Liverpool mum warns others to avoid abroad dental treatment after Dubai veneer nightmare

Jade Morgan, 36, from Liverpool, is warning others against travelling abroad for cosmetic dental treatment after experiencing her own nightmare following a trip to Dubai.

The mum of three had planned to travel to Dubai in March 2025 to visit a friend and after admitting that she was ‘easily influenced’, she decided to explore having porcelain veneers fitted at a well-known dental clinic there. 

Influenced by social media and the promise of a quick transformation at a lower price that similar procedures in the UK, Jade paid £2,800 for treatment, not including flights and hotel costs.

Seven years earlier, she had composite veneers fitted in Liverpool by leading dentist Dr Robbie Hughes, owner of Dental Excellence. Her experience at home had followed a careful, staged process with full aftercare. 

Deciding that she wanted to refresh her smile, and opt for porcelain veneers that promise longevity and precision, Jade would soon realise that choosing to have the procedure abroad would be a big mistake. In contrast to the UK, her treatment in Dubai was completed in just four days.

Jade explained:

“Initially, I didn’t even see the dentist that I’d booked with. An assistant carried out all the prep work, removing my existing composites and taking impressions of my teeth. I only met the dentist on the final day when the veneers were already made and ready to be fitted.”

The veneers were cemented to Jade’s teeth in under an hour and she says she immediately noticed her bite felt wrong but was sent to another clinician who spent almost two hours drilling her teeth to try to correct it.

Jade continued:

“My bite still didn’t feel right, but I was told to let it settle. The following day, I was scheduled to fly home.”

Two weeks after returning home, one of Jade’s teeth snapped in half.

She added:

“Even if the clinic offered to fix it complimentary, I’d still have to pay for flights and a hotel to get back to Dubai. That’s thousands more on top of what I’d already spent and that’s not something people think about when they book these treatments.”

Jade also experienced bleeding gums following the procedure and says she was never fitted with temporary veneers, something that is provided as standard in the UK to allow patients to see the proposed size and shape and make any necessary changes. 

This meant that she didn’t see what her new smile would look like until the final veneers were permanently cemented in place.

Jade said:

“This was a decision that I made based on other reviews and recommendations but I should’ve thought more about the aftercare. When you’re having the new veneers fitted, you go into that final appointment blind. You’re trusting that everything will be right but ultimately, you don’t get a chance to see how they look or feel first.”

After her tooth snapped, she revisited Dental Excellence where revolutionary dentist Robbie Hughes examined her teeth, fixed the broken one and put a plan in place to replace all of the porcelain veneers Jade had had fitted in Dubai to eliminate any further issues.

Robbie Hughes, Owner of Dental Excellence, is passionate about using Jade’s experience to highlight the importance of proper planning, staged treatment and accessible aftercare, whilst also warning that cost comparisons can be misleading.

Robbie explained:

“In the UK, cosmetic dental work like veneers is carried out through a structured process. That includes temporary restorations, allowing the mouth to settle, checking the bite properly and making adjustments over time. Fitting multiple veneers at once without that process can lead to serious long-term problems.

“Patients might think they’re saving money, but when you factor in travel, accommodation and the risk of needing corrective treatment back home, it can end up costing far more, both financially and in terms of damage to their natural teeth.

“Jade’s case is unfortunate but not uncommon. We’re glad that we could restore her smile through replacing all of the veneers whilst eradicating any further issues including the risk of gum disease as a result of her bleeding gums, and tooth breakages due to a poorly planned bite and what is called dental midline discrepancy which is effectively an off centre smile where her two front teeth where over to one side. We’re delighted that she’s so happy with the end result.”

According to the British Dental Association and the British Endodontic Society, 70% of dentists report seeing an increase in patients returning from abroad with complications following dental treatment. Nearly half of those complications involve irreversible damage to teeth. 

NHS England has also reported spending millions each year managing issues arising from dental tourism.

Jade hopes sharing her story will encourage others to think carefully before travelling overseas for cosmetic procedures.