British dentist warns obsession to show off perfectly white and even teethwhich is increasingly spreading among users of social networks and which is proven on the hashtag #TurkeyTeeth that was created on TikTok.

Hashtag already has reached 227 million views and refers to trend of traveling to Turkey to get dental veneers or crowns at very cheap prices and looking for a goal: to return with perfect teeth despite, on many occasions, dentures.

Although several British influencers have undergone this treatment and have uploaded pictures of the entire procedure to their social networks, the truth is hundreds of people who have traveled to Turkey to beautify their smile have serious complications and authentic destruction in their mouths.

In a survey conducted by the British Dental Association (BDA) for the BBC on dental tourism, 94% of dentists consulted reported that they had examined patients who had used dental tours to solve their dental problems. And in particular, out of 1,000 dentists consulted, 597 had to treat patients with serious problems after returning from TurkeyWhat infection, abscess, and difficulty chewing. Many of them have rippedbecause they pay for the veneer treatment but they do the crown, a much more aggressive and invasive procedure.

Message of the General Council of Dentists

Castro, president of the General Council of Dentists of Spain, explains that “veneer is a small sheet between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters thick which is placed on the front surface of the teeth. The advantages of this treatment are minimal or unnecessary teeth grinding”

On the other hand, dental crowns require “much larger tooth carving”, about two millimeters (60% of the tooth), because the flap must cover the tooth completely, because its function is restorative and not just aesthetic, as with veneers. This treatment is always requires local anesthesia“, added Dr. Castro.

The General Council of Dentists confirms that both treatments must be carried out by a qualified dentist and in a clinic that meets all health and legal requirements. Likewise, he called on citizens to be careful and not be fooled by advertising messages promising dental treatment at very low prices, as it can cause serious health problems, as is the case in the UK.

“Before undergoing any intervention, it is very important for the dentist to make a diagnosis and a customized treatment plan., explain to us in detail what it contains and follow up to check if everything is working properly. Also, if an accident occurs for financing or malpractice have to start legal proceedings in a foreign countrywhere health, insurance and civil liability regulations differ from Spanish regulations”, said Dr. Castro.

“The TurkeyTeeth trend poses a serious risk to the health of the population, especially to young people, who follow the social network the most. We see that in the UK there are many who are affected, and we hope this practice doesn’t spread in Spain. Improper treatment can cause tooth nerve damage, pain, infection, abscess, pulpitis, and even tooth loss. In recent years, oral health has been seen as yet another consumer good, leading people to believe that it is simply an aesthetic issue, when in fact it is not.. Having a healthy mouth is essential to enjoying good general health and an optimal quality of life”, concluded the president of the General Council of Dentists.