Need major dental work, what country should I go to?

[Deactivated] on 18/02/2015 - 16:16
Last edited 18/02/2015 - 16:45

I had an accident almost 2 years ago where I lost my three front (top) teeth. Currently I have a temporary denture, but only now received the payout from insurance, which was $18,000.
I've learnt that I can save a HEAP of money if I get it done in South-east asia, as it will cost me a massive amount if I were to get it done here. I was told that the damage around my gums is that bad, I would need skin grafts to hold the implants in place, and that the grafts could be taken at the same time my wisdom teeth are removed, as I will apparently have issues with them later. Then I'd need the actual implants done themselves. Altogether this is at least 2 surgeries, which will leave me in a ballpark of around $30,000 if done in Australia.

If I want the best care overseas, where should I head? I don't want to take risks, and I've heard that some of the dentists are even better overseas, but I also hear to be careful. Should I be looking at Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore or something else?

EDIT: Reading a bit more, it seems like Thailand is everyone's go-to. Does anyone have any recommendations on dentists?

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • 000lynx on 18/02/2015 - 17:04
    +7

    Poland

    • deal seeking missile on 24/02/2015 - 03:27
      +1

      China and India might be cheaper.
      However if you do choose China go for the government ones as the private ones aren't well regulated and even my Chinese friends recommended that the governments ones are much better.
      If you go for India, i'm told the reverse is true. The biggest and most reputable hospitals are the private hospitals, they usually cater to expats and medical tourists. They are fitted with all the latest equipment and have good doctors. The government funded ones are usually super full.

      I guess that's the difference between a communist country and a democratic one lol.

      I'd recommend India over China simply because the of the lower language barrier (English is the official 2nd language and most professionals can speak it).
      However, Thailand is closer, so the flight tickets would be a fair bit cheaper…. that's another consideration.

      Good luck man

    • [Deactivated] on 18/02/2015 - 17:31
      +4

      Really? I'd been told it was very safe?

    • mskeggs on 18/02/2015 - 17:57
      +46

      Yes, this is completely true. Every East Asian country murders every patient using general anaesthetic!!!!!!

      There are poor medical staff in Australia, and possibly more in East Asia, but there is no reason to believe the good medical staff in both countries are anything less than highly competent.
      There are hospitals of a very high international standard in Thailand. Trip Advisor has up to date info.

        • Bystander on 18/02/2015 - 19:12
          +21

          I've heard that some of the SE Asian doctors and dentists are trained in Australian universities. And there are practices with modern facilities too.

        • iampoor on 18/02/2015 - 21:03
          +33

          @thorton82: I am pretty sure Singapore is in South East Asia and that the medical system there is either on par or even better than what you can get here.

          I have had operations in both Singapore and Australia with good and bad in both, don't be too quick too judge unless you have the experience/facts.

        • mskeggs on 18/02/2015 - 21:35
          +21

          Many doctors/dentists in Thailand trained in the USA, Europe or Australia.
          I think you are getting very excited about this for no reason.
          There is no evidence to show that the "only Aussie trained doctors have most likely been struck off."
          I suspect your opinions on this issue might not have formed as a result of visiting SE Asian hospitals, but perhaps watching A Current Affair or similar.
          Please take the time to learn about some of the healthcare options available rather than spouting off opinions about the quality of medicine available.
          Take a look at the FAQ for one of the top Thai hospitals, for example:
          https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/hospital-faq

          I have also had comments from Australian medical staff that Asian healthcare is sub standard, but when I have asked the basis for that opinion, it is typically because they feel the lack of financial resources available to SE Asian residents is lower than available to Australians, then the healthcare must be worse on average too.
          The reality, however, is that most health tourists attend the premier facilities, where standards are higher than those in Australian public hospitals, as they don't suffer from funding and crowding issues.

          One criticism I have heard of Asian health care is that MRSA is a potential issue. This is very serious, but unfortunately is becoming a problem in AU as well.

          Some people will pay any amount to feel comfort in their healthcare. I must say that, like the OP, if I had options to save $10,000 or more on dental work, I would closely explore them.

        • mskeggs on 18/02/2015 - 22:33
          +13

          @thorton82:
          Most of the links refer to a single case with an unregistered doctor.
          Nobody ever said medicine is risk free. People die of surgical complications in Australia too.
          The last link cites 57 "botched" cosmetic procedures over 3 years from more than 60,000 medical tourists in the same period. While I don't think that is good, it seems well in line with complications from surgical procedures in Australia.
          Obviously highly paid Australian medicos are going to be questioning of another country's medical care, especially when that country is attracting patients with lower costs.
          I'd be very interested in seeing research on outcomes from top tier hospitals in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, etc compared against similar hospitals in Australia, the USA and euro countries. The figures those hospitals report show them on a par, but I suppose 3rd party research would be better.

