If something goes wrong after All-on-6 abroad
Most people never need this page. But it's the page to read before you book, because the answers depend on what you agreed in writing at the start.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026If you have pain, swelling, bleeding or a loose bridge, see a UK dentist, or call NHS 111 if it's urgent, and contact your clinic in Turkey at the same time with photos. Whether a repair is free, and who pays for travel, depends on the written guarantee you agreed before treatment. If you can't resolve a problem with the clinic, a lawyer in Turkey may be needed: the FCDO lists English-speaking lawyers.
First: is it urgent?
- Swelling spreading to your eye or neck, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a high temperature: call 999 or go to A&E.
- Severe pain, bleeding that won't stop, or a lot of swelling: contact your dentist the same day, or call NHS 111.
- A loose or broken bridge, a bad taste, sore gums: book a dentist appointment and contact your clinic.
Then: contact your clinic
- Send photos of the area, and describe what you feel and when it started.
- Share any X-ray or notes your UK dentist gives you.
- Ask what they recommend, and whether it's covered by your guarantee.
- Keep everything in writing, including WhatsApp messages and receipts.
How guarantees usually work
Every clinic's guarantee is different, which is why the Oral Health Foundation lists "is the treatment guaranteed, and for how long?" and "who pays for extra travel, accommodation or corrective work?" among the questions to ask before you go.
| Question | What to look for in the terms |
|---|---|
| What's covered? | The implant, the abutment, the teeth on top: each may have a different period. |
| Where is the work done? | Usually at the clinic abroad, not in the UK. |
| Who pays to travel? | Flights and hotel for a repair visit. |
| What voids it? | Missed check-ups, poor cleaning, not wearing a night guard, accidents. |
Our terms, for comparison: Precious Dental guarantees implant fixtures and abutments for life (if an implant fails, we replace it once free of charge) and crowns for five years. Guarantee work is done at our clinic in Antalya; you arrange your own flights and we provide hotel accommodation for the treatment period. The guarantee may be reduced or void if, for example, check-ups are missed or a recommended night guard isn't worn. Read the full terms.
If you can't agree with the clinic
- Use the clinic's complaints process, in writing. Ask for a named person and a response date.
- Get a written opinion from a UK dentist about what's wrong and what's needed. It's useful evidence.
- Check your travel insurance and any legal expenses cover on your home insurance.
- Get legal advice in Turkey if needed. The FCDO publishes a list of English-speaking lawyers in Turkey, without recommending any.
The UK's General Dental Council can't act on treatment given abroad. It advises finding out, before you go, whether the country has a dental regulator and how to raise concerns there.
The best protection is before you book
Almost everything on this page depends on what you agreed at the start. Before paying a deposit, get the guarantee in writing, ask who pays for return trips, and set up a UK dentist for aftercare. Our twenty questions cover all of it.
Common questions
Will the NHS fix problems from treatment abroad?
NHS dentists can see you for problems, but you will normally pay NHS charges, and complex implant repairs are usually private. The Oral Health Foundation points out that putting work right back in the UK can be costly.
Does a lifetime guarantee mean everything is free for life?
No. Read the terms: what is covered (for example the implant itself, or the teeth on top), for how long, what voids it, and who pays for flights and hotel.
Can I complain to the UK's General Dental Council about a Turkish dentist?
No. The GDC regulates dental professionals working in the UK. It notes that regulation varies by country, and that you should find out how to raise concerns in the country where you're treated.
Can my travel insurance help?
Only if the policy covers it. That's why the NHS advises telling your insurer about planned treatment before you travel and checking what's included.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation — Going abroad for dental treatment (risks, guarantees, complaints)
- General Dental Council — Going abroad for dental treatment (raising concerns abroad)
- NHS — How to find an NHS dentist
- GOV.UK — Find a lawyer in Turkey (FCDO list)
- Precious Dental — Guarantee terms
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.