If you’re considering having restorative dentistry like dental implants, Thailand sounds like a great place to go and offers substantial savings on a wide variety of treatments. From porcelain veneers to root canals, dental bridges and implants, whatever treatment you want it’s all there and with plenty of sun, sea and sand to boot.
Dental tourism has become increasingly popular and even with the cost of a flight to Bangkok and accommodation factored in, the savings you can make on your dental care can be significant. However, if you’re thinking about dental implants in Thailand based on cost alone, then it’s worth bearing in mind that not every dental treatment goes to plan.
Here at Infinity Dental Care, we want the best for our patients which is why we utilise the latest digital dental implants and suture-free surgery. Coupled with Dr Yang’s wide experience and extensive training, patients thrive on the long-term benefits of dental implants. Here are a few reasons for anyone considering dental implants, that Thailand may not be such a good idea after all.
The dental implant procedure takes time and patience
Having a dental implant isn’t just a case of arriving for your dental appointment and leaving the clinic with a replacement tooth in your mouth. On the contrary, a dental implant procedure requires detailed and precise planning before any surgery is performed and is carried out in stages so that the body has time to heal properly.
Each patient’s case is different according to their circumstances and this will determine how long the process takes and whether additional treatments are required. For sure, you’ll get to know your dentist better over several months –not necessarily a bad thing- but the more time and care is taken, the greater the chances of implant success.
These are the various stages of the dental implant procedure:
- Extraction of the damaged tooth
- A bone graft if you don’t have sufficient bone to support a dental implant
- Surgery to place your implant
- Time waiting for healing and osseointegration to take place
- Placement of the abutment
- Attaching the dental crown
With a stay in Thailand of perhaps a few days or even three weeks at a push, it can be difficult to achieve this level of collaboration. You may find that one trip isn’t sufficient and even with two trips, your dentist may find himself cutting corners to complete the treatment within your timeframe. As a result, they may even miss any pre-existing conditions such as gum disease which could affect your implant treatment and cause complications in the future
At Infinity Dental Care, our comprehensive dental implant service means that patients benefit from working with Dr Yang and his dedicated team throughout their entire treatment plan. This may not be the case when you opt for dental implants in Thailand.
Dental implants in Thailand – Low cost can mean low quality
It’s true to say there are some brilliant dentists and exceptional dental clinics in Thailand just as there are some dentists that aren’t as good in Australia. However, these aren’t the dentists or clinics offering dental implants at bargain-basement prices. When you see a dental implant being offered at less than two thirds of the price of an implant in Australia, you have to ask yourself why. Like most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
It’s likely that any dentist offering to fit a cut-price implants are those who:
- Have little experience of working chairside
- Lack training in the latest technologies and techniques
- Are using lesser-known implant brands that are inferior in quality
In Australia, our dentists are trained to an exceptionally high level and the quality of treatments and materials is far stricter than in many other countries. Ultimately, if you choose the wrong dental implant dentist in Thailand, you could be at a greater risk of infection or complications. This leads on to the next point which is recourse.
No recourse if something goes wrong
Even though the dental implant procedure has a 95% success rate, that still means that 5% of dental implants will fail. Did you know that an implant can fail a month, 6 months or even several years following the procedure?
Furthermore, were you aware that dental implant surgery carried out overseas isn’t covered by your health insurance in Australia neither is malpractice? This means that heaven forbid, should anything go wrong during or after your treatment in Thailand, a botched job will not be covered by the insurance company and you have no legal protection.
Ultimately, you could find yourself having to foot the bill for corrective treatment in Australia or revisit your dentist in Thailand if he agrees to take a look. Either way, bang goes the savings you thought you had made, and there’s every chance that you could end up paying more for your dental implants than if you had initially undergone treatment at home.
Limited aftercare
Regular check-ups are necessary after dental implant surgery to safeguard your health and safety. Visiting your dentist regularly enables them to check that the implant is integrating properly with the bone and that there are no signs of infection. Aftercare overseas following surgery is limited to the duration of your stay unless you plan to return regularly (in this case to Thailand) and that seems unlikely and impractical for most patients.
Choose an Australian dentist for dental implants
Dental implants may offer short-term relief cost-wise but in many cases, they don’t offer the quality or longevity of a dental implant here in Australia. If it’s just the cost that’s putting you off having dental implant treatment at home, then why not shop around to compare prices in other cities or states, ask your dentist if they have any promotions on implant treatment, and enquire about any finance options or dental plans they provide. Who knows, you could find that dental implants in Australia are more affordable than you thought.
Don’t take risks with your oral and medical health. Instead, why not book an implant consultation with Dr Yang at Infinity Dental Care. Call us today on (02) 9159 6237.