In Türkiye, facilities that treat foreign patients and the agencies that arrange their treatment must hold authorisation from the Ministry of Health. The certificate shows that the organisation meets the Ministry's criteria and is subject to Ministry inspection. So the first question to ask is: is the organisation in front of me legally authorised?
This guide explains what you can verify before you decide, which rights you have during and after treatment, and where to turn if something goes wrong.
What this guide is not
This site is not a clinic directory, a booking platform or an advertising site. It does not recommend or rank any clinic and takes no fees from clinics. Its aim is neither to praise nor to run down Türkiye, but to give verifiable information based on official sources. Many dentists in Türkiye practise safely and well. The risks have more to do with individual organisations and the decisions they make than with the country.
How health tourism is regulated in Türkiye
- Main regulation
- The Regulation on International Health Tourism and the Health of Tourists, published on 26 April 2025, replaced the earlier 2017 rules.
- Who it covers
- Foreigners who come to Türkiye to receive health care and are not covered by social security or bilateral agreements, and tourists who need care during a visit. Not every foreign patient's situation falls within its scope.
- Authorisation certificates
- A facility treating foreign patients needs a certificate from the Ministry of Health. An intermediary (the company that organises treatment) needs one from USHAŞ. Certificates cannot be transferred, and a facility cannot take patients from unauthorised intermediaries.
- HealthTürkiye portal
- Authorised facilities and intermediaries are reported to work through the portal, which is said to let services be tracked and patients see the service they received.
- Performance monitoring
- The validity of a certificate is tied to criteria such as complaint rate, patient satisfaction and response time.
- Language and contact
- Facilities must have foreign-language staff and websites in other languages. Intermediaries must run a call centre 24/7 in at least two languages, including English.
- Complication insurance
- Required for surgical procedures in an operating theatre. It is not clear whether dental procedures fall within this. Ask in writing what your insurance covers.
- Accreditation
- Authorised facilities have until 31 December 2026 to comply with accreditation or certification requirements.
What the numbers say, and what they do not
Several different figures circulate for foreign patients in Türkiye. The Ministry side refers to more than 1.5 million patients and about US$3 billion in revenue for 2024. TÜİK, the national statistics institute, counts visitors who came for “health and medical reasons” separately.
These figures measure different things, and none of them counts only people who came for dental treatment. Treat them as background, not as proof of quality or demand. A separate data guide will explain each source.
Before you travel: 8 checks
- The facility's authorisationIs the certificate in the Ministry's official record? Is the intermediary's certificate in USHAŞ's record?
- The dentist's identityThe dentist's name, qualifications and professional background should be on the facility's website.
- A written treatment planWhich tooth gets which treatment, which materials, how many sessions, the total price and what is not included.
- Examination and imagingA fixed quote given without an X-ray or clinical examination is a warning sign.
- Veneer or crown?Ask which one the plan says, and ask for it in writing (see below).
- Guarantee and insuranceWhat is covered, for how long and under which conditions. It should be written down.
- Payment and depositDeposit terms, refund conditions and an invoice.
- A follow-up planWho will you contact after you return, and how? Tell your own dentist in advance.
What are “Turkey teeth”, and why do they matter?
In the UK the phrase usually describes very white, very even smiles produced by shaving healthy teeth down on every surface to fit crowns. The head of the British Dental Association has said that many patients were told they were getting veneers when they actually received crowns.
A veneer usually removes roughly half a millimetre of enamel from the front of a tooth. A crown needs the tooth to be reduced on all surfaces. A crown can be the right treatment for a badly damaged tooth. The problem is a crown placed on healthy teeth purely for appearance, without the patient understanding what is happening.
This is a problem of information and consent, not of one country. The question to ask is: “Will I get veneers or crowns, and how much of each tooth will be removed?” Ask for the answer in writing.
Your rights during treatment
- To be informed in a language you understand, and to read the informed consent form before signing. The authorisation criteria expect the form to be prepared in the patient's language and signed by both patient and dentist.
- To be told in writing about any change to the plan and any extra cost.
- To stop or postpone treatment, and to get a second opinion.
- To ask for your treatment records, images and information on the materials used.
Detailed pages on each right are in the Patient Rights section of this guide.
After you return home
Before you leave, get your treatment summary, the list of procedures carried out and, for an implant, the brand, model and batch details, plus your guarantee document. Take them to your own dentist.
If you have pain, swelling, loosening or signs of infection, contact the treating centre and see a local dentist without delay. Go to an emergency department for heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or fast-growing swelling of the face or neck.
Where to go if something goes wrong
| Channel | What it is for |
|---|---|
| International Patient Support Unit and Call Center +90 850 288 38 38 24/7 · English, German, French, Russian, Persian, Arabic | Interpreting, advice, suggestions and complaint registration |
| SABİM Alo 184 | Complaints and requests about health services |
| Patient Rights Unit of the facility | Reporting a rights violation (in hospitals run by the Ministry) |
| CİMER and the Ministry's e-complaint system | Administrative complaint (confirm on the official page) |
| Your home country's consumer body and professional regulator | Payment and contract disputes. Jurisdiction varies by country |
A separate guide will cover how these channels apply to private clinics and foreign patients.
Frequently asked questions
Does an authorisation certificate mean the treatment will be good?
It is an important sign of trust. An organisation that holds the certificate has shown that it meets the criteria the Ministry of Health sets for accepting international patients, and it is subject to Ministry inspection. That is a real safeguard compared with an unauthorised provider. The outcome of treatment still depends on the dentist, the treatment plan and your own circumstances, so look at the certificate together with the dentist's experience and a written treatment plan.
Is a very low price a risk?
Price alone does not show quality. A very low, fixed quote with no examination is a warning sign, especially when combined with pressure, an unclear scope or no written plan.
Which treatments can be done in a single trip?
It depends on the treatment and the dentist's plan. Your travel plan should not override the medical plan. A booked flight and hotel are not a reason to carry out a treatment that is not suitable.
If I have a problem at home, is the facility in Türkiye responsible?
The scope and length of a guarantee are set out in the contract. Which law applies and how far your rights extend depend on the case, and you may need legal advice.
Will my own dentist correct this treatment?
Not always. In some health systems corrective work can be complex and costly, so speak to your own dentist before treatment.
Official sources
- Ministry of Health, Health Tourism Department, and the HealthTürkiye portal
- USHAŞ (intermediary authorisation certificates)
- Official Gazette, regulation of 26 April 2025
- TÜİK tourism statistics
- United Kingdom: General Dental Council and the NHS checklist for treatment abroad. United States: CDC Medical Tourism
References used for this page
- Regulation text, articles 2 and 5 (Official Gazette reproduction)
- Regulation summary: complication insurance and accreditation timeline
- Norton Rose Fulbright: regulation summary
- Ministry of Health: International Patient Support Unit
- Regulation annexes, 2025 (Official Gazette PDF)
- TravelHealthPro (UK): travelling for treatment
- BDA survey on dentists treating patients who travelled abroad
- Daily Excelsior: “Turkey teeth” and regulation