Dental Treatment Abroad

[MynameisLuca]

Looking to get cosmetic dental work done in the UK, but Google gives prices that are so much cheaper abroad. Anyone gone abroad for dental care? What has your experience been?

[ummmm]

Not personally. You do hear of successful ones but you also have to think about if something were to go wrong so you'll have to do some serious researching.

[Buenchico]

Definitely worth a read:
https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/going-abroad-for-dental-treatment/going-abroad-for-your-dental-care.pdf

A relevant MumsNet thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1716822-Dental-treatment-abroad

[MynameisLuca]

I have read a lot of reviews already, some are positive, others, not so, I'd be concerned about the after treatment, it seems UK dentists don't want to treat you if you need after care if you've had treatment abroad. Is that because you didn't go to them for the initial works?

[ummmm]

I'm not sure it's just about getting the work done elsewhere. Different countries could use different methods or products.

[Samuraisan]

Having lived in Spain for over 40 years and all my children having been born here, we all have had dental work done here; braces ( two of my children) implants, crowns ( had one done last month) and fillings. Over the years have used various dentists and fortunately have never had a bad experience.

[Gromit]

Not personally, but a mate of mine goes to India a lot and he raves about the service and the savings when he has dental work there.
He has dental work in the UK when necessary, but he prefers his Indian dentist.

[jennyjoan]

you do take a chance because the dentist will not want you in the UK if anything goes wrong

[saintpeter48]

I have been having dental work in Thailand for many years, I have had fillings, extractions and just a few weeks ago had a bridge fitted. I go there on holiday every year and go for regular check-ups, the cost is a fraction of what i'd pay over here.
I reckon that if you booked a two week holiday with a half decent hotel and had your dental work done, it will turn out cheaper than straight forward work in the UK.
The one that I use is very clean, sterilised instruments etc. I first used him about 15 years ago when he worked in a hospital over there, then he started his own dental practice, so I went with him.

[webbo3]

I work in the dental hospital in Bristol, we get quite a few people come in for an emergency appointment with problems from treatment they have had abroad, we wont touch them and refer them to 111 to find a dentist somewhere in the city.

[Khandro]

I recently had a 4 tooth ceramic bridge, - i.e. spanning a 2 tooth gap - here in Germany: 4,000 €

[KARL]

I do not have much personal experience of dental work outside the UK but I suspect that, with the exception of obvious remote/underdeveloped areas, it is on the whole no worse than in the UK. Although I have no personal knowledge of any examples, I have not the slightest doubt that things go wrong both abroad and in the UK and I would find it very high handed for any dentist anywhere to refuse to treat someone because that person had received treatment outside the country. I have heard of the attitude/practice described by webbo3 - the inference being that presenting with the same problems after a UK practice visit the reception would be altogether different. There is a lot of posturing and prejudice about. My outside UK dental work has been limited to emergencies only and I must say I was very impressed (much warmer attitudes and overall a more pleasant/transparent experience, sometimes clearly better equipped too) and I might seriously consider any of those practices if/when it comes to implants for example, depending on cost comparison. The simple fact is that dental work, when compared with some places, is overpriced in many countries including the UK. If a substantial saving is available then I would certainly consider it no matter where.

[webbo3]

Karl,

the emergency clinic is for pain relief and extraction only and we will do a small temporary filling, if the patient has a dentist they should go there, we also wont touch any appliances, bridges,crowns and braces unless they were done in the hospital.

we definitely wont treat/repair dental work done in another country.

[J9PUR]

The reason why the majority of dentists will not treat some patients who have been treated abroad is that the needed remedial treatment is not within their skill set or scope of practice. For example, here in the UK, the provision of dental implants is not considered within the remit of a general dental practitioner. As such, it would be unethical for them to attempt to treat failing implants (whether they have been provided within the UK or elsewhere). It is not a question of attitude.

[Atheist]

Oh dear! Health tourists.

[woofgang]

I had an implant in the UK and knew that if anything went wrong during the process, I would have to go back to my own dentist....its only the same thing.

[jourdain2]

I did know someone who went to E. Europe for a massive amount of dental work - he was very happy with the result and no come-back. I've considered it myself and if I ever am looking at a huge bill, I would certainly try it, but accompanied by child or sister, for confidence..

[ummmm]

Health tourists who pay the full price and some.