Cheap overseas dental treatment
Zakopane, PolandI was up at 4am. I always have problem going back to Slumberland once I've woken up. Since I'm a no lifer dentist I started surfing the ADA website looking for the list of dental suppliers when I came across this article ADA WARNS OF RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERSEAS DENTAL HOLIDAYS:
The ADA and most Aussie dentists'll probably kill me for saying this, but I do not object to getting your dental treatment done overseas, provided you know who you're going to get your treatment done (and do a background check!).
First of all, I've to admit, dental treatment is very expensive in Australia compared to other countries in Asia and Eastern Europe, that's the price you pay living in developed country. Tax tax tax, by the time the materials and equipments get shipped over here it would have been overtaxed (yes just blame the bloody ATO), not to mention the minimum wages you gotta pay your employees (unlike in Asia where someone can work for $2/hr) so all these extra costs get transferred to the patients. To get a RCT and crown done in China (by dentist grad from top uni in the US) you're looking at around $300 max, to have it done at the practice I work at it would cost around $2000 and we charge the lowest fees in the whole country (My friend figured it would be cheaper for him to fly up from Melbourne to get his teeth fixed here than to get it done in Melb), at other practices you can easily pay up to $3000. So if I require extensive restorative work (with the alternative being extraction) I would take my chances and get it done overseas. Worst case scenario the treatment fails and I end up having everything extracted but at least I give it a go, better than having everything pulled in the first place without even trying.
Secondly, there're actually some well qualified dentists working overseas but you need to know where to find them! The only dentist who's allow to touch my teeth is a Polish dentist working in Pilica, Poland. He doesn't speak English very well but he's the only dentist I trust. Please don't kill me, but I think he knows much more than most Aussie grads graduated in the same year. Certainly knows much more than me. :\
Thirdly, there're Aussie grad dentists working overseas! Yup, I do know a couple working in China (mainland & HK), Malaysia and Singapore.
However, I did see some crappy work done by overseas dentist. Who the hell in his/her right mind would place a stainless steel jacket (or whatever you call that) on a central incisor?! Well this dentist in the Phillipines obviously thinks it's OK. Then there's this patient with stainless steel crowns on all her 6's & 7's with opened margins so wide you could put your finger in. Initially I thought she'd them done when she was a kid but she said they were done when she went back to the Phillipines 2 years ago. :\ Nothing against the dentists from the Phillipines, I just happened to see a lot of Filipino mail order brides when I was working in the outback.
Those who want to get their dental treatments done overseas make sure you do your research properly. You don't want to end up like my Filipino patient with all her 6's & 7's pulled thanks to the gross decay underneath those shitty SSCs.
Dental work received during overseas ‘dental holidays’ is resulting in costly and painful repair jobs back in Australia, reports the Australian Dental Association (ADA Inc).
The ADA is concerned about promotion of dental treatment overseas in conjunction with a holiday.
The ADA President, Dr. Bill O’Reilly is warning people attracted to cheap overseas trips promising, “an exotic holiday and smile makeover”, that such treatment can be risky and work performed overseas is not guaranteed.
“Teeth are for life. Obtaining dental treatment overseas can be risky to both your dental and general health.” Dr Bill O’Reilly said.
“What concerns us is that people contemplating overseas dental treatment are not aware
of the dangers that they are risking.”
Before undertaking such treatment, you should be aware of:
- Many of the dental practitioners that provide treatment to such patients are practitioners that would not be able to register as dentists in Australia.
- The infection control requirements for dentistry in Australia are of world best practice standards but those of overseas countries, especially some Asian and Eastern European countries, are far less rigorous. Dental treatment requires stringent infection control as it often involves surgery. Failure to have adequate infection control in place for dental treatment is reckless.
- Language and culture differences may mean the practitioner who treats you may not fully understands what you want or accurately determine what you need to solve your dental problems.
- Dental treatment provided overseas is often fitted in around a holiday schedule. However, dental treatment is often needs to be conducted over a longer period of time. Provision of implants, for example, cannot be done properly over the week to 10 days of a holiday. Implants require treatment performed over a number of visits as the mouth needs to “settle” between visits. Fitting such treatment within a holiday schedule without allowing time for the mouth and gums to settle, risks failure.
- Overseas treatment leaves no recourse if the treatment fails. It is a false economy if patients have to return overseas for possible rectification. The ADA sees cases of overseas’ treatment gone wrong. Often the treatment received has to be completely redone. If that happens patients will have paid for the overseas treatment and its rectification. Treatment in Australia enables treatment to fit an individual situation, and should a problem arise the dentist can immediately see
you to remedy the problem.
- Complications from dental treatment while overseas are not always covered by travel insurance.
- Treatment overseas can be cheaper than that received in Australia but be careful that you know exactly what you are getting; that it is suitable for your situation and that it is of an appropriate standard. Australia has highly trained practitioners, using well-trained staff assisting them, with the most up-to-date techniques, relying upon the best equipment available and implementing the best standards of practice. This does have a cost, but it also ensures that you receive the best treatment available.
The ADA warns people to ask themselves, will the overseas treatment remedy dental problems long term; will it be safe; can patients be assured they won’t be worse off; are they fully aware of what treatment is actually being provided and can any problems they suffer be easily fixed?
The ADA is concerned about promotion of dental treatment overseas in conjunction with a holiday.
The ADA President, Dr. Bill O’Reilly is warning people attracted to cheap overseas trips promising, “an exotic holiday and smile makeover”, that such treatment can be risky and work performed overseas is not guaranteed.
“Teeth are for life. Obtaining dental treatment overseas can be risky to both your dental and general health.” Dr Bill O’Reilly said.
