Nick Bishop with his son, Jordan (Image: Jordan Bishop/SWNS)
A man who couldn’t secure an NHS dentist undertook a four-day journey across 14 trains and buses to obtain £6,000 ‘Turkey teeth’ after an accident left him unable to fly. Nick Bishop, 65, eventually decided to have his teeth fixed following their loss in an accident aged 18.
He paid £6,100 for implants in Izmir, Turkey, as he couldn’t afford the cost of private dental care in the UK and couldn’t access an NHS dentist. He attended an initial appointment to have them fitted, but was scheduled to fly out again on January 17 to complete his treatment, before he was involved in a car accident and punctured his lung, rendering him unable to fly.
Doctors told Nick he couldn’t fly for 12 weeks, but he was determined to receive his new teeth, so his son, Jordan Bishop, 30, helped him book a £500 Interrail pass and arrange the trip. Nick’s outbound journey from Bournemouth included 13 changes and took four days and he is currently making his way home.
Nick, a builder from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: « The way I saw it, I could either sit at home doing nothing while I recover, or I can sit on a train and get somewhere. It’s been a worthwhile journey, I can tell you that! »
Nick’s top row of teeth were knocked out in an accident when he was 18 years old, so he’s had false teeth ever since. Around five years ago, the false teeth had to be removed and he was using dentures, which he did not enjoy.
Nick Bishop with his son, Jordan (Image: Jordan Bishop/SWNS)
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So, he began the search for somewhere to have his teeth done, and his son Jordan assisted him in the quest. Jordan revealed: « He’s been dealing with issues with his teeth ever since he lost most of them at 18. He’d always just muddled along, but in the last five years it became a real concerted effort to get them fixed.
« I helped him look online, avoiding any potential scams, then one day he was working in London and he popped into a clinic he saw. They are based in London, but do the procedures at a clinic in Izmir, Turkey. They seemed legit and it was within his budget, so he went ahead with them. »
Nick then embarked on his journey in early July 2024 to have his implants fitted, which involves drilling the implants for new teeth into the gums. Nick’s gums then required six to nine months to heal, and he planned to return to Turkey in mid-January for a check-up, until he was involved in a serious accident.
Nick said: « It was three days before I was due to leave for Turkey when I got into my accident. I was walking out to my parked car when another car from across the way lost control on the icy roads.
« The car spun out and hit me, sandwiching me between their vehicle and mine. I had a severe head injury, a punctured lung, broken ribs, a broken femur and a dislocated knee.
Nick Bishop setting off on his journey (Image: Jordan Bishop/SWNS)
« I was in hospital for nearly 10 days, to the point of recovery where I could move about on my own. But the punctured lung means I can’t fly for 12 weeks. »
It became apparent following the accident that Nick wouldn’t be able to attend his original appointment, but the 12-week postponement was unbearable for him. Jordan assisted him in mapping out the journey and acquiring the £500 Interrail pass enabling him to traverse the continent.
It took Nick four days to reach Izmir using 12 trains and two coaches, then five days to return on 13 trains.
Nick said: « I was a little apprehensive at first, but I knew I couldn’t just sit around and wait. My doctors in the UK gave me the all-clear to go as long as I didn’t fly, so I thought it was worth it.
« I ended up travelling on 12 separate trains and two coaches. I went from London to Brussels, to Munich, to Budapest, to Bucharest, to Plovdiv, to Istanbul and finally to Izmir.
« It all went pretty much to plan with a few delays – I missed a train in Bucharest, so had to unexpectedly stay the night in a hotel. I shared 10 hours with a lady from New Zealand on way out and I just spent two hours using a translator device to chat with a guy from Goran who was on his way to his sister in Ruse. »
Currently making his way back, Nick is expected to arrive in Bournemouth this weekend.
He said: « I’m hoping it keeps running smoothly. I’ve gotten my teeth now so I’m ready to be home. »
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