Choose a dentist in Türkiye, not just a clinic

When people in the UK start looking at dental treatment in Türkiye, they almost always compare clinics. They look at the website, the before-and-after gallery, the Google stars, the price list and the hotel. That is natural. Clinics are what advertise, and clinics are what you pay.

But a clinic does not place an implant or prepare a tooth for a veneer. A dentist does. In a busy Turkish clinic that treats international patients, there may be anything from three to thirty dentists, plus trainees, technicians and assistants. Two patients at the same clinic, booked in the same week, can have quite different experiences depending on who treats them.

Why the clinic brand is not enough

A clinic’s reputation is an average. Its reviews describe many patients treated by many people over several years. Some of those dentists may have left. New ones may have joined last month. The clinic’s overall rating tells you something about how it is run, but very little about the person who will sit beside your chair.

The clinic also controls what you see. Galleries show the best results. Team photos show everyone smiling in matching scrubs. None of that tells you whether the dentist assigned to you has done your treatment ten times or a thousand.

What changes when you know the name

Once you have a full name, you can check it. In Türkiye, the Ministry of Health’s portal for international patients, HealthTürkiye, includes a register of health professionals at authorised clinics. A dentist’s record shows their title, their branch of dentistry and the clinic they are registered at. We explain how to use it in how to check a Turkish dentist.

Knowing the name also changes the conversation. You can ask that dentist directly how they would treat you, how many similar cases they have done and what they would do if something went wrong. You stop talking to a brand and start talking to a professional who is accountable for your care.

Who is actually involved in your treatment

For simple work, such as a few fillings or whitening, one dentist may do everything. For bigger treatments, several people are often involved:

• The dentist who examines you and plans the treatment. Sometimes this happens remotely from your X-ray before you travel.
• The dentist who does the surgery, for example removing teeth or placing implants. This may be an oral surgeon, a periodontist or a general dentist with implant training.
• The dentist who makes and fits the teeth, such as crowns, veneers or a full-arch bridge. This may be a prosthodontist.
• The dental technician who makes the teeth in the laboratory, in-house or outside.
• Whoever gives sedation, if you have it.

You do not need to vet every assistant. But you should know the names of the dentists who plan, operate and fit, and whether they will be the same people on your second trip.

How to ask, without causing offence

Many patients worry that asking about qualifications will seem rude. It does not. Most Turkish clinics that treat UK patients publish their dentists’ training on their own websites, and many expect the question. A simple message works:

“Before I book, could you tell me the full names of the dentists who would plan my treatment, do the surgery and fit my teeth? I would also like a short CV for each, with their dental school and any specialist training.”

A good clinic will answer within a day or two. If the reply is vague (“our expert team”, “our head doctor will decide on the day”), ask again. If it stays vague, that tells you something.

What to look for in the answer

When the names arrive, look for a few simple things:

• The dentist appears on the HealthTürkiye register, at the clinic you are booking with.
• The clinic’s website names the same dentist and gives their dental school and year of graduation.
• Their stated field of work matches your treatment. An orthodontist is not the right lead for an implant case.
• They publish something you can check, such as a CV or a Turkish Dental Association number.

These are the same checks we use in our national ranking, so you can compare what you find with what we found.

What a title does and does not tell you

Turkish dentists show their qualifications in front of their names: Dt. for a dentist, Uzm. Dt. for a specialist, Dr. Dt. for a dentist with a doctorate, Doç. Dr. and Prof. Dr. for university ranks. A specialist title shows formal training. It does not automatically mean better results for every patient. An experienced general dentist who places implants every week may be the right choice for a straightforward case. Our guide to titles and specialities goes through each one.

When a clinic will not name your dentist

Some clinics decide which dentist treats you on the day, depending on who is free. That can work, but it means you are trusting the clinic’s system rather than a person you have checked. If you cannot get a name before you pay, consider whether you are comfortable with that. For implants or full-arch treatment, we would not be.

A comparison sheet for two or three dentists

The first five rows are exactly what we check for every dentist in our ranking, so you can start from their profiles.

The NHS view

The NHS advice on going abroad for treatment, and its treatment abroad checklist, encourage patients to check the qualifications of the people treating them and to think about aftercare before they go. Checking a named dentist is the most direct way to follow that advice.

A worked example: one clinic, two dentists

Suppose a clinic’s website lists two dentists who both place implants. One is registered as a specialist in oral surgery with a published CV; the other is a general dentist who graduated recently and lists no training details. For a straightforward single implant, either might be fine. For a sinus lift or full-arch case, you would probably want the surgeon, and you would ask for them by name. Without knowing the names, you could not have made that choice.

Your next steps

1. Write to each clinic you are considering and ask for the names of the dentists who would treat you.
2. Check each name on HealthTürkiye and on the clinic’s website.
3. Fill in the comparison sheet above.
4. Ask for a short video call with your preferred dentist.
5. Only then compare prices.

It can feel slower than simply picking the clinic with the best photos. In practice it adds a few days at most, and it means that when you sit in the chair you know exactly who is treating you and why you chose them.

Our own approach

We are a clinic too: Precious Dental, in Antalya, publishes this guide. Our implant surgeon, Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, is our top pick in the ranking. Ask us, as you would ask any clinic, which dentist will treat you, and expect a name in writing.

Common questions

Can I choose which dentist treats me in Turkey?

Usually, yes, if you ask before you book. Larger clinics may assign dentists by availability, so put your request in writing and ask the clinic to confirm the name.

Is it rude to ask about a dentist’s qualifications?

No. Good clinics expect it, and most publish their dentists’ training on their websites already.

What if the clinic only gives me a coordinator?

Coordinators are useful for travel and paperwork, but they are not dentists. Ask for the dentist’s name and, ideally, a short video call with them before you pay a deposit.

Does a bigger clinic mean better dentists?

Not necessarily. A large clinic has more dentists, which means more variation. What matters is the individual who treats you.

Sources

1. HealthTürkiye: health professionals
2. NHS: treatment abroad checklist
3. Oral Health Foundation: going abroad for dental treatment
4. NHS: going abroad for medical treatment

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.