The Turkey Dental Ratings index assigns each clinic a composite score out of 100, and the AI Score Explainer lets you ask questions about those numbers in plain language. This article explains what the score draws on, what the AI can and cannot verify, where human judgement is still needed, and how to treat an algorithmic rating as a starting point for your own checks. It is reference information, not medical advice and not a recommendation to book with any clinic.
What does the AI Score Explainer do?
The explainer is a conversational tool that reads the same published data behind the index: five weighted factor scores (accreditation, technology, international patient care, doctor expertise, and patient care and follow-up), the evidence items listed on each clinic profile, and the methodology page. When you ask a question, the AI retrieves the relevant numbers and descriptions and returns a plain-language answer.
It does not query external databases, scrape review platforms, or access unpublished clinic records. Its knowledge boundary is the data the editorial board has already verified and made public on the site.
What data feeds the score?
Each clinic's composite score is a weighted sum of five factors. The weights are fixed and published: accreditation 25%, technology 20%, international patient care 20%, doctor expertise 20%, and patient care and follow-up 15%. Every factor score is built from documented evidence items, not from patient reviews, advertising spend, or referral arrangements.
| Factor | Weight | Example evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | 25% | JCI or TEMOS certificate, ISO registrations with a UKAS-accredited body |
| Technology | 20% | Named CAD/CAM partnership, on-site CBCT, digital workflow documentation |
| International patient care | 20% | Multilingual coordination, airport transfer protocol, written aftercare plan |
| Doctor expertise | 20% | Named specialists, recorded case volume, continuing education |
| Patient care and follow-up | 15% | Post-treatment contact protocol, complication pathway, patient file handover |
What the AI score explainer can show
Within its data boundary the explainer is useful for three things: breaking a composite score into its factor components so you can see where a clinic is strong or weak, comparing two clinics side by side on the same criteria, and explaining what a particular factor measures in plain language rather than index jargon.
- Factor-level breakdown: which of the five criteria contributed most to a clinic's total
- Side-by-side comparison: how two clinics differ on the same published evidence
- Plain-language definitions: what 'international patient care' or 'doctor expertise' actually assesses
- Source traceability: every claim the AI makes can be checked against the clinic profile and methodology page
What the AI score explainer cannot show
No algorithmic score replaces an in-person consultation, and the AI does not pretend otherwise. Several categories of information are outside its reach, and users should be aware of them before drawing conclusions.
- Clinical outcomes: the index does not track complication rates, implant survival data, or patient-reported outcome measures for individual clinics
- Real-time status: a certificate or partnership recorded at the time of assessment may have lapsed or changed since
- Price accuracy: the index does not collect or verify treatment fees, so the AI cannot quote prices on behalf of any clinic
- Subjective experience: waiting times, bedside manner, facility comfort, and the feel of a clinic are not captured by document-based criteria
- Undisclosed capability: a clinic may have equipment, specialists, or protocols it has not publicly documented, and the index scores only what is verifiable
How scores can change over time
The index operates on an annual assessment cycle. Evidence is gathered from publicly available records, official registries, and direct clinic submissions that the editorial board can cross-check. A clinic's score can rise if it obtains a new accreditation, documents additional specialists, or publishes a patient care protocol that was previously internal. It can fall if a certificate expires without renewal or if a previously recorded capability is no longer verifiable.
The AI explainer always reflects the latest published data on the site. It does not forecast future scores or speculate on pending accreditations.
How to use an AI clinic score responsibly
Treat the score as a filter, not a verdict. A high composite number means the clinic has documented, verifiable credentials across the five criteria the index measures. It does not mean the clinic is the right choice for your specific treatment, budget, or medical history.
The checklist below is a practical way to move from the score to a personal decision. None of these steps can be replaced by an algorithm.
- Read the clinic's profile page and check the evidence items, not just the total score
- Use the AI explainer to understand factor differences between two or three shortlisted clinics
- Verify credentials independently: follow the official-source links on the profile or contact the issuing body
- Request a written treatment plan and itemised quote from the clinic before making any commitment
- Ask your own dentist to review the proposed plan, especially for complex or irreversible procedures
- Confirm aftercare arrangements, including who to contact if a complication arises after you return home
Transparency and editorial independence
No clinic pays to appear in the index, and no clinic has editorial input into its score. The AI explainer's system prompt is designed to present verified data neutrally. It does not steer users toward or away from any clinic, and it does not generate marketing language. The full scoring methodology, factor weights, and editorial policy are published on the site and linked from every clinic profile.
If a user asks the AI a question it cannot answer from published data, it says so rather than inventing an answer. This is a deliberate design choice: a transparent gap is more useful than a confident fabrication.