Dental Implant in Philippines – When Cheap Can Be a Bad Thing?

13th September 2021

Dental Implant in Philippines – When Cheap Can Be a Bad Thing?

It’s no secret that dental care in Australia doesn’t come cheap. If you’ve been researching the dental implant cost in the Philippines, it’s fair to say that it’s exceptionally low compared to prices back home. It’s not hard to see the temptation of a holiday abroad with a spot of dental treatment thrown in. Why not jump aboard the bandwagon known as ‘dental tourism’

Each year, Australians spend up to $300 million on healthcare costs abroad. And as part of this practice, around 15,000 of us travel overseas for cosmetic surgeries, including dental implants. Dental tourism has become a big business and typically attracts ordinary folk with modest incomes that can’t afford treatment here. 

 

So what is the cost of a dental implant in the Philippines?

It’s only natural when considering the dental implant procedure to be concerned with price. For example, a straightforward dental implant here in Sydney costs between $3,000 and $5,000 per tooth.

cost dental implant philippines sydneyIn the Philippines, the average cost of a dental implant is around 75,000 Php (about $2000). Even when taking into account the price of airfare from Sydney to Manila, the saving is considerable. 

That said, just because dental implants are cheaper in the Philippines, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s your best option. 

How many times in the past have you grabbed what you thought was a bargain, only to have it cost you more in the long run? Instead, take a moment to consider the potential risks of undergoing the dental implant procedure in another country compared to the advantages of having your dental treatment in Sydney. 

 

What are the potential risks? 

Whether you’re having dental implants in Australia or the Philippines, you need to realise that all surgery comes with risks. If you visit a top surgeon in Sydney, there’s no guarantee that something won’t go wrong. 

 

Varying standards

For anyone considering visiting the Philippines for a dental implant, we recommend that they do their research. There may well be dental clinics offering basement prices for dental implants, but they’re more likely to be back street dental clinics rather than the glossy clinics found in the city. Find out all you can about the dental clinic and the country’s regulatory body and the standard of treatment and care enforced.  

It’s also in your best interests to find out as much as you can about the dentist carrying out the dental implant procedure – their qualifications and the number of dental implants they have placed. 

Dental standards are generally very high in Australia, and dentists have to undergo several years of further training to place dental implants. Furthermore, at No Gaps Dental, for instance, we adhere to strict hygiene and sanitary procedures. Hand sanitiser is available in stringent areas of our clinics for patients when entering and leaving the building. Frequent use of hand sanitiser is one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of infection. All members of the surgical team ensure the use of hand sanitiser before surgery. On the contrary, cleanliness levels may not be as high in developing countries such as the Philippines. 

 

Not all dental implants are equal 

When contemplating dental tourism and getting a dental implant in the Philippines, one thing to be aware of is that the cost may be cheaper than at home. This is often because the dental clinic provides patients with lesser brands of implants. 

In other words, they are implants that may be new to the market and lack the backing of years of clinical research that has gone into the reliable, proven brands that we use at No Gaps dental clinics.

As such, should a component piece need replacing at any time, the dentist may have difficulty identifying the brand and sourcing a replacement. When this happens, may be necessary to fork out for a new implant.  

 

The dental implant procedure takes time

Usually, dental implants require several consultations with the dentist providing your treatment.

tourism dental implant philippines sydney

Your initial consultation involves discussing your medical and dental history and several x-rays to determine whether you have sufficient bone to:

  • Whether you have sufficient bone to support the dental implants and 
  • Whether you’re medically fit to undergo surgery

Our fully trained dentists provide local anaesthesia to minimise discomfort and sedation to help nervous patients relax during surgery. 

Following surgery, it takes several months for the jawbone to integrate with the dental implant to support an artificial tooth or crown. During this waiting period, the dentist gives the lab an impression of your teeth and gums to create your new dental crowns.  

 

What if something goes wrong after getting dental implants?

Getting dental implants involves several stages, and each of these stages requires a visit to the dental clinic. If that clinic is in the Philippines, it means taking more time away from work and spending money on additional airfares. Costs quickly mount up. 

While visiting a dentist in Sydney isn’t a problem if things go wrong, it’s a different story when your dental clinic is an 8.5-hour flight away.  

While many people travel overseas for dental treatment and have a successful experience, the biggest downfall of dental tourism is compromised, or lack of, aftercare. 

You could strike lucky, but is it worth putting your health at risk? For this reason, you may want to consider staying in Australia and seeking an experienced implant dentist in Sydney. 

Don’t be put off by the cost of dental implants in Australia. We provide a variety of payment methods and flexible payment plans so you can spread the cost of your implants over several months. 

Why not schedule a consultation with the experienced team at a No Gaps dental clinic near you to find out more. Book online today or call us on (02) 8806 0227

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.