Is All-on-6 in Turkey safe?
It is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends. On the clinic, on the surgeon, on your health and on how well the trip and aftercare are planned. Here is what the UK authorities say, what the real risks are, and what reduces them.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026All-on-6 in Turkey can be safe when it is done by a licensed clinic and an experienced surgeon, planned on a 3D scan, with your health properly assessed and clear aftercare. The risks are those of implant surgery (infection, bleeding, nerve injury, implant failure), plus the risks of travel and of being far from the clinic afterwards. GOV.UK advises discussing plans with your UK doctor or dentist and doing your own research, and points to the Ministry of Health's approved providers on HealthTürkiye.
We are a clinic in Turkey, so you might expect this article to say “yes, perfectly safe”. It does not. Safety in implant dentistry is not a property of a country. It comes from the people doing the work, the planning behind it, the patient's own health and the care afterwards. This article sets out what the UK authorities say, what can go wrong, and what you can check to put the odds firmly on your side.
What GOV.UK says
The UK government's travel advice for Turkey has a section on medical tourism. It makes several points worth reading in full:
- The standard of medical facilities and treatment varies widely, globally and within countries.
- It is aware of seven British nationals who died in Turkey in 2025 following medical procedures, and of others who needed further treatment after complications. These figures cover all types of medical tourism, including cosmetic and other surgery.
- It advises discussing plans with your UK doctor, dentist or clinician before going ahead.
- It advises doing your own research, noting that private companies have a financial interest in booking your treatment and their literature should not be your only source.
- It notes that the Turkish Ministry of Health lists approved medical providers on the HealthTürkiye website.
That last point includes us. So does the advice about financial interest. Read this article, and our site, with that in mind.
What the NHS and the GDC say
The NHS treatment abroad checklist and the General Dental Council's guidance for patients going abroad cover the same ground: research the clinic and the dentist, get a written plan and price, find out what happens if something goes wrong, plan your aftercare before you go, and talk to your own dentist. None of it says “do not go”. All of it says “go prepared”.
The risks of the treatment itself
| Risk | What it means | What reduces it |
|---|---|---|
| Infection | After surgery or around implants later | Sterile technique, antibiotics where indicated, good cleaning, not smoking |
| Bleeding | Usually minor; more with blood thinners | Full medicines history, planning with your doctor |
| Nerve injury | Rare; numbness of lip or chin | 3D CBCT planning that shows the nerve position |
| Implant not integrating | An implant fails to bond with bone | Good bone assessment, appropriate loading, not smoking, controlled diabetes |
| Peri-implantitis | Inflammation that damages bone around implants over years | Daily cleaning, regular professional maintenance |
| Bridge problems | Chips, wear, loose screws | Good materials and lab work, night guard if you grind, check-ups |
These risks exist wherever implants are placed. The British Society of Periodontology notes that smokers, people with poorly controlled diabetes and people with a history of gum disease are at higher risk of problems around implants.
The risks that come from distance
Being treated abroad adds risks of its own:
- Follow-up is harder. If something feels wrong at home, you cannot pop back to the clinic.
- Repairs can cost more. Fixing a problem may mean flights, time off and possibly paying a UK dentist.
- UK dentists may be reluctant to take responsibility for work done elsewhere.
- Travel after surgery adds the risk of blood clots on long flights. See blood clots and flying.
- Insurance gaps. GHIC is not valid in Turkey, and many travel policies exclude planned treatment.
- Pressure to decide quickly when you are already there, with flights booked.
Putting the numbers in context
Headlines about medical tourism tend to group very different procedures together: cosmetic surgery under general anaesthetic, weight-loss operations, hair transplants and dental work. Their risks are not the same. Most All-on-6 surgery is done under local anaesthetic, sometimes with sedation, in a dental clinic rather than an operating theatre. That does not make it trivial; it is still surgery, and older patients with several health conditions need careful assessment. But it does mean that the most useful question is not “is Turkey safe?” but “is this clinic, this surgeon and this plan safe for me?”.
Implants themselves have a long track record. When placed in suitable patients and properly maintained, the large majority last for many years. The cases that go wrong usually have identifiable causes: poor planning, unsuitable patients, inadequate infection control, overloading during healing, smoking, or a lack of maintenance afterwards. Most of those are things you can ask about before you book.
