaping means a second trip.
• Veneers and crowns. Usually two or three appointments, with laboratory work between preparing the teeth and fitting the restorations; you may wear temporary restorations in between.

The number of days in Antalya depends on which treatments are chosen and how many teeth are treated. It also depends on whether decay, root canal or gum problems need treating first. Before you book, ask for a written preliminary plan with the appointments and the number of days. It is based on your photographs, so the examination confirms or changes it, and with it the days and the cost. If it changes, ask for the revised plan in writing before any tooth is prepared. You can say no, or ask to stop, at any stage. Once a tooth has been prepared, that step cannot be undone.

Flying home

A 2023 review of flying after dental treatment suggests waiting at least 24 hours after restorative treatment¹⁶. It suggests longer after surgical procedures, such as gum reshaping. These times assume there is no pain, swelling or bleeding where you were treated. The authors note that the research is limited and comes mainly from military aviation. Treat it as a starting point for your dentist's advice, not as a rule.

Your own dentist and your records

The Dutch dental association suggests discussing your plan with your own dentist¹⁷ before you go. They need to know the plan in case problems come up later. If you do not have a dentist where you live, it helps to find one before you travel. Veneers and crowns need check-ups for as long as you have them. UK guidance (NICE) says the interval between check-ups should be set for each person according to their risk¹⁸ and discussed with them. Agree yours with your dentist at home.

Ask for a written record to take back to your dentist: which teeth have veneers, which have crowns, and the materials and shades used. Ask for copies of your X-rays too. The Dutch dental association also suggests asking for your patient record after treatment, and checking that it describes the materials used¹⁷. In Turkey, the health tourism regulation entitles international patients to an itemised bill. On request, they also get copies of the records of the materials used, the tests and the imaging, without charge¹⁹.

Health service and insurance where you live

A dentist near your home may not take over work done elsewhere. What a health service or an insurer covers after treatment abroad differs from country to country. Before you travel, ask the health service or your insurer where you live what they would cover. Ask, for example, about the repair or replacement of a veneer or crown. Check the rules in your own country as well.

Travel insurance

Ask your insurer before you book whether your policy covers planned treatment abroad and its complications. Do not assume that anything linked to planned treatment is covered.

About the plan

1. What is proposed for which tooth, and why? Ask for a reason for each tooth.
2. Is doing nothing, or waiting, also an option? For healthy teeth, the consequences of not treating and of postponing should be discussed too.
3. Why is a less invasive option not enough for this tooth? The answer should rest on the condition of the tooth, not on the package, the material or the time available.
4. Is there a trial stage? Can you try the planned look in your mouth before any tooth is prepared?
5. How much tissue will be removed, and from how many teeth? This is decided by a clinical examination and restorative planning; X-rays are used when clinically needed. A plan made from photographs alone is only a preliminary assessment, not a firm plan.
6. Could a root canal treatment be needed? For teeth where crowns are planned, the condition of the nerve is assessed in advance.
7. How many days, and how many trips? Ask whether the proposed time is enough for the treatments, the trial, the try-ins and the reviews. Has it been shortened to fit a trip?

If you are undecided between two plans, getting a second opinion is normal, for example from your own dentist. Ask for your photographs and X-rays.

About the clinic

These are the questions we suggest you ask before treatment abroad. Each comes with what this page can answer today and what to ask for in writing.

1. Who will carry out my treatment, and what are their qualifications? The treatment is provided by our clinic in Antalya, Turkey. Ask for the name of each dentist who will plan and carry out your treatment. Ask where they qualified and what their titles are.
2. Will my dentist speak English, or will an interpreter be there? Ask before you book. You need to understand your plan, your consent and your care instructions. In private dental facilities in Turkey, a consent form is required for every intervention²⁰. Two copies of the form are signed, and one is given to you²¹. Ask for your copy.
3. Are you regulated by a professional body and registered with it? In Turkey, a health facility needs an authorisation certificate¹⁹ from the Ministry of Health to treat international patients. Authorised facilities appear in a register the Ministry publishes²², so you can check it yourself. The authorisation belongs to the facility, not to the dentist, and it says nothing about the result of your treatment. A dentist in private practice in Turkey must also register with the provincial or regional dental chamber²³ within a month of starting. Ask for the treating dentist's own registration details as well. More is on our page about dental treatment abroad.
4. Will a dentist assess me before I get a plan and a cost estimate? A plan made from photographs is preliminary. A dentist should examine you before the plan and the cost estimate are final. Ask for the final plan in writing before any tooth is prepared, tooth by tooth.
5. Is the work guaranteed, are the terms in writing, and for how long do they apply? This page makes no guarantee. Ask for the clinic's written terms for remaking a veneer or crown and for handling complications, and read them before you commit. Ask whether they cover a restoration that fails once you are home.
6. If there are complications, or I am unhappy with the result, who pays for further treatment, extra flights and the hotel? Ask for the answer in writing before you commit. A remade veneer or crown usually needs laboratory time, so it can mean another trip.
7. What aftercare do you provide, and who can I contact after the treatment? Your written plan should name who to contact, how, and in which language.
8. How many times have you done this, and what are your success and complication rates? The figures on this page come from published studies, not from our own records. Ask for the clinic's answer in writing, and how its figures were collected.
9. Do you have a complaints system, and can I see a copy? Ask for it before treatment. A complaint goes to the clinic first. If it is not resolved there, you can apply to the provincial health directorate's Patient Rights Board²¹, which does not assess allegations of medical error. The dental chamber can also open disciplinary proceedings²³ against a dentist. Turkish regulation makes the facility responsible for complications and medical malpractice arising after the health service it provided¹⁹.

Think twice before booking any treatment abroad if you see any of these signs. They are a hard sell, a lack of information, pressure to make a quick decision, no discussion of possible complications, and no mention of aftercare. For a "Hollywood smile", add one more: a plan that proposes veneers or crowns on healthy teeth without a reason for each tooth. You can use these signs to judge any clinic, including ours.

This page does not show prices. A treatment plan is prepared for you after an examination. The main factors that shape it are:

• Which treatments the plan includes: whitening, bonding, orthodontic treatment, gum reshaping, veneers or crowns
• How many teeth are treated
• The material and how it is made
• Treatment needed first: decay, gum treatment, root canal treatment
• The trial stage, temporary restorations and review appointments
• The number of trips the appointments need

For comparable treatments, the fewer teeth are treated, the lower the cost and the fewer teeth lose tissue. Ask for the plan in writing, showing which procedure is proposed for which tooth, why, and what is included. Ask too who pays for further treatment and extra travel if there is a complication.

If you have a quote from a practice near your home, compare what each one includes, tooth by tooth: which treatment, and which material.