        • mskeggs on 18/02/2015 - 22:37
          +26

          @thorton82:
          And since you keep reiterating that foreign trained doctors working in Asia must be otherwise unemployable, kindly explain why Australian doctors aren't all working in the USA, where they could earn double or more their Australian income?
          Or could it be that a highly skilled Thai heart surgeon, for example, might choose to work in her home country even after graduating from an international medical school?

        • mskeggs on 19/02/2015 - 07:29
          +11

          @thorton82:
          Gotcha.
          Inability to answer with anything except bloviating opinions.
          And you even cited figures from a newspaper story that show low risks.
          Are you perhaps involved in the local medical industry? Please disclose this if it is the case.
          Or are you calling foreign doctors "butchers" because of some other motivation?

        • mskeggs on 19/02/2015 - 09:42
          +48

          @thorton82:

          You and I must be reading different links.
          Of the 7 links you provided, 4 refer to a single, sad incident where an improperly licensed doctor at a Bangkok clinic treated a British woman who susequently died from an infection.
          The press states authorities investigated and charged the doctor involved. It sounds similar to cases in Australia like Jayant Patel, for example, rather than an indictment of the entire country's medical industry.
          The longest article, in the Daily Mail, sent a reporter undercover who tried to get the doctor to operate on her, but the surgery never happened, although the doctor initially said he would. The main complaint of the journalist was that the seriousness of the procedure (a breast 'lift') was downplayed and that patient privacy might be a risk.
          Another article in the Express covers similar ground, and mentioned another case where a British person died after treatment in the USA. They also cite a study by Leeds University citing a surgical complication rate of 16% (about double figures for the USA, for example).
          I looked up the study, summary is here:
          http://www.ssss.leeds.ac.uk/files/2012/11/Brochure.pdf
          It is social research, not medical and is qualatative in nature. One finding that doesn't align with the spin from the tabloid press is that all but 2 of the people Leeds interviewed were happy with their medical tourism.
          The survey included Australians visiting Thailand, but again, looks flimsy, so even though it is generally positive on medical tourism I don't think it is worth much.

          The BBC and IMTJ articles rehash the Daily Mail stories.
          Next is the Travel and Leisure website "Worst Medical Tourism Disasters" listicle, known for its high quality medical journalism. I don't think this is evidence of problems with medical tourism, more a click-bait list, but I'll have a look anyway:
          Item 1 - deals with a non-accredited clinic in Brazil
          Item 2 - deals with a non-accredited clinic and a patient who got drunk and took cocaine the day before surgery in Columbia
          Item 3 - is a surgical complication in Singapore. This case is mentioned again in the news.com.au article. This appears to be a legitimate surgical error, and I suppose is evidence of risks of medical tourism, but I am not sure that such an error would not occur in Australia - Singapore has world class medical facilities
          Item 4 - is about a person seeking a "budget" physician in Costa Rica. No details are given but the article suggests the doctor may have "lacked credentials".
          Item 5 - Is about a Romanian fertility clinic closed down by local authorities because they were believed to be selling eggs. It does not suggest there was any medical risk.
          Item 6 - is not about medical tourism but about possible counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
          Item 7 - Is a report of an Internet message board post about a man who travelled to Iran for risky leg lengthening surgery that is banned in many countries. He claimed it went wrong. No other evidence was given.
          Item 8 - is about a Sydney woman who got a post-operative infection then travelled home against the advice of her doctors. I suggest the real problem here was her rejection of medical advice, not that she was treated in Thailand.

          So in summary, it seems that using unaccredited or poorly credentialled medical establishments is a risk. Further, the reports show local authorities taking action against such facilities in most cases. I don't think holding up these examples discredits properly qualified and run medical establishments in other coutries.

          The article from the blog at Lawyers.com is a press release from a man whose son died at the Bumrungrad hospital in Thailand. He has set up a consultancy to advise on legal means for litigating against foreign hospitals. Other press releases from him talk about his desire for the hospital to give him $1m to set up a foundation in memory of his son, and his belief the hospital murdered his son for body parts.
          I suggest the father might be affected by grief, rather than clear thinking.
          The hospital mentions the case in one of its press clippings. I note the authorities found no evidence of malpractice or negligence, and the son had a history of substance abuse:
          http://www.bumrungrad.com/overseas-medical-care/about-us/pre…

          The final article, from news.com.au cites 20,000 patients a year travelling for medical tourism via specilist travel agencies, and "many more" doing so on their own. The doctors in the article uncovered 57 adverse cases. One of these is the case cited in Item 3 in the other article. Thailand alone hosts approx 2.5million medical tourists each year (from the Dail Mail article you supplied).
          Certainly, it appears medical tourism tragedies get huge media attention, but they seem to be very rare.

