Good questions are specific, and they ask for the answer in writing. The aim is not to catch a clinic out. A clinic that welcomes the questions is telling you something useful, and one that avoids them is telling you something too.

Work through the groups below, keep every reply, and do not pay a deposit until you are satisfied. If you have not yet confirmed who would treat you, start with how to check a dentist and clinic. For where these questions fit among the other checks, see how to assess a clinic.

What should you ask about the dentist?

Ask for the name of each dentist who will treat you, whether the dentist who plans your treatment will also carry it out, where you can check their registration details, and who you can contact once you are home. Without a name you cannot check anything, so get the answers in writing.

  1. Who will treat me, by name? Without a name you cannot check anything.
  2. Will the dentist who plans my treatment also carry it out? If not, ask who does what.
  3. What are your registration details, and where can I check them? Registration is covered in the guide above.
  4. Who will I be able to contact once I am home? A named person is better than a general inbox.

Before any of this, the GDC advises speaking to your own dentist before you consider travelling abroad, so they are aware of your plans in case of later complications.1

What should you ask about the diagnosis?

Ask whether you will be examined, with X-rays, before you are given a plan and a price, what is wrong with your teeth, whether your gums and any existing decay or fillings have been checked, and what the possible complications are. Examination before pricing, with your full medical history, is what the GDC advises.

  1. Will I be examined, with X-rays, before you give me a plan and a price? The GDC’s advice is assessment first, with your full medical history.
  2. What is wrong with my teeth, and why is this treatment the answer? The reason should be about the tooth, not the package.
  3. Have you checked my gums and any existing decay or fillings? These change what is sensible to do.
  4. What are the possible complications, and how often do they happen? If the clinic gives a figure, ask where it comes from. “No discussion of possible complications” is on the NHS list of warning signs.2

The same NHS checklist recommends a second opinion, so take the written plan to a UK dentist. The CMA guide to choosing and paying for dental care likewise advises asking for a written treatment plan.5

What should you ask about the preparation?

This group matters most, because tooth removed during preparation does not grow back. Ask whether each tooth is getting a crown or a veneer, how much will be removed, whether a less invasive option such as composite bonding was considered, and what happens if the nerve is affected or the restoration later needs replacing. See tooth preparation for the detail.

  1. Is each tooth getting a crown or a veneer? Ask for it to be written tooth by tooth. The difference is explained in crowns versus veneers.
  2. How much of each tooth will be removed? Ask for an explanation in plain words, such as enamel only or into the layer beneath.
  3. Was a less invasive option considered, such as composite bonding? If not, ask why.
  4. What happens if the nerve of a prepared tooth is affected later? You want to know who treats it and who pays.
  5. What is the plan when this restoration needs replacing? Every restoration eventually does.

What should you ask about materials and the lab?

Ask which material each restoration will be made from, by name, and which laboratory makes them and whether it is on site. Ask also whether you can see and approve the shape and shade before fitting, and who pays for a remake if one chips or comes loose.

  1. Which material, by name, will each restoration be made from? A brand or category such as zirconia or lithium disilicate is more useful than “premium”.
  2. Which laboratory makes them, and is it on site? It affects how quickly an adjustment can be made.
  3. Is there a stage where I can see and approve the shape and shade? A try-in is much easier to change than a fitted restoration.
  4. What is remade, and at whose cost, if one chips or comes loose? The answer belongs in the guarantee.

What should you ask about the schedule?

Ask how many visits are planned and how long the gaps are, what temporary teeth you will wear in between, whether there is time to check the fit and your bite before you fly, and when it is safe to fly after each stage. Ask each of these questions before you book, and keep the written replies.

  1. How many visits are planned, and how long is the gap between them? Our guide to how long treatment takes explains the typical structures, and our section on planning a dental trip to Turkey covers the rest of the journey.
  2. What temporary teeth will I wear in between? Ask how long they are meant to stay.
  3. Is there time to check the fit and my bite before I fly? Adjustments are much easier on the spot.
  4. When is it safe to fly after each stage? The treating dentist should be able to say; our page on flying after dental treatment sets out the published guidance.

What should you ask about aftercare and the guarantee?

