Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to India to have a (much) cheaper version of invisalign done

53 replies

brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 09:48

I know there are lots of dentists here, as much as I'd love invisalign the UK cost is just too high for me (anytime soon). I've got family in India that i haven't seen in a long time. Would it be bad to try to combine the two? Clear path and k-line seem to have good reviews and seem reputable.

OP posts:
IAmTheWorwax · 08/04/2017 09:50

Yabu imo. But it's. completely your choice.

Have you got top health and travel insurance?

Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 09:52

Sorry i seem to have double posted(again!) Blush

I would have travel insurance but doubt that would cover an elective thing. It's a realativly simple case i have, not overcrowded.

OP posts:
Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 09:52

Sorry i seem to have double posted(again!) Blush

I would have travel insurance but doubt that would cover an elective thing. It's a realativly simple case i have, not overcrowded.

OP posts:
AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 08/04/2017 09:55

Look for reviews online, check that the dentist is reputable, then if all ok then do it! The cost of flying to India would normally make it cheaper to stay in the UK but if you're going anyway you might as well. You'll have to go back a couple of times though, to get checked and possibly have some teeth filed down a bit - can you afford that?

BewtySkoolDropowt · 08/04/2017 09:55

As long as you do your research and prepare for any potential risks, YANBU.

Apparently there is a burgeoning trend of people from the UK going to places like Budapest for dental work. It's accessible with good care and it's cost effective. Makes sense to me.

OddBoots · 08/04/2017 09:56

Don't you have to keep going back for check ups and adjustments?

Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 09:59

Looking into it i would need to be there for 45 days and then they can send the second set via post.

It does make sense for me, the standard of medical knowledge in a reputable place in India is at least on par with the UK , from what i can tell.

OP posts:
FeralBeryl · 08/04/2017 09:59

As OddBoots points out, the whole point of Invisalign is that it's a series of custom built braces worn over a period of time. How would you get round this?

Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 10:02

Budapest seems to be 30% cheaper but as you need to visit several times in the first one to two months for invisalign it wouldn't save any money and be way more Hassel. For a crown or something it would be a good idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 10:02

Budapest seems to be 30% cheaper but as you need to visit several times in the first one to two months for invisalign it wouldn't save any money and be way more Hassel. For a crown or something it would be a good idea.

OP posts:
Grilledaubergines · 08/04/2017 10:09

whats the approx cost of having it done where you live against the cost of treatment, flights, hotel, travel insurance, transfers etc etc. I honestly don't know myself and am interested because surely those costs rack up to a couple of thousand at the least?

On the face of it, its money saving but I think the stress if there's a problem and you either need to go back or need to visit a dentist here will be massive.

Mrsmorton · 08/04/2017 10:09

I think you're bonkers. How is the system regulated in India? What if it goes wrong? Short term orthodontics does go wrong and at least in the UK you've recourse to get reparative treatment done. What if the appliances they send in the post don't fit? What are they made of? Appliances supplied in the U.K. are CE marked and have proof of provenance so you know the person who made them is qualified and assured.

Grilledaubergines · 08/04/2017 10:09

*possibly money saving, it should say.

GinIsIn · 08/04/2017 10:11

I'm sorry but that's a terrible idea - what if you need adjustments made? And surely if they're sent by post subsequent sets wouldn't be exact to your current dental alignment. What if something goes wrong?

Floggingmolly · 08/04/2017 10:12

How could they send the second set through the post? Confused. Don't they have to be fitted by the dentist?

Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 10:18

It's basically 4 grand here 1 grand there. 500 in flights for me but i wouldn't I go alone. Would be a good excuse to go out there and family would be offended if i didn't stay with them. I buy extra holiday for the summer so 6 weeks is fine out there.

Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to go out there.

Mrs Morton i see what your saying but with the silicone boob jobs and all the fake organic stuff out there i do often take the ec logo with a pinch of salt. All the fake stuff from China slap it on.

OP posts:
MingeFog · 08/04/2017 10:22

I got the same thing at a dentist near me using a Groupon offer - £1299 instead of around £3000. It ended up being £1500 all-in, after consultations and having a bond fitted on the back of my teeth after the final brace. I love my new smile! Can you see if there's anything like that near you?

iloveeverykindofcat · 08/04/2017 10:29

Not saying you should or shoudn't do it (not well informed enough) but you can live very very cheaply in India for a couple of months. Good food can be had for the equivalent of pennies, decent but plain accommodation for pounds. Bias disclaimer: I love India.

Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 11:00

Minge what brand was it?

Cat you are virtually saying do it ;)

OP posts:
Original poster
brexitstolemyfuture · 08/04/2017 11:00

Minge what brand was it?

Cat you are virtually saying do it ;)

OP posts:
hippogriffwobble · 08/04/2017 11:06

I had emergency surgery (not dental) in India and the doctors and hospitals were world class, so I would do it.

UppityHumpty · 08/04/2017 11:07

You have to pay US prices in India to get UK quality. Speaking as an Indian. Quality is the issue there - you won't get it even at relatively high prices without someone local who knows exactly what they're doing. It's why there's no point doing IVF there either.

AuntJane · 08/04/2017 11:51

If it didn't go well, and you needed corrective work, would you be prepared to go back to India?

SuperSheepdog · 08/04/2017 12:16

I wouldn't do this, I'd save up and get it done locally. Not worth the risk.

Booboostwo · 08/04/2017 13:45

I had Invisalign fitted in another country as it was not available where I lived. It was extremely expensive and it did not work.

You need an initial consultation over a couple of days to take moulds of your teeth. Then a couple of weeks later all the alligners arrive, in my case enough for 2 years. You wear some alligners and then you need to go back to have these little annoyances added to your teeth to help rotate them.

Each new alligners hurts loads for the first 24-48 hours then gradually becomes more comfortable. At the end of the treatment you may not have the result you want. DH had a 14 month treatment, then at the end his teeth were still very crooked so he was given a 'small adjustment' of another 14 months. At the end of that his teeth were still a bit crooked but he was out of warrantee!

When it all finishes you will get a surprise suggestion that you now need permanent inside braces to keep the teeth in their new place! That is a really unwelcome surprise. I never got that far because alligner no7 would not allow me to close my mouth which aggravated my TMJ and I was told I had to see a jaw specialist despite having been told that the Invisalign treatment would solve my jaw problems.

It's a massive con. The little additions on the teeth are very visible, your speech will be affected and taking them out to eat is impractical and off putting.