          I put it to you that the very small number of adverse outcomes makes up a tiny fraction of the very large number of procedures. My suggestion is that this is good evidence that medical tourism to quality, accredited establishments is generally safe.
          And in reverse, there is no evidence that going to unaccredited clinics in Australia would be safer than unaccredited clinics in other countries. Best to only get medical care from qualified doctors wherever you are.

          Finally, you keep holding up Australia's highly paid doctors as being higher in quality and lower in risk. Can I refer you to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons information pack:
          http://www.plasticsurgery.org.au/linkservid/D35CEB69-F4C9-48…

          This notes, among other things I consider less than best practice:
          FACT: In Australia it is not illegal for a doctor without formal surgical training to conduct cosmetic or plastic surgery if the patient agrees to the operation
          In Australia it is not illegal to conduct surgical procedures in an unaccredited facility such as an office
          space or day procedure centre. In these settings there is often no quality assurance and no way for authorities to monitor that the surgery is being performed safely and expertly.
          FACT: In Australia there is limited regulation or standardisation when it comes to the use of titles to describe qualifications in the area of cosmetic surgery. As a result, prospective patients can become confused, and given the high level of trust Australians put in the medical profession, they are vulnerable and at risk from those operating outside of their skill and training level. Just because someone promotes themself as an expert or a “cosmetic surgeon” does not mean they are a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

          So I would argue that putting blind faith in the Australian medical establishment is somewhat misguided too.

          I'll ask again, are you part of the medical industry, and could this be clouding your views?

        • abh_gup on 19/02/2015 - 10:42
          +2

          @thorton82:

          Most of these above articles are isolated incidents or not directly related. Similar issues often occur in Australia too.

          Just for an example, Cardiac hospitals, facilities in Banglaore/Chennai in India have success rates at par with international or Aussie standards. Just that I'm not sure of 'Dental' facilities in India, or the ethics related to pricing/work.

          True, dental work in Australia is priced to not match people's affordability. So we need to seek options.

          However, should something go wrong overseas, you may not be able to pursue action, or may cost you further time, effort and money.

        • iridiumstem on 19/02/2015 - 10:54
          +6

          @thorton82: I am going to go off-topic and say this, you can be better off with pay cut, if everything else is cheaper to compensate. You cannot compare wages in two different countries without considering purchasing power.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2015 - 18:30
          +6

          @thorton82:
          You sound like an Australian dentist who is really annoyed with the loss of customers to other countries, where dentistry is actually affordable. If Medicare acknowledged dentistry and helped cover the obscene fees, then there would be no need for people to travel. Or if dentists dropped their fees to reasonable levels…

          But as it stands, people are paying thousands and tens of thousands for simple, and almost primitive in nature, work. Drilling? Pulling? Very little in methodology has changed over the decades, only the tools and costs have advanced.

          I'm one of those people who has been in pain for years with my teeth thanks to a dentist botching his work, I'm literally quarantining half of my mouth to avoid blinding pain when drinking or eating anything. I work a reasonably well paid job, but paying $20,000 for a few hours of work from someone? With no guarantee they will do it right (and correct it without charging extra)? That is ludicrous. I've gone off on a tangent now, so I'll stop whining about first world dentists.

        • Happy501 on 19/02/2015 - 20:17
          +3

          @mskeggs:

          Great point. It is arrogant to think it suspicious for a Thai national to WANT to go back home, where he can enjoy his life with less money.

          Less money that will go a lot further in a great country like Thailand.

        • andyken on 19/02/2015 - 22:03
          +2

          I am pretty sure you only listen and then write rubbish in here, you never been there yourself, btw, have you ever travel to SE ASIA? , i never seen any dental clinic in Australia with the equipment like in this hospital. not to mention about their lab, machine, their professional services and the building.

          http://www.bangkokdentalcenter.com/

        • umoddbro on 20/02/2015 - 01:46

          @Bystander: Yeh but the standards aren't as high. A lot of healthcare facilities aren't as closely regulated and they are willing to cut corners to save costs. It's more expensive here, but I'm paying for the peace of mind.

        • McWillisac on 20/02/2015 - 11:24

          I concur, Australian Doctors are paid more than in the USA and most of the world.

        • hayne on 20/02/2015 - 11:35

          @iampoor: How does the price compare in Singapore to Australia? Because that's the key issue here, surely. I don't think it's a blanket comparison to all of Southeast Asia, it's a comparison to the Southeast Asian countries where the cost of living is lower than Australia.

