Full jaw dental implants in Turkey

For patients who have lost all their teeth, complete edentulism can be a significant psychological and social burden, affecting their daily lives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), total tooth loss remains a global health issue, impacting speech, diet, social relationships, and general well-being. The WHO estimates that over 380 million people worldwide are affected by this condition, with the majority being over the age of 60. As the population ages, the WHO predicts that up to 30% of people will be edentulous by 2030.

While the incidence of edentulism is expected to decrease in the general population due to improved dental prophylaxis, effective treatments, and increased acceptance of dental care among younger generations, this trend is not as prevalent among the elderly. Many senior patients only visit their dentist in emergencies, often resulting in dental extractions being the only viable treatment option.

The financial cost of full arch restoration for partially or edentulous patients, particularly fixed prostheses on implants, remains a significant challenge. In the UK and other industrialised countries, the NHS funds prioritise covering the cost of removable therapeutic solutions over fixed implant-supported options, which offer superior comfort, health benefits, and durability compared to dentures. This persists despite the WHO’s call for governments to take urgent action to improve the treatment of oral health problems, with edentulism as a top priority. Furthermore, specialist researchers advocate for better care for edentulous individuals within healthcare systems, emphasising the need to recognise the severity of their condition and its impact on their social, psychological, and overall health

The Main Causes of Edentulism

The primary cause of edentulism is tooth decay, followed by periodontal disease. In most cases, these conditions result from poor dental hygiene. Other causes include endodontic issues (infections of the nerves inside the teeth), harmful or inappropriate consequences of dental surgery, dental trauma (accidents), and prosthetic causes, where the fitting of a dental prosthesis may require the extraction of the remaining teeth. Less common factors contributing to edentulism include diabetes and dental phobia.

Several fixed prosthetic solutions are available for treating edentulous patients. The dental protocol most recommended by professionals and validated by research in France is the All-On system: an integral prosthesis fixed on four (All On 4) or six (All On 6) implants for each jaw. However, these implant treatments can be expensive and are not fully covered by the NHS, apart from partial reimbursement for dental crowns that are fixed onto the implants to replace a full set of teeth. The cost can be even higher if a bone graft is necessary to ensure optimal osseointegration of the dental implants. Additionally, patients may face waiting times of several months or years due to overworked dental practices and hospital emergency departments.

Fortunately, dental tourism offers a solution that allows an increasing number of patients to choose to carry out their dental treatment abroad. By seeking treatment in other countries, patients can save up to 70% on their dental bills without compromising the quality of the operation or the equipment used. This option has become increasingly popular among those seeking to restore their smiles while managing the financial burden of extensive dental procedures.

Why Choose Turkey for Your Full Dental Implants?

Over the last fifteen years, Turkey has become a major destination for patients worldwide in the field of medical and dental tourism. By choosing your service provider carefully and taking advantage of the best professional guarantees, you can access dental treatment at an unbeatable value for money, with costs two to three times lower than those in the UK or Ireland.

Istanbul and Antalya, the two main Turkish cities renowned for their dental tourism, are less than an hour’s flight from the major capitals of Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia. Their dental clinics cater to international patients and adhere to the highest hospitality, hygiene, and medical equipment standards. Dentists are highly qualified and experienced, utilising the most modern medical and dental technologies. Thanks to the difference in surgery prices, it is possible and advisable to opt for top-quality implants at a lower cost. Another major advantage of dental treatment in Turkey is fast, personalised care, drastically reducing waiting times, especially in cases of chronic pain. Many dental surgeries chosen by Body Expert offer their patients improved pain management with intravenous conscious sedation. Lastly, a dental holiday in Turkey can be combined with a fun getaway! Istanbul, Turkey’s economic and cultural capital, and Antalya, the pearl of the Turkish Riviera, are exciting and affordable tourist and cultural destinations.

