The lure of overseas cheap dentistry may seem too good to be true. The fact is that it often is. There are many reasons why you should not have dental work done overseas, and the dangers go beyond just the cost of your treatment.

There are many dentists overseas that offer dental tourism package deals. Dental tourism can be costly, but there might be hidden costs as well.

* Dental tourism abroad is not regulated, so you don’t have any way of knowing if the dentist has been trained well enough to perform your procedure.

* In many countries in Asia and Eastern Europe there are no dental boards that oversee work or set standards for safe practices. That means they can do whatever they want:

Lower quality materials can pose risks

Some overseas dentists offer cheaper dental treatments for tourists, meaning more cheap options are available. This could be problematic because these providers may use materials or equipment that are of a lower quality than what Australians find at home. If you choose to have cheap dental procedures overseas, the outcome may end up being low-quality work and require follow up care sooner.

From titanium dental implants to whitening gels, there are strict regulations on dental materials in Australia that may not exist overseas. Even if an overseas dentist uses a reputable brand or material, the imitation could be substandard.

Lower quality of dental care

The Australian Dental Association has issued warnings about the potential risks of dental tourism. One major risk is that dentists in some countries may not be subject to the same strict regulations as Australian dentists.

Dentists in Australia must meet certain criteria before any of them can sign up with the Dental Board of Australia. Patients can confirm that a dentist is registered to practice by checking on their public register of practitioners.

Other organizations can make it easier for patients to find high-quality dental practitioners and ensure safety, such as QIP certification that certifies that standards are being followed. Patients in some cases may not have the same assurance or risk being misled when traveling abroad.

Problems communicating

The language barrier can often be difficult to cross overseas, but we should never avoid treatment for those who need it due to the need of comfort and clear communication.

International dental tourism providers can offer shady deals that go against the best interests of customers. When it comes to dental work, which is often complicated and technical in nature, speak with an Australian dentist for a patient-centered solution.

Your Australian dentist will also ask about any medical or dental history that may be relevant to your treatment, such as any materials you’re allergic to. They’ll work with you to plan your course of care in line with your goals and make sure you have a realistic idea of what to expect and what clinical risks are involved.

Dental tourism is often portrayed as a quick, easy way in receiving cheap dental work overseas, but buyer beware. Issues with communication can arise when English isn’t the primary language- plus there’s the short amount of time spent on visits. This fact makes it difficult to consider these options and make informed decisions about what you want and expect from your dentist visit for cheaper dental care.

No aftercare

Getting quality dental care overseas is increasingly difficult. Dental aftercare from a qualified healthcare professional  can be vital to the healing and recovery process, which is simply impossible when your dentist is not around.

If you get a crown or filling on holiday that feels uncomfortable or if it falls out when you return to Australia, you might have to cancel the cost savings from dental tourism and may even need more treatments.

Higher risk of complications

A combination of less professional standards and speeding up the surgical process increases the clinical risks of overseas dental treatments, which is why Australians tend to go abroad for cheaper treatments involving oral surgery rather than simple procedures.

A dentist in Australia seeks to minimize the clinical risks of procedures as much as possible. One way of doing this is to spread a complicated treatment such as dental implants or root canal therapy over an agreed upon number of appointments. This gives your mouth time to heal between treatments and allows for close monitoring by your dentist during recovery.

This is never possible when you’re squeezing a procedure into a one or two week holiday, and overseas dentists often compress treatment times or skip intermediate steps. Flying so soon after surgery risks even more complications such as blood clots.

The risk of incurring an infection

Cheaper dental treatments overseas carry risks we prefer to avoid. Cleanliness and infection prevention are two areas where Australian dentists rank much higher than their less-regulated, international counterparts.

Previously, lower treatment costs in other countries for dental procedures led some patients to travel overseas for care. However, the use of antibiotics and infection control standards among dentists abroad is questionable as are hygiene practices that may not be up to Australian standards.

Hidden costs

In conclusion, you may find that while overseas dental costs might look cheap in the advertisement, dentists only disclose certain general costs. For instance anaesthesia and medication are often not included in these prices, which means on bringing your bill for treatment home you may find it’s more expensive than the initial cost claimed by dentist.

Dentists are required to be transparent about dental fees.There’s no certainty about the quote, both in terms of cost and treatment details.

 

So before considering the cheap dental treatments overseas, weight up the real costs, and then talk to the friendly team at Bright Smiles Dentistry. We can advise the right treatment to suit your budget.