Veneers and crowns earn their price when shape, alignment, wear, chips or a discolouration that bleaching cannot lift are the actual problem. Aligners straighten crooked teeth without touching enamel. A useful test before you agree to anything: ask the dentist what happens if you whiten first and do nothing else for six months. One who can answer that calmly, and is happy to be paid €230 today instead of €3,500, is the one worth booking.
Sensitivity, safety and how long the result lasts
The common side effect is sensitivity — sharp short "zingers" and cold sensitivity for 24 to 72 hours, which usually settles on its own and responds to a desensitising toothpaste. Gum irritation happens when gel reaches soft tissue, which is one of the arguments for having a dentist isolate the gums rather than using a mail-order kit. Whitening is not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or where there is untreated decay, active gum disease or exposed root surfaces; those are treated first, and any clinic that skips the examination is skipping the part that keeps you safe.
Expect the result to hold around one to two years, less if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee, tea or red wine, and avoid strongly coloured food and drink for the first 48 hours while the enamel is more porous. There is no such thing as permanent teeth whitening, whatever a page advertising it says. Custom trays and a tube of gel let you top up at home for roughly the price of a meal out, which is the sensible way to keep the result.
How to choose a clinic in Istanbul
Ask for a written treatment plan before you pay anything, insist that the dentist examines your mouth or at least clear photographs before quoting you a shade, and be wary of any clinic that answers a whitening enquiry with a sixteen-veneer proposal. Estetica Istanbul is a medical-tourism agency: the dental clinics and hospitals are accredited partners we contract with, not staff we employ. That is exactly why we can tell you when the cheaper treatment is the correct one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does teeth whitening cost in Turkey?
From €230 for a professional in-office session of 60 to 90 minutes at our partner clinics in Istanbul. Higher quotes usually include a hygiene clean, a second session, or custom take-home trays and gel.
Is laser teeth whitening better than take-home trays?
It is faster, not necessarily better. The peroxide gel lightens the tooth; the evidence that a lamp or laser improves the final shade is weak. In-office whitening gets you most of the change in one appointment, which suits a short trip. Trays take one to two weeks and often finish in the same place, and they let you maintain the result cheaply afterwards.
Is there such a thing as permanent teeth whitening?
No. Teeth pick up stain again from food, drink and tobacco, and the natural colour deepens with age. A good result typically holds one to two years before it needs topping up. Any clinic advertising permanent whitening is overstating what bleaching does.
Can I whiten crowns, veneers or white fillings?
No — restorations keep their manufactured colour. If you have visible crowns, veneers or composite fillings at the front, whitening the natural teeth around them will make the mismatch more obvious, and matching them again means replacing them. Tell the dentist about every restoration you have before treatment is planned, and ask specifically how the result will look next to them.
If you are already planning dental work in Istanbul, or you want an honest read on whether whitening alone would fix what is bothering you, send clear photographs of your teeth in daylight for a free assessment. Our coordinators will come back with a treatment plan from a partner clinic and a personalised quote — including the option of doing nothing more than a €230 whitening, if that is what your photographs show. A €500 deposit secures your dates once you decide to go ahead; flights are never included.
Photo by Narissa de Villiers on Unsplash
