Is it safe to go abroad for implants?
If you’re thinking about replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you might be wondering if it’s worth going abroad for your treatment. Cheaper implants and a few days in the sun. Sounds great?
Unfortunately, dental tourism isn’t without risk. Research your chosen destination and clinician carefully. If your treatment doesn’t go according to plan, the stress and costs could quickly add up.
What is dental tourism?
Dental tourism sees thousands of patients travel abroad for their treatment every year. Growing NHS waiting lists and the attraction of sun, sea and savings have fuelled the demand for cheaper treatments in sunnier climates.
Popular destinations for dental implants include Turkey, Hungary, Thailand and Singapore. Competitive packages that include your treatment, accommodation, flights and transfers may seem hard to resist but beware of hidden costs.
Research your options carefully
If you’re comparing clinics in different countries, you’ll probably do most of your research online. While this can be useful, it doesn’t compare to a face-to-face consultation.
If you’re undergoing a surgical procedure like implants, it’s essential to meet your clinician and visit the practice for a consultation before committing to treatment. It’s a vital opportunity to meet the team and see where you’ll be having your implants fitted. A comprehensive assessment is essential for ensuring the best outcome.
You may want to meet several providers before making a decision, so you can compare prices and packages and see who you feel a rapport with.
Compare the quality of your treatment
In the UK, dentistry is heavily regulated, but this isn’t always the case abroad. Find out how experienced your clinician is, and make sure they are fully qualified and trained to place implants.
You should also look at the materials and implant system your provider plans to use. This can play a big part in the success of your implant. Inferior materials could cause your implant to fail prematurely, and you’ll need further dental treatment to put things right.
Consider your ongoing care
Dental implants need regular maintenance for the best long-term results. Aftercare is essential, and you’ll need to factor in check-ups approximately once a year. Not every provider will offer this service, and they might discharge you from their care after your initial treatment.
If you can’t return to the clinician who carried out your treatment, you’ll need to find a dentist in the UK who is happy to take over your aftercare. This can create a dilemma for some dentists, who may want to help, but are unfamiliar with the implant system that’s been used. Some clinicians will only provide aftercare for the implants they’ve fitted.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Implants usually have a very high success rate. However, despite everyone’s best efforts, things can go wrong, both in the UK and abroad. If you had your treatment abroad, recourse can often be difficult and more expensive.
Some clinics will require legal proceedings to take place in the country where you had your treatment. In some countries, it can be very hard to prove malpractice, and they may not have a professional regulator as we do in the UK.
If you find yourself in pain, you might decide to seek help closer to home. As well as incurring extra costs, you may find some dentists are reluctant to provide further treatment for fear of litigation.
Dental implants in London
If you are considering implants abroad, it’s worth looking at your options in the UK, too, to see how they compare.
Our implant dentist in London, Dr Bhavnish Waghela, is registered with the General Dental Council and has placed thousands of implants with excellent results.
Your journey will start with a free no-obligation consultation where you’ll meet Dr Waghela to discuss your treatment in detail.
You’ll receive a comprehensive treatment plan and quote for your implants, detailing everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Our cross-infection control is second to none, and you’ll receive the highest standard of care and materials throughout your treatment. We currently use the MegaGen AnyRidge implant system, which consistently provides excellent outcomes and stability in different scenarios.
After we’ve placed your implant, you’ll benefit from a 5-year guarantee, and we’re always on hand to offer advice and support. If you have any concerns, we can quickly arrange an appointment with Dr Waghela or a member of the team.
We recommend yearly reviews with Dr Waghela to keep your implants healthy and functional.
