Dental implant tourism is big business with thousands of Australians travelling abroad to seek out low-cost dental work. But despite the cost-saving, many people fail to realise that they are exposing their mouth, health, and wallet to all sorts of risks.
What is dental tourism?
Would you jet off to another county if it meant paying considerably less for dental work? What if there was a chance you could tie it in with a vacation? Just imagine getting dental implants done and recovering on a sun-kissed beach surrounded by palm trees and glistening turquoise water. Well, that’s the concept of dental tourism and with dental implants offered at a fraction of the price you’d pay back at home, it’s little wonder that locations such as Bali and Thailand are a mecca for those looking to save money on dental work.
What could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately, many people are so focused on the up-front costs offered by dental tourism that they fail to consider the long term issues associated with dental implants.
This is where things can and do go wrong because when it comes to dental implants, it’s not just about cost. For example, there are standards to consider and potential complications of the treatment and how this could impact your health and your finances.
To assess the viability of dental implant tourism, it’s imperative to research the potential dental company’s training standards, government regulations of the country you’re intending to visit, hygiene, standards of infection control, insurance policies …. the list goes on.
Meanwhile, if you’re considering dental implant tourism then please visit No Gaps Dental for a quote. You could be wrong in assuming that you can’t afford to have a dental implant in Sydney. While the initial cost may be a little higher, you may save money in the long term, plus there are other benefits to consider.
Having Dental Implants in Sydney
When looking at the cost of getting dental implants it pays to be realistic. You must factor in everything. It’s not just about the price of the implant or the placement. Oh no …. having a dental implant involves much more – support, ongoing care, even legal protection are all things that need to be considered.
If you have dental implants placed in Sydney, here’s what you can expect.
No air flights or accommodation
When you book your procedure in one of our 15 convenient locations in the Sydney metro, you won’t have to fly overseas or spend money on costly accommodation as you would if you opt to go down the dental tourism route.
Less time off work
There’s also the question of how much time you may need to take away from the office when you choose to travel overseas for dental implants. Not only is there travel time incurred with two return flights but if you’re planning on tying treatment in with a vacation, then you’re likely to use up all of your annual holiday entitlement. Have an implant placed here, and you may only need to be off work for a couple of days.
High Standards
While many dental clinics overseas state their dentists are ‘specialists’ that only applies to the requirements recognised by their country.
Australian standards are amongst the highest in the world and to become a dental specialist requires many years of intense training. Australian dentists also work in an environment that is strictly regulated to prevent the spread of disease and infection.
The overseas dentist that you see may not be as qualified as the one you will see in a No Gaps Dental clinic and may not be working to the same standard, or with the same high-quality materials we do.
Ongoing After Care
This is a major factor and one that many people overlook when they consider dental implant tourism. After-care is important with any dental work but even more so when dealing with a dental implant. The success rate of a dental implant relies on successful osseointegration (when the implant fuses with the jaw bone) and this typically requires several follow-up dental appointments over a span of 3 or 4 months to ensure that osseointegration is going according to plan. You may also need to speak to your dentist if you have concerns and attend check-ups to maintain good oral health.
Health insurance rebates
While you may be entitled to health insurance rebates for dental work here in Australia, that isn’t the case for dental tourism.
Long-Term Maintenance
Even assuming your dental implant treatment goes well, a variety of maintenance appointments will be necessary for the following months/years. One of the implications of dental tourism is that to keep prices low, cheaper lesser-known implants may be used. Should you need a replacement component, a dentist back home may find it difficult or even impossible to source and you could find that you need to undergo a new dental implant procedure. Suddenly, any savings you may have made initially, fade into the distant past.
Potential Complications
No surgery is fool-proof and things can go wrong. If something goes wrong in Australia, it’s just a matter of making a call to your dentist who will probably find the time to see you the same day to take a look at the problem. But if your implant dentist is thousands of miles away what happens then?
Even if you pay for a return flight and take more time off work there is no guarantee he will see you and there is unlikely to be any form of recourse. Here in Australia, there are legal procedures you can undergo should dental work go badly wrong.
Don’t take risks with your smile
While saving money with dental implant tourism sounds appealing, surely your smile deserves better? Why not speak to the No Gaps Dental team about getting affordable high-quality dental implants and making your oral health a priority.
Call us now on (02) 8806 0227 for a consultation.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.