A British mother who traveled to Turkey for what she believed would be a routine dental procedure has been left in constant pain after the treatment went disastrously wrong.
Leanne Abeyance, a 41-year-old mother of two from Telford, says her decision to seek affordable dental care abroad has resulted in a severe facial infection and the collapse of her nasal structure. She claims the procedure ultimately caused her septum to collapse, leaving her struggling to breathe and in daily discomfort.
Abeyance spent close to £3,000 on her initial treatment in Antalya. In August 2024, she returned to the same clinic to have four dental implants placed, after previously receiving veneers there. Following a check-up, dentists recommended additional procedures, including a sinus lift and bone graft, while replacing the veneers with implants.
Despite being given anesthesia, Abeyance says she felt much of the surgery, which she now believes was an early warning sign. After returning to the UK, she developed severe sinus issues and breathing problems. X-rays later revealed that the implants had pierced into her nasal cavity. By that point, doctors said the infection was too advanced to safely remove them.
Unable to get corrective care through the NHS due to the procedure being performed overseas, Abeyance was told she would need extensive surgery, including implant removal and reconstructive rhinoplasty. The estimated cost in the UK was quoted at £50,000.
Facing limited options, she launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover further treatment, admitting she had already drained most of her savings. Through TikTok, she now documents her health struggles and warns others against seeking cut-price cosmetic dentistry abroad.
So-called “Turkey Teeth” procedures have become notorious for complications. While treatments overseas can appear far cheaper, experts warn that many patients require costly corrective work afterward—often far exceeding the original price.
Abeyance’s message is clear: what seemed like a bargain has become a life-altering ordeal she wishes she could undo.
