Why send documents before you travel?
Textbooks describe a comprehensive medical history as the foundation of surgical, anaesthetic and prosthetic risk assessment; every positive answer can change the plan. For a patient from abroad this means: if the information arrives before the plane ticket is bought, the dentist can flag issues that affect the plan before you book. If the information only emerges on your first day in Istanbul, the length of stay and the number of trips may change.
A remote assessment based on photographs and X-rays is a screening step. Bone volume, the state of the sinus, gum health and the condition of neighbouring teeth usually become clear only at an in-person examination and, where needed, on a three-dimensional CBCT scan. The aim is therefore not to obtain a ‘definitive plan’ remotely but to rule out major surprises before you travel. The overall travel plan is in the dental tourism planning guide.
Panoramic X-ray: the minimum requirement
A panoramic X-ray (OPG) is a single wide image of both jaws. A good-quality recent image shows an enlarged (pneumatised) sinus or widely spread roots that could create a communication between mouth and sinus during an extraction, so the surgery can be adjusted in advance. The image should have been taken within the last 6–12 months; a film several years old will not reflect the progress of decay, bone loss or new tooth loss.
The most useful option is to ask your dentist at home for the original digital file (most practices provide it by e-mail or through a patient portal). If that is not possible, a clear photograph of the image on screen, without reflections, covering the whole jaw and including the date, is a temporary solution, although fine detail can be lost. A phone photograph of a printed film is the weakest option.
CBCT scan: DICOM, not a screenshot
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is one of the fastest-spreading diagnostic tools in implant dentistry. Although it is not a universal legal requirement, if a complication occurs after surgery carried out without an available scan, the dentist is expected to explain why; it is therefore reasonable to ask that implant planning be based on a CBCT scan. At the clinic, planning is done with three-dimensional CBCT and digital impressions; how digital planning works is shown on the digital smile design page.
If you already have a scan, two rules apply. First, send the complete data set in DICOM format; the dentist is responsible for interpreting the whole scan and can only do so by examining the slices personally. A screenshot gives nothing more than an impression. Second, the field of view must match the planned work: if a sinus graft is being considered in the upper back region, a narrow scan cannot show whether the sinus drainage opening is clear or whether there is sinus disease, and a new scan may be needed.
| Document | Sufficient format | Insufficient format | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panoramic X-ray | Original digital file, last 6–12 months | Old film, photo of a print | Sinus, roots, bone loss, decay |
| CBCT scan | Complete DICOM data set, adequate field of view | Screenshot, single slice | Bone volume, sinus, nerve canal |
| Medication list | Drug name, dose, frequency, prescribing doctor | ‘I take something for blood pressure’ | Bleeding, healing, interactions |
| Medical history | Conditions, allergies, operations, bleeding history, smoking | Just ‘I am healthy’ | Surgical and anaesthetic risk |
| Previous dental treatment | Written summary; brand and component details of any implants | Description from memory | Compatibility of existing restorations |
Medical information and medication list
A medical history is the basic information every dentist needs, in whichever country you are treated. Write down: your current conditions (especially diabetes, heart and blood pressure problems and treatment for osteoporosis), all your medicines with doses, allergies, operations you have had, prolonged bleeding after previous extractions or operations, any family history of bleeding, and smoking and alcohol use. A history of bleeding directly changes how surgery is planned.
The most common mistake is stopping a blood thinner or blood pressure medicine on your own as ‘preparation for surgery’. Do not do this. Any adjustment to medication is coordinated in advance between the dentist and the doctor who looks after you; because that correspondence takes time, it is important to mention your medicines in your first message. If you smoke, say so as well; the recommendation to stop at least 2 weeks before surgery and not to smoke for about 6 weeks afterwards becomes part of the plan.
Step by step: how to gather and send your documents
- Ask your dentist at home for your digital X-rays. The panoramic X-ray and any CBCT scan; for the scan, ask specifically for DICOM format. Most practices provide a link or a file.
- Ask your dentist at home for a short treatment summary. Previous implants, crowns or root canal treatments, and the brand and component details of any implants.
