Dental clinics by city: what the register shows
We counted every private dental clinic on the Ministry of Health’s international list. Two cities hold two thirds of them.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026In October 2026 HealthTürkiye listed 1,117 private oral and dental health clinics authorised for international patients, spread across 38 provinces. Istanbul had 487 (44%), Antalya 234 (21%), İzmir 105, Ankara 53, Muğla 43 and Aydın 36. Those six provinces hold 86% of all authorised dental clinics. More clinics means more choice, but also more need to check each one.
When people ask us “Istanbul or Antalya?”, they usually mean “where are the good clinics?”. The honest answer is that good clinics are everywhere and so are poor ones. But the numbers are still worth knowing, because they shape how much choice you have and how much checking you need to do.
The count
On 22 October 2026 we downloaded the full HealthTürkiye list of private oral and dental health clinics, the facility type used by almost every private dental clinic authorised to treat international patients. It held 1,117 clinics in 38 provinces.
| Province | Authorised dental clinics | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | 487 | 44% |
| Antalya | 234 | 21% |
| İzmir | 105 | 9% |
| Ankara | 53 | 5% |
| Muğla (Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris) | 43 | 4% |
| Aydın (Kuşadası, Didim) | 36 | 3% |
| The other 32 provinces | 159 | 14% |
After the big six, numbers drop fast: Bursa had 17, Mersin and Samsun 13 each.
Size, not just number
The register also shows how many staff each clinic declares. The typical (median) clinic in Istanbul declares about nine staff, and in Antalya about ten. Both cities also have a few very large groups declaring hundreds. On the Aegean coast and in Ankara, clinics are smaller: the median is five to seven, and the largest we found declared around sixty.
That fits what we see on clinic websites. Istanbul and Antalya have big groups built for international patients, with coordinators, hotels and transfers. The Aegean resorts and Ankara have more owner-run clinics that mainly treat local patients and see some visitors.
What the numbers mean for you
In Istanbul and Antalya
- Plenty of choice, and clinics used to UK patients.
- Strong competition on price, and heavy marketing. Expect discounts and packages.
- More need to check. With hundreds of clinics, you cannot rely on name recognition.
On the Aegean coast
- Fewer, smaller clinics, often in holiday towns you may already know.
- Websites are more often Turkish-first, so less can be verified from the UK. Ask for guarantees and prices in English, in writing.
- Check the clinic can see you on a second trip out of season.
In Ankara
- A capital city with established clinics, but few that market to the UK and fewer direct flights.
Our register by city
We have checked 23 clinics so far, chosen because they market to international patients: Istanbul, Antalya, İzmir, Muğla, Aydın and Ankara. The Aegean provinces are also ranked together on the Aegean coast page.
Choosing a city
For treatment that needs two trips, such as implants, the deciding factor is often travel: how easily can you fly there twice, months apart, possibly in winter? For a full comparison of cities from the point of view of the dentist, see our sister site bestdentiststurkey.com.
Common questions
Which city has the most dental clinics for international patients?
Istanbul, with 487 authorised private dental clinics in October 2026, followed by Antalya with 234.
Are clinics in smaller cities worse?
No. Smaller places have fewer clinics, often smaller ones mainly serving local patients. Judge the clinic, not the city.
Are the numbers going up?
We have one count so far, from October 2026. We will publish changes as we re-check.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Ask Precious Dental for a written plan
Send an X-ray or a few photos of your teeth. A dentist will reply with a written plan and an itemised price. No obligation, and you can compare it with any clinic in this register.