Ask what exactly the guarantee covers and for how long, what happens if you cannot travel back, whether your X-rays, treatment notes and materials list will be sent to your UK dentist, and what the aftercare plan is, in writing. Ask for the answers in that form, so you can compare them later.

  1. What exactly does the guarantee cover, and for how long? Ask what you must do to keep it valid, and whether it requires you to return. Our guide to guarantees and redress explains what to look for.
  2. If I cannot travel back, what happens? A guarantee you cannot use is worth little.
  3. Will you send my X-rays, treatment notes and materials list to my UK dentist? They will need them. See NHS care and emergencies at home for what the NHS does and does not do.
  4. What is the aftercare plan, in writing? The NHS lists a clear aftercare plan among the things to look for.2

On the money side, the Foreign Office says standard travel insurance does not normally cover you if you travel abroad for elective surgery, and may not cover costs from complications, though that wording is general and does not mention dental work specifically.4 Its separate guidance asks you to check exclusions and pre-existing conditions, and says a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not an alternative to travel insurance.6 TravelHealthPro adds that follow-up care may not be covered by the NHS.3 Ask your insurer directly, and keep the reply.

What should you ask about cost?

Ask whether the quote is itemised tooth by tooth, what is included beyond the treatment, how the price changes if more work turns out to be needed, and whether the deposit is refundable and under what conditions. Agree these points before you start and get the terms in writing.

  1. Is the quote itemised, tooth by tooth? Our guide to what a dental quote should itemise explains how to read one.
  2. What is included beyond the treatment? Check X-rays, temporary teeth, check-ups, flights, accommodation and transfers one by one.
  3. What happens to the price if more work turns out to be needed? Agree this before you start.
  4. Is the deposit refundable, and under what conditions? Get the terms in writing.

Printable checklist

Print this page, or copy the list, and tick each item once you have the answer in writing. The list gathers the questions above in one place, so you can keep every reply together and avoid paying a deposit until you are satisfied. A red-flag answer is covered in dental clinic red flags.

  • ☐ Named dentist, and their registration details
  • ☐ Examination and X-rays before a plan and price
  • ☐ Written plan listing each tooth and its treatment
  • ☐ Crown or veneer stated for every tooth
  • ☐ How much tooth is removed, explained in words
  • ☐ Less invasive options discussed
  • ☐ Material and laboratory named
  • ☐ Visits, gaps and temporary teeth set out
  • ☐ Fit and bite checked before flying home
  • ☐ Guarantee terms, duration and conditions in writing
  • ☐ Records to be sent to my UK dentist
  • ☐ Itemised price, deposit terms and refund terms
  • ☐ Travel insurance position confirmed in writing
  • ☐ My own dentist told, and second opinion taken

Frequently asked questions

  • What should I do if a clinic will not answer my questions in writing?

    Treat that as an answer. A clinic that cannot or will not put a plan, a dentist’s name and the guarantee terms in writing leaves you with nothing to check or rely on later. You can ask again, or decide not to go ahead. Our guide to red flags explains why this matters.

  • Should I ask my own dentist before I travel?

    Yes. The GDC advises speaking to your own dentist before you consider travelling, partly so they know your plans in case of later complications. They can look at your mouth and X-rays and give a view on the plan. Our guide to finding a UK dentist covers what to bring to an appointment.

  • Is it acceptable to ask for a second opinion?

    Yes, and it is recommended. The NHS suggests getting a second opinion from a GP or dentist, and no reputable clinic should object. Take the written plan to a UK dentist and ask what they would do. Our guide to checking a dentist explains the other checks to run in parallel.

  • Do I need travel insurance for dental treatment abroad?

    Check before you book. Government guidance says standard travel insurance does not normally cover you if you travel abroad for elective surgery, and may not cover costs from complications. It does not name dental work, so ask your insurer in writing what applies. Our guide to NHS care and emergencies explains what the NHS can and cannot do at home.

  • What if the answers I get are vague?

    Vague answers are information. Ask again with the specific question, and if the reply is still unclear, take a step back. Vagueness about the dentist, the plan, the guarantee or the price is a recognised warning sign, and our red flags guide sets out the others.