How long to stay in Turkey for dental work

The short answer

Most cosmetic treatments that involve the laboratory, such as veneers and crowns, need about a week in Istanbul. Treatments that rely on healing, above all implants, need two visits with several months at home in between. Quick procedures such as whitening or a single filling take an hour or two, but it still makes sense to allow a day either side for the examination and a check.

The figures below are what our patients usually need. Your own timeline is confirmed only after the dentist has examined you and seen your X-rays, because gum treatment, root canals or extractions that turn up at that stage can add time.

Typical time in Istanbul, treatment by treatment

Times are typical ranges, not promises. A complex case can take longer, and a simple one sometimes less.

How long does it take to get veneers in Turkey?

Veneers in Turkey usually take five to seven days, and the time is mostly the dental laboratory's, not yours in the chair. A typical week starts with the examination, X-rays and a discussion of shape and shade. Once you are happy with the plan, the teeth are prepared and scanned or measured, and you wear temporaries while the veneers are made. Before they are bonded, the dentist checks the fit, colour and bite, and there is usually a review appointment afterwards.

That check stage is exactly what gets squeezed when a clinic promises veneers in two or three days. If something needs remaking, a sensible schedule has room for it. Our page on veneers in Turkey explains the treatment itself.

How long do dental implants take in Turkey?

Dental implants usually take three to six months from start to finish and two trips to Istanbul. On the first trip the implant is placed in the jawbone and you stay a few days so the dentist can check that healing has started well. You then go home while the bone grows around the implant, a process called osseointegration. On the second trip, the final crown or bridge is made and fitted, which generally takes about a week.

Some patients need a bone graft or sinus lift first, which can extend the healing time. In selected cases temporary teeth can be attached soon after the implants go in, but the permanent teeth still wait for the bone to heal. Read more on our dental implants page.

How long do crowns take?

A set of zirconia crowns usually takes five to ten days. The range is wider than for veneers because crowns are often placed on teeth that need work first. A tooth with deep decay or an infected nerve may need root canal treatment before it can be crowned, and inflamed gums are best settled before final impressions are taken. A single crown on an otherwise healthy mouth sits at the shorter end of the range; a full arch with several root canals sits at the longer end.

Treatments that usually need two trips

Two trips are normal, not a sign that something has gone wrong. They are usually needed for:

• Implants and All-on-4 or All-on-6, because the bone must heal before the final teeth are fitted.
• Larger smile makeovers, where gum treatment, extractions or implants come before the cosmetic stage. Some patients prefer one longer stay; others split the work.
• Cases with extractions in the visible area, where the gum needs time to reshape before a bridge or crowns are finalised.

The gap between trips is time well spent. Bone and gum heal at their own pace, and work fitted too early is more likely to need redoing.

Why you should add buffer days

We suggest adding one or two spare days to the stay your plan recommends. They cover the ordinary things that happen on any trip: a delayed flight, a tooth that needs a little more time to settle, a veneer or crown that the dentist wants the laboratory to adjust, or simply a day when you would rather rest than sit in the chair.

Two practical tips. Avoid booking treatment for the afternoon you land after an overnight flight; you will make better decisions about shape and shade when you are rested. And keep the last full day before your flight free of new procedures, so the final check is not rushed. The clinic is open Monday to Saturday, from 09:00 to 19:00, which is worth remembering when you count days.

Why rushing treatment is a bad idea

Speed is not a feature of good dentistry. When a long list of treatment is pushed into a few days, several things suffer at once: the laboratory has less time to finish each restoration carefully, gums prepared for crowns have no chance to calm down before impressions, and there is no room to remake anything that is not quite right. You are also asked to approve permanent changes to your teeth while tired and far from home.

It is better to fly home with well-fitting temporaries and come back than to leave with final work that was hurried. Practical details of your stay, such as airport transfers and help with accommodation, are covered on our dental tourism page.

Frequently asked questions

This page gives general information and is not a substitute for an examination. Whether a treatment is suitable for you, and how long it takes, is decided after your dentist has examined you and reviewed your X-rays.