Jack James, 22, from Manchester, decided to get fake teeth to “look better on camera” – he travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, where he paid £3,000 for a set of veneers that later caused severe complications including infection and bleeding

An individual with short, light-colored hair, wearing a black shirt and a necklace, is smiling while standing in a busy indoor shopping area with numerous people walking around.

Jack James travelled to Turkey for his veneers(Image: Jack James / SWNS)

A model has delivered a stark warning to Britons contemplating travelling overseas for veneer treatment after his dental procedure went disastrously awry.

Jack James opted to get false teeth to “look better on camera” last September. He flew to Istanbul, Turkey, where he shelled out £3,000 for a set of veneers.

At first, the then 22-year-old was pleased with the outcome, but several months down the line, he experienced “terrible breath” and bleeding, prompting him to arrange an urgent dentist visit.

Jack, from Manchester, said: “They looked good until they started to bleed and hurt. They started to puss and leak. My breath stunk.”

After the examination, Jack discovered his teeth were in dreadful condition and repairs would set him back an eye-watering £20,000.

Jack James before getting his veneers

Model Jack decided to get his teeth done so he could ‘look better on camera'(Image: Jack James / SWNS)

“I searched for an emergency dentist and had X-rays done. The dentist said my teeth were a mess and that I had an infection,” he said.

Unable to meet the steep costs domestically, a desperate Jack reached out to the Turkish clinic to see if they could resolve the issue.

“They were adamant it wasn’t their fault. They said I’d have to pay again to get it fixed,” he stated.

Jack received a quote of £4,500 for repairs, and chose to return to Turkey in June 2023 to have the veneers taken out and replaced.

“They took all my teeth and the abscess out and put temporary teeth in. It took a few weeks for the infection to clear,” he added.

A close-up view of an individual's face with a serious expression. The person is wearing a gray jacket and appears to be in a well-lit indoor setting.

Jack was devastated with the results(Image: Jack James / SWNS)

An individual with closed eyes appears to be undergoing a dental procedure, showcasing a close-up view of their mouth, possibly in a clinical setting.

Jack was horrified when he saw his teeth had been filed(Image: Jack James / SWNS)

He maintains he was horrified to find his natural teeth had been filed down to resemble “like a shark”. Jack was subsequently fitted with a replacement set and flew back to Britain in late June – however, his ordeal wasn’t finished.

He recalled brushing his teeth when a crown “just came off”, leaving him with a conspicuous gap.

“It was like something out of a horror movie,” the aspiring model revealed.

Jack is now warning others to conduct thorough research before venturing overseas for dental procedures.

“I feel so upset with myself. I feel like plucking all my teeth out. I wish I’d got composite bonding but I can’t change the past,” he admitted.

A close-up image depicts a person's face, with one hand gently tugging at the corner of their mouth, revealing a glimpse of their teeth. The facial expression is one of slight discomfort or amusement.

One of the crowns has just fallen off(Image: Jack James / SWNS)

An individual with an open mouth displaying a broad smile, eyes partially closed, and a light background suggesting an indoor setting.

Jack had to return to get the work corrected(Image: Jack James / SWNS)

Jack isn’t the only one facing such difficulties, as one in four British people find it difficult to secure a dentist appointment domestically – pushing frantic patients towards paying for care abroad.

“The increase we have seen in the number of patients coming to Turkey from the UK is really quite incredible, and shows no sign of slowing,” Dentakay director Dr Gülay Akay told the Mirror in a separate investigation.

“There is no doubt that the crisis in NHS care is driving British people to seek treatment in other countries.

“We have seen some real horror stories, including one patient who had lost almost all of his teeth in a traffic accident but was unable to get treatment on the NHS.”