A Week in Antalya: My Dental Holiday Diary, Day by Day

The Flight That Changed My Smile

I’ll be honest: the idea of flying to Turkey for dental work sounded mad to me at first. I’m a 47-year-old marketing manager from Bristol, and my smile had been a quiet source of embarrassment for years. A failed bridge here, a receding gum there, and a growing dread of the dentist’s chair. Then a friend—someone whose judgment I trust—sent me a WhatsApp voice note after her own trip to Antalya. “It’s a holiday with a purpose,” she said. “And you’ll save thousands.”

Six weeks later, I was on a three-hour flight from Gatwick, clutching a folder of X-rays and a heart full of hope. What followed was the most transformative week of my adult life. Here is my dental holiday diary, day by day.

Day 1: Arrival and the First Consultation

Landing in Antalya

The heat hit me as I stepped off the plane at Antalya Airport—a dry, pine-scented warmth that felt like a reward after months of grey British skies. A driver from my clinic, Taki Dent, was waiting with a sign bearing my name. The transfer to the hotel took 25 minutes, and the driver pointed out the Taurus Mountains, their peaks dusted with snow even in late April.

The clinic had arranged a VIP meet-and-greet: I was whisked past passport control in under ten minutes. No queues. No stress.

The Clinic Tour

After dropping my bags at a four-star hotel in Lara (the clinic had booked it as part of the package), I was taken to Taki Dent’s main centre in the city centre. It was sleek, modern, and spotless—more like a private Harley Street practice than a foreign clinic. The receptionist offered me Turkish coffee and a small baklava. “You must relax before we begin,” she said.

My consultation was with Dr. Emre, a periodontist with 18 years’ experience and a calm, reassuring manner. He reviewed my CBCT scan (a 3D X-ray they’d asked me to have done at a clinic in Bristol at a cost of £150) and explained my options:

• Full-mouth rehabilitation with zirconia crowns on my upper arch
• Two dental implants for the missing lower molars
• Gum contouring on the front teeth for symmetry

The total estimate came to £5,800—including all treatment, anaesthesia, accommodation for seven nights, airport transfers, and a post-treatment follow-up. Back in Bristol, the same work would have cost £16,000. I asked about payment plans. They offered 0% interest over six months via a UK finance partner. No deposit required until I arrived.

“I’ve seen more smiles fixed here in a week than in a year at home,” Dr. Emre said, with a gentle laugh.

That evening, I ate a soft dinner of lentil soup and grilled fish at a restaurant overlooking the marina. The clinic had recommended I avoid hard foods for 24 hours, but the fresh sea bass was worth the caution.

Day 2: Prep Work and a Trip to the Old Town

The Morning Appointments

The first procedure day began at 8 a.m. After a light breakfast of yoghurt and honey (the clinic’s nutritionist had emailed me a list of recommended foods), I was driven to Taki Dent’s surgical suite. The team prepped me with local anaesthetic and a mild sedative—I felt drowsy but aware.

• Removal of my old, failing bridge: 30 minutes, painless
• Two implant placements in the lower left jaw: 90 minutes
• Temporary crowns fitted on the upper teeth: 45 minutes

By lunchtime, I was back at the hotel with a cheek full of ice packs and a prescription for ibuprofen. The swelling was minimal. I napped for two hours.

Exploring Kaleiçi

By late afternoon, I felt well enough to walk. The hotel was a ten-minute stroll from Kaleiçi, Antalya’s old town. Cobbled streets, bougainvillea tumbling over stone walls, and little shops selling handmade ceramics. I bought a small blue evil eye charm for my keyring—a souvenir of the journey.

I found a café serving fresh pomegranate juice and sat watching the sunset over the Roman harbour. The thought crossed my mind: I’m in pain, but I’m happy. It sounds odd, but it’s true.

Day 3: The Main Event—Crowns and Contouring

Full-Day Treatment

Day three was the big one. I arrived at the clinic at 9 a.m. and didn’t leave until 4 p.m. Dr. Emre and his team fitted twelve zirconia crowns on my upper arch. The process involved:

• Shaving down the existing teeth (under local anaesthetic)
• Taking digital impressions with an intraoral scanner—no goopy moulds
• Milling the crowns in-house while I watched a film on Netflix

The clinic has its own lab on site, so everything was same-day. I was offered lunch—a soft omelette and vegetable purée—between stages.

