Dental Tourism
15 Mar 2021Dr Larry Benge discusses what patients need to consider when thinking about going abroad for dental treatment.
- What implants are you getting
- If problem arises, who will you see?
- Lots of overseas implants don’t pass TGA or Australian standards
- What teeth are you getting, are they good quality, how long will they last ?
- Will they use titanium or cheaper metals?
- We review before, during, post operatively – 1, 2 weeks, then monthly and at month 3 we unscrew the teeth and check that all is healing well and clean them.
- Annually we review and clean them
- Will you be travelling overseas for all the post operative work?
- Not 100% implants work – what if something goes wrong
If you have asked all these questions and you are satisfied with all the answers then you can make that decision.
The standards Australian dentists and surgeons must meet for dental implant treatments are stricter than countries that provide dental implant treatments a lot cheaper, so this is something that must be considered when you are thinking about having your treatment abroad. The qualifications of your surgeon won’t be the same as those of the dental surgeon in Australia either, which is also something to think about when it comes to dental tourism. If you wish to learn more about these risks, we certainly recommend listening to the Dr Larry Benge Podcast on dental tourism. In this podcast, you can learn what to look out for if you decide to have your treatment abroad, but you’ll also learn about the risks you’ll be exposed to.
If you decided to have your treatment abroad despite of the risks, it is still essential to visit your local dentist beforehand. Your dentist can determine if the clinic you have chosen is safe, but could also evaluate your dental health before you have your treatment. Having an Australian dentist who is willing to provide your aftercare is essential too, because you probably will be back in Australia when it is time for your follow-up appointment. Therefore, always speak to your local dentist to see what your options are.
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