To consider going abroad for dental implants

[gk6277]

I don't like my teeth. I have just had to have a molar removed. Once safe to do so, would I be unreasonable to go abroad (possibly Turkey?) to get a number of dental implants, as I have heard standards are really good and cost significantly less. Anyone got any experience of this/ tips?

But if there’s a problem in the UK, you can get redress.

Speaking as a dentist, don't do it. Of course there are good dentists in other countries. This is not a pop at the standards abroad, as I've seen a lot of good dentistry.
But things go wrong. And if you need to fly thousands of miles to get the problem looked at, it can end up very costly, and very difficult to sort.
Over my twenty years in general practice I've seen some awful dental work from oversees ( as well as some good stuff).
I've seen a whole mouth of teeth being removed, immediate implants placed straight away, all falling out/multiple infections. I've seen permanent implant retained teeth made of acrylic rather than the usual zirconium or porcelain based materials.
I've seen implants drilled directly into sinuses. I've seen wall to wall bridges placed on already mobile abutment teeth flapping about in the breeze.
When patients have attended my clinic with problematic implant work from abroad, and I try to refer them to a specialist to rectify, the specialists always refuse to see these patients. Not the done thing to fix someone else's mistakes.
I've seen patients attend with a bag of drugs they've been instructed to take. They don't know what the tablets are, or what the post op instructions are either, because everything written in a different language.

I'm not saying that dentistry in the U.K. is perfect, but I'm very aware of the high standards that are insisted upon, and the stringent regulations we need to comply with, the advanced courses and cpd we constantly undertake.
I see the amount of mandatory vaccinations that are required, i see the indemnity insurance we have, to help when things go wrong.
I can guarantee the regulations and procedures that are in place in U.K. are excellent.
I cannot guarantee that the same high standards exist in other countries.

Just be mindful. You get what you pay for

I wouldn't. Not that I think dentists abroad are incompetent but what would happen if you have a problem afterwards.
I have an implant. It took multiple appointments over months to do the whole process. I had it checked yearly for the first couple of years then because it was doing well every 2 years.

DH had complicated dental work done in Hungary a couple of years ago and is absolutely delighted.

I have had dental treatment in Austria and Croatia,fantastic in both Countries and in Croatia the cost was way cheaper than here.

As far as I can see they are way more advanced than Dentists in the U.K.Our Health Services are dire compared to other Countries.

So yes I would definitely go for it,but do plenty of research first as to where you go.

@480Widdio

I have had dental treatment in Austria and Croatia,fantastic in both Countries and in Croatia the cost was way cheaper than here.

As far as I can see they are way more advanced than Dentists in the U.K.Our Health Services are dire compared to other Countries.

So yes I would definitely go for it,but do plenty of research first as to where you go.

I had some work done in Thailand when I was living there, and received top-notch treatment. Far better at the time than anything I'd experienced in Britain.

A few years ago when I was living in Croatia, I had quite a lot of work done, including having my upper jaw rebuilt. I have nothing but praise for the staff, their professionalism, and the work. I now have five implants, and although I'm back living in Britain for now, I do go back to Rijeka for checkups.

To have the work done here would have cost me something like 10 times what I paid in Croatia, and having had my teeth botched by a couple of British dentists (which was just bad luck, and not indicative of dentistry here as a whole), I have far more faith in my Croatian dentists!

@tippexed “implants being drilled into sinuses”.

Yep - exactly my fear. It’s annoying, but I’ll take the gap, thanks!

I keep thinking about this. My teeth are destroyed, really. I have none on one side at the bottom and my jaw is painful every day and especially at night. Sometimes I wake up with my teeth clamped and jittering together on an angle. It's excruciating and has been for years.

I just can't afford British dentistry.

My parents are Italian and always go back to Italy for complicated teeth stuff...it's only a bit cheaper than the UK though.

My husband has his done in Budapest. We looked in to Turkey at the time and didn't really like it. Couldn't seem to book anything they just wanted you to turn up.
Budapest was better with a London clinic where he had all his pre treatment and extractions plus follow up appointments.
He was in Budapest for 5 days and had most of his mouth done and they look fantastic and really natural. He'd had an accident that left his teeth ruined so there was bridge work, implants and veneers plus 8 extractions.
All in all cost us around £6k.4 years later there are no problems at all and everything is still perfect, has a 6 monthly check up at the London based clinic costing £50.

Thank you for your comments, for me this last tooth removal has made it difficult to chew as have lost previous teeth, (victim of system of dental practice in the 70's sadly) and I just can't get on with dentures, they make me retch. Just not really confident to know what to investigate really. A distant aunt had hers done in Turkey ( she lived there and told me how amazing the surgeries were) and her teeth look amazing, but this was a few years ago now. I would like mad be 4 separate teeth inputting. How much is UK compared to going abroad?

** maybe not mad be !!!!

I had dental work done in Turkey. Was very impressed couldn’t fault a single thing. Even my own dentist commented on the high standard of the outcome wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

Go to Hungary, their dentists are excellent, and reasonably priced. I know a few people who have done implants there and it worked out great.

Friend went to india,got xrays done as requested sent them out,got a firm quote,flew out.they do one days work then say they complete the work when it's settled and he had to come back in six months.no mention of two journeys until that point so get everything confirmed before you go.

@480Widdio

I have had dental treatment in Austria and Croatia,fantastic in both Countries and in Croatia the cost was way cheaper than here.

As far as I can see they are way more advanced than Dentists in the U.K.Our Health Services are dire compared to other Countries.

So yes I would definitely go for it,but do plenty of research first as to where you go.

@480Widdio Would you be able to recommend a dental clinic in Croatia? I'd be super grateful.