Dental tourism wasn’t something I had planned at all! Even though my teeth needed a lot of work, I just kept putting it off.
Two weeks before a holiday in Africa, and with planned construction work at home in London, my two-tooth bridge suddenly broke while I was having dinner. It was clear I couldn’t delay the treatment anymore, nd everything had to be done within those two weeks.
What followed still feels slightly surreal looking back. Within a week, I went from an emergency situation in London to being in surgery in Istanbul. I had all my teeth extracted, a sinus lift and a bone graft done. A week after that, I was back at work with temporary teeth, and the week after on the beach in The Gambia, which by the way is called “the smiling coast of Africa” because its shape on the map resembles a smile with teeth on the face of Senegal… which felt oddly appropriate in my case 😄.
The clinic I chose was DRGO Smile in Istanbul. The decision was largely influenced by very strong feedback from my daughter and her partner. He had already undergone treatment there, and they both spoke very highly of the results and of how everything was organised! That gave me enough confidence to proceed without hesitation.
From my own experience, what stood out immediately was how structured and professional everything felt. Before going, I had seen plenty of cases online from other clinics, many involving quite visible swelling and bruising after surgery, so I was fully prepared for that.
But in my case, there was nothing like it. No bruising at all, no real pain or discomfort, just very mild swelling that only I could notice. I still don’t quite understand how they managed that level of precision, but it genuinely felt like magic.
The practical side of things was also surprisingly easy. I’ve seen many clinics arrange drivers to take patients to and from appointments, which is helpful, but in this case, it was even more convenient. The clinic and the hotel are in the same building, so getting to appointments literally meant taking the lift.
The location itself is also worth mentioning because it is calm, safe, and not overly touristy or overpriced, which made the whole experience more comfortable.
Communication throughout has been excellent. I tend to ask a lot of questions, but they always respond clearly and patiently, which made a big difference, especially given how quickly everything had to happen.
Even at this stage, with temporary teeth, the result already looks very natural. People around me assume they’re my real teeth, which says a lot.
Now, as I’m waiting for my second visit, I find myself feeling genuinely grateful to everyone involved — not just the medical team, but also those handling the logistics and coordination. It’s something I think about every day, and sharing this feels like a better way to express that gratitude.
If anyone is currently researching options, I hope this helps in some way. Based on my experience, I would consider DRGO Smile a safe, professional clinic with highly skilled specialists.