Should I Get Dental Implants Abroad?

Over the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people travelling overseas for dental treatments. Lured by the prospect of combining an overseas holiday with budget dentistry, many people ignore the risks associated with dental tourism. 

Social media and the UK papers are filled with tales of Brits heading overseas for veneers and dental implants. Foreign dental practices target the UK market by buying swathes of search engine ads, so when you head online to find out about getting implants, you’ll see their seemingly attractive prices first. 

So, is getting dental implants abroad a good idea? The reality is far from the dream solution people are being sold. Dentists across the UK know this first-hand, as we often see and fix the failed outcomes and damaged smiles that follow these surgeries. 

If you’re wondering whether you should get dental implants abroad, here’s what you need to know about the risks involved and why it may be better to stay home. 

Is It Cheaper to Get Dental Implants Abroad?

Go online, and you’ll see some attractive deals for dental implant surgery from overseas practices. Cheaper premises and clinic overheads, reduced staffing costs, and a lower cost of living mean practices abroad can offer prices that seem lower than in the UK. 

But paying for your implants isn’t the only cost. You’ll need to pay for a trip to a far-flung country. This means flights, hotels, travel insurance, travel to and from airports, airport parking costs, and food and drinks while you’re away. 

You may need to take a few weeks off work together. Some employers may insist that you take any additional time off unpaid. 

Dental implant surgery requires multiple steps. That means you may end up having to take the trip multiple times.

You may expect that you can treat the trip as a holiday. While heading a few hundred miles for a consultation leaves you free to enjoy a few days by the side of a pool, the reality may be different when you’re receiving treatment. 

If you experience a difficult recovery, you might not get to enjoy the trip as you’d expect. 

When you factor in the cost of taking multiple weeks off work and travelling several times, your treatment might be considerably more expensive. 

What’s Involved in Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implant surgery involves placing titanium screws into your jawbone. Your jaw will gradually heal around the implants until they’re firmly integrated and can support likelike, custom-made replacement teeth. 

Before we can place implants, we need to know that your jaw is strong enough to take them. If you’ve lost bone density following the loss of your teeth, you may need a bone graft procedure first. This is something we can only learn through a thorough examination. 

What Are the Risks Of Getting Dental Implants Abroad?

Not all dental implant dentists are of the same standard. Some are more qualified and experienced, and some enjoy higher success rates. Chairside manner, the type of implants, and the techniques used are all important factors to learn about. 

Before getting dental work overseas, it’s vital to check qualifications, learn about the practice’s insurance, and find out whether you and the dentist both speak the same language. 

Here are some more points to consider. 

Dental Regulations

In the UK, dentists are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC). To practice dentistry, we need to be registered with the GDC, and we also have to follow certain codes of practice and hold insurance. If we make a mistake, you can make a complaint to the GDC, and they will investigate it and take any relevant action. 

Other countries have their own rules and regulations, which may differ considerably from the comprehensive standards set by the GDC. Additionally, the GDC’s reach only extends to the UK. If you have a problem outside of the UK, it’s down to the specific country how they deal with that, if at all.

Pretreatment Consultations  

Before we perform dental implant surgery, there’s a lot we want to know. In addition to a full jaw examination, we need to know about your medical health and dental history. If you’re an existing patient, chances are we already know a lot of this information. 

Your overseas dentist needs to know this too, so having a consultation before you book any treatment is essential. If you’re unable to do this, or the dentist offers to skip this step, you’re putting yourself at risk. 

Potential Complications

When dealing with the unknown, there are always risks. And, if anything goes wrong, you’re far from home. You may develop an infection, and you won’t have the support of your own doctor or the NHS when you’re miles from home. 

The implications of a failed implant procedure are big, and it’s sometimes difficult for us to fix problems caused by poor dental care or substandard implants. 

Why Get Your Dental Implants in the UK With Love Teeth?

Love Teeth has clinics throughout Surrey, and we place dental implants in Chessington, Cheam, Stonecot, Worcester Park, and Sutton. This means we’re close to home for all the necessary consultations, procedures, and checkups involved in implant placement. 

Our team is highly trained, and we’ve carried out countless implant placements with an exceptional success rate. 

During your treatment, your comfort and experience are our primary concern. Love Teeth’s principal dentist, Dr KP, is even Dental Phobia Certified meaning he’s acknowledged for his chairside manner and care for even the most nervous patients. 

In every dental implant procedure, we use the best quality materials and clinically proven techniques for the best outcomes. 

As UK dentists, we work to exceed GDC expectations. We’re insured, and we have clear ways of tackling any problems we encounter. Our five-star reputation for excellence in dental care is important to us. 

Dental Implants at Love Teeth

Travelling overseas for your dental implant treatment may cost you more than you anticipate. In addition to the additional travel costs and time off work, you may pay for your treatment with your smile or your health. 

Love Teeth provides a high standard of implant dentistry without the unmeasurable risk. 

Get in touch today to learn more about dental implants in Surrey.