Colin Blanchard, a 54-year-old courier and divorced father from London, was left with only 12 teeth that were deemed unsalvageable due to advanced gum disease. After being quoted £60,000 for full-mouth treatment in the UK, he found a solution through dental tourism in Turkey, where he underwent extractions, bone grafting, and implants. He now reports being pain-free, able to eat properly, and no longer afraid to smile.
Years of Pain and Embarrassment
Blanchard lived with severe gum disease for years, which gradually loosened his teeth. Eating became painful, dentures no longer fit, and the emotional toll worsened after his divorce. He covered his mouth when laughing, avoided photographs, and felt self-conscious meeting new people. “I’d look in the mirror and think, if I met someone with teeth like mine, would I be attracted to them? Probably not,” he said.
His teeth became so loose that biting into simple foods like apples was impossible. He pushed food to the back of his mouth and suffered repeated abscesses. “I was nervous every time I ate because I knew moving one tooth could leave me in agony for days,” Blanchard recalled.
Turning Point
The moment that pushed him to seek change came when a friend bluntly remarked, “Wow, Colin, look at the state of your teeth.” Around the same time, a front tooth protruded so far that it dried out when he was outside, making it appear dirty. After two friends recommended Longevita, a dental tourism company, Blanchard contacted them. A 3D scan revealed his teeth were beyond saving due to advanced bone loss.
A staged plan was developed across two trips to Istanbul, Turkey. The first trip involved full extractions, bone grafting, and implant placement. Blanchard was advised not to wear dentures during the four-month healing period, so he went without teeth. “I’d already been struggling to eat properly. Four months without teeth wasn’t the hardest part,” he said.
Life After Treatment
After returning for porcelain crowns, Blanchard’s transformation was complete. He now smiles without thinking, no longer avoids photos, and doesn’t cover his mouth while talking. “I love walking down the street smiling now. I actually enjoy people looking at me because I’m not trying to hide anymore,” he said.
His first meal after treatment was a simple but meaningful act: he went straight to a restaurant to enjoy a proper meal. Regarding dating, he said it’s still early days, but he feels more confident.
Lessons Learned
Blanchard now takes oral health seriously, water flossing several times a day. “I never want to go back to how life was before,” he said. He urges other men not to ignore dental problems. “Men definitely put things off. You always think you’ve got more time, but you don’t realise how important it is until there’s a real problem.”
For Blanchard, the hardest part was never the pain. “It wasn’t really about the teeth. It was feeling like I had to hide myself all the time. Now I wake up, smile in the mirror and actually like the person looking back.”
