Considering Overseas Dental Treatment? The Questions You Can’t Afford Not to Ask

Considering Overseas Dental Treatment? The Questions You Can’t Afford Not to Ask

With an overseas dental promotion event coming to South Cumbria this month, it feels like a good time to talk about something we are increasingly asked about: dental treatment abroad.

There is nothing wrong with considering treatment overseas, but when you are looking at an exciting new smile, attractive prices and lots of before-and-after pictures, it can be easy to focus on the end result and forget to ask some of the less exciting questions.

So, how do you make sure you understand exactly what you are signing up for?

A Dentist’s Advice on Overseas Dental Treatment

Neil has been working in implant dentistry for more than two decades and, over the years, we have also seen patients who have come to us after having treatment abroad and needed help with problems that have developed afterwards.

As a husband-and-wife team, dental conversations have a habit of following us home! So this was one I raised with Neil on a quick walk while dinner was cooking. What questions, I asked him, should people really be asking before they commit?

He isn't trying to put anyone off having treatment abroad, or treatments commonly referred to as “Turkey Teeth”. But he does think there are some questions people should ask before they get swept up in the excitement of a new smile.

Taking a little time to do your research can help you make an informed decision before committing to significant, and sometimes irreversible, treatment.

Overseas Dentistry: Myths vs Facts

Myth: “Veneers, crowns and implants are basically the same, wherever you get them.”

Fact: There is much more to a successful result than what you see in the mirror. The materials used, the planning and diagnosis, the condition of your teeth and gums, the skill of the clinician and the quality of the laboratory work can all affect the longevity, comfort and health of the finished result.

Some cosmetic treatments involve significant preparation of natural teeth. Once healthy tooth structure has been removed, it cannot simply be put back.

Myth: “If it looks good in the mirror on day one, it's a success.”

Fact: A good result needs to work as well as look good.

Your bite, gum health, ability to keep your teeth and restorations clean and the condition of the natural teeth underneath all matter. Some problems don't become obvious until months or even years later.

Myth: “Going private or abroad automatically means shortcuts.”

Fact: Not at all. There are excellent clinicians both in the UK and abroad.

The issue is not simply whether treatment is overseas or private. It is whether you have checked the clinician's qualifications and registration, understood the treatment being proposed and thought about what happens if you need help afterwards.

Myth: “If something goes wrong, my UK dentist can just fix it.”

Fact: Sometimes they can, but it is not always straightforward.

Corrective work can be more complex, invasive, expensive and time-consuming than the original treatment. If a significant amount of natural tooth structure has been removed, or if the exact implant or restorative system used cannot be identified, there may be fewer options for a simple repair.

What Should I Ask Before Signing Up to Overseas Dental Treatment?

Check who is carrying out your treatment.

Find out the dentist's name, qualifications and professional registration and check the relevant regulator in the country where the treatment will take place. If you are attending a promotional event or consultation in the UK, you can check UK registration on the General Dental Council register.

Ask exactly what the treatment involves.

Don't be afraid to ask questions about anything irreversible. Will healthy teeth be filed down or removed? How much? What are the alternatives? What are the risks, and what happens if you don't go ahead?

If you are having implants, ask which implant system is being used.

Find out the manufacturer and system, and make sure you will be given a record of exactly what has been placed. This can be important if you need treatment somewhere else in the future.

Neil is a Key Opinion Leader for Neodent and uses Neodent implants at Crossbank Dental Care, but he has also worked with and is familiar with a wide range of implant systems. Over the years, we have helped patients who have needed further treatment following implant work carried out elsewhere; knowing exactly what system has been used can make a real difference when planning that care.

The point isn't that one particular implant system is right for everyone: it is that you should know what you are having and be able to access the information about it afterwards.

Ask about aftercare.

Who do you contact if you have pain, an infection, a problem with your bite or something doesn't feel right three months later? Will you need to travel back? Who pays for flights and accommodation? Is remedial treatment included, or is there an extra cost?

Ask for evidence, not just photographs.

Reviews and before-and-after photographs can be useful, but ask how often the dentist carries out the procedure you are considering and what their complication, infection or success rates are. More importantly, ask what happens when the result isn't as expected.

Get a second opinion if you are unsure.

The GDC recommends speaking to your own dentist before you commit to treatment abroad. They know your dental history and may be able to highlight things you haven't considered.

Read the guarantee small print.

What exactly is covered and for how long? What happens if something goes wrong after you have returned home? Does the guarantee cover the cost of further treatment, flights or accommodation? And what happens if you can't travel back or have difficulty contacting the provider?

Already Booked or Already Had Treatment?

If you have already booked treatment, it is not too late to ask questions. Make sure you know exactly what treatment is planned, who will carry it out, what materials or systems will be used and what happens if you need help once you are back home.

And if you have already had treatment and something doesn't feel right, don't simply hope it will settle. If you are experiencing pain, swelling, problems with your bite, gum problems or concerns about the appearance or function of your teeth, speak to a dentist.

The Right Smile for You

None of this is about frightening people away from getting the smile

they want.

It is about making sure you are not rushed into a decision because of enthusiasm, an offer or a feeling that you need to decide there and then.

Your comfort, your bite, your gum health, the condition of your natural teeth, getting the right treatment for you and being able to maintain the result all matter.

If you are unsure, ask questions. Make sure you understand the answers. Take your time to consider your options and, if you need to, get a second opinion.

That applies whether your dentist is five minutes away or several thousand miles away!