Turkish dentist titles explained
The letters in front of a Turkish dentist's name tell you a lot, once you know how to read them.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026In Turkey, “Dt.” (diş hekimi) is a qualified dentist with a five-year degree. “Uzm. Dt.” is a specialist who has done three to four more years of specialist training. “Dr. Dt.” or “Dt. Dr.” usually means a doctorate (PhD). “Doç. Dr.” and “Prof. Dr.” are university ranks. On English websites, “Dr.” is often used for every dentist.
The basic title: Dt. (diş hekimi)
Every dentist in Turkey starts with a five-year degree at a faculty of dentistry. When they graduate, they are a diş hekimi, written Dt. before the name. That is the same level as a UK dentist with a BDS. To practise, a dentist registers with the regional chamber of the Turkish Dental Association (Türk Dişhekimleri Birliği, TDB), which gives them a registration number.
Most dentists who place implants or fit veneers in Antalya are Dt. dentists who have taken postgraduate courses. That is normal, in Turkey and in the UK.
Why so many dentists are called “Dr.”
On their English pages, many Turkish clinics write Dr. in front of every dentist, the way UK dentists call themselves “Dr” as a courtesy title. So “Dr.” on an English website does not tell you whether the dentist is a specialist or holds a doctorate. Look for the Turkish title, or ask.
The specialist title: Uzm. Dt. (uzman diş hekimi)
A specialist dentist has passed a national entrance exam (DUS, run by ÖSYM) after the degree, then completed several years of specialist training at a university or teaching hospital. They write Uzm. Dt., and in English usually “Specialist”. Specialties include:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery (ağız, diş ve çene cerrahisi): surgery of the mouth and jaws, including implants and bone grafts.
- Prosthodontics (protetik diş tedavisi): crowns, bridges, dentures and the teeth that go on implants.
- Periodontology (periodontoloji): gums and the bone around teeth and implants.
- Orthodontics, endodontics (root canals), paediatric dentistry and restorative dentistry.
Turkey has no separate “cosmetic dentist” or “implantologist” specialty. Those words describe what a dentist focuses on, not a legal title.
Doctorate and academic titles
| Written | What it means |
|---|---|
| Dt. | Qualified dentist (five-year degree) |
| Uzm. Dt. | Specialist dentist (specialist training after the degree) |
| Dr. Dt. / Dt. Dr. | Usually a dentist who also holds a doctorate (PhD) in a dental field |
| Dr. Öğr. Üyesi | Assistant professor at a university faculty |
| Doç. Dr. (Assoc. Prof. Dr.) | Associate professor |
| Prof. Dr. | Full professor |
How to check a title
- Ask for the TDB registration number of the dentist who will treat you. A dentist should be happy to give it. Our top pick, Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, publishes his: 49105.
- Ask where and when they qualified, and for a specialist, where they trained and in what.
- Check the clinic on HealthTürkiye, the Ministry of Health portal, which lists clinics authorised to treat international patients.
- Ask who does each stage. A specialist surgeon may place the implants while another dentist makes the teeth.
Every dentist in our A–Z list is shown with the title their clinic uses.
Common questions
Is a “Dr.” in Turkey always a specialist?
No. Many Turkish clinics write “Dr.” for every dentist on their English pages, as UK dentists do. A specialist is written “Uzm. Dt.” in Turkish, or “Specialist” in English.
Do I need a specialist for implants?
Not necessarily. In Turkey, as in the UK, general dentists with further training place implants. What matters is how many they have done, what training they have, and who handles complications. Ask.
How can I check a Turkish dentist?
Ask the clinic for the dentist's Turkish Dental Association (TDB) registration number and their diploma, and check the clinic itself on HealthTürkiye, the Ministry of Health portal.
Sources
- Türk Dişhekimleri Birliği (Turkish Dental Association)
- ÖSYM: Diş Hekimliğinde Uzmanlık Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı (DUS)
- HealthTürkiye: Ministry of Health portal for international patients
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
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