There’s no getting away from the fact that dental treatment abroad can be considerably cheaper than the equivalent treatment back here in Australia. Take teeth implants in India for example. The average cost is around 40,000 Rs – that’s around AUD 700, whereas the same treatment back home would set you back somewhere between AUD3500 and AUD6000 per tooth.
It’s perhaps no wonder then that over 15,000 Australians travel abroad to places like Thailand, Bali, Malaysia and India to undergo dental treatments every year.
However, before you start trawling the internet for cheap flights to places like Mumbai, It’s important to understand that when you embark on any form of dental tourism, you could be exposing yourself to a plethora of hazards or risks that you wouldn’t necessarily experience should you undergo a dental implant procedure back home.
With this in mind, it’s well worth taking a closer look at some of those risks, so at the very least, you can make a fully informed decision about whether or not to undergo dental implants in India, rather than be swayed by the attractive cost savings alone.
Risk 1 – Not all dentists are created equal
If you opt for teeth implants in India it’s worth remembering that education, training and practice philosophies may be different when compared to dentists back home. Here in Australia, for example, all dentists are trained to an exceptional standard and regularly have to undergo refresher training in areas like infection control, health and safety legislation and general patient care. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case in India.
In fact, the dental system in India is currently undergoing a massive shake-up in terms of regulation control, education and training to bring dentistry in line with other countries. So, while there are some top class dental implant dentists in India, it’s worth pointing out that at the other end of the scale, there are also several so-called ‘street dentists’ in operation, even though the practice was made illegal back in 1948.
The upshot is that the standard of dentistry in India varies greatly and therefore those choosing dental implants in India may well be taking an unnecessary risk if they do not carry out proper due diligence.
Risk 2 – Time factors
Many people embark on dental tourism because they need to correct multiple dental issues – treatments that may otherwise be unaffordable in Australia. The problem with undergoing multiple treatments like a bone graft or tooth extraction followed by a dental implant procedure is that time may be needed between treatments to ensure the best chance of a successful outcome. Unfortunately, with dental tourism to places like India, many people end up purchasing inflexible flight tickets. Inevitably, this leaves the dentist trying to cram multiple treatments into the short window or timeframe of a patient’s stay. In doing so, it can pose a greater risk to the patient and their treatment.
As a top tip – if you insist on undergoing dental implants in India, choose a highly experienced dentist and ensure that you have flexible or open-ended travel arrangements. This way, if you are advised to wait several weeks between treatments, you can do so with greater peace of mind.
Risk 3 – Complications
When you undergo teeth implants in India or indeed anywhere in the world, you should remember that it’s a complex procedure that relies on any number of factors to ensure success. The problem is that dental implants can fail at any time – not just immediately after treatment, but six months or a year down the line. The question is what (if any) form of recourse do you have if you do experience an implant failure 12 months or more in the future.
The truth is that it can be very hard (if not impossible) for a foreign patient to seek recompense for a dental implant problem that occurred abroad. More often than not, it’s left to the patient’s local dentist back here in Australia to pick up the pieces and put the problem right. Inevitably, this comes at a greater expense and indeed inconvenience to the patient.
If you are looking to undergo a dental implant procedure abroad, then talk to your chosen dental implants dentist in India about the possibility of correcting problems before you book. This way, it gives you peace of mind knowing that you may at least be covered should things go awry.
So now you understand some of the hazards of undergoing teeth implants in India, what about if you decide that it’s too much of a risk? How do you get the treatment you need at an affordable price back here in Australia?
Here are some pointers…
Check out your medical insurance coverage
While the vast majority of medical insurance policies won’t cover you for an entire dental implant procedure, some will pay at least part of the cost. For this reason, it’s worth checking out the small print under your ‘extras’ cover to see exactly what your policy includes. If your policy doesn’t cover you for any part of a dental implants treatment, then it may pay you to switch coverage to somewhere that can.
Check out online promotions
Many dentists here in Australia will offer regular promotions on a variety of treatments and services including dental implants. Therefore it might be cost-effective to find an implant dentist who is offering such a promotion.
Payment plans
While dental implants in India may be considerably cheaper, many Australian dentists offer patients flexible payment plans which allow them to spread the cost of treatment over several weeks, months, or even years. This makes having the implant treatment you want more affordable, so don’t forget to ask your dentist about the possibility of payment plans.
So there you have it! If you want to avoid the hassle of undergoing teeth implants in India, then come and talk to No Gaps Dental. With 15 fully-equipped dental practices across the Sydney Metropolitan area, we ensure our prices remain affordable without compromising on quality.
Book a consultation with a No Gaps Dental clinic of your choice today! Call us now on (02) 8806 0227!
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.