Follow-up care is part of the treatment, not something added afterwards. Before you travel, settle who will do it: the treating centre, your own dentist at home, or both. The CDC advises people treated abroad to take copies of all medical records before they leave and to arrange follow-up care with their own providers beforehand. It also notes that care after a complication can be costly and insurance may not cover it.
This page gives a general framework. The treating dentist decides check-up timing and aftercare instructions.
1. Before you leave
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2. When you get home: tell your own dentist
Bodies such as the GDC and BDA advise patients to talk to their own dentist before going abroad. Once you are back:
- Book an appointmentand say from the start that the treatment was done abroad.
- Bring your recordsand allow the dentist to keep a copy in your file.
- Ask for a check-upso the dentist can assess the work and suggest a care plan for you.
- Clarify the limits of responsibility.Your dentist may not have to take responsibility for treatment done abroad. Ask clearly what they can and cannot do.
- Show the guarantee termsto the dentist and plan together the check-ups that the guarantee requires.
A sentence for the dentist, to tap and copy:
3. Is it always easy to find a local dentist?
No. In source countries, caring for patients treated abroad can be difficult. In England, for example, some sources report that NHS dentists are not paid for advanced cosmetic or corrective work and often refer such patients to a dental hospital. In the US, the CDC says care after a complication can be costly and insurance may not cover it. So:
- Find a dentist who can do follow-up, and talk to them, before you travel.
- Consider private practices too, and ask in writing in advance about fees and scope.
- If a correction is needed, settle with the treating centre which part of the cost the guarantee covers (see the guarantees page).
4. General aftercare principles
These are general principles. The treating dentist gives your personal instructions.
- Follow instructions
- Follow the advice on medicines, mouth care and food exactly. Ask if anything is unclear.
- Oral hygiene
- Keep up the cleaning routine your dentist recommends.
- Regular check-ups
- Do not skip planned check-ups. The guarantee may depend on them (see the guarantees page).
- Smoking and risks
- Smoking and diabetes are reported to affect implant and gum health (AO/AAP, 2025). Talk about them with your dentist.
- Watch for symptoms
- Note pain, swelling, bleeding, fever, a bad taste or smell, or a tooth or implant that moves. See “When to get help” below.
- Do not self-treat
- Avoid taking antibiotics or medicines without a prescription. Ask a dentist.
5. Long-term care
| Restoration | What to know |
|---|---|
| Implants | Regular professional care and check-ups are needed. The 2025 AO/AAP review stresses that peri-implant disease is common and that structured lifelong care is essential (see the risks page). |
| Veneers and crowns | They may need maintenance or renewal over time. That is not necessarily a product defect. Ask the dentist, before treatment, about expected lifespan and renewal cost. |
| Dentures and bridges | Regular checks and fit adjustments are needed. |
| After orthodontics | Follow the dentist's instructions on retainer use and check-ups. |
Budget note. Add long-term care and renewal costs to your treatment budget (see the questions page). A cheap first price does not remove the cost of later care and possible correction.
6. When to get help
Get emergency care without delay
- Severe bleeding.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Swelling of the face or neck that is spreading quickly.
- High fever.
Go to an emergency department or the nearest emergency dental service straight away. This list should be reviewed by a dentist.
Contact a dentist without delay
- Pain that does not go away or gets worse.
- Swelling.
- Growing sensitivity to heat or cold.
- Pus or a bad taste.
- An implant, crown or bridge that moves.
- Trouble biting.
- Gum recession or bleeding.
- A restoration that breaks or falls out.
This list is not a diagnosis. These are only signs that you should get help. In these cases, tell both your own dentist and the treating centre, and keep your correspondence with both.
7. Contacting the treating centre
- First contact: report the problem in writing, with the date, the symptoms, photographs and your local dentist's opinion if you have it.
- Give a reasonable time for a reply. In an emergency, get local help first.
- Remote assessment: the 2025 Regulation lets facilities give remote health services to health tourists and provides for these services to be announced on the HealthTürkiye portal. Remote assessment has limits. Do not make your own dentist wait when an examination and X-ray are needed.
- A correction visit: if the guarantee means travelling again, settle in advance who pays for travel and accommodation.
- If you get no reply, see the complaints page and reach the call centre (+90 850 288 38 38).
8. A follow-up plan template
The treating dentist sets the timing. This table is only a framework.
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| At the end of treatment (before you leave) | Written follow-up plan, aftercare instructions, records, guarantee, emergency contacts | The facility |
| The first days at home | Tell your own dentist, watch for symptoms, take medicines as planned | You |
| At the times the dentist sets | Check-ups (on site or with a local dentist) | The treating dentist or a local dentist |
| At regular intervals | Professional cleaning and a check of restorations | A local dentist |
| Every year | General oral health and an assessment of implants and restorations | A local dentist |
| When a problem appears | Local help first, then a written report and a request with your records | You |
9. Quick checklist
Frequently asked questions
Does my own dentist have to look after treatment done abroad?
Not always. Some dentists only treat the emergency, and some take on full care. Ask in advance.
Do I need to go for check-ups to keep the guarantee?
Guarantee conditions depend on the contract, and some guarantees require regular check-ups. Get the conditions in writing (see the guarantees page).
Is a remote consultation enough?
It can help with light questions or guidance. Pain, swelling or a loose restoration need an examination in person.
Who do I contact first if there is a problem?
For a health problem, a local dentist or an emergency department first. Then report in writing to the treating centre and, if needed, use the routes on the complaints page.
Can I travel after treatment?
It depends on the treatment and the dentist's assessment. The CDC says surgery and flying together raise clot risk. Ask your doctor about your own health.
Sources
- CDC: medical tourism (records, follow-up care, clots after flying)
- CDC Yellow Book: medical tourism
- TravelHealthPro (UK): travelling for treatment
- GDC dental tourism checklist (news summary)
- BDA advice
- AO/AAP systematic review (peri-implant diseases, maintenance)
- BSP summary: lifelong care
- NHS dentists and corrective work (news, secondary)
- Ministry of Health statement (remote health services, HealthTürkiye)
- Ministry of Health: International Patient Support Unit