All-On: The Best Solution for the Full Jaw

The All-On dental implant system is particularly suitable for edentulous patients. It is a complete dental prosthesis anchored to the jawbone (upper or lower) by 4, 6, or 8 titanium implants. Integrated into the gum, these implants are evenly distributed over the entire jaw and support a prosthetic arch made up of false gums and ceramic or porcelain dentures, which are screwed onto the implants. The Swedish company Nobel Biocare AB developed all-On-6 treatments, like All-On-4 and All-On-8. The main advantage of this orthodontic treatment is that it can be adapted to patients with low bone volume in the jaws.

In its optimum configuration, “All-In” consists of inserting a series of titanium anchoring implants into the jawbone, a bio-compatible material with the human organism. An arch consisting of false gum tissue and 10 to 12 ceramic or porcelain false teeth is attached to the implants with six titanium screws. Unlike dentures, ALL-on-6 treatment is permanent, requires no adhesive material, does not move, and lasts 10 to 30 years with rigorous dental hygiene. It prevents jawbone deterioration, which accelerates without natural or artificial tooth roots. In addition to their natural aesthetic appearance, All-On dental implants enable patients to chew efficiently and comfortably. Above all, they offer faster recovery and are less expensive than other implant treatment techniques.

Which Treatment to Choose: All-On-4, All-on-6, or All-on-8

The practitioner may prescribe different All-On solutions with 4, 6, or 8 implants depending on the patient’s bone condition, jaw configuration, and age. The All-On-4 allows good masticatory function to be restored in a shorter time, without the need for bone grafting and with a lower budget, while a false gum will correct the occlusion invisibly. However, an All-On-4 requires wearing a half denture, whereas an All-On-6 is fully integrated into the dentition without the need for a partial denture.

The All-On-6 system offers several advantages over the All-On-4:

• Improved stability: With six implants distributed evenly across the jaw, the All-On-6 provides better support and stability for the prosthetic arch, reducing the risk of implant failure or prosthesis movement.
• Enhanced chewing comfort: The additional implants in the All-On-6 configuration allow for a more natural distribution of chewing forces, resulting in improved comfort and functionality compared to the All-On-4.
• Longer-lasting solution: The increased number of implants in the All-On-6 system helps to distribute the load more evenly, reducing stress on individual implants and potentially extending the lifespan of the prosthesis.
• Aesthetics: The All-On-6 allows for a more natural-looking prosthesis without the need for a partial denture, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing smile.

The All-On-8 configuration, with eight implants, is more expensive and is only recommended in special cases where bone grafting is not possible due to certain reasons of maxillary configuration or graft rejection.

In all cases, the All-On-6 system offers the best comfort/durability ratio, providing a balance between the benefits of additional implants and the cost-effectiveness of the treatment. However, the final decision on which All-On system to choose should be made in consultation with a qualified dental professional who can assess the individual patient’s needs and circumstances.

The Different Stages in Implementing the All-On System

The All-On-6 prosthetic treatment can be performed in two sessions spaced two to three months apart, allowing for perfect osseointegration of the titanium implants. If bone grafting is required, it should be carried out 6 to 8 weeks before implant placement. During the waiting period between the installation of the implants and the loading of the definitive full prosthesis screwed to the implants, patients will be fitted with a temporary prosthesis for both aesthetic and masticatory comfort reasons.

• Placing the implants: The first stage in fitting an All-On consists of preparing for the placement of the dental implants. Any bone grafting is done beforehand to strengthen the anchorage of the implants, and a surface treatment (sandblasting and acid etching) is performed to promote osseointegration. Using a digital surgical-guidance X-ray to analyze the state of the bone, the implantologist creates six different anchoring points in the jawbone, strategically placed to ensure the best possible strength and stability for the prosthetic arch. The titanium implants, covered with a recovery cap, are then inserted to help the screws integrate into their bone and gum environment. This operation is carried out under anesthesia (local or general), and most patients can return to their normal lifestyle the day after this initial operation.

• Creation of a temporary prosthesis: During the same session, a 3D image of the jaw is taken to create a temporary prosthesis, which will be worn for 6 to 8 weeks to allow the implants to integrate as well as possible with the bone and the gum to heal properly. This way, the patient will not remain edentulous during the healing phase.

