For patients in South Africa

Smile Makeover in Turkey from South Africa: putting the treatments in the right order

A smile makeover is a personalised plan that combines cosmetic and restorative treatments to improve the colour, shape, size and alignment of the teeth. It is broader than a set of veneers: depending on what you need, it can include crowns, veneers, whitening, implants for missing teeth, gum contouring or orthodontics. The more treatments involved, the more the order matters, and the order decides whether you need one trip from South Africa or more.

What a smile makeover can include

Every plan is different. Depending on your teeth, gums and goals, it may combine:

• Whitening, veneers or crowns, including zirconium and E-max crowns, to change colour, shape and size
• Dental implants where teeth are missing
• Gum contouring where the gum line is uneven
• Orthodontics where teeth need moving before anything is shaped or covered

If your plan is mainly about the colour and shape of the front teeth, our Hollywood smile guide goes into how each tooth should be treated. If many teeth are damaged, worn or missing and chewing is affected, a full mouth makeover may be the better description. The treatment is described on the smile makeover page.

Why the order matters

Some steps have to come before others. Gum disease and decay are treated first. If teeth need straightening, that usually happens before veneers or crowns are made, otherwise the restorations are shaped around teeth that are about to move. Implants need time to heal before the final tooth is fitted on top. Our treatment guarantee notes that a crown on an implant is fitted at least three months after the implant is placed, so a plan that includes implants will usually mean a second trip.

Every smile makeover with us starts with a dental assessment and digital smile planning based on your facial proportions, bite and goals. Ask to see the plan and agree it before any tooth is prepared. Our dentists are listed on clinic facts.

The trip from South Africa

• Direct flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, then a short domestic flight to İzmir.
• South African passport holders apply for a Turkish e-Visa before travelling.
• Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa, so jet lag is not a factor.
• Leave room after fitting for adjustments, and book a return ticket you can change.
• Travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad, so check your policy wording.

Treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic where needed. Mild sensitivity or tenderness afterwards usually settles within a few days.

Looking after the result at home

With good hygiene and regular check-ups, many smile makeover restorations last 10 to 15 years or longer, but how long depends on the treatments and on your care. Ask for a written record of what was done to each tooth, the materials and any implant details, and take your scans or X-rays home for your dentist in South Africa.

What our treatment guarantee covers, and what it does not, is set out on that page. How complaints are handled is published on our complaints page.

What we will not do

We will not squeeze a plan that needs healing time into one trip, we will not treat teeth that do not need it, and we will not start before you have seen and agreed the whole sequence.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to stay in Turkey for a smile makeover?

Most patients complete it in 5 to 7 days. Plans that include implants or several procedures may need more than one visit; the dentist confirms the schedule after assessing you.

How is a smile makeover different from a Hollywood smile?

The terms overlap. A smile makeover can combine a wider range of treatments, including orthodontics, gum contouring and implants, while the Hollywood smile usually focuses on the colour and shape of the front teeth.

Will I need more than one trip from South Africa?

Only if the plan needs it. Implants need healing time before the final crown, which is fitted at least three months after placement, and orthodontics comes before veneers or crowns.

What decides the cost of a smile makeover?

Which treatments are included, how many teeth are involved, the materials, any treatment needed first, the number of trips, and what the package includes. A firm figure is only possible after a dental assessment.

Will my medical aid cover a smile makeover?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover cosmetic dentistry or treatment abroad. Ask your scheme if you are unsure.

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