Dental implants are by far the best method of replacing missing teeth to restore your smile since they take on the form and function of natural teeth. Understandably, this amazing technology comes at a price that far exceeds that of dentures or a dental bridge. So it’s hardly surprising that more and more Australians are tempted by the lower cost of a tooth implant in Malaysia.
The Attraction of Dental Tourism
Each year around 15,000 Australians travel to countries such as Malaysia and Thailand for cosmetic procedures and dental treatment. Known as dental tourism, the concept combines dental treatment with a vacation.
Sun, sea, and a new smile, what could be better?
Many patients considering dental tourism tend to be those on a modest income in need of complex and costly procedures that they may struggle to afford in Australia.
However, undergoing treatment for a dental implant in Malaysia may come with unforeseen risks that could affect your health and your wallet.
A Tooth Implant in Malaysia – Is it Worth the Risk?
If you’ve been researching dental implants, you’ll be aware that the procedure is fairly complex and requires multi-stages, specialised skills and training, as well as significant healing time. Because of the complexities of the surgery, there are several risks associated with getting a dental implant in Malaysia that you need to know about. These include:
Differing standards of training
While there may be plenty of well-educated, highly trained dentists in Malaysia, typically they are not the highly skilled clinicians offering ‘bargain-basement’ implants. As such, in many cases, (particularly in those seeking out cheap tooth implants) the standards may be lower than those back here in Australia.
Current training in Australia requires dentists to complete degrees and at present, there are 4 qualifying groups who are permitted to perform dental implants surgery. These include:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons – They have 15 years of formal training and are required to complete degrees in dentistry, oral surgery and medicine
- Oral surgeons – They have 3 years of specialised surgical training in addition to a degree in dentistry
- Periodontists – They have 8 years of formal training specialising in gum surgery and dental bone support. They also hold a degree in dentistry as well as a Master’s degree in periodontics
- Dentists –General dentists are permitted to place dental implants but they must undergo additional training. They are then allowed to refer to themselves as a ‘dentist who has a special interest in dental implants’ or a ‘dental implant dentist’.
As you can see, the level of surgical experience varies greatly between dentists here in Australia, so it’s advisable to find out as much as you can about the experience of the dentist placing your dental implants in Malaysia.
Lack of regulation
Dentists back home are heavily regulated by the Dental Board of Australia and APHRA. They need to undergo continual professional improvement training to remain accredited and licenced so that they are always up to date with the latest dental techniques.
Malaysia on the other hand, may not have the same strict regulatory bodies so you can’t always be sure of the skill level of your dentist or the standards of their practice.
Deficient hygiene
Hygiene and infection control is vital to avoid putting patients and staff at risk. Yet, overseas dental clinics may not always adhere to the same standards of hygiene and infection control that we take for granted when we visit a dentist in Australia.
Remember, infection can place your dental implants – and indeed your life, in jeopardy.
Inferior materials
One of the reasons for the lower cost of a dental implant in Malaysia could be that the dental clinic is using cheap dental implants made from substandard materials. An implant can only be as strong as the materials it’s made from. So by not using well-known proven brands, there’s a significant chance of dental implant failure. This in turn can result in additional surgery to correct it and a large bill at the end for additional restorative work.
Additional surgeries
It’s not uncommon for patients to require additional surgeries such as a sinus lift or bone graft to stabilise their jaw before implant placement. Naturally, these surgeries will require additional healing time which might mean that you need to stay on longer in Malaysia, increasing your travel costs and incurring extra time off work.
No access to dental or medical history
To ensure your safety and comfort during any dental procedure it’s vital to have the correct medical information. When you undergo a dental implant in Malaysia your chosen dentist may not always have access to these records. Instead, you might need to rely on your memory to provide critical information relating to previous dental work or reactions to local anaesthetic.
This in turn could compromise the dental implant procedure while placing you at greater risk of complications or implant failure.
While dental tourism sounds a great idea, it’s worth remembering that holidays come and go but the effects of failed or poor dental treatment stick around for far longer.
Affordable High-Quality Dental Implants in Australia
Ultimately, you may decide that the risks of getting a tooth implant in Malaysia outweigh the cost of a dental implant back here in Australia, This being the case, then why not consider dental implants here at No Gaps Dental.
Because we’re a multi-location dental provider, we’re able to spread our costs without compromising on quality. We also provide payment plans for a wide variety of treatments including dental implants that enable you to spread the cost of treatment over a period of weeks or months.
To conclude…
Because dental implants provide a permanent fixed solution, they offer patients an exceptional and renewed quality of life. However, undergoing dental implants in places like Malaysia, come with risks, many of which you might not have even considered.
In fact, it could end up costing you a lot more in terms of your oral health and your hard-earned cash than you may have bargained for.
Stay safe and call a No Gaps Dental clinic near you today: (02) 8806 0227!
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.