The "Bait and Switch" Nightmare: Do Turkish Dental Clinics Have Hidden Fees?

You are scrolling through Instagram or Google, looking for dental treatments in Turkey. You see an ad that looks too good to be true: “Full Set of Veneers + Hotel + Flights for £2,000!” Your heart skips a beat. You grab your calculator. It’s a fraction of what your local dentist in London, Manchester, or New York quoted you.

But then, a little voice in the back of your head whispers: "What’s the catch?" "Is this the final price?" "Am I going to fly 2,000 miles only to be told I need to pay double once I sit in the chair?"

If you are asking these questions, you are smart. You should be asking them. Unfortunately, the boom in Health Tourism has attracted some "cowboy" clinics that use unethical tactics to lure patients in. They quote a low price to get you through the door (or across the border), and then hit you with "surprise" costs when you are vulnerable and halfway through the procedure.

At Videntis Dental Clinic in Bostanlı, Izmir, we hate this practice. It damages the reputation of Turkish dentistry, and it causes unnecessary stress for patients who just want a healthy smile. We operate differently. We believe in Radical Transparency.

In this guide, we are going to expose the most common "Hidden Fees" in the industry, teach you how to spot a "Bait and Switch" scam, and explain the Videntis Price Guarantee: Why the price we quote you on WhatsApp is the exact price you pay at the front desk.

The "Bait and Switch": How It Happens

Imagine you book a flight. The ticket says £50. Great! But then you realize you have to pay extra for a seat, extra for a bag, extra for a meal, and extra to print your boarding pass. Suddenly, that £50 ticket is £200. Some dental clinics operate exactly like budget airlines.

Here is the typical scenario we hear from patients who came to us to fix bad work done elsewhere:

1. The Hook: The patient sends a photo. The clinic quotes a super low price for "8 Veneers."

2. The Arrival: The patient flies to Turkey.

3. The Switch: In the consultation chair, the dentist says, "Oh, your teeth are too crooked for veneers. You actually need 20 Zirconia Crowns and 4 Root Canals. That will be £5,000 more."

4. The Trap: The patient is already in the chair, maybe even sedated or prepped. They feel they have no choice but to pay.

This is not dentistry; this is sales. And at Videntis, we refuse to play this game.

The 5 Most Common "Hidden Fees" (And How We Handle Them)

To protect yourself, you need to know where the extra costs usually hide.

1. The "Bone Graft" Surprise in Implants

The Trick: You are quoted £400 for an implant. You arrive, and the surgeon says, "Your bone is too thin. We need to add bone powder (graft) and a membrane." Suddenly, the cost doubles. The Videntis Way: We don't guess; we measure. Before giving you a final quote, we ask for a Panoramic X-Ray (and ideally a CBCT scan). Our surgeons analyze your bone density remotely. If there is even a slight chance you need a bone graft or a sinus lift, we tell you before you book your flight. We include it in the potential cost plan so you are prepared.

2. Temporary Teeth (The "Walking Toothless" Fee)

The Trick: You get your teeth filed down for crowns or veneers. The dentist says, "Okay, come back in 5 days for the permanent ones." You ask, "What about now? I can't walk around like this!" They reply, "Oh, temporary teeth are an extra £50 per tooth." The Videntis Way: This is non-negotiable for us. Temporary teeth are always included in our package. We would never let a patient leave our clinic in Bostanlı with compromised teeth. Your comfort during the process is part of the standard of care, not an "extra."

3. Root Canal Treatments

The Trick: You are getting a full set of crowns (Hollywood Smile). During the preparation, the dentist works too aggressively and exposes the nerves. They then charge you for "unexpected" root canals on 10 teeth. The Videntis Way: We practice Minimally Invasive Dentistry. We aim to keep your teeth alive. However, biology is unpredictable. If a tooth needs a root canal, it is a medical necessity, not a sales tactic. But we warn you about "high-risk" teeth during the initial consultation, so if it happens, it is a calculated possibility, not a financial shock.

4. Night Guards and Retainers

The Trick: You finish your beautiful new smile. Then they tell you, "If you don't buy this £200 night guard, your warranty is void." The Videntis Way: If you are getting veneers or a full smile makeover, protecting that investment is crucial. We include the protective night guard in the final delivery of your treatment. No extra charge at the end.

5. "Medication and X-Rays"

The Trick: Charging extra for the initial X-ray, the local anesthesia shots, or the painkillers/antibiotics prescribed after surgery. The Videntis Way: All in-clinic X-rays (Panoramic/Periapical), local anesthesia, and necessary post-op medication scripts are part of the service. You don't pay to numb your mouth!

The Videntis Promise: What We Quote is What You Pay

We are located in Bostanlı, the most elite and respectable district of Izmir. Our reputation is everything. We serve the local Turkish community (who are very demanding!) as well as international guests. We cannot afford to be dishonest.

Here is our protocol for International Patients:

Step 1: The "Worst Case Scenario" Quote When you send us your photos or X-rays via WhatsApp/Email, our doctors review them. If we see a shadow that might be a cavity, or a bone level that looks borderline, we assume the worst. We quote you for the maximum likely cost. Why? Because we would rather tell you "Good news, you don't need that bone graft, the price is lower!" than "Bad news, you need to pay more."

Step 2: The Detailed Breakdown We don't just send a number like "Total: £3,000." We send a PDF breakdown:

• 4 x Straumann Implants

• 4 x Zirconia Abutments

• 12 x E-max Veneers

• VIP Transfer Service (Included)

• Temporary Teeth (Included) Everything is itemized. You know exactly what you are paying for.

Step 3: The Lock-In Once you agree to the plan and book your flights, the price is locked. We don't raise prices because "the exchange rate changed" or "inflation went up" between your booking and your arrival.

What If Something genuinely Changes?

Medicine is not math; it's biology. Sometimes, despite the best X-rays, a surgeon opens the gum and finds something unexpected (like a hidden infection or a cyst).

If this happens at Videntis:

1. We Stop: We don't proceed and bill you later.

2. We Show You: We use intraoral cameras or mirrors to show you exactly what the problem is.

3. We Discuss: We explain the options. "We can save this tooth with a root canal (£X), or we can extract it (£Y)."

4. You Decide: You are in control.

5. The "Videntis Cover": Often, if the extra cost is minor and due to something we missed in the planning, we absorb the cost. We would rather lose a small amount of profit than lose your trust.

How to Spot a "Red Flag" Clinic

If you are shopping around (and you should), watch out for these warning signs:

• Prices that are suspiciously low: If an implant is £100, run. The raw material cost of a quality titanium implant is higher than that. They are cutting corners somewhere (likely sterilization or fake brands).

• "Unlimited" offers: "Unlimited crowns for £2,000." There is no such thing as unlimited medical care. This means they will crown teeth that don't need it, destroying your healthy enamel.

• Pressure to pay cash upfront: Before you even see the doctor.

Conclusion: Peace of Mind is Priceless

You are traveling to a different country for surgery. You are already nervous about the flight, the language, and the outcome. You shouldn't have to be nervous about your bank account too.

At Videntis Dental Clinic in Izmir, we offer you the luxury of certainty. The only surprise we want you to have is looking in the mirror and being surprised at how beautiful your new smile looks.

Send us your X-rays today. Let’s give you a transparent, honest, and final quote. No hidden fees. No games. Just world-class dentistry in the beautiful setting of Bostanlı.

Contact us via WhatsApp to start your journey.