          While Singapore is in Southeast Asia, cost-wise I would have guessed that it is much more similar in pricing to Hong Kong than to, say, Cambodia. (This is not a data-based observation - I've spent a lot of time in both countries but thankfully never needed to avail myself of the healthcare system in Singapore). In Hong Kong, even a GP visit is expensive compared to what we're used to here and top-quality care in private hospitals is much more.

        • rodinthink on 21/02/2015 - 01:12

          @thorton82:

          Current Affair Media Propaganda , brainwashing people since the beginning of it's existence

        • RedCarpet on 26/02/2015 - 11:45

          @BoneyMalone:

          It's correct and sad that Australian dentist charging hundreds or sometimes even thousands for some works that elsewhere (ie. SEA) could charge it at a smaller fraction (even taken into account some forex fees).

          I've personally done my dental works in SEA couple of times (separate cases, not repeating fixing works) for a lot less comparing to dentist here. All went well and happy about it.

          So, the dentist should stop jacking up their prices (be reasonable instead) or else be a crying wolf for losing clients. It's a competitive market these days and they (dentists) should know everybody could travel easily and cheaply (seeing quite a lot of budget airlines available these days)

          However, you should do your home work to find a reputable dentist which is the same situation here where there are dodgy dentists out there in Oz too.

      • nikey2k27 on 20/02/2015 - 20:41
        +1

        thailand friend just it 2000 full new set they look good. just get few idea never go with cheapest one this not ozbanage it pay good price get a good deal.

    • travelwiz on 19/02/2015 - 12:11
      +1

      the big risk is infection overseas. Yes can happen anywhere, but more likely in a 3rd world country.

      Then what do you do ? Fast track back to an OZ hospital ? Last minute airfares are often huge.

      Haven't read whether problems associated with medical tourism are covered by travel insurance. I would think if insurance companies, can get out of covering it, they would.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2015 - 15:09
      +3

      Singapore. 9th on the global human development index ranking (behind australia by 7 places). 1st in bloomberg's efficient healthcare system rankings.

      It does sound like a complex surgery so I am not sure what kind of prices you are looking at for a non-citizen.

  • xyron on 18/02/2015 - 17:22
    +1

    If Singapore was a cost-effective option, then I'd be going there…

  • ricodbn on 18/02/2015 - 17:23
    +5

    Lots of people do go overseas. If its purely cosmetic as in veneers etc , its probably ok. For the kind of work you need, I would suggest doing it locally. negotiate if need be.

  • sparkles on 18/02/2015 - 17:28
    +4

    Curious as to why your insurance payout is $18k when the cost to fix is $30k. Why won't insurance cover the entire amount?

    • [Deactivated] on 18/02/2015 - 17:31
      +2

      It's a very long story.

      • Charity on 21/02/2015 - 11:09
        -2

        This is why YOU bought insurance.

        For you, that big medical event wasn't a heart attack, or major car accident - it was to fix your broken teeth.

        You should permanently cancel all of your insurance companies, if u don't use it here.

        There is no point having insurance if you don't use it. This is one big and rare event and you are contemplating not using it?. What insurance scenario are you waiting for?

        • ITveteran on 24/02/2015 - 13:51
          +1

          I up your comment. Though not agreed by everyone, OZ health insurance sounds like a rip-off in a lot of cases. I was planning to have a small surgery several years ago, the cost was about $1100 at that time. With Medibank hospital cover policy which I paid $110/month out of the pocket at that time, it would reimburse me about $100 for the surgery. I canceled my policy after that.

        • Charity on 24/02/2015 - 15:31
          -1

          @ITveteran: Good for you my friend. A lot of people buy insurance just to buy insurance. Even when the potential payout is less than the cost. Not sure if it is too confusing, or they want to fit in, or they just don't want to do some simple maths.

    • zeomega on 19/02/2015 - 21:13
      +3

      Does the words "insurance payout" not say everything to you?

      Insurance companies WILL try their best to pay you as little as possible, invoking small clauses in your PDS that you'd think will never apply.

      • AlanHB on 19/02/2015 - 21:56
        +4

        Depends on the insurance company and the cover. The fact that it took 2 years to complete suggests it wasn't a straightforward case.

  • flashydavid on 18/02/2015 - 17:51
    +6

    I had some recent dental work done in Thailand and I was impressed with the quality of the service and speed. In spite of the Nae sayers above you can get decent dental treatment. I'd shop around a bit but you'll find prices are a fraction of the prices here. If you want to go further a field Poland and Hungary are both good choices.

