Dental implants · Treatment overseas
Dental implants overseas: what to know before you book
Bali, Thailand and Turkey are popular destinations for dental treatment, and it’s easy to see why. The advertised prices can look much lower than at home, and a holiday thrown in sounds tempting. Plenty of Australians look into it. If you’re one of them, this guide covers what to weigh up before you book, so you can make the decision with your eyes open.
In this guide
- Why overseas prices can look lower
- The questions to ask any overseas clinic
- The costs that sit outside the quote
- What happens if something needs attention once you’re home
- How to protect yourself if you decide to go
Why overseas implant prices can look lower
There are some genuine reasons overseas prices can be lower. Wages, rent and running costs differ from country to country, and exchange rates play a part. Some clinics also package treatment with accommodation and transfers.
There are other reasons a price can look lower than it really is. An advertised figure might cover the implant post but not the abutment and crown. It might include temporary teeth but not the final set. Scans, extractions, bone grafting and sedation are sometimes extra. That’s why comparing the headline number alone can be misleading, whether you’re looking overseas or at home.
Questions to ask any overseas clinic
How many trips will I need, and how long between them?
Implant treatment usually happens in stages over several months, as the bone heals and bonds with the implant. Some treatment can be completed in fewer visits, but it’s worth asking how your timeline allows for healing, and what happens between stages.
Who will treat me, and how are they registered?
In Australia, dentists must be registered with AHPRA, and you can check any practitioner’s registration on the public register. Ask what registration, training and professional standards apply to the dentist treating you overseas.
What implant system will you use?
In Australia, implant products are regulated by the TGA. Ask which brand and system will be used, whether it’s widely available, and whether you’ll receive a record of it. This matters for any future maintenance.
What exactly is included in the price?
Ask whether the quote covers the implant, abutment and crown, scans, extractions, grafting, sedation, temporary teeth and final teeth. Get it in writing.
What happens if something needs attention after I get home?
Ask what support the clinic offers once you’ve left, whether you’d need to return, and who would cover those costs.
The costs that sit outside the quote
The treatment price is only part of the total. When you’re comparing an overseas quote with one at home, add in:
| Cost | What to factor in |
|---|---|
| Flights | Return flights for every trip, possibly more than one |
| Accommodation | Nights in between appointments, plus recovery time |
| Time off work | Leave for each trip, and any recovery time once you’re home |
| Travel insurance | Many policies exclude planned medical or dental treatment, so check the fine print |
| Follow-up care | Reviews, adjustments or repairs once you’re back in Australia |
Before you book flights
Get a local opinion first
Our implant consultations are complimentary. Bring your overseas quote along and we’ll help you compare it like for like, including everything that sits around it.
When something needs attention at home
For many people, overseas treatment goes smoothly. When it doesn’t, the costs can grow quickly, because the clinic that placed the implant is a flight away.
Follow-up and adjustments
Implants and the teeth they support sometimes need adjusting after treatment. If you can’t easily return to the original clinic, you may need to pay a local dentist to assess and treat the issue.
Parts and records
Every implant system has its own components. If a local dentist doesn’t have your records, or can’t source compatible parts for your system, repairs can become harder and more expensive.
Warranty
A warranty is only as useful as your ability to claim it. Ask how you’d make a claim from Australia, what’s covered, and whether you’d need to travel back for warranty work.
Paying twice
In some cases, complications mean treatment needs to be redone. That can mean paying again for the same teeth, on top of the original trip.
If you decide to go, protect yourself
If you weigh it all up and decide overseas treatment is right for you, a few steps can make a real difference:
- Get a local assessment first. Knowing your bone levels, gum health and options before you go gives you a baseline and a point of comparison.
- Allow enough time. Avoid squeezing treatment into a short holiday if your plan needs more healing time.
- Get everything in writing. Your treatment plan, inclusions, costs and warranty terms.
- Ask for your records. X-rays, scans, treatment notes and the brand and system of every implant placed.
- Plan your aftercare. Know who will see you for reviews and cleans once you’re home.
How treatment at home compares
Treatment in Australia can be more manageable than it first looks, especially once travel costs are added to an overseas quote. At Avenue Dental:
- Single implants start from $5,000, or from $57.95 a week on a Humm payment plan,* and full arch All-on-X starts from $25,000
- Payment plans are available for full arch treatment too, with a deposit to get started
- Our implant dentists hold postgraduate implant training, and our team has placed more than 20,000 implants
- Treatment is planned with a 3D CBCT scan, and your costs are set out in a written treatment plan
- Your five-year warranty (T&Cs apply) and every review happen close to home, across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide
Frequently asked questions
Are overseas dental implants safe?
It depends on the clinic, the dentist, the implant system used and how well treatment is planned and followed up. Asking the questions in this guide, and getting a local opinion first, will help you judge the risks for your situation.
Can an Australian dentist look after implants placed overseas?
Often, yes, though it can depend on the implant system and whether your records are available. Bringing your treatment notes, scans and implant details makes it much easier for a local dentist to help.
Does health insurance cover dental treatment overseas?
Australian health funds generally don’t cover treatment overseas, and many travel insurance policies exclude planned dental treatment. Check with your provider before you book.
Is the Avenue consultation really complimentary?
Yes. Our implant consultations are complimentary, and if implants are right for you, your 3D CBCT scan is included too.
Comparing an overseas quote?
Send it through or bring it to a complimentary consultation. We’ll walk you through it honestly, so you can make the right call for you.
*Weekly amount based on a $5,000 treatment over a 24-month Humm payment plan at 0% interest. Approval and individual circumstances are assessed by Humm. Implant and All-on-X prices are starting prices; your final cost is confirmed at your consultation. A deposit applies to all payment plans.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
