New research has shown that searches for the risky cosmetic procedure, 'Turkey teeth', have increased a whopping 10,000 per cent overnight as the new season of Love Island airs on ITV. In recent years, Turkey has gained popularity as a dental tourism destination due to the promise of cost-effective treatments.
However, many health experts and dentists, such as Dr Jon Hewitt, Principal Dentist at Smmmile, have warned people of the potential dangers and risks associated with jetting off abroad to have dental procedures. "Young people often don’t realise that there can be real long-term damage jetting off abroad to places like Turkey for the cheaper dental treatments," Dr Hewitt said.
"When you get a full set of crowns, the teeth are permanently filed down to pegs. So even though it might be cheaper upfront, people going to Turkey also don't think about having to get them restored every 10 to 15 years."
Dr Hewitt also blames social media for the rise in young Brits heading to Turkey for cheap dental work with the procedures costing as little as £3,000. Meanwhile, in the UK, it’s estimated to cost around the £16,000 mark.
He also claims he has clients coming into the clinic asking for gnashers like popular Love Island stars such as Molly Mae, Gemma Owen, Jack Finchman and Connor Durman. Even though celebrities likely haven’t themselves got 'Turkey teeth' and had the work done in the UK, Dr Hewitt says that a week in Turkey for the treatment is an appealing quick-fix solution for youngsters who desire a similar look.
"Seeing celebrities smiling with perfect teeth on social media is a major influence on young people. People often come to me saying they want the 'Love Island look', and in Turkey, they do it for much cheaper and faster upfront compared to the UK, so people go there.
"But they don’t realise there can be real long-term damage using that method. Many people, some as young as 18, aspire to have the bright white, very square and unnatural look. In the UK, to do this we would straighten and then whiten the teeth, and we also use composite bonding which does minimal damage to the teeth."
He added: "I had one young lady come to me in tears saying, 'please help me, I know I have ruined my teeth'. And another client who had been to Turkey and her teeth were literally fused together – you couldn’t even pass floss between them.
"While the initial procedure might be cheaper in Turkey, they can cost from £800 per crown to replace if you get them done in the UK rather than going back to Turkey. If someone gets 'Turkey teeth' at 18 they might need four restorative cycles in their life."
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