When it comes to dental implant cost, Philippines treatment can be up to 40% less than the same treatment back here in Sydney. At the same time, did you know that around 3 in 20 Australians avoid visiting the dentist because of cost? Moreover, for most Australians, dental care isn’t subsidised, and more than half don’t have private dental insurance. For these reasons it makes dental implants in the Philippines even more appealing and it’s probably no surprise that around 15,000 of us jet off to far flung destinations to seek cosmetic dental treatments such as dental implants each and every year. Add to the fact that there is now more pressure than ever to have a brighter, whiter smile and it’s easy to see why the dental tourism industry is booming. However, if you’re seriously considering dental implants as a form of missing teeth replacement, then is the lure of the dental implants cost in far flung destinations such as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, really worth the risk? Let’s take a closer look…
First, who is likely to travel?
Reports suggest that patients who undergo dental implants abroad tend to be ordinary working folks with modest incomes. A good majority of these are non-nationals (referred to as diaspora patients) who return to their home country for familiar, and of course, cheaper dental implants treatment.
So how much does a dental implant cost in the Philippines as opposed to back here in Sydney?
Dental implants treatment costs on average somewhere between $1400 and $3500 in the Philippines. The same treatment back here in Sydney will cost you anywhere between $2000 and $6000.
So even if you factor in the cost of an 8.5-hour flight and accommodation during your stay, undergoing dental implants in the Philippines can still work out cheaper than having the same treatment done at home, And, if price is your only deciding factor, then the reality is that traveling abroad for sun, sea, and smiles treatment is a no brainer.
But wait a minute?
Before you start to investigate the plethora of dental tourism companies while rejoicing at the dental implant cost savings that are likely to be made, it’s worth taking the time to consider the risks involved.
Risk factor #1 – The proximity of your dental implants dentist
It’s worth pointing out that undergoing any kind of invasive or complex treatments such as dental implants, whether at home or abroad, is never going to be risk free. Dentists can find that a patient’s treatment doesn’t go to plan, or things turn out to be more complex than first thought. While this isn’t usually too much of a problem to put things right if your dentist is local, it’s a completely different ball game if your dental implants practitioner resides some 6000 kms away in a different country!
Risk factor #2 – Differing training, education and practice philosophies
Overseas dentists in developing countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia and the Indian sub-continent are currently facing various challenges in terms of rapid privatisation, regulation and indeed quality. As such, dental philosophies when placing dental implants can differ greatly from the thorough and rigorous dental education dentists receive back here in Australia, especially when it comes to important aspects such as cleanliness and infection control protocols. While some Australian practices have also come under fire for poor infection control practices, it’s considered more of a risk if you’re undergoing invasive or complex treatments such as dental implants in the Philippines, or any other developing country.
Risk Factor #3 – Accountability, or the lack of it!
While there are no definitive case studies which prove that undergoing cosmetic dental treatments like dental implants abroad leads to poor outcomes, there are cases that have come to light. The main issue being a lack of accountability when things have gone wrong. The very nature of dental implants means that inevitably, when problems happen, they usually occur 3, 6, or even 9 months down the line, when the patient has long since returned to their adopted country and indeed, their normal life. More often than not, it can be very difficult to seek recourse from a dentist thousands of miles away and inevitably, it’s left for a Sydney dentist to pick up the pieces. This is likely to be both stressful and costly for the dental implants patient; not to mention frustrating for the dentist in question who may need to liaise with the overseas dentist to ascertain information about the dental implants procedure.
Risk factor #4 – Speeded up treatments to fit in with patients travel arrangements
Let’s face it, whether you undergo dental implants in the Philippines or back here in Sydney Australia, it’s a big undertaking and a lifetime commitment for the patient. However, the difference for many dental implants patients when traveling abroad is that they usually do it by utilising 2 weeks of their annual leave. As such, overseas dentists may feel the need to speed up treatments in order to ‘fit in’ with the patient’s travel arrangements. This can in some instances lead dentists to pressure people into treatments before they are really ready.
On the contrary, when you visit a local Sydney dentist, they’ll take the time to plan your dental implants treatment properly and ensure that you have all the information you need to make a fully informed dental decision. They’ll also make themselves available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. So, while the same may be true of overseas dentists, it can be difficult to do this via email or a Skype call.
So there you have it! Of course, we’re not suggesting that you shouldn’t undergo dental implants treatment abroad and provided that you’ve done your due diligence, the savings in dental implant cost can make it an affordable way of getting the dental treatment you need. However, what we are saying is that there are significant risks that should be weighed up before making that final decision. Remember, vacations come and go, but the after effects of dental implants treatment will stay with you for a whole lot longer! If you feel that travelling to far flung destinations like the Philippines, Thailand, India or Indonesia for cheap dental implants treatment is a risk you don’t want to take, then why not pay the Evergreen Dental team a visit!
We use the very latest digital dental implants to ensure a more efficient, more comfortable and more streamlined approach to getting the smile you really want. What’s more we’re currently running a special promotion, where you can save money on your dental implants treatment. To find out more, book a no obligation consultation with the team on 02 8074 3849 or check out our dental implants page for further details.