Safety on the day
On surgery day, a well-run clinic will take your blood pressure, review your medicines and health questionnaire, confirm the plan and your consent, and explain what will happen. Instruments should come sealed from sterilisation, and the team should wear gloves, masks and protective clothing. If sedation is used, someone should be monitoring you throughout. It is reasonable to ask about any of this; a good clinic will be glad you did.
What makes All-on-6 abroad safer
- A licensed clinic. Check it on HealthTürkiye and note the authorisation number.
- A named surgeon. Know who will place your implants and check their registration.
- A 3D scan before surgery. Never accept a plan for implant surgery made without a CBCT scan in the clinic.
- A written plan and consent. Number of implants, brand, materials, price, risks and alternatives, signed before treatment.
- Your health properly assessed. GP summary, medicines list, and checks done before you travel. See health checks before surgery.
- A realistic timeline. Two trips, with the second set by healing, not by the calendar.
- Records to take home. Scans, X-rays, an implant passport.
- A guarantee you have read, including who pays for travel if something needs fixing.
- A UK dentist lined up for check-ups before treatment starts.
Our checklist for choosing a clinic in Turkey turns this into questions to ask.
Warning signs
- Surgery booked before any scan, or a plan based only on photos
- No named dentist, or a dentist you cannot look up
- Prices that change sharply after you arrive, without a clear clinical reason
- Pressure to decide on the day, or “today only” offers
- No questions about your health or medicines
- Reluctance to give you records or the implant brand
- No clear answer about what happens if something goes wrong at home
Who should think twice
Some people are better served by treatment closer to home, or by a different treatment. That includes people with poorly controlled diabetes or blood pressure, a recent heart attack or stroke, complex medicines such as some osteoporosis treatments, limited mobility that makes travel hard, or no realistic way to attend check-ups for years afterwards. It also includes anyone who feels pushed into it. Your GP and a UK dentist are good people to talk to. Our page why Turkey, and why not lists the reasons to stay at home.
At Precious Dental treatment is planned on a CBCT 3D scan, the implant surgeon is named, the plan and price are confirmed in writing before surgery, and you leave with your records and an implant passport. We are listed on HealthTürkiye with authorisation number ST-4647. If we think travelling is not the right choice for you, we will say so.
The honest answer
All-on-6 in Turkey can be as safe as anywhere when it is done by the right people, planned carefully, and followed by good care at home. It can go wrong anywhere when those things are missing. You cannot remove every risk, but you can choose a clinic that takes them seriously, prepare your own health, and plan the aftercare before you board the first flight.
Common questions
What is the official UK advice on treatment in Turkey?
GOV.UK says standards vary widely, advises discussing plans with your UK doctor or dentist, and says to do your own research because private companies have a financial interest. It points to the Ministry of Health's list of approved providers on HealthTürkiye.
What are the main risks of All-on-6?
As with any implant surgery: infection, bleeding, swelling, rarely nerve injury causing numbness, implants that do not integrate, and in the long term inflammation around implants and wear or breakage of the bridge.
Are the risks higher abroad?
The surgical risks depend on the clinic and surgeon, not the country. What is different abroad is distance: follow-up is harder, and if something goes wrong at home, getting it fixed can take more effort and money.
How do I check a Turkish clinic is licensed?
Search for it on HealthTürkiye, the Ministry of Health portal for international patients, and note its authorisation number. Ask for the name and registration of the dentist who will treat you.
Who is All-on-6 abroad not right for?
People whose health makes surgery or travel riskier, such as uncontrolled diabetes, recent heart problems or some medicines, and anyone who cannot commit to two trips and lifelong maintenance. Your GP and the surgeon should help you decide.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice, health and medical tourism
- NHS: going abroad for treatment
- NHS: treatment abroad checklist
- General Dental Council: going abroad for dental treatment
- HealthTürkiye: Ministry of Health portal for international patients
- British Society of Periodontology: patient FAQs about dental implants
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Thinking about the trip?
Tell us where you're flying from and what you'd like done. A patient coordinator replies in plain English, and will say so honestly if travelling isn't the right step for you.