Celebrities With Turkey Teeth: Who Went to Turkey and What Was Really Done

Celebrities with Turkey teeth are mostly British TV personalities. The best-documented cases are Katie Price, who has had several sets of veneers in Turkey, and Love Island's Jack Fincham, who said in 2022 that he had E.max crowns there and now regrets it. Other reality stars have been reported to have had treatment in Turkey too. What the cases have in common is not the country, but the type of treatment and how it was planned.

This guide sticks to what was publicly reported, with sources, and explains the dentistry behind each case. If you are considering treatment yourself, our veneers page explains how we decide whether veneers, crowns or bonding fit your teeth.

What does "Turkey teeth" actually mean?

"Turkey teeth" is not a dental term. It is a nickname that spread on social media for a very white, very even smile, often with teeth that look larger or squarer than natural teeth. Most of the problem cases behind the term involved full crowns on healthy teeth, sold or described as veneers. Our guide to what Turkey teeth means and how to avoid it explains the background.

The difference matters. According to the Oral Health Foundation, a veneer is a thin layer of porcelain or composite bonded to the front of a tooth, usually after removing a small amount of enamel. A crown covers the whole tooth, so far more tooth has to be removed. That reduction cannot be undone.

Which celebrities have Turkey teeth?

The table summarises the best-known reported cases. It only includes people who said themselves, or were reported in established media, to have had treatment in Turkey.

Lists of "celebrities with Turkey teeth" on social media often include people who never said where they were treated. If a source does not name the person's own words or a reliable report, treat it as a guess.

Katie Price: several sets of veneers and crowns that fell out

Katie Price is the name most people associate with Turkey teeth. She has been open about returning to Turkey for new sets of veneers several times, and about crowns that came loose. We cover her case in detail, including what repeated replacement means for the teeth underneath, in Katie Price's teeth: what went wrong.

The lesson from her case is about the long term. Every time veneers or crowns are replaced, a little more tooth is usually lost. A smile that is redone again and again ends up resting on smaller and weaker teeth.

Jack Fincham: E.max crowns on healthy teeth

Jack Fincham, who won Love Island in 2018, spoke about his teeth on BBC Breakfast in July 2022. According to Dentistry.co.uk, he said he had E.max crowns, not veneers, and that there had been nothing wrong with his original teeth. He chose the treatment after two friends had the same work and were happy with it.

He said there was "a lot of stuff I didn't know" and that, knowing the risks, he would have chosen composite bonding, as his younger brother did. He also said he did not want people to copy him without understanding what was involved.

From a dental point of view, the key detail is the word "crowns". E.max is a strong, natural-looking glass ceramic used for both veneers and crowns. The material was not the issue. The issue was covering healthy teeth completely when a less invasive option might have reached a similar look. Our guide to veneers vs crowns explains when each one makes sense.

The BBC documentary that put Turkey teeth in the headlines

In 2022 the BBC broadcast "Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake?", presented by the dentist Trishala Lakhani. According to GDPUK, she sent photos of her own healthy teeth to 150 clinics in Turkey and 50 in the UK. Of the 120 Turkish clinics that replied, 70 proposed a plan with crowns and veneers, and one suggested crowning all 28 teeth. None of the 34 UK clinics that replied suggested any treatment.

The same month, the British Dental Association published a survey of its members. As Dentistry.co.uk reported, 86% of responding dentists had seen patients with problems after treatment abroad, crowns and implants were the treatments most often needing follow-up, and one in five dentists said repair costs had exceeded £5,000 for some patients.

These figures say nothing about any one clinic, and they do not mean every patient has problems. They do show why "do I actually need this?" is the most important question to ask.

Reality TV and the veneer backlash

By 2024 the mood had shifted. Dazed described how Love Island contestants with very bright veneers were mocked online, with comments comparing their teeth to piano keys, and how at least one later tried to reverse her work. The article does not say where each person was treated, so these cases are about the look rather than about Turkey.

The trend points in one direction: towards smaller changes, more natural shades and keeping as much of your own tooth as possible. Whitening, composite bonding or a few minimal-preparation veneers often give a fresher smile without the "too perfect" look.

Not every case went wrong: Liz Jones

It would be unfair to present only problems. The journalist Liz Jones wrote in Saga Magazine in April 2025 about having 22 zirconia crowns fitted in Istanbul over about five days, together with gum surgery. She described the treatment as sore and tiring, but was happy with the result, which a friend called "perfect but natural".

Her case differs from the cautionary ones in an important way: she already had old fillings and veneers, and gum problems that needed treatment. Crowns can be the right choice when teeth are heavily restored or damaged. The question is always whether the treatment fits the teeth, not where it is done.

What the celebrity cases teach anyone booking treatment

Across all of these stories, the same points come up:

• Know what you are getting. Your plan should say, tooth by tooth, whether it is a veneer, a crown or bonding. If healthy teeth are down for crowns, ask why.
• Ask how much tooth will be removed. Our guide to what veneers are explains how much enamel is usually removed.
• Choose the shade in daylight. The whitest shade on a chart is rarely the most natural one in your face.
• Allow enough time. Porcelain veneers need a try-in and a buffer day. Our veneers page explains the usual 5 to 7 day trip.
• Plan the aftercare. The General Dental Council advises talking to your own dentist first and asking what aftercare the provider abroad offers. Our guide to Turkey teeth aftercare in the UK covers the rest.

If you already have work that is causing problems, our article on Turkey teeth gone wrong explains what can usually be done.

How we approach a "celebrity smile" request at Doctor Turka

Doctor Turka is a dental clinic in Ataköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul. When a patient sends us a celebrity photo, we treat it as a description of what they like, not as a prescription. Our dentists examine your teeth first and tell you honestly if whitening or bonding is enough, if veneers fit, or if crowns are justified on specific teeth. You receive a free written plan before you travel, with each tooth listed. You can see real results on our before and after page, check starting prices on our dental costs in Turkey page, read how it works or contact us via WhatsApp. We reply within 15 minutes, 7 days a week.

Sources

Love Island's Jack Fincham on his 'Turkey teeth' (Dentistry.co.uk, 14 July 2022) · Dental tourism: nine in 10 dentists have treated patients who travelled abroad for treatment (Dentistry.co.uk, 14 July 2022) · BBC dental tourism documentary highlights 'hidden' dangers (GDPUK) · Liz Jones went to Turkey for dental treatment: was it worth it? (Saga Magazine, 17 April 2025) · Turkey teeth: have veneers lost their shine? (Dazed, October 2024) · Going abroad for dental treatment (General Dental Council) · Veneers (Oral Health Foundation)