- Write your medication list. Name, dose, frequency and prescribing doctor for each medicine. Include supplements and herbal products.
- List your medical history. Conditions, allergies, operations, bleeding history, smoking. Mention pregnancy or plans for pregnancy.
- Describe your complaint and expectations. Which teeth, since when, what result you hope for, and whether you are open to less invasive options.
- Add your travel framework. When could you come, how many days could you stay, and how often could you return? This makes the visit plan realistic.
- Ask for the written preliminary plan and consent form. The problem, options, risks and timetable should be in writing in a language you understand; set aside time to read them before you travel, not on the day of surgery.
Confirm with the clinic in writing which channel to use for large files (e-mail, a file link or another route); WhatsApp can reduce image quality and may not be suitable for DICOM folders. The online pre-assessment page explains the first exchange.
What you should have with you in Istanbul
At the first appointment you should have your passport, your written medical history, your medication list with doses and copies of your X-rays; the boxes of your medicines are useful too. Ask your insurer before you travel which type of document and which language they require, and confirm in writing how the clinic issues such documents. There is no general rule on how foreign insurers treat dental treatment abroad.
When you leave you should also receive a package of documents: a copy of the post-operative X-ray, a written treatment summary, the brand and component details of any implants, written aftercare instructions and an emergency contact. Good patient records include updates to the medical history, medicines, recommended maintenance and the plan for the next visit; asking for a copy is your right, and it makes the work of your dentist at home easier. The aftercare after you fly home page explains why. Once you have gathered what you have, you can send it via WhatsApp; the pre-assessment gives a framework, and the examination in Istanbul makes the decision.
Frequently asked questions
My panoramic X-ray is two years old; can I still send it?
You can, but a two-year-old film may not reflect the current situation; decay may have progressed, bone loss increased or new teeth been lost. For the pre-assessment a panoramic X-ray taken within the last 6–12 months is recommended. If a new image is not possible at home, send the old one and allow for a new one being taken on your first day in Istanbul.
My CBCT file is very large; how do I send it?
A DICOM data set is usually a folder of hundreds of files and is not suited to messaging apps. Ask the practice at home for a compressed version or a download link. Confirm with the clinic in writing before you travel which channel it uses for large files. A screenshot gives only a first impression and is not sufficient for planning.
Is a CBCT scan necessary, or is a panoramic X-ray enough?
A panoramic X-ray is the minimum for the pre-assessment, while a three-dimensional CBCT scan is widely expected for implant and sinus planning. A scan with a narrow field of view may fail to show sinus disease or a blocked drainage opening. If you have no scan, one is planned for your first day in Istanbul; if you have one, send it in DICOM format and be aware that it may need repeating.
Which medicines do I need to report?
All of them: prescription medicines, over-the-counter painkillers, supplements and herbal products, each with dose and frequency. Blood thinners, osteoporosis medicines, diabetes and blood pressure medicines particularly affect the surgical plan. Do not stop any medicine on your own; any adjustment is coordinated in advance between the dentist and the doctor who looks after you.
What should I ask my dentist at home for?
Your digital X-ray files, the CBCT scan in DICOM format if you have one, a written summary of previous treatment and the brand and component details of any existing implants. Also ask whether they are willing to be involved in suture checks and maintenance after you return. Having this conversation before you travel prevents you from being left without records or follow-up when you get home.
Can I still come if my documents are incomplete?
You can, but missing information can mean surprises on your first day in Istanbul: the planned procedure may be postponed or the number of trips may change. As a minimum, send a recent panoramic X-ray, a complete medication list and your medical history. The rest is completed at the examination and CBCT scan; even so, a flexible ticket is a sensible choice.
Is the remotely given plan binding?
No. A pre-assessment based on photographs and X-rays is a screening step; the final plan rests on an in-person examination and, where needed, a CBCT scan, and it can change on arrival. Ask for the written preliminary plan with its options and reasoning; read the consent form before you travel and write down your questions. Consent signed under pressure on the day of surgery is a weakness known in the literature.
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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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.