    • goosegog on 18/02/2015 - 18:32
      +2

      Where in Thailand please. We're thinking about Phuket where we've heard good reports from but another happy friend of ours had his done in Bali.
      If poss. please send details of where you had your dental work done & a rough estimate of what price can be expected.
      Thank you flashydavid ( do we take it that is your name now after your dental procedures? )

      • chichi on 19/02/2015 - 09:34
        +1

        Check out Chiang Mai, Thailand. I've heard very good things about dentists there and the area itself is lovely and less touristy than Phuket.

    • myoda on 24/02/2015 - 15:51

      Had some basic work done in Thailand (Bangkok). Dentist was US trained and spoke (American) english. Was cheap, good service, and thinking of going back there to get my wisdom teeth out.

      If you can find a good place which the locals recommend and have a good reputation then should be fine. Though for the kind of job you need it seems like a decently big job.

  • shaybisc on 18/02/2015 - 18:42
    +3

    Even though you will pay more I would go through one of the australian specialist travel agencies in overseas medical treatment. Example:

    http://www.globalhealthtravel.com.au/quality-medical-treatme…

  • pointless martyr on 18/02/2015 - 18:52
    +18

    If you cant eat solids after your dental work in asia, dont eat anyhting with berries on it.

  • imolared on 18/02/2015 - 20:54
    +1

    Depends on what really needs to be done (bridge? implants?), if you go to one of the Asian countries, be prepared to stay for a couple of weeks as it will most likely require follow up visits to make sure everything is ok, last thing you want to happen is to come back here then have to pay someone locally to "fix it up" that will may cost well over your payout amount.

  • isthisreally_me on 18/02/2015 - 21:33

    You would risk your life and your health to save a few thousand dollars by going to some possibly undertrained who knows what overseas? Really?

    • Happy501 on 19/02/2015 - 20:18

      You risk your life in Australia too. No news organisation would risk the wrath of the AMA by raising awareness of some crap work done here too.

      • etherealfal on 20/02/2015 - 18:52
        +1

        Quite the contrary. News organisations love to bash on people. Any profession that serves the public will get bashed at any opportunity. People love to bash dentists.

        I would never say that a news organisation would fear the wrath of the AMA (or in this case, the ADA).

        • Happy501 on 23/02/2015 - 00:07
          -1

          " quite the contrary". I don't hear that in conversation anymore.

          You are not "quite" wrong, possibly uninformed. Please don't be offended. Unless you work in the field in which case good luck.

          one media article (yes they are not great but this quote is backed

          "landmark study found about 3 per cent of Australian doctors were known to be ''frequent flyers'' among health commissioners investigating complaints. The small proportion of doctors accounted for 49 per cent of complaints to commissioners between 2000 and 2011. Some had been complained about 30 times."

          Where is the current affair programs chasing doctors through the streets "you suck at your job, you keep making basic mistakes, you have 30 complaints against for incompetence"

          If you really do want to learn something and not just live off blind faith in our medical system (which is GREAT!!, but not amazingly better that some Thai hospitals) here are a few examples

          http://hsla.com.au/Day2-5-Dimitra%20Dubrow.pdf

  • ttwaite on 19/02/2015 - 07:07
    +2

    I'd say go to Poland. My old man had dental work done there a few years ago and he is going back this year for some new work. Ive heard of a lot of people going to Poland and getting excellent results.

    Some people might recommend going to Turkey, please stay away from going there for your on safety. Some real horror stories from there.

    • cysp on 19/02/2015 - 12:26

      Quite a bs you have there about Turkey. I have family who recently came from a holiday and they couldn't praise both the dental and medical health services there enough. They leaped way ahead of Australia's standards a long time ago. Unfortunately Australia is falling way behind not only in medical services, but also in terms of infrastructure and many other areas. The only significant development we had going for ourselves was the NBN and, thanks to you know who, that's getting butchered too.

      • iridiumstem on 19/02/2015 - 12:28
        +7

        Voldemort?

        • cysp on 19/02/2015 - 13:03
          +3

          Abbott… Voldemort… What's the difference ;)

        • iridiumstem on 19/02/2015 - 13:10
          +17

          @cysp: One doesn't have a nose but has a brain, the other one has a nose but no brain?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/02/2015 - 18:30

      Turkey anywday over Aus lol..

  • MrRandomnez on 19/02/2015 - 08:07

    Ha, got a dental ad on the page.

  • srhardy on 19/02/2015 - 08:09
    +1

    It look like you want IMPLANTS, so you will need to make 2 trips, about 3 months appart so that would make Europe a more expensive destination than asia.

    Ive had bad dental work done here in AU with dentists that dont stand behind their work, even for 12 months. So dont fell trying your luck elsewhere is a bad idea & the hygiene from dentists both her and in asia should be top notch! But like anything, such is live - you spin the bottle & take your chances!

