Dental implants are a life-changing way to restore your smile. They are made up of titanium implants that connect to your jaw and support beautiful new teeth. Once placed, dental implants restore your smile, confidence, and ability to bite and chew.
Treatment costs are a potential consideration for many people. So, when you see adverts online for dental implant procedures overseas, the idea of getting on a plane for a cheaper procedure is naturally quite attractive.
Sun, sea, and smile enhancement —what could be so bad about that?
In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to think about if you’re considering getting dental implants overseas.
What Is Dental Tourism?
Dental tourism refers to the growing trend of travelling overseas for dental treatments. This growing industry is fueled by several factors, including the increased availability of low-cost flights, the lower price of dental treatments abroad, a growing demand for cosmetic procedures, and the means to actively target potential patients using social media and internet search advertising.
Implants and veneers are some of the most popular procedures. This is because they offer the greatest potential for saving money. Many dental practices overseas have lower operating costs. With reduced wages and property expenses, attracting patients from around the world is appealing to these dental practices.
Will Dental Tourism Actually Save You Money?
With lower procedure costs, it’s easy to think you’ll save money. In addition to your dental implant placement fees, here are the other expenses to consider.
- Flights and transfers
- Accommodation costs
- Food and drink while abroad
- Insurance costs
Although you might expect to combine your dental implant placement with a holiday, it’s unlikely you’ll find your visit as relaxing as you hope.
Dental implant procedures involve a comprehensive recovery period. After your treatment, you will need to stick to soft foods for a period, and may not feel up to tourist activities.
Is the Standard of Care the Same Overseas?
Dental standards vary worldwide, and several factors can affect them. You need to consider the dentist’s training, the hygiene standards in the clinic, and the materials and tools used when placing your implants.
We use high-quality dental implants and the latest technology and techniques to deliver the best patient experience.
You should always find out as much as possible about the dental practice, the dentist’s qualifications and experience, and the materials, tools, and techniques before booking anything.
How Are Dentists Abroad Regulated?
In the United Kingdom, the General Dental Council (GDC) regulates all dental professionals. The GDC expects high standards from UK dental practices, investigates patient complaints, and holds dentists accountable.
While dental regulators aren’t purely a British thing, dentistry isn’t regulated in the same way everywhere. It’s always important to learn how dentistry is regulated in the country you plan to visit before making any arrangements.
Will My Dentist Speak English?
While you might expect that a dentist who is actively marketing their services to UK patients will have a good grasp of English, this isn’t always guaranteed. Some dentists may be fluent, while others won’t speak much English.
Dentists are known to use interpreters when treating English-speaking patients, but this isn’t always the case.
Communication is essential. If you don’t understand your dentist and they don’t understand you, how can you communicate with them if anything goes wrong?
What Can Go Wrong When You Get Dental Implants?
Although we enjoy a very high success rate when we place dental implants, it is a treatment with some risks. Being informed about potential problems is essential. Dental implants can fail if your body rejects them, and infections are possible after any treatment.
At Quest Dental, we always maintain the highest clinical standards and use the best implants to avoid complications.
What Happens If Anything Does Go Wrong?
Ordinarily, if something goes wrong following a dental treatment, you would return to the dentist who treated you. They would then address any issues or prescribe medications for side effects or infection.
If your dentist is overseas, this isn’t always possible. You may need to visit a UK dentist and this could mean additional treatment costs.
In the event of negligence on the part of your overseas dentist, what happens next would depend on the laws and regulators in the country you received treatment and on any insurance you took out before travelling. Suing a dental practice overseas is likely to be very challenging.
Should I Get Dental Implants Abroad?
If you are considering getting dental implants abroad, it’s vital that you thoroughly research every aspect of the procedure, the dentist, and the country’s dental regulations. Reading reviews is always important.
Ultimately, before you do anything, the best place to start is with a visit to Quest Dental. We can explain everything you need to know about dental implants, how the procedure works, and whether the treatment is right for you.
Get in touch and schedule a consultation today.
