Do you need a prosthodontist in Türkiye?
The specialist for replacement teeth. Essential for some UK patients, unnecessary for others.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026A prosthodontist (Turkish: Protetik Diş Tedavisi uzmanı) specialises in replacing and restoring teeth: crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers and the bridges that sit on implants. You are most likely to benefit if you need many teeth rebuilt at once, a full-arch implant bridge, a change to your bite, or a complex denture. For a few simple crowns, an experienced general dentist may be enough.
Of all the dental specialities, prosthodontics is the one most UK patients travelling to Türkiye could benefit from, and the one they hear least about. Prosthodontists are the dentists who specialise in replacing teeth: designing crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures and implant-supported teeth so that they look right, bite properly and last.
What prosthodontists do
- Crowns and bridges, especially when many teeth are involved.
- Implant teeth, from single crowns to full-arch bridges.
- Dentures, full and partial, and dentures that clip onto implants.
- Full-mouth rehabilitation, rebuilding the whole bite.
- Bite problems, such as worn teeth or jaw-joint discomfort linked to how teeth meet.
In Türkiye the speciality is called Protetik Diş Tedavisi. Training follows the national DUS exam and several years at a university dental faculty; many prosthodontists also hold a doctorate.
When a prosthodontist makes a real difference
Many teeth at once
If your plan involves eight, sixteen or more crowns or veneers, the teeth have to work together: the same shape, the right length, and a bite that does not overload any one of them. That is prosthetic planning.
Full-arch implant bridges
For All-on-4 or All-on-6 treatment, the bridge is a large, complex piece of work. Its design decides how you look, speak and clean. See our All-on-6 dentists.
Changing your bite
If your teeth are very worn, or you have lost height in your bite, rebuilding it needs careful planning and usually a trial phase with temporary teeth.
Fixing previous work
Patients who come back with failed crowns or bridges often need a prosthodontic assessment before anything is redone.
When you may not need one
A single crown on a back tooth, a small bridge or a simple denture are everyday work for an experienced general dentist. A specialist is not a requirement. What matters is experience, careful planning and a written plan.
Prosthodontists we have checked
Several dentists in this guide are prosthodontists with doctorates from Turkish universities, including dentists in Izmir and Fethiye. Our prosthodontists page lists them with their register entries and sources. Our top pick, Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek of Precious Dental, is a general dentist whose work is focused on implant surgery and prosthetics; Precious Dental publishes this guide.
Questions to ask a prosthodontist
- Will you design my teeth yourself, and will you fit them?
- Will I have temporary teeth to test the shape and bite first?
- What material do you recommend for me, and why?
- Which laboratory makes the teeth?
- How will you check my bite before the final fit?
- What should a UK dentist know to look after this work?
Materials a prosthodontist will discuss
| Material | Typical use | Points to ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Zirconia | Crowns, bridges, full-arch bridges | Very strong; can look opaque if not layered |
| Lithium disilicate (glass ceramic) | Front crowns and veneers | Natural look; less strong than zirconia for long bridges |
| Porcelain fused to metal | Crowns and bridges | Long track record; a grey line may show at the gum |
| Acrylic or composite on a titanium bar | Full-arch bridges | Lighter, easier to repair; wears and stains more |
There is no single best material. A good prosthodontist will match it to your bite, your smile and your budget, and explain the choice.
The bite
Prosthodontists pay close attention to how your teeth meet. A new set of crowns or a full-arch bridge that is even slightly too high or uneven can cause jaw pain, chipping or headaches. Expect bite checks at the try-in and at fitting, and adjustments. If something feels wrong after you get home, say so quickly.
Night guards
If you grind or clench your teeth, a prosthodontist will often recommend a night guard to protect new crowns or bridges. Ask for one before you leave if it is recommended.
Prosthodontists we have checked
- Dr. Dt. Meral Nizam, Nifa Dent, Izmir: Ege University (2003), PhD in prosthodontics (2009); her profile lists fixed prosthetics, implant-supported restorations and smile design.
