When it comes to getting dental implants, Phuket on paper at least seems like the ideal destination. Cheap dental treatment carried out in a warm and sunny climate with endless dental clinics all vying for business… it really is a no-brainer.
In fact, with multiple non-stop flights leaving direct from Sydney every single day, destinations like Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand remain high among the ‘go-to’ places of choice for thousands of Australians who take the 9-hour flight for medical and dental tourism reasons every year.
But before you get swept away with the eye-watering cheap prices and the sights, sounds and smells of an exotic location, it pays to be more than a little cautious before you take the plunge. Here’s why…
Dental tourism – it’s no holiday
Even though the phrase ‘dental tourism’, conjures up visions of booking in for dental implant treatment one day and recovering on a whitewashed beach the next, in truth, the reality is far from that.
Most people who travel abroad to undergo cheap dental implants in Phuket visit because they require multiple treatments to maximise their saving. While this is of course understandable, it blows away the theory of undergoing treatment one day and relaxing the next.
In fact, most people travelling to places like Phuket for dental implants treatment, fail to see much of the island because they would typically be recovering in their designated hotel. Even if they were able to do a spot of sightseeing, it probably wouldn’t be too much fun just one or two days after experiencing what is, to all intent and purpose, complex oral surgery.
Destinations like Phuket, Bali and Malaysia are indeed stunning places to visit with a mix of sun, sea and culture but in all honestly, it would be better to visit them when 100% fit and not after major dental implant surgery.
Dental Implant Prices in Phuket – Are they too good to be true?
Let’s face it, some excellent dentists operate in Thailand at the highest levels but usually, they won’t be the ones offering bargain-basement prices. On the contrary, it’s typically the back-street clinics that offer the cheapest prices. The question is, are you willing to take the risk of visiting such a clinic just to save a few bucks?
If you are keen on visiting Phuket under the guise of dental tourism, it’s well worth checking out the larger established dental hospitals or dedicated dental implant centres. Sure you may pay a little more, but it should also give you better peace-of-mind.
Check out reviews and even contact your clinic of choice directly before you take the plunge to see if they’re up to your expectations. You can always ask them questions like “Can I speak to the dental implant surgeon who carries out the treatment?” and “What can I expect during my treatment and time with you?”
Either way, at the very least you should begin to get a ‘gut’ feel as to whether it feels right for you or not. If something isn’t quite right but you can’t put your finger on it, then trust your instincts and move on.
The treatment co-ordination conundrum
As already stated, most people travel abroad for dental implants treatments because they have multiple dental issues that need correcting. However, when the majority of people travel abroad as dental tourists, they typically have a limited timescale to get stuff done. Ultimately, this can leave dental centres in places like Phuket trying to squeeze treatments in that may otherwise benefit from a longer recovery period between processes.
Foreign dentists understand that they only have a small window of opportunity to complete your dental implant treatments and as a result, they may take risks that your local dentist back home here in Australia might not take.
As a top tip, if you are thinking about travelling abroad for multiple dental implant treatment, consider booking an open-ended ticket. This way, it allows the dentist to ensure you have the allotted recovery time in between treatments and ultimately, the best chance of a problem-free treatment and a successful recovery.
Dental implants in Phuket – The problem factor
Because dental implant surgery can be a complex procedure, problems can and do occur. When you seek out a local implant dentist back here in Australia, these problems are, more often than not, easily rectified. Australian dentists are bound under strict laws to put right any issues free of charge if the problem stems from a surgical error.
On the contrary, when your chosen dental implant dentist is a 9-hour flight away, it’s likely to be far more difficult (and indeed costly) to seek recourse – That is, if there is even any possibility of recourse to be sought in the first place.
Moreover, even though the percentage of implants that fail is low, dental implants can go wrong for any number of reasons. They don’t always fail just one or two days after initial placement either. Sometimes it can take 3, 6 or even 12 months for problems to show. As you can imagine, seeking any kind of recourse this long after any treatment has ended is going to be problematic.
Typically, therefore, this leaves those who have experienced failed dental implant procedures with no choice but to visit a local implant dentist back home to try and put the problem right. Usually, patients are left both out of pocket and feeling like a bit of a fool.
If you are insistent on getting dental implants abroad in countries like Thailand or Malaysia then ask your chosen dental clinic what the situation is regarding recourse. Any decent dental clinic should have clear measures in place which you should be able to follow in the unfortunate event that it’s needed.
If after reading this you feel that getting dental implants in Phuket isn’t such a good idea but would still like to save money on treatment, come and talk to the team at No Gaps Dental. We’re a multi-location dental group with 15 locations dotted around the Sydney Metro area. In addition to offering a wide range of promotions across a variety of treatments, we pride ourselves on keeping prices very competitive and our dental clinics pristine clean and free from infection.
Call us at (02) 8806 0227 or book a consultation with us today.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.