A single implant in Antalya: is the trip worth it?

Antalya is best known among UK patients for full-arch treatment, where the difference in price compared with private treatment at home can be very large. Many people also ask about a single implant: one missing tooth, one implant, one crown. Is it worth two trips to Turkey?

There is no single answer. It depends on what you would pay at home, how easily you can travel, and whether you need other treatment as well. Here is how to work it out for yourself.

What a single implant involves

An implant is placed in the jaw and left to fuse with the bone. A few months later the abutment and crown are fitted. The NHS notes that implants are usually only available privately. In Antalya, as in the UK, this almost always means two visits. See one trip or two.

Add up the full cost

To compare fairly with a UK private quote, put every cost in one column:

• The clinic price: implant, abutment and crown. At Precious Dental, £300 for the implant (MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann) and £150 for a zirconia crown.
• Possible extras: a bone graft or sinus lift if the scan shows you need one. At Precious Dental, £150 per 1cc of graft and £350 per sinus lift.
• Two return flights, at the times of year you will actually travel.
• Hotel nights not covered by the package. Precious Dental includes 4 nights for the first visit and 5 for the second.
• Transfers, if not included.
• Travel insurance for both trips.
• Time off work, if you are not retired.
• Check-ups at home afterwards.

Then compare that total with a written UK quote for the same work.

When the trip makes most sense

• You need more than one implant, so the travel cost is spread across more treatment.
• You need other work at the same time, such as crowns, a bridge or veneers.
• You are flexible on dates and can travel off-season.
• You were already planning a visit to the area.

When staying in the UK may be simpler

• You need only one implant and a UK quote is close to the full Antalya total.
• Flying twice in a few months is difficult for you.
• You have health conditions that need close follow-up from your own dentist or doctor.
• You would prefer to be treated by a dentist you can see easily if anything goes wrong.

Alternatives to ask about

For one missing tooth, a dentist may also discuss a bridge, which uses the teeth on either side for support, or a removable partial denture. Each has trade-offs. A bridge avoids surgery but needs the neighbouring teeth filed. A partial denture is the least expensive but is removable. The NHS describes these options on its dental treatments page.

Ask the right questions

• Is the price for the implant only, or the implant, abutment and crown?
• Which brand, and will I receive the details in writing?
• How many hotel nights come with each trip?
• How long between the two trips, roughly?
• What might be added after the 3D scan?
• What is the guarantee on the implant and on the crown?

Comparing clinics for implants

Our implant ranking scores Antalya clinics on brand, choice of brands, a written implant guarantee, 3D scanning and published prices. Precious Dental is our top pick. The dental implants in Antalya guide gives the full price list.

A worked cost sheet

Use this as a template. The clinic figures are Precious Dental's published prices; fill in the rest with your own numbers.

Then put a written UK private quote for the same implant and crown next to the total. If the difference is small, the convenience of being treated near home may be worth more than the saving.

Two implants or more

The sums change quickly as the number of teeth rises, because the flights and insurance are shared across more treatment. With Precious Dental's prices, each additional implant and crown adds £450 to the clinic bill while the travel costs stay roughly the same. If you are missing several teeth, ask for a plan that covers all of them, even if you do not do everything at once.

What to compare in a UK quote

• Is the UK price for the implant, abutment and crown together?
• Which brand?
• Is a 3D scan included?
• Are review appointments included?
• What guarantee does the practice give?
• How many visits, and over what period?

Asking the same questions of the UK practice and the Antalya clinic makes the comparison fair.

Thinking about the long term

An implant is meant to last many years, and it will need looking after. Regular check-ups and hygiene visits at home are part of the real cost wherever you have the implant placed. If you have it done abroad, keep the implant details so a UK dentist can look after it. See the implant brand line.

When a single implant is part of a bigger picture

Sometimes a single missing tooth is the first of several problems: neighbouring teeth with large old fillings, worn crowns or gum disease. A full examination may show that a wider plan makes sense. That can make a trip more worthwhile, but it should also make you careful: ask for each item to be explained and consider a UK second opinion on a large plan. See combining treatments in one plan.

NHS options for a missing tooth

Before deciding on an implant anywhere, it is worth knowing what the NHS may offer. The NHS lists bridges and dentures among treatments usually available on the NHS, while implants usually are not. NHS treatment is charged in bands, set out on the NHS dental costs page. A bridge or partial denture on the NHS may suit some people well, and costs far less than either a UK private implant or a trip abroad. Ask your UK dentist what they would recommend for that tooth, and why.

Practical points for two trips

• Plan both trips before booking the first, including the likely season of the second.
• Ask what you will wear in the gap if the tooth shows when you smile.
• Keep the implant details from trip one.
• Check your insurance covers both trips.
• Ask the clinic whether the crown price is fixed now for trip two.

More in one trip or two and how long to stay.

Whatever you choose, get every option and its price in writing so you can compare calmly at home.

Our honest view

As a clinic, we would like your business. But for a single implant, the right answer is sometimes to have it done at home. Send us an X-ray and tell us what you have been quoted in the UK, and we will tell you plainly whether the trip makes sense for you.

Common questions

Can I get a single implant on the NHS?

Rarely. The NHS says implants are usually only available privately, with exceptions such as patients who cannot wear dentures for medical reasons.

How many trips does a single implant need?

Usually two: one to place the implant and one, a few months later, to fit the crown.

Is a bridge an alternative to an implant?

Sometimes. A bridge uses the neighbouring teeth for support, which means filing them. A dentist can tell you which suits your mouth.

What if I need a bone graft?

That is usually found on the 3D scan. At Precious Dental a bone graft is £150 per 1cc. Ask any clinic for its graft price in advance.

Is it worth combining a single implant with other treatment?

Often yes. If you also need crowns, a second implant or a check-up, the travel cost is shared across more treatment.

Sources

1. NHS: dental treatments (implants)
2. NHS: how much NHS dental treatment costs
3. GOV.UK: foreign travel insurance

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.