Celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Thornton-Yates, from Cheshire, has shared her experience after travelling to Istanbul, Turkey, for cosmetic dental treatment, saying what she hoped would be a smile makeover turned into a painful ordeal.
Vanessa explained that she chose to have the procedure abroad after learning it would cost around £15,000 to have similar treatment in the United Kingdom.
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She admitted that the decision came during one of the most difficult periods of her life, shortly after losing her mother to cancer.
She said:
“At the time, I had just suddenly lost my mum to cancer and wasn’t in a good place emotionally.
“Looking back, travelling abroad for cosmetic dentistry was a flippant decision that I didn’t fully think through.
“My natural teeth were healthy but they were slightly misaligned and not as white as I wanted them to be.
“The cost in the UK was considerably higher than treatment abroad, which was one factor in my decision.
“I was also impatient and didn’t want to wait up to 18 months, which is something I now deeply regret.
“Some days the teeth are very uncomfortable, which can stop me eating altogether, so as not to make the situation worse.”
According to Vanessa, she decided to use the clinic after seeing its five-star Google reviews and positive feedback from previous patients.
She initially planned to have 20 teeth treated but said the dentist advised increasing the number to 24, explaining that she had a wide smile and that all of the teeth would be fitted with zirconia crowns.
During her stay in Istanbul, her natural teeth were shaved down and temporary restorations were fitted. However, she said she became alarmed later that day when her gums began bleeding and turned what she described as a “grey colour.”
Vanessa later learned that gum contouring had also been carried out during the procedure, something she believes was not clearly explained to her beforehand.
She said:
“Throughout the entire process, my understanding remained that I was receiving 24 individual crowns.
“At no point do I recall anyone explaining that multiple teeth would be permanently joined together as bridges.
“Cosmetically, I was delighted with the result.”
Although she was pleased with the appearance of her new smile, Vanessa said she continued to experience pain and extreme sensitivity. Believing it was a normal part of the recovery process, she endured the discomfort for about six months.