- Dr. Şükrü Mert Yüce, Dentaglobal, Izmir: Ege University (2006), PhD in prosthodontics (2013).
- Dr. Özge Aydoğ Schennikov, Dentoper Fethiye: Marmara University (2014), PhD in prosthodontics at Ankara University.
- Dr. Halit Hamza, Dentistanbul, Istanbul: listed on the register as a specialist in prosthodontics.
Crowns, bridges and dentures on the NHS
The NHS explains that Band 3 treatment can include crowns, bridges and dentures. So some of what a prosthodontist does is available on the NHS when clinically necessary, though not always with the materials or appearance people want, and availability varies. Implant-supported teeth are generally private in the UK. Knowing what the NHS could offer helps you compare like with like.
Signs of good prosthetic planning
- Photos and measurements of your face and smile, not just your teeth.
- A temporary or trial stage before the final work.
- Discussion of your bite, and of grinding.
- Clear information on materials and the laboratory.
- Instructions for cleaning, especially under bridges.
When a prosthodontist leads an implant case
For full-arch treatment, some clinics have a prosthodontist plan the case from the teeth backwards: where the teeth must be, then where the implants should go to support them. If your clinic works this way, ask whether the prosthodontist will also see you on the second trip to fit the final bridge. See the same dentist on trip two.
A worked example: dentures to fixed teeth
Take a patient who has worn a full upper denture for ten years and has a few failing lower teeth. A prosthodontist’s view might cover: whether a new well-fitting denture would solve the problem; whether two to four implants with a clip-on denture would be enough; or whether a fixed bridge on four to six implants is better, and what each means for cleaning, cost and trips. The NHS page on dentures describes implants as one alternative to dentures. A prosthodontic assessment helps you choose between these options rather than being offered only one.
What a prosthodontist will want from you
- Photos of your smile from before you lost teeth, if you have them.
- Your old dentures, if you wear them; they show what has and has not worked.
- Information about grinding, jaw pain or headaches.
- Your priorities: appearance, chewing, speech, cleaning.
After the final fit
Ask for a short written summary of the work: materials, laboratory, implant system if any, and any adjustments made. Ask how often the work should be checked and whether bridges should be removed periodically for cleaning. Take this to your UK dentist. See UK aftercare.
Your next steps
- Decide whether your case is one where a prosthodontist adds value: many teeth, a full arch, a new bite or failed previous work.
- If so, shortlist dentists from our prosthodontists page.
- Bring your old dentures, photos and priorities to the consultation.
- Ask for a trial stage before the final work.
For many UK patients the prosthodontist is the dentist whose work they see in the mirror every day, so it is worth knowing who that will be before you book.
Keep the paperwork
Ask for a written summary of the materials, the laboratory and the implant system if there is one. A UK dentist who sees you later will need it. We cover this in finding a UK dentist after treatment in Turkey.
Common questions
What is the Turkish word for prosthodontist?
Protez uzmanı or protetik diş tedavisi uzmanı. On HealthTürkiye the branch appears as Prosthodontics.
Do prosthodontists place implants?
Some do. Many plan the implant positions and make the teeth, while a surgeon places the implants.
Is a prosthodontist more expensive?
Sometimes. Ask whether your quote depends on which dentist does the work.
Can a prosthodontist fix ‘Turkey teeth’ problems?
Prosthodontists often handle re-treatment of failed crowns and bridges, but whether a case can be fixed depends on what is left of the teeth.
Sources
- HealthTürkiye: health professionals
- Turkish Dental Association
- NHS: understanding NHS dental charges
- NHS: dentures
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Want our top pick to look at your case?
Send an X-ray or a few photos to Precious Dental in Antalya. Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, our implant surgeon, or one of his colleagues will reply with a written plan and price. No obligation, and you are free to compare it with any dentist in this guide.