  • shaybisc on 19/02/2015 - 08:28
    +2

    How do you know your Australian doctor or dentist is any good? We don't have anything to go on except for personal recommendation from a trusted source. Same as choosing an overseas doctor or dentist.

    Do we have any personal recommendations here- names, places?

    • Charity on 25/02/2015 - 06:43

      I got a great dentist. He is on the other side of the country, but fly over just for dental work.

  • slewis69au on 19/02/2015 - 08:38
    +4

    I would like to re-iterate some points above that i can't recommend this as a good idea.

    It's true that you could get very well looked after and that there will be lots of cases of people with no issues and relatively small number of people with issues. It's also true that you hear horror stories which i wouldn't simply write off but yes they can be considered low probability.

    One thing correct in the argument above between thornton and mrskeggs is that a general anaesthetic ANYWHERE is a major risk. Full stop, end of story - it's a major risk that you're taking away from home, in a country with limited legal protection and rights for foreigners (if you're talking Thailand) - and that's not current affair xenophobia talking - it's a fact. Ask ANY expat who lives there who wins a court case between a Thai with connections and a farang and see what answer you get.

    One other factor to consider - what if you have complications three months later? Six months later? True there are dentists in Australia who don't stand behind their work - so find one who does, find a GOOD local dentist and you will get the best overall health outcome with local backup if there are issues.

    I have a good local dentist who has repaired his work a year later and not charged me a cent (despite us both agreeing that the issue wasn't anyones fault) - granted the original procedure wasn't cheap but i trust him and I trust his work.

    Everyone's financial situation is different but my health isn't something i am willing to take that sort of chance on.

    BTW i would never lump "south east asia" into one argument like that - every country is VERY different. If you could get it done cost effectively in Singapore their system is fantastic - but you've still got the "what if" question.

    Good Luck whatever you decide.

  • Kevan2 on 19/02/2015 - 08:59
    +1

    Question. The insurance?payout seems to be for some of the dental work.
    Is this for the replacement of teeth?
    Did the gum issues come after the accident?
    HAVE you private health cover with extras?
    If not have you checked with groups like choosie or' pants down man' what is available to you and IF you can get support and how long before support for claims?
    How many dental group specialist have you gone to?
    The accident, work related ?- talk to union, are there any other fault parties? Is the payout after legal cost? Can you recoupe them?
    Do you qualify for government dental hospital work?
    Would not some of the work be medical as there is possible infection, heart issues, and so on for injured gums or gingivitus? Not good for you!
    The wisdom teeth question, I suggest you get at least 2 more quotes. Is it really needed or just just what we do? What is the future problems?
    Then there is the question, plate or implants or bridges (which are not mentioned) and what is the health implications ??
    Apart from 'Tongue' is there other aesthetics reason for the choice of implants - life of implants, good dentures, bridges.

    Good luck with the work. I have had the experience that dental experts m
    Undo the implant work of another doctor as they did not understand position (no second teeth keeping baby ones by pins - common use now but not accepted a few years ago) never had romancce issues with my teeth issue.

  • Vallani on 19/02/2015 - 09:22
    +31

    Australian dentists hate the idea of Aussies getting work done overseas because it is a threat to their cozy little arrangement of charging exorbitant prices. They will use all kind of scare tactics to kill off the threat of competition. The fact is, there are quality dentists all over the world, and if you find a good one overseas that charges a bit less, why not use them and have a holiday at the same time? It is ludicrous to suggest that Australia, a country with a small population on the edge of the earth, has a monopoly on medical talent.

    • razorack999 on 19/02/2015 - 20:37
      -1

      absolute BS about australian dentist

    • etherealfal on 20/02/2015 - 18:55
      -1

      Always a good discussion about why dental fees in Australia is so high.

      How high is our average wage?

      How high are the houses?

      Cars relative to other countries?

      What's the exchange rate?

      Planes have made trips around the world easier; they have not globalized the currency, nor standardized the economy between countries.

      This is a case of having your cake and wanting to eat it too.

    • Mister Popo on 21/02/2015 - 22:11
      -2

      Most of what you pay to dentists in Australia goes to surgery rental, lab fees, nurses, etc. Before knowing the breakdown of their revenue, I wouldn't go around accusing dentists of fixing 'exorbitant prices', because it's a lot more reasonable than you might think.

      • Goonos on 25/02/2015 - 12:36
        -1

        Don't know why people down voted this so have a +1 from me. The cost of equipment, sterilization is very expensive.

