It’s no secret that it’s significantly cheaper to get dental implants abroad than in the UK. Every year, many Brits flock to Turkey, Poland and Hungary to take advantage of the low cost of dental work there.
But why do full dental implants abroad cost less than in the UK?
You’ve likely heard many tales of people saving money by getting their dental work done abroad, but for every story like that, there are several horror stories from those who seriously regret their decision.
There are a range of risks that come with travelling abroad for dental implants. Before you commit to a costly decision that will impact how you look and feel for the rest of your life, it’s essential that you’re fully aware of the risks involved in getting dental implants abroad.
Are dental implants actually cheaper abroad?
For most people considering tooth implants abroad, price is one of the main factors.
To help with this, dental practices abroad usually make a point in their advertising about how much cheaper they are than UK dentists.
Whilst this is generally true, these cheap dental implants abroad often reflect the quality of the work and materials and the lack of experience of the dentists – which should make you pause for thought.
Some providers also advertise prices that don’t include everything you will need. These hidden costs mean that the money quickly starts to mount up, making treatment the same price, or even more expensive than treatment in the UK. These hidden costs generally include:
- Return flights – There will probably be several flights to pay for, as multiple appointments are common.
- Hotel accommodation – as you will need somewhere to stay for the duration of your treatment, you could need up to three weeks’ accommodation whilst your implants are being made.
- Transport costs – as well as travelling to and from UK airports, you will need to consider the cost of a hire car or taking taxis whilst you’re abroad.
- Airport parking charges.
- Living costs – unless you pay for more expensive hotels, you will need to factor in the costs of eating out, bottled water, and any other necessities you need.
- Time off work – both for the treatment itself and for recovery time.
For this reason, patients can soon discover that the full dental implants cost abroad is actually much more than they are expecting to pay – especially once they also consider the risks involved.
What are the risks of having dental implants abroad?
The single biggest factor to consider when deciding to have any dental treatment abroad is what will happen if there are any complications.
Here are some of the potential risks to be aware of before you book any treatment in a foreign country – be it dental or otherwise.
Dental regulations abroad
In the UK, all dentists are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC) and must hold indemnity insurance. Abroad, dental regulations are different, depending on where you go for your treatment – even different regions of the same country can have entirely different regulations.
If you’re unhappy with your dental treatment abroad for any reason, it can be very difficult to claim any money back, as the GDC cannot investigate any dental work that’s been performed outside of the UK.
Financially, this means that the cost of secondary or corrective treatment will be the responsibility of the patient – making dental implants abroad prices much less attractive and potentially much more expensive than you initially thought.
Complications following dental treatment abroad
Many patients that we see here at EvoDental come to us following complications caused by dental treatment that they received abroad. These problems can include:
- Ill-fitting implants
- Pain
- Infections
- Other serious oral health issues.
Dentists abroad tend to include limited aftercare, as many patients from the UK fly home as soon as possible. This aftercare is essential for healing, as it is where potential issues are often spotted and treated – increasing the success rate of dental implant treatment.
Fixing dental work that has been done poorly is often more complicated than doing it from scratch in the first place, and should only be attempted by an expert in the field.
So, what you thought was the cheapest option can sometimes turn out to be the costliest and lead to more complex corrective work.
Lack of access to medical history
If you choose to go abroad for dental treatment, your dentist won’t have access to your full medical history – something that is essential for any type of surgery.
Not having a full medical history can make complications more likely and affect treatment plans – as dentists should alter their standard procedures to reduce the risk of adverse side effects or problems during or after treatment.
Many patients also report that they don’t get to have a thorough consultation with their dentist abroad before starting treatment. This can contribute to serious problems during and after treatment, especially when you throw a language barrier into the mix.
Dental Implants at EvoDental
Whilst cheap dental implants abroad are obviously attractive, it’s vital to consider all the potential risks before committing to a decision that you may come to regret.
We recommend using a reputable UK dental implant specialist, such as EvoDental, for undergoing implant treatment. Our team has the experience, knowledge, and equipment needed to provide first-class dental implant treatments right here in the UK.
We appreciate that dental implants in the UK are not cheap, but you really do get what you pay for. To make our expert knowledge affordable for all who need it, we pride ourselves on offering optimised, transparent pricing and a range of finance options that can help make treatment more accessible for all budgets.
To discover if our EvoSolution is right for you, give our friendly team a call on 0800 470 3050 Click to Call or fill in our suitability test form and we will get back to you as soon as possible to arrange your free consultation.
