Posted on: 06 November, 2024
Overseas dental procedures can seem tempting, but they can sometimes be a costly mistake.
3 minute read
Whether it’s root canal therapy to treat an infection or dental implants to replace missing teeth, the cost of dental treatments certainly add up. This has led to some Australians seeking to save money by having cheaper dental procedures abroad, or combining their treatment with a holiday.
While dental tourism may save money up front, it also involves higher risks that need to be understood before making your decision – especially if you’re having surgery where more can go wrong, and treatments to correct the bad work end up costing more.
Read this guide to understand why treatment is safest at home and how cutting corners to save money can put your oral health and safety at risk. Call our dentists in East Vic Park for transparent information about dental prices and finance options.
Overseas dentists and dental clinics may not be held to the same strict standards and regulations as Australian dentists. To practise dentistry in Australia, practitioners must be registered by the Dental Board of Australia and must consistently demonstrate a high level of professional competence through regular assessments. Certain procedures also require that dentists have specialised training and expertise to ensure high quality results and to minimise clinical risks.
Like dentists, the materials and equipment dentists use in Australia must also meet high standards for quality and safety determined by authorities such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Overseas dental clinics may not have these restrictions and may use lower quality materials that don’t last as long, are more prone to complications, or offer inferior results. These may also not be compatible with materials used in Australia if you need repairs or replacements in the future.
“We see a lot of patients come in after having dental implants placed overseas”. Principal Dentist of EVP Dental, Dr David Norcross explains. “One of our patients had implants completed in Bali a few years ago. In three years, he has been hospitalised three times with infections. We had to remove the implants and start the long process of trying to fix his mouth.” He says.
Dr Norcross notes, “A number of factors can cause implants to fail but the main reasons can be poor planning, poorly executed surgery and poor design of teeth”, he says. “In this case, I think the cheap materials used to make the teeth played a large part. They didn’t fit well, had gaps around them making them impossible to clean and there was cement left around the gums after they were fitted. These results are something we are seeing more and more of at our clinic.”
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has recently warned about the dangers of dental treatment abroad. Watch this piece published in August 2024 by from ABC Darwin.
Any clinical procedure involves risks, but these can be greater when overseas dentists and materials are less regulated, practitioners take less account of individual risk factors, treatments are completed in a shorter time frame and materials may not be high quality such as those regulated for use in Australia.
All medical devices, components, and materials used in dental treatments in Australia must be listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). If a replacement component is required and is not ARTG-approved, corrective treatment can become expensive, as the unapproved item must be removed and replaced with a compliant counterpart.
Dental restorations are not designed to last a lifetime and may require repairs or replacements over time. If any component of your treatment is not approved for use in Australia, you may face challenges with ongoing care, as follow-up treatments would require you to return overseas. This can result in added inconvenience, higher costs, and potential delays in addressing your dental needs.
Infection control standards in Australian dental clinics are also very strict, with dental instruments and materials being appropriately sterilised and steps taken during procedures to minimise the spread of infections. Standards in other countries may not be as strict, increasing the risk of infections that may be passed to families, friends and the wider population. This is believed to be partly responsible for the growth of antibiotic-resistant 'superbug' bacteria in Australia in recent years.
Some complex dental procedures, such as implants, root canal therapy or a smile makeover, can involve multiple appointments, sometimes a number of weeks or months apart. This gives the mouth or jaw time to heal between different stages of the treatment, as well as allowing your dentist to monitor your recovery and respond to any issues quickly.
When these procedures are performed overseas, the timeline is often condensed to fit in more procedures before the patient flies home. This can also mean a lack of pre-operative and post-operative care, and a higher risk of complications and disappointing results.
Good communication is vital for any dental treatment. Dentists must understand their patients’ needs and any specific concerns they may have, such as dental anxiety, while patients should be given all the information they need about their procedure, the costs and the possible risks so they can make fully informed decisions.
There can sometimes be language or fluency barriers when dental treatments are performed abroad, which could impact on patient comfort, safety or satisfaction. Attitudes and philosophies can also differ between dentists, as some may place less priority on preserving healthy teeth or may not consider (or communicate) the long term costs when recommending treatments and materials.
At EVP Dental, we believe in open communication and keeping our patients fully informed at all stages of their treatment. To find out more, get in touch today.
The cost of dental treatments overseas may be lower, but these services are less likely to be covered by health insurance or to have legal protection if something goes wrong or you need to claim compensation. In these cases, you may need repeat or additional treatments to correct a mistake or address complications.
Whether these additional procedures are performed in Australia or on a second overseas visit, the total cost can work out more expensive than if the original treatment had been provided in Australia, making dental tourism less cost effective in some cases.
Whether you choose to have dental treatments abroad or in Australia, it’s important to find a dentist you trust. Some things to consider are:
If you’re considering going overseas for a dental procedure to save money, you should first talk to your local dentist in Australia. They can explain what their prices are and what support and payment plans may be available to help make your treatment more affordable.
Whatever problem or concerns you may have, our dentists at EVP Dental are ready to help. Call our friendly team on (08) 9470 3944 or contact us to find out all of your options today.
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