  • dorylicious on 19/02/2015 - 09:40
    +4

    I've been to both Thailand (Phuket and Bangkok) and Vietnam (Hanoi) to get my dental work done and would say that Thailand is a little more accessible as they have built a medical tourism industry over there. In terms of quality, it is hit and miss - just do your homework. I've been to Phuket Dental Sea Smile and they were ok, not that gentle but the front tooth composite veneer I have is still good after 3 years with no sign of cracking. In Bangkok, I went to Bangkok International Dental Center for whitening and fillings and they were very gentle. I got a composite veneer done there too but that chipped in under a year. In Hanoi, I went to Dr Pham Nhu Hai and the prices they're even cheaper than Thailand. I got my teeth cleaned and fillings added. All dentists mentioned spoke fluent English. In terms of quality I think they are generally average, not so great but not so bad, I've had better and worse dentists in Australia but wherever you go in Thailand or Vietnam, it is guaranteed to be cheaper. Thailand would be around 50% off, and Vietnam would be around 75% off Australian prices.

    • Kevan2 on 19/02/2015 - 10:16

      Glad you had good experience. Question please does healf funds ie bupa medicare private cover cost in extras?
      Thanks

      I rember some comments on current affair or talk back radio where some may.

      PS sadley in last 20 years I I have got 90% of all live time fees paid to my fund! No I don't have 11 children, just misshaps and nuances of life.

      • dorylicious on 19/02/2015 - 14:24
        +1

        You mean do health funds cover work overseas? I don't think so, you would need travel insurance that covers dental, and in most cases the cover provided is for emergencies only. It may be possible to ask the overseas dentist to try to get it covered for you but I probably wouldn't recommend that. I have never claimed any travel insurance based on health before, so can't help answer that one.

        If you mean does it cover dental work in Australia, yes it does. I'm with Bupa Bronze extras and they cover some parts of my visits to an Australian dentist that accepts them. It does help but not sure if it outweighs the subscription costs of being covered in the long term.

    • COR80 on 22/11/2016 - 15:16

      Hi dorylicious- I am at the stage where I can either take a long-overdue holiday or get a new dental plate. Reading comments like yours makes me hope I could combine both- do you have any address for Dr Pham Nhu Hai as googling him brought up only Vietnamese-language pages. I am going to bite the bullet and start planning this after your recommendation.

  • shaybisc on 19/02/2015 - 10:03

    I heard the president of the aussie dentists' union on abc radio earlier this week raising up a scare on this issue. The one thing that caught my attention was his claim that foreign dentists may use non-standard dodgy parts that couldn't be worked on here if something needed remedial work. It seemed funny to me because it would be easy to check and they all, aussie and overseas, use the same brand- Nobel. At least all the ones I've come across.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2015 - 19:00

      Nobel implants are 800-1200 per implant. If you are getting implants done overseas for less than that, you're getting fakes.

      Implants vary significantly between brands in how long studies are available for their success rates.

      Forgetting all of that - you'll have a hard time finding any dentist in australia who will place an implant on your first, second, or third visit. Placing implants don't take long at all - planning takes a lot longer. And it's planning that you'll be short changed on overseas - especially if they're willing to do all your implant work in the one week that you're there.

  • angelkulit025 on 19/02/2015 - 10:51
    +2

    Why does anyone consider Philippines???

    • aimon on 20/02/2015 - 10:42
      +2

      My wife had her two wisdom teeth out there for about $250. It went well but about a year ago she had to have some further dental work because it didn't heal correctly. I don't know if this has anything to do with the quality of the work but we were happy with the initial procedure.

  • raffaharley on 19/02/2015 - 10:54
    +1

    What if something goes wrong ?, have you thought out the implications properly.
    Who are you going to turn to, how are you going to get compensation. Is your family going to have to fly out to be with you?, are you going to have to fly back and forth for any reasons. Are there going to be any language or cultural barriers that will make things more difficult if things go wrong.

    • tiara on 19/02/2015 - 11:42
      +5

      Really? You want to spend your money only in Australia.
      I bet you don't go holiday overseas.
      I bet you don't buy online from ebay international or amazon
      Good on you

    • cryptos on 19/02/2015 - 11:54

      Your logic is flawed

    • iridiumstem on 19/02/2015 - 12:11

      …the device you are using to access Ozbargain probably was made in somewhere else other than Australia, well at the very least the components would be.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2015 - 15:13

      Do you drive a car? Do you use batteries? Do you use computers or mobile phones? Do you live in some sort of structure?

      http://atlas.media.mit.edu/profile/country/aus/

      Look at how much you are spending "elsewhere"

  • SlickMick on 19/02/2015 - 12:05

    Like has been said much above, you take your chances getting any treatment anywhere (including Australia) if you don't know who you're dealing with. The solution is to go to someone with a good reputation. Thus I would rate someone organised through a reputable medical travel company above a random local provider.