“What concerns us is that people contemplating overseas dental treatment are not aware
of the dangers that they are risking.”
Before undertaking such treatment, you should be aware of:
- Many of the dental practitioners that provide treatment to such patients are practitioners that would not be able to register as dentists in Australia.
- The infection control requirements for dentistry in Australia are of world best practice standards but those of overseas countries, especially some Asian and Eastern European countries, are far less rigorous. Dental treatment requires stringent infection control as it often involves surgery. Failure to have adequate infection control in place for dental treatment is reckless.
- Language and culture differences may mean the practitioner who treats you may not fully understands what you want or accurately determine what you need to solve your dental problems.
- Dental treatment provided overseas is often fitted in around a holiday schedule. However, dental treatment is often needs to be conducted over a longer period of time. Provision of implants, for example, cannot be done properly over the week to 10 days of a holiday. Implants require treatment performed over a number of visits as the mouth needs to “settle” between visits. Fitting such treatment within a holiday schedule without allowing time for the mouth and gums to settle, risks failure.
- Overseas treatment leaves no recourse if the treatment fails. It is a false economy if patients have to return overseas for possible rectification. The ADA sees cases of overseas’ treatment gone wrong. Often the treatment received has to be completely redone. If that happens patients will have paid for the overseas treatment and its rectification. Treatment in Australia enables treatment to fit an individual situation, and should a problem arise the dentist can immediately see
you to remedy the problem.
- Complications from dental treatment while overseas are not always covered by travel insurance.
- Treatment overseas can be cheaper than that received in Australia but be careful that you know exactly what you are getting; that it is suitable for your situation and that it is of an appropriate standard. Australia has highly trained practitioners, using well-trained staff assisting them, with the most up-to-date techniques, relying upon the best equipment available and implementing the best standards of practice. This does have a cost, but it also ensures that you receive the best treatment available.
The ADA warns people to ask themselves, will the overseas treatment remedy dental problems long term; will it be safe; can patients be assured they won’t be worse off; are they fully aware of what treatment is actually being provided and can any problems they suffer be easily fixed?
The ADA and most Aussie dentists'll probably kill me for saying this, but I do not object to getting your dental treatment done overseas, provided you know who you're going to get your treatment done (and do a background check!).
First of all, I've to admit, dental treatment is very expensive in Australia compared to other countries in Asia and Eastern Europe, that's the price you pay living in developed country. Tax tax tax, by the time the materials and equipments get shipped over here it would have been overtaxed (yes just blame the bloody ATO), not to mention the minimum wages you gotta pay your employees (unlike in Asia where someone can work for $2/hr) so all these extra costs get transferred to the patients. To get a RCT and crown done in China (by dentist grad from top uni in the US) you're looking at around $300 max, to have it done at the practice I work at it would cost around $2000 and we charge the lowest fees in the whole country (My friend figured it would be cheaper for him to fly up from Melbourne to get his teeth fixed here than to get it done in Melb), at other practices you can easily pay up to $3000. So if I require extensive restorative work (with the alternative being extraction) I would take my chances and get it done overseas. Worst case scenario the treatment fails and I end up having everything extracted but at least I give it a go, better than having everything pulled in the first place without even trying.
Secondly, there're actually some well qualified dentists working overseas but you need to know where to find them! The only dentist who's allow to touch my teeth is a Polish dentist working in Pilica, Poland. He doesn't speak English very well but he's the only dentist I trust. Please don't kill me, but I think he knows much more than most Aussie grads graduated in the same year. Certainly knows much more than me. :\
Thirdly, there're Aussie grad dentists working overseas! Yup, I do know a couple working in China (mainland & HK), Malaysia and Singapore.
However, I did see some crappy work done by overseas dentist. Who the hell in his/her right mind would place a stainless steel jacket (or whatever you call that) on a central incisor?! Well this dentist in the Phillipines obviously thinks it's OK. Then there's this patient with stainless steel crowns on all her 6's & 7's with opened margins so wide you could put your finger in. Initially I thought she'd them done when she was a kid but she said they were done when she went back to the Phillipines 2 years ago. :\ Nothing against the dentists from the Phillipines, I just happened to see a lot of Filipino mail order brides when I was working in the outback.
Those who want to get their dental treatments done overseas make sure you do your research properly. You don't want to end up like my Filipino patient with all her 6's & 7's pulled thanks to the gross decay underneath those shitty SSCs.
posted by Dentist Down Under at 6:33 am
4 Comments:
i will make sure i will never ever get any toothache while im in Aus. I cannot afford to pay them just to get my teeth checked.. it cost 50 bucks just to open my mouth and say "AAAAAA".. bloooody hell.
they really think I use my arse to print money one, sometimes.
shitty SSCs eh?? well, needless to say..
and i dare say most of them are from Asian dentists.. :P
cynthia: It only costs $30 at my boss' practice ;p It's not cheap running a dental practice in Australia, just opening your mouth would cost us $30 in sterilization. ;( Blame the government :p
sabrina: If it's done by me it would be shitty too LOL I hate SSC Poooooooi~
rob: Ummm....how can someone place a crown without prep?! Gee I would like to see how they do that and how the patient manage to close her mouth. :\ But then again it doesn't mean Aussie dentists don't stuff up(I better keep my mouth shut so I don't get assassinated :\).
I work in public health and see alot of overseas done fixed prosthodontics. I hate these cases because in an unfortunate majority, the margins of the crowns/bridges are so badly formed that gross secondary caries has tracked underneath them and the teeth require exo. Also unfortunate is the fact that it means you get a patient who comes in thinking they need a filling or two, and you have to tell them they need ALL their posteriors taken out. This does not, happy patients make.
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