A U.K. inquest has ruled that 48-year-old Pawel Bukowski died by suicide in April 2025 following a failed dental procedure in Turkey that left him without teeth, according to an article published in The Guardian.
The case highlights the mental health effects when dental tourism complications occur and the role of clinicians in recognizing and acting when patients experience severe psychological stress with their oral health.
Bukowski, a forklift driver and father of three from Norfolk, England, traveled to a private clinic in Turkey in January 2025 to treat his severe periodontal disease. He expected temporary dentures after the extraction procedure followed by permanent implants.
However, after his teeth were removed, the clinic instead sent him home with no prosthetics and instructions to return in six months. Pawel's wife, Daria Bukowska, testified at the hearing that Bukowski was emotionally devastated following the appointment. He struggled to eat without temporary dentures, withdrew from family, and began drinking heavily.
“He was deeply broken emotionally, losing his teeth had destroyed his self-confidence and sense of hope,” Daria Bukowska testified.
In late April 2025, Bukowski was admitted to a hospital, where a senior practitioner described him as having "strong suicidal ideation." Despite this observation, Bukowski was not admitted for further psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
Bukowski was found dead four days later.
The Norfolk coroner, Johanna Thompson, recorded Bukowski’s death as a suicide. Thompson testified that there were “several lessons” to be learned.
“Pawel was failed at crucial points,” Daria Bukowska said at the inquest. “I hope that this is never repeated, that other families get to keep their dads, husbands, brothers, and sons. Pawel deserved better.”
A British Dental Association survey found that 86% of U.K. dentists treated patients with complications from overseas dental work, with failed implants and crowns topping the list.
Turkey's dental tourism market generated $208 million in 2025, according to Grand View Research. It is projected to climb to $532 million in 2033. Demand is fueled by social media posts and influencers promoting "Turkey teeth" promising extensive dental treatment, primarily dental implants, at prices that cost a fraction of the price that U.K. and U.S. dentists charge. Patients, however, are not fully aware -- or informed -- of the risks, including complications resulting from these procedures.
Bukowski's death highlights for clinicians the profound effects treatment failure can have on a person's psychological state. Dentists may be the first healthcare provider patients interact with after seeking treatment for botched work. Clinicians should look for signs of depression or crisis and be prepared to refer a patient to mental health resources if that is the case.