    I love stirring up local companies crying that we should use them just because their local, and their pathetic reasons.

  • Viderzo on 19/02/2015 - 12:06

    Just make sure that your life insurance is up to date will you!
    http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/17/two-siloam-hospi…

  • StonedWizard on 19/02/2015 - 12:08

    Had family get dental work done in Thailand for basic stuff, think they saved around 3k.

    Get the best dentist you can afford in Thailand and you should be fine. Just consider you may have to fly back if anything goes wrong.

    OP don't also forget if you get it done in Australia its also tax deductible depending on how much you earn.

    • tiara on 19/02/2015 - 12:34
      +1

      Are you sure it's deductible? I thought you can't claim medical expenses anymore unless it's a carried over expenses from 2013

      • mskeggs on 19/02/2015 - 18:40

        Yes, I believe this has changed and tiara is correct. There is a one year phase out so if you claimed in 2013, you can claim again in 2014, I think.

  • Peck on 19/02/2015 - 12:16
    +1

    I have spent half of my life in dentists' chairs, and I have had some treatment in Thailand. Long story short - have it done in Australia!! The dentist in Thailand had a modern practice and was a nice guy, but in the long run, I lost 2 teeth due to the bad Thailand treatment.

    • Davros on 19/02/2015 - 14:46
      +1

      And I lost a tooth in Australia due to a bad dentist and it cost me several hundred for the pleasure, your point?

      • Peck on 19/02/2015 - 18:29
        -4

        My point was that it was a bad experience. Have you got a problem? Why the attitude?

        • Davros on 19/02/2015 - 19:08
          +2

          Wow, you seem angry.
          I was just pointing out that the same can and does happen here and you get all upset.

    • srhardy on 20/02/2015 - 09:54
      -1

      Dentists are technicians not miracle workers, for that you need a time machine to go back 2000 years to place called Jerusalem!

  • sabhya on 19/02/2015 - 13:03

    Delhi,India is a good place for all your Dental Treatment,very good affordable and reliable services.

    • COR80 on 22/11/2016 - 15:17

      Any particular recommendations/clinics in Delhi?

  • esty on 19/02/2015 - 13:29
    +1

    Korea Perhaps?

  • Squidmcsproggen on 19/02/2015 - 13:55
    +1

    I wouldn't go anywhere but Australia.

    might not have the best dentists/doctors in the world but if anything goes wrong you are covered by Australian law.

    • Maxxjet on 20/02/2015 - 14:41

      The issue of your argument is there isn't many things go wrong enough to be covered by law

  • theclearout on 19/02/2015 - 14:16
    +2

    Hi noodlesfordaddy,
    I haven't taken the time to read all the previous responses and whilst many people do consider going overseas I'm not sure if that would be the best course of action for you.
    I currently have 7 teeth supported on dental implants and my wife has 6. One thing I can tell you is that there can be varying complications and that there is no 'one size fits all'.
    You mentioned that you may need skin grafts due to state of your gums. I suspect that you actually mean bone graft here.
    Your bone would have shrunk over time as it was no longer housing the roots of your teeth.
    It is the bone that hold the actual implant screw in place, not the gums. Whether you need a bone graft or not would be determined by an OPG at minimum.
    I know there are 'one shot' implants available nowadays but you should make an informed decision on whether they are appropriate for your particular circumstance. If you require a bone graft then I suspect not. If not then you will need to make multiple visits to the prosthodontist and/or oral surgeon. This may not be ideal if you chose to have you implants overseas.
    Have you got more than one quote from local providers. $30,000 sound like a lot for 3 teeth, which more than likely will be a 3 unit bridge across 2 implants. I would have thought that $18k would see you through, even if bone grafts were required. While it sounds costly, in the scheme of things bone grafts are not that expensive when compared to the implants and bridge.
    Also, if you can match it up with your private health insurance you can get some back there as well.

    Good luck with it all!

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2015 - 22:25

      Thanks heaps mate. $18k covers most of the surgery, however the private hospital I'll be forced to go to charges a massive amount to use it.

      • Pterodactyl on 23/02/2015 - 18:13
        +1

        If you're willing to travel for the surgery, could you travel to a different public hospital in Australia? I would also try having a chat with your specialist about the cost, see if they'd be willing to go to a public hospital rather than lose you as a client? Worst that can happen is they say no, putting you right where you currently are.

        Good luck!

  • deviant on 19/02/2015 - 14:43

    i know a good surgeon in milan, you may email him to ask the prices but from the work i have seen from him, exceptional. only problem is time. you need time for implants, for the soft and hard tissue grafts to mature and develop prior to placement.

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