Jackie Lynn, 38, from Norwich, travelled to Turkey three times for dental work after a chemical menopause left her with crumbling teeth — but what she thought would cost a few thousand pounds spiralled to nearly £20,000 with life-threatening complications
A British mum-of-one was forced to make three trips to Turkey after what should have been straightforward dental treatment left her in ‘absolute agony’ – ultimately requiring all her teeth to be removed.
Jackie Lynn, 38, from Norwich, joined the ranks of countless Brits who jetted off to Turkey for dental procedures, after hormonal changes had caused her teeth to start ‘crumbling’. Yet Jackie had no clue that a treatment she reckoned would cost a few thousand pounds would eventually reach nearly £20k and leave her with life-threatening complications, unable to consume solid food.
The mum-of-one had recently undergone surgery to remove her ovaries following a Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) diagnosis, triggering a chemical menopause and depletion of oestrogen, a hormone vital for maintaining dental health.
Jackie initially opted for composite bonding, a non-invasive treatment where resin is applied to existing teeth to enhance her smile, with a total price tag of £3,000, and she was initially delighted with the results.
Yet the bonding applied to the 38-year-old’s new smile would soon begin ‘cracking off’, putting her right back where she started.
Jackie chose to fly out to Turkey once more, this time paying £6,000 for a series of crowns at a different clinic. She consented to having root canals carried out as part of the treatment, only to wake up and discover the dentist had actually performed a total of 15 root canals.
Jackie’s shock didn’t stop there either, as the individual crowns he was expecting turned out to be crown bridges.
“I got sedated, and when I awoke, I was in absolute agony,” the Norwich-based mum explained. “I was in horrendous pain; it was a pain that shot through your whole body,” she continued, explaining that the pressure from the crown bridges left her mouth in agony.
“The two end teeth were taking the pressure of the bridge and the pain was unreal,” she added. “Within a week, I was back [in Turkey].”
Jackie’s nightmare didn’t finish there either, as another dentist said her teeth had been filed down excessively and recommended she have them extracted and replaced with implants – taking her dental costs to a total of £18,000, which she had to borrow from her dad.
“I was thinking ‘what the hell have I done?’. I was so upset,” Jackie recalled, thinking of the news. “I’m 38 years old, I shouldn’t be losing all my teeth.”
The extensive treatments also brought countless complications, including a potentially life-threatening blood infection caused by a dental abscess.
“All of the side of my face had swollen up, and I couldn’t see out of my eye as it was swollen and black,” Jackie said, adding that she was admitted and put on the drip while doctors treated the infection.
“The infection had started in two abscesses at the bottom of the teeth, and then it has spread through my face into my sinuses and into my blood.”
Jackie has now been left with a set of temporary teeth while she waits for a permanent pair to be fitted later this year, however, the The numerous procedures have significantly impacted her health.