STARING at her newly filed down peg teeth, Lottie Carr knew there was no going back.
She’d handed over £4,000 and flown 2,600 miles to achieve her dream of the perfect Turkey teeth, despite knowing they wouldn’t be permanent.
Lottie wanted a new smile to repair her chips, cracks, staining and alignment issues.
The 24-year-old from North Wales flew over 2,600 miles to realise her dream, despite being fully aware that her new tegs would only last 10 years.
But while Lottie was well prepared for her short-lived smile, what she wasn’t prepared for was the brutal trolling she would receive for it.
Her TikTok video sharing her transformation has received over 28.9M views and 1.6M likes, but most of the attention was far-from positive.
She explains: “I knew the video of myself with shaved down teeth would likely invoke some kind of response as it was so outrageous, but I did not expect the video to have international reach and receive the amount of negativity that it did.
“I was told to kill myself, that I’ve ruined my life, that I am still ugly after the procedure and that I’m a bad influence to young and impressionable viewers.
“I don’t think a lot of people share the ‘during’ phase of this procedure online so [people] don’t actually see what is done to create the ‘perfect Hollywood smile’.
“I didn’t really have any major concerns with my teeth until very recently.
“I had chips, cracks, staining and alignment issues and just wanted the perfect smile.”
Lottie was quoted £9,900 for her crown veneers in the UK and comparatively, her bill in Turkey came to around £4,000.
She says: “I had 10 crowns on the top and 10 crowns on the bottom.
“There was also a possibility that I was going to need three root canals but they managed to avoid this on the day, luckily.
“My teeth were all shaved down and reshaped to enable the crowns to slot over the top to ensure they seal properly.
“It was uncomfortable but not painful in the slightest as I was injected with anaesthetic.
“I did not feel any sensitivity and it was virtually a pain-free process.
“I was at the dentist for four days in a row but only a few hours each day.
“I do get a lot of anxiety that I’m going to lose one, or stain one, or that I’m going to suffer with sudden pain etc – but it has only been a few weeks since the procedure so it is something I need to get used to.
“I am so happy with the results.
“In person, I have had 100% positive reactions.”
Lottie, who describes herself as a “very spontaneous person”, made the decision to have her teeth done just a few months ago.
She knows she’ll likely have to return in a decade to get them redone but isn’t bothered about it.
I live in the now and I’d rather have a big beautiful smile now
Lottie Carr
She adds: “I started looking at some TikToks of the procedure before I flew out and seeing other people’s teeth shaved down started to make me feel nervous, I’d not seen it before.
“[But] I think life is short and we should be able to do whatever we want with our own bodies, providing it is safe.
“I made sure that the clinic I chose uses high-quality materials and that the dentist is properly trained, licensed, and experienced.
Dentist-approved teeth whitening tips
ERIN Fraundorf, DMD, MSD, owner of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio in Missouri, shared her top tips for whiter teeth.
Seek whitening treatment from a professional. It’s often stronger and will be the most effective so you don’t waste your money on a product that doesn’t work or may harm you. You also only get one set of teeth, so it’s best not to experiment on them.
Consider the cause of the staining. There are numerous causes for teeth to have a yellow or brown tint. Be sure to get evaluated and diagnosed by a professional to ensure you receive the best treatment for your stains. Not all stains are the same so they may require different treatments.
Consider your lifestyle, smile goals, and budget. When choosing a whitening treatment that is best for you, consider multiple factors when designing a custom plan. Some people like homework to whiten at home, some prefer in-office treatments only, some need to get really bright really fast — for a wedding, for example — whereas others would like a more gentle, gradual, consistent approach to whitening.
Ease into it. Start integrating teeth whitening into your routine gradually to get your teeth accustomed to it and you can closely monitor your level of sensitivity to regulate how frequently you can whiten.
Try to prevent. Make tiny changes to your lifestyle in an effort to prevent staining from penetrating your teeth. For example, sip staining beverages through a straw, swish with plain water after drinking anything staining, and pick flat water over sparkling whenever possible.
Water floss to help in between the teeth stains. Blast away stubborn stains in between your teeth with a water flosser, because toothbrush bristles can only reach so much of your tooth surface.
“I am aware of the longevity of porcelain crowns and am aware I will need to go back in 10 years time – but I live in the now and I’d rather have a big beautiful smile now, rather than live my whole life with my teeth in the condition they were in.
“To achieve the look I wanted, this was my option. “
Lottie feels “overwhelmed” by the response her video has received but is choosing to focus on the positives and not let the trolls win.
I have seen the results and am so happy with my teeth, I am able to brush off the comments
Lottie Carr
She adds: “To have that many people see you in the most vulnerable state you’ve ever been in, and to have them all comment on it, it’s really not for the faint-hearted.
“But now that I have seen the results and am so happy with my teeth, I am able to brush off the comments.
“It has definitely made me a lot more aware of the risks and dangers with this type of procedure abroad though.”