The First Look

When the last crown was cemented, I was handed a mirror. I cried. Not dramatic sobbing, but a quiet release of all the years I’d hidden my teeth in photos. They looked natural—slightly translucent at the edges, warm in colour, not that blinding white you see on reality TV. Dr. Emre had matched them to my natural lower teeth perfectly.

“Your smile is yours. We just made it healthier,” he said.

Day 4: Recovery and a Boat Trip

The Morning Check

I woke with some tenderness but no sharp pain. The clinic called to check on me at 9 a.m. and offered to send a nurse to the hotel. I declined—I felt fine.

I spent the morning walking along Lara Beach, a wide stretch of golden sand with sunbeds and cafes. I ate a soft ice cream (the clinic had said cold was good for swelling) and read a book.

Afternoon on the Water

The clinic had organised a complimentary boat trip for patients. I joined two others—a retired couple from Manchester who were having implants. We sailed along the coast, past the Düden Waterfalls, and stopped for a swim in a turquoise cove. I couldn’t swim because of the stitches, but I dipped my feet in the water.

That evening, I realised I hadn’t thought about my teeth for hours. They felt… normal. Stable. Strong.

Day 5: Gum Contouring and Final Adjustments

A Small Touch-Up

The gum contouring took just 40 minutes. Dr. Emre used a laser to reshape the tissue around my front teeth, creating a more even gumline. It was painless, and the bleeding stopped within an hour.

Afterwards, I had a final check-up with the clinic’s implantologist. My two lower implants were healing well. He gave me a care kit: a water flosser, soft-bristle toothbrush, and a tube of high-fluoride toothpaste.

A Taste of Antalya

That evening, I treated myself to dinner at a rooftop restaurant in the city. I ordered şiş köfte—grilled meatballs—and ate them carefully. The staff were friendly, and when they noticed my dental work, one waiter said, “Ah, you are a Taki Dent patient. You will have the best smile in England.”

Day 6: The Final Day—Photos and Farewells

The Smile Portrait

The clinic asked me to come in for a final set of photos. They wanted to document my case for their portfolio (with my permission). I stood in front of a white backdrop, smiling for the first time in years without hesitation.

Dr. Emre gave me a written treatment summary, a list of emergency contacts, and a six-month follow-up appointment via video call. “If anything feels wrong, you call me directly,” he said. “No emails. Just WhatsApp.”

A Last Walk

I spent my final afternoon in Antalya at the Antalya Museum, which houses incredible statues from the ancient city of Perge. I took the tram back to the hotel and packed my bags.

Day 7: Home, with a New Smile

The Journey Back

The flight home felt different. I caught my reflection in the window and smiled—not a tight-lipped grimace, but a full, open grin. The woman next to me noticed. “Did you have a good holiday?” she asked.

“The best,” I said. “I got a new smile.”

The Cost Breakdown

Here’s what I spent in total:

• Treatment (crowns, implants, contouring): £5,800
• Flights (Turkish Airlines, direct from Gatwick): £220
• Extra nights at the hotel (I stayed two nights beyond the package): £140
• Food and activities: £200
• Total: £6,360

Compare that to the £16,000 quote from my dentist in Clifton. I saved nearly £10,000.

A Note on Planning

If you’re reading this and thinking it sounds too good to be true, I get it. I felt the same. But I did my homework. I used a site called Offerqo to gather anonymous quotes from several clinics before deciding. That gave me a baseline for pricing and helped me spot unreasonable offers.

I chose Taki Dent because their reviews were overwhelming (9.8/10 across multiple platforms) and because they are a GDC-recognised partner—meaning their standards align with UK regulations. They also assigned me a patient coordinator who spoke fluent English and answered my WhatsApp messages at 10 p.m. on a Sunday.

A week in Antalya changed my smile. But more than that, it changed how I feel about showing it. If you’re on the fence, my advice is simple: go. Do your research, trust your gut, and book that flight. Your future self will thank you.