For patients in South Africa

Clear Aligners and Braces in Turkey from South Africa: what to ask before you go

Orthodontic treatment straightens teeth and corrects the bite, either with fixed braces or with clear aligners, the transparent removable trays that many people know by the brand name Invisalign. Unlike veneers, it is not finished in a week. Teeth move slowly, over months, and that movement needs checking. For South African patients, the real question is how it will be supervised once you are home.

Braces or clear aligners

Both move teeth gradually into position. Braces use brackets and wires, and need regular adjustments during treatment. Clear aligners are a series of custom-made, transparent trays that you change as treatment progresses; they are discreet and can be taken out to eat, drink, brush and floss, but they only work if you wear them for the recommended time each day. Braces may suit some complex cases better.

The options are explained on our orthodontics page, with details on clear aligners and dental braces.

Who orthodontic treatment suits

Braces or aligners may help if you have crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth, gaps between teeth, or bite problems such as overbite, underbite or crossbite. Clear aligners are generally suited to mild to moderate concerns. You need to commit to good oral hygiene and to wearing aligners or attending adjustments as advised. Suitability is confirmed only after a full assessment, including your dental history, an examination, and digital scans or X-rays where required.

The honest part: treatment continues at home

Most patients stay in Turkey only for the first stage: assessment, scans, planning and fitting of the braces or first aligners. After that, regular orthodontic check-ups are needed to make sure teeth are moving correctly. Depending on your treatment plan, follow-up may include remote check-ins, appointments near home, or planned return visits to Turkey. Whether braces fitted in Turkey can be continued in South Africa depends on your case and on the orthodontist managing it. Before you agree to anything, ask us how your treatment would be monitored between visits, and get the answers in writing:

• How many trips to Turkey are planned, and roughly when?
• Who supervises my treatment between visits, by name, and how do I reach them?
• If my treatment includes remote check-ins, how do they work and how often?
• What happens if a bracket breaks, a wire pokes, or an aligner does not fit while I am in South Africa?
• Which retainer will I have when treatment ends, and how is it replaced if lost?

Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa all year, so video check-ins fit easily into a working day. Our dentists are listed on clinic facts.

Getting there from Johannesburg or Cape Town

Direct flights to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir. You may need more than one trip over the course of treatment. South Africans need an e-Visa for each visit, and travel insurance is worth arranging for every trip.

Looking after your teeth in South Africa

Keep seeing your own dentist for routine care during and after treatment:

• Take home a written treatment plan and copies of your scans or X-rays
• Tell your dentist in South Africa before you start, so they know what is being done
• Keep cleaning carefully around braces or before putting aligners back in
• Wear your retainer as instructed once treatment ends, as teeth can drift back

What our treatment guarantee covers for dental work is set out on that page, and how complaints are handled is published on our complaints page. If you are also considering cosmetic work, read our veneers guide for South Africans first.

What we will not do

We will not start orthodontic treatment without a clear plan for how it will be monitored after you fly home, we will not recommend aligners where braces would serve you better, and we will not begin before you have seen and agreed the plan.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to stay in Turkey for clear aligners or braces?

Usually only for the first stage: the assessment, digital scans, X-rays if required, treatment planning and the fitting of your braces or first aligners. Most patients can return home shortly afterwards. Treatment then continues for months, so agree the follow-up plan before you book.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

It depends on how complex your case is. Many clear aligner cases take between 6 and 18 months, and braces treatment often takes between 12 and 24 months, although some cases are shorter or longer.

What decides the cost of orthodontic treatment?

Whether you have braces or clear aligners, how complex your case is and how long treatment lasts, how follow-up is arranged, including any return visits, and what the package includes, such as accommodation and transfers. A firm figure is only possible after an orthodontic assessment.

Can my dentist in South Africa help during treatment?

Your dentist at home can carry on with routine check-ups and cleaning. Who supervises your tooth movement and adjustments between visits should be agreed in writing before you start, so you know exactly who to contact if something goes wrong.

Will my medical aid cover clear aligners or braces?

South African medical schemes rarely cover orthodontic treatment for adults when it is mainly cosmetic. Ask your scheme before you plan anything.

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