“Turkey teeth” is the name that has stuck for a full set of crowns fitted abroad on a short trip, usually sold as veneers, that later cause pain, gum problems or failures and need repairing in the UK. Repair costs depend entirely on what is underneath: a loose or chipped crown is from £595 to remake, a tooth whose nerve has died needs root canal treatment at £450–£600 before a new crown, and a tooth that cannot be saved is replaced with an implant at £1,995. This guide explains what we find when patients come to us, what each repair involves, what it costs, and how to avoid needing it.
Written and clinically reviewed by Dr Ali El-Kabengi BChD (GDC 270807), principal dentist at Toothi London, Edgware, who has a special interest in restorative and implant dentistry. Last reviewed 25 September 2026. Prices from our published fee list. This page is about treatment, not about any particular clinic or country; excellent dentistry exists everywhere, and so does poor dentistry.
What “Turkey teeth” usually means clinically
Most patients who come to us with problems after dental tourism did not have veneers. They had full-coverage crowns on every visible tooth, sometimes twenty or more, fitted within four to seven days. A veneer covers the front of a tooth and removes about half a millimetre of enamel. A crown covers the whole tooth and removes most of it, leaving a small peg. That difference is the source of almost every problem that follows.
Compressing months of work into a week also means the healthy teeth were often prepared aggressively so the crowns could be made quickly, the bite was set without time to check it, and there was no review appointment. Some patients are perfectly happy years later. The ones we see are not, and they tend to present with a small number of recurring problems.
The problems we see, and what each costs to fix
| Problem | What has happened | Repair | Toothi price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity or toothache under a crown | The nerve was damaged by heavy preparation and is dying or infected | Root canal treatment through the crown, then a new crown if the old one has to be removed | RCT £450–£600 · new crown from £595 |
| Abscess or swelling | Infection at the root tip, often silent for months | Root canal treatment; extraction and implant if the tooth cannot be saved | RCT £450–£600 · implant £1,995 |
| Crown loose, chipped or fallen off | Cement failure, thin porcelain or a bite that was not checked | Recement if the fit is good; remake if not | Recement £125 · remake from £595 |
| Red, swollen or bleeding gums along the crown edge | Crown margins sitting below or over the gum, trapping plaque; sometimes crowns fused together so they cannot be cleaned between | Hygiene therapy first; replacement of the crowns with properly fitting margins where inflammation persists | Hygiene £70–£125 · crowns from £595 each |
| Bite feels wrong, jaw ache, headaches | Crowns set at the wrong height or shape, changing how the jaw closes | Bite adjustment where possible; a nightguard; remaking crowns in severe cases | Nightguard £195 · adjustment quoted at assessment |
| Colour or shape you dislike | Very white, very square crowns that do not suit the face | Remaking in a more natural shade and shape; there is no going back to natural teeth | From £595 per crown |
| Tooth cannot be saved | Fracture below the gum or failed root treatment | Extraction, then an implant or a bridge | Extraction from £145 · implant £1,995 · bridge from £595 per unit |
The honest range is wide. One loose crown recemented is £125. Twenty crowns with four dead nerves, two failed teeth and inflamed gums throughout is a multi-stage plan that can take a year of appointments and cost more than the original trip; it is quoted in writing, stage by stage, after an examination. The only way to know where you sit is that examination, and we would rather tell you early than late, because infections under crowns get more expensive the longer they wait.
What happens at your assessment
- Examination and X-rays (£55 check-up, £15 per X-ray). We look at every crown margin, test each tooth for vitality, and take X-rays to find infection that is not yet painful.
- A CBCT 3D scan where implants may be needed. This is taken at a referral imaging centre and paid to them directly; it is not included in our fees.
- A written, staged plan. Urgent first: infection and pain. Then gum health. Then anything that is failing structurally. Cosmetic changes last. Each stage is priced separately so you can pace it.
- No pressure to replace crowns that are working. If a crown fits well, the tooth is healthy and you can live with the look, we leave it alone and monitor it.
Will the clinic abroad fix it?
Some offer a guarantee, and it is worth asking. In practice it usually means another trip at your own cost, and it does not cover the tooth underneath. There is no UK regulator with jurisdiction over treatment done abroad, the GDC’s complaints process does not apply, and standard travel insurance excludes elective treatment that goes wrong. If you are in pain now, see a dentist now; a guarantee on the crown is not worth an abscess.
If you have not gone yet: the questions to ask
- Veneers or crowns? Ask them to write down which, and how much tooth will be removed.
- Why every tooth? A whitened smile with veneers on the six to eight front teeth achieves what most people want without touching the rest.
- Will my teeth be root-treated first? Some clinics root-treat healthy teeth pre-emptively to avoid sensitivity complaints. That is not something a UK dentist would do to a healthy tooth.
- Who checks the bite, and when? Crowns fitted in a week leave no time for the bite to settle and be adjusted.
- Who looks after them in the UK? Ask which UK dentist will see you for reviews, and whether the clinic will send your records.
For comparison, the same visible-smile result in the UK: eight composite veneers at Toothi are £1,995 with no enamel removed and everything reversible; eight porcelain E.max veneers are £6,895 with about half a millimetre of enamel removed and a 10–15 year lifespan. Our full set of veneers guide and veneers cost guide set out both options.
Spreading the cost of repairs
Any treatment over £250 at Toothi can be spread over up to 10 months at 0% interest, or over up to 60 months at 12.9% APR representative (fixed). Because repair plans are staged, each stage can be financed separately. Finance is provided by Tabeo, subject to status. Cherry Dental Ltd trading as Toothi is a credit broker, not a lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 957242).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix Turkey teeth in the UK?
From £125 for a single loose crown. A full mouth with infections and failed teeth is a staged plan, quoted in writing after an examination. Most patients sit somewhere in between, and the plan is staged so urgent problems are treated first.
Can Turkey teeth be removed?
Crowns can be removed and replaced with new crowns. They cannot be removed and left off, because the tooth underneath has been reduced to a peg and needs covering permanently. If the work was genuinely veneers rather than crowns, there is more tooth left and more options.
Will an NHS dentist fix Turkey teeth?
An NHS dentist will treat pain and infection and can replace a failed crown under Band 3 where it is clinically necessary. They will not replace crowns for cosmetic reasons, and many NHS practices are reluctant to take on the ongoing maintenance of extensive work done abroad.
Why do Turkey teeth hurt?
Usually because the nerve inside the tooth was damaged when the tooth was cut down, and is now inflamed or dying. Sensitivity to cold that lingers, or pain on biting, are the early signs; an abscess is the late one. It needs root canal treatment, not painkillers.
How long do Turkey teeth last?
Well-made crowns last 10–15 years regardless of where they were made. The problems we see are not usually the crowns wearing out; they are the teeth underneath failing within the first few years because of how they were prepared.
Book an assessment
If you have pain, swelling or a loose crown, book an emergency appointment (£65). If nothing hurts but you want to know where you stand, book a check-up (£55) and ask for a full assessment of the crowns. Either way you leave with a staged, written plan and no obligation. Book online, WhatsApp us, or call 020 3148 2444. Toothi London, 1 Handel Parade, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware HA8 6LD. Read more about dental implants and crowns at Toothi.