• Final implantation of the prosthesis: Once the implants have been perfectly integrated and healing has been successful, a final appointment is held to fix the custom-made final prosthesis, which is created by the dental technician based on 3-D images taken during the patient’s convalescence. The practitioner will then provide all the health and dietary instructions and recommendations for looking after and preserving the new teeth: the better they are cared for, the longer they will last.

• Recovery and convalescence: It is possible to return to work the day after the implant operation, but a day’s rest is recommended and compulsory in the case of general anesthesia. As with any oral surgery, the patient may experience slight pain in the jaw after the operation. The dentist will prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory medication (such as paracetamol), and antibiotics to prevent infection. The use of an antibacterial mouthwash is recommended for the week following the operation. Some swelling and painful bruising may occur in the operated area but generally disappears after a few days. If necessary, a visit to the dentist may be required. Signs of dental implant rejection include a lack of sensation when brushing or chewing, the presence of bone around the implant (visible on an X-ray), and a lack of mobility. However, these cases are very rare: the ALL-on-6 post-operative success rate is 98%, with the 2% failures generally due to rejection of the implant by the jawbone. Regular post-operative monitoring enables quick detection of any infections or rare failures in implant osseointegration.

Post-Operative Results

According to feedback from dental practices and All-On system manufacturers, the implant success rate is around 97%. Nobel Biocare, inventor and leading supplier of All-On solutions to dental implantology practices, which claims to have fitted more than 250,000 patients worldwide, reports a clinical success rate of 98% over the past 25 years. Rejection of titanium implants is still very rare, and complete restoration of the maxillary arch, upper or lower, with dental implants is the best guarantee offered to edentulous patients of regaining a more than perfect set of teeth. The patient’s smile is restored, both aesthetically and physiologically. Masticatory functions can work at full capacity, and the jawbones stop retracting, enabling the patient to improve their general state of health and rediscover their zest for life.

The Organisation and Running of the Stay

When patients choose to have their teeth restored abroad, they generally contact an agency specialising in medical tourism, such as Body Expert. The entire medical file and estimate will be drawn up prior to the visit, with an English-speaking account manager dedicated to the patient from the start to the end of the treatment, present at all appointments and responsible for post-operative follow-up. Once the file has been compiled and contact made with the dental clinic and surgical team, appointments can be made very quickly, depending on the patient’s availability.

A VIP welcome is organised on arrival at the airport, with private chauffeur-driven transport to the hotel, which is rated 4 or 5 stars and generally located close to the dental clinic. The English-speaking assistant, present during all medical appointments, can also organise tourist and cultural activities between appointments: whether in Istanbul or Antalya, your assistant will be able to guide you to the best addresses, from gastronomy to culture, via the hammam or shopping.

What is the Cost of Restoring Complete Edentulism?

Implantation of the All-On system with treatment organised by Body Expert in Turkey is the ideal solution for edentulous patients from the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada wishing to restore their complete jaw at a much more affordable budget than in their home countries, in the region of 60 to 80% depending on the configuration. It is difficult to make an exhaustive comparison, because of the complexity of the operation, the choice of materials and configurations used, and the possible need for a bone graft or sinus lift. The price of titanium implants remains the only constant and the largest item of expenditure. We therefore compared the cost of an All-On 6 treatment with 6 Straumann implants (the Rolls-Royce of implants) and 12 Emax crowns.

• United Kingdom: between £7,000 and £10,500
• Ireland: between €8,000 and €12,000
• United States: between $10,000 and $15,000
• Canada: between CA$13,000 and CA$20,000
• Turkey: between £3,500 and £5,250 (approximately €4,000 to €6,000)

The significant price difference between Turkey and other English-speaking countries can be attributed to several factors, including lower labor costs, a favorable exchange rate, and the streamlined organization of dental clinics specializing in medical tourism. Despite the lower costs, the quality of care and materials used in Turkey remains on par with international standards, making it an attractive option for patients from the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada seeking affordable, high-quality dental treatments.