Many of us strive to present our best selves, and for some, that involves making a few enhancements. For a lot of individuals, improving their smile is at the top of the list, which is exactly the situation for one grandmother.
Hayley Debra Potter faced a tough journey over 14 years as she dealt with gum disease that led to the loss of her teeth. The few teeth she had left were discolored, prompting her to seek dental work to restore her smile.
Initially, she tried to suppress her smile, but that just wasn’t who she was. That’s when she made the decision to head to Turkey and schedule an appointment in Antalya. Yes, she was eager to get some ‘Turkey Teeth.’
In the UK, Hayley received a quote of around £20,000, which was a bit too steep for her. However, after deciding to go to Turkey, she found it much more manageable at just £8,000.
She traveled in early October to undergo the procedure, which took about 4.5 hours to remove her remaining 13 teeth. At 57 years old, she opted for implants and bridges, starting with 10 dental implants.
After her initial procedure, she wore her dentures for six months while the healing process took place. Once that was complete, the bridges and crowns could be installed.
You might assume she had a terrible experience, especially with all the stories about Turkey Teeth, but she couldn’t be more thrilled. She mentioned that her ‘confidence is through the roof.’
During the day, Hayley works as a housekeeper in a hospital ward and often felt insecure. She used to avoid smiling with her teeth showing.
She shared, “I had to mentally prepare myself to stay calm and focus on the end result.
“I was awake the entire time – but I was fine with it because the surgeon was incredibly handsome!”
After the procedure, I was incredibly swollen and bruised – I hardly looked like myself.
“But now, I feel amazing. I truly believe this will transform my life. I’ve never smiled this much before.”
Even though she appeared as if she had just come from a rough encounter at the dentist, she insisted that she felt better than she looked. On the first day, she reported experiencing ‘no pain at all’ and was completely numb.
“I was prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatories. I was quite swollen and bruised, but since everyone at the hotel was also undergoing some form of cosmetic surgery, I felt really supported,” she shared.
It will take around six months for the implants to heal completely, so she will need to wear dentures during this period. Since returning home, she has been sticking to a soft food diet, which will continue while she recovers.
“I was a bit nervous beforehand, but everything went so well; I have no complaints,” Hayley mentioned.
“I can’t eat hard foods right now, but honestly, I couldn’t before because my teeth were in such bad shape.
“I feel fantastic. I already know this will change my life entirely. Every time I pass a mirror, I can’t help but smile – I’ve never smiled this much in my life.”