What an online pre-assessment is, and what it is not
An online pre-assessment is the dentist forming a general view from your existing documents before seeing you in person. The aim is for you to understand, before you travel, which treatments may be relevant, how many visits may be needed and which additional information is required. That lets you plan flights and accommodation more realistically.
This assessment does not replace an examination. Many elements, such as gum health, tooth mobility, how the teeth meet and bone volume, can only be seen in the clinic. Implant planning is expected to rest on a three-dimensional CBCT scan with an adequate field of view; an earlier scan with a narrow field may, for example, fail to show the sinus region and may need to be repeated.
Every plan shared remotely can therefore change after the examination in the clinic. We suggest you see this not as a shortcoming but as part of sound planning.
Step by step: how does the WhatsApp pre-assessment work?
The process is simple and, for most patients, is completed in a few exchanges of messages. The sequence below helps make sure the information you send us is complete.
- First message: write a short message to +90 544 289 66 33 with your name, the country you live in, your complaint and when you are thinking of coming.
- Medical history: list your current conditions, all medicines you take regularly, your allergies, your smoking status and your previous dental treatment.
- Images: send a panoramic X-ray and any CBCT scan taken within the last year. For the scan, sharing the complete DICOM file rather than a screenshot allows the dentist to assess the image properly.
- Photographs: in daylight, take a few photographs smiling and with the lips parted, from the front and from the right and left sides.
- Feedback: our dentist reviews the documents and shares the possible options, the number of visits and any further questions with you.
- Planning: if you wish to proceed, your first examination appointment, journey and accommodation plan are clarified together.
Confirm matters such as response hours, whether a video call is possible and the language of communication with us in writing before you send your documents, so your expectations are clear from the start.
Which documents matter, and why?
A comprehensive medical history is the fundamental step in assessing surgical, anaesthetic and prosthetic risk; every positive answer can change the plan. Sending this information in advance means points that need attention are noticed before your journey is arranged.
| Document | Why it is needed | How to send it |
|---|---|---|
| Medical history and medication list | Determines the risk of bleeding, healing problems and drug interactions | Written message or a one-page note |
| Allergies | Affects the choice of medicines and materials | Clear list in the message |
| Panoramic X-ray | The minimum image for a remote assessment; shows sinus and root relationships | Original file or a clear photograph |
| CBCT scan | Three-dimensional information on bone volume and the sinus | Complete DICOM folder, compressed file |
| Intraoral and smile photographs | Gums, aesthetic expectations and general condition | In daylight, without flash |
| Previous treatment records | To understand the type of existing implants or prostheses | Photograph of the document or PDF |
If you have had prolonged bleeding after an extraction or operation, or if there is a tendency to bleed in your family, be sure to say so; this information changes how surgery is planned. Do not stop or change any medicine prescribed by your doctor on your own; any adjustment is coordinated in advance between the dentist and your doctor. The what to send before your trip page lists everything in detail.
What can you expect from us after the assessment?
Once your documents have been reviewed, we explain the possible treatment options, their advantages and limits, the consequences of not treating and how many visits may be needed. Informed consent is an educational process rather than a signature; it should cover the problem, the options, realistic expectations and the risks in language you can understand.
It matters that this conversation takes place before the day of surgery. Consent forms signed in the chair on the morning of surgery are a known weakness that leads patients to say afterwards that they ‘felt pressured’ or ‘did not read it’. We prefer questions to be asked in advance, in writing and without time pressure.
If you are considering implants, how the number of visits is determined is explained in detail on our two-stage implants and the second visit page. For the overall framework, see the dental implant process and timeline guide.
The limits of a remote assessment
An assessment based on photographs and X-rays cannot answer some questions. The depth of gum pockets, the degree of tooth mobility, the jaw joint and the bite, the level of oral hygiene and the quality of the soft tissue can only be understood at an examination. Whether there is enough bone for an implant can only be measured reliably on a CBCT scan.
The options shared remotely are therefore ‘possibilities’. After the examination and imaging in the clinic, the treatment may become simpler or more extensive; if, for example, insufficient bone is found in the sinus region, an additional stage may be needed. Take this possibility into account in your travel and budget planning.
The dentist is responsible for interpreting the whole scan. Sending the complete DICOM data is therefore far more valuable than sharing only a screenshot. If your existing images are more than a year old, new imaging may be needed in the clinic.
