GDC raises alarm over potentially illegal ‘dental tourism’ events in UK hotels

The General Dental Council (GDC) has warned that a growing number of “dental tourism” events hosted by private clinics from Türkiye may be breaking UK law, following a surge in promotional meet‑ups taking place in hotels across the country.

According to reporting by GDPUK, Turkish dental firms have been flying teams to the UK to hold free consultation-style sessions in venues including the DoubleTree by Hilton and Radisson Blu. Events advertised on Facebook are scheduled throughout May and June in Bristol, Birmingham, Croydon, Newcastle and Norwich.

The GDC told GDPUK it is concerned that some of these events may involve unregistered Turkish dentists carrying out patient assessments, which constitutes illegal practice in the UK. The regulator said it has the power to prosecute firms involved, with courts able to impose unlimited fines on conviction.

A GDC spokesperson said the regulator is worried both about unlawful clinical activity and the risk of misleading or unsafe advice being given to prospective patients considering treatment abroad. While the GDC cannot regulate overseas dentistry, it continues to publish guidance to help patients understand the risks of seeking treatment in other countries.

The British Dental Association (BDA) echoed these concerns, warning that such events are now commonplace in major UK cities and accusing regulators of being slow to intervene. BDA chair Dr Eddie Crouch said clinics were “touting for business in UK hotels” while regulatory bodies appeared “unwilling to tackle crimes taking place in plain sight”.

Some Turkish providers are advertising “special discounts” for patients who attend and later book treatment in Istanbul, while others promote “no pressure” consultations and “no hidden costs”. The British Association of Private Dentistry also raised concerns about the lack of CQC registration and uncertainty over whether clinicians involved are GDC‑registered.

Although there are no official figures on the number of UK patients travelling abroad for cosmetic dental procedures, UK dentists report increasing numbers of patients returning with complications. A 2022 BDA survey found 86% of dentists had treated patients suffering problems after undergoing treatment overseas.

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