For patients in South Africa

Oral surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

Oral and maxillofacial surgery covers everything from a single difficult extraction to repositioning the jaws. This page explains, for patients travelling from South Africa, what the field includes, how the length of your stay changes from one procedure to another, and how to plan aftercare once you are home.

Guides for South African patients

We have written separate South African guides for these oral surgery procedures:

• Corrective jaw (orthognathic) surgery — repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw or both
• Oral cyst removal — removes a cyst from the jawbone or the soft tissue of the mouth
• Wisdom teeth removal — takes out impacted or troublesome wisdom teeth
• Tooth extraction — the last resort for a tooth that cannot be saved
• Bone grafting — rebuilds jawbone, usually to prepare for implants

What oral and maxillofacial surgery covers

This is the branch of dentistry that deals surgically with the teeth, jaws, mouth and the facial structures around them. Depending on what you need, it can include removing teeth, taking out wisdom teeth, surgically exposing impacted teeth, removing cysts, bone grafting, sinus lifts, implant surgery and corrective jaw surgery. The full treatment overview is on our oral and maxillofacial surgery page.

People usually come to it with impacted wisdom teeth, badly damaged or infected teeth, a misaligned jaw, jaw pain or a facial injury.

Assessment first, plan second

The assessment may include a clinical examination, digital X-rays or 3D imaging, and from that the surgeon decides which procedure you need, which anaesthetic suits it (local, sedation or general) and how long you should stay. If you already have X-rays or scans from a dentist in South Africa, send them with your enquiry.

How long the trip takes

This is where oral surgery procedures differ most. Simpler procedures, such as extractions, wisdom tooth removal or cyst removal, usually allow you to fly home within a few days. Corrective jaw surgery is a bigger operation: patients usually stay seven to ten days so they can be monitored and checked before the long flight.

Recovery follows the same pattern: a simple extraction may settle within days, wisdom tooth removal often needs one to two weeks, and jaw surgery takes longer still.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir, where treatment takes place
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Time difference: İzmir is only one hour ahead of South Africa, so follow-up calls are easy to arrange
• Return date: the surgeon decides when you are fit to fly, so book a return ticket you can change
• Records: ask for your treatment notes and X-rays or scans to take home for your dentist or doctor
• Cover: medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad; check with both

Aftercare at home

Follow the aftercare instructions, keep your mouth clean, take the prescribed medication, do not smoke, and keep your follow-up appointments, which continue by message and video call with the same team. Tell your dentist or doctor in South Africa about the treatment before you travel and book a check-up for after you return.

For surgical treatment, our treatment guarantee covers medical complications and any revision that becomes clinically necessary for one year from the date of treatment; covered treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, while flights and accommodation remain your own cost. Facts about the clinic and its board-certified surgeons are on the clinic facts page, and our complaints process is published.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed your imaging, we will not remove a tooth that can reasonably be saved, and we will not shorten your stay after jaw surgery to suit a flight. If your health makes surgery unsafe, we will tell you.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to stay in Turkey for oral surgery?

It depends on the procedure. After simpler procedures such as a tooth extraction, wisdom tooth removal or oral cyst removal, most patients can fly home within a few days. Corrective jaw surgery needs a longer stay, usually seven to ten days, for monitoring and follow-up checks before the flight.

Will I be awake during oral surgery?

That depends on the procedure. Treatment is done under local anaesthetic, sedation or general anaesthetic, according to how complex it is. Corrective jaw surgery is done under general anaesthetic.

Do I need an assessment before I book flights?

Yes. Every patient is assessed first, which may include a clinical examination, digital X-rays or 3D imaging. Send any X-rays or scans you already have, and only book flights once the surgeon has confirmed a plan.

What can I eat after oral surgery?

Soft food while the area heals, or a liquid diet at first after jaw surgery. The surgeon tells you when you can return to your normal diet, so plan simple, soft meals for the journey home.

Will my medical aid cover oral surgery in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad. Ask your scheme and your insurer specifically before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.