What you should know about privacy and messaging
The health information and images you send are used only for treatment planning. If you have questions about how your personal data is stored and for how long, ask in your first message and we will explain our process. Do not send other people’s photographs or documents under your own name.
You do not need to share unnecessary information such as identity numbers in your messages; your name, country, age and medical history are enough for a pre-assessment. Naming your files to show the date and content (for example ‘panoramic-2026-05’) makes communication easier.
For practical details such as the hours in which we reply, the languages in which we can correspond and whether a video call is possible, confirm with us in writing before sending. General travel planning is covered in the dental tourism planning guide.
How might you write your first message?
Your message does not need to be long. A sample opening might be: ‘Hello, I live in Manchester. I have two missing teeth in my lower jaw and I am considering implants. I am attaching my panoramic X-ray and my medication list. I am planning to come in June.’ Then attach the documents; we will ask for any further information we need.
When you are ready, write to +90 544 289 66 33; once your pre-assessment is complete, we can plan your appointment and your journey together. The final decision always rests with the examination in the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Which X-ray is enough for the pre-assessment?
The minimum image for a remote assessment is a recent panoramic X-ray; it shows both jaws in one frame and gives an idea of the sinus and root relationships. If you are planning implants and have a CBCT scan, sending the complete DICOM file is far more valuable. Images more than a year old may not reflect the current situation, in which case new imaging may be needed in the clinic. Confirm with us in writing which file formats we accept before sending.
Can I send a screenshot of my CBCT scan?
A screenshot gives a general impression but does not allow the dentist to interpret the whole image. Details such as bone height and width, the sinus floor and the nerve canal can only be measured accurately in the complete data set. We therefore suggest asking the imaging centre for the DICOM folder and sending it as a compressed file. If the file is large, we will agree a sharing method together.
Is the plan given in the pre-assessment definitive?
No. An assessment based on photographs and X-rays is a screening step. Elements such as gum health, the bite, tooth mobility and bone volume are clarified at the examination in the clinic and, where needed, on a CBCT scan. The plan may become simpler or more extensive after the examination. Reflecting this possibility in your travel and budget planning helps you avoid surprises.
Which medical information must I include?
Your current conditions, all medicines you take regularly, your allergies, your smoking status and any prolonged bleeding after a previous extraction or operation. A family tendency to bleed is also important. This information directly affects how surgery is planned. Do not stop any medicine your doctor has prescribed on your own; any adjustment is coordinated in advance between the dentist and your doctor.
How should I take the photographs?
In daylight, without flash and, where possible, with someone else’s help. A natural smile from the front, plus one photograph each from the front, right and left with the lips parted and the teeth together, is usually enough. If your complaint concerns a particular area, add a close-up of that area. Clear, well-lit images help us assess gum colour and your aesthetic expectations.
How long does a reply take?
Response time depends on when the message arrives and how extensive the documents are; files containing X-rays and CBCT scans take longer to review. Our clinic is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and closed on Sundays. We suggest asking about the expected response time and the language of communication in your first message, so you can plan accordingly.
Is a video call possible?
A written pre-assessment is sufficient in most cases, but some patients prefer to convey their expectations and questions in a video call. Confirm with us in your first message whether a video call is available and how it is arranged. In every case, the consent discussion should take place before the day of surgery and without time pressure.
Will the information I send remain confidential?
The health information and images you send are used for treatment planning. If you have questions about how data is stored and for how long, mention them in your first message and we will explain our process. You do not need to share information such as identity numbers that is not required for a pre-assessment. Do not send someone else’s documents under your own name; each patient is assessed separately.
Related guides
Contact: Yayla Dental Akademi, Ferit Selimpaşa Cad. No:44A, Bahçelievler, Istanbul (Basın Sitesi, opposite Migros; about 600 m from İlkyuva metro station, line M3). Monday–Saturday 10:00–21:00, Sunday closed. WhatsApp and phone: +90 544 289 66 33 · Online booking: DoktorTakvimi.
Sources
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- Gallucci, G. O., Hamilton, A., Zhou, W., Buser, D., & Chen, S. (2018). Implant placement and loading protocols in partially edentulous patients: A systematic review. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 29(Suppl. 16), 106–134. PubMed ↗
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Search the databases: PubMed · Google Scholar · NIH PMC · Cochrane (institutional access may be required).
This page is for information only; diagnosis and treatment plans are determined by a dentist after an examination. Figures are population averages from the cited sources and do not describe an individual outcome.
