Dental work abroad v UK

Mark2spark

Hethmar, yes, thanks, I did see that post.
However, I chose to get a quote from this dental practice as they've had just about the most praise from what I can gather, also the BBC progs add some credance to them.
They've been in business for many years, I don't see pages and pages of reports on the www denouncing them.

Mark2spark

brook2jack wrote: »

Have you read this?https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/300006 and more pertinantely this. http://strongasanoxandnearlyassmart.blogspot.com/2007/09/dental-implants-in-hungary.html

I have, many thanks.
I'm not sure why you posted it though? As your stance seems to be wary of going to Hungary, I found both blogs to be more pro Hungary than anti?

Mark2spark

welshdent wrote: »

That said I have patients who have had their dentures (minus implants) for 40 years and they do not stop them doing ANYTHING.

Yes, this is looking like a viable option, ie do nothing and try out dentures.
Would the teeth (by which I mean stumps that are level with the gum that are there as anchors for the crowns that have pins in them) have to come out if I just have dentures?
I ask as it appears to me that your bone doesn't start receeding if your teeth are kept in... retaining the implant option without bone lift later on as a possibility?

brook2jack

We don't know because we haven't examined you in person!!! You yourself have said the front roots are rotten. If the back teeth were ok then a partial denture with some of your old crowns retained might be an option , if they weren't decayed, and then teeth could be added later.

There are a myriad of options but you won't know what they are until you find a dentist you trust , discuss all the options, take your time and formulate a long term dental plan not just a quick fix you think will get everything done at once and deal with the consequences after.

I have to say for myself I lost a tooth last year due to no fault of my own! I cannot afford to have an implant yet (yes I am a dentist but I earn an awful lot less than you so obviously think). I am saving hard to have it done at the implantologist locally that I trust. I would never go abroad for dental work with one exception. If some one in my family needed the very best crown work (career as a model?) I would send them to a dentist in Sweden whose fabulous work I have seen. His prices are way more expensive than the UK.

welshdent

Them swedes do some lovely work folks. . Excellent english too!

brook2jack

Mark2spark wrote: »

Hethmar, yes, thanks, I did see that post.
However, I chose to get a quote from this dental practice as they've had just about the most praise from what I can gather, also the BBC progs add some credance to them.
They've been in business for many years, I don't see pages and pages of reports on the www denouncing them.

Is there a local dentist/doctor/builder etc that you know of locally that has a bad reputation? Look them up on the Internet and I doubt you'll find "pages and pages" of complaints. Why ...... No one wants to advertise the fact they were taken for a ride or that they were naive or that they made a wrong choice. Also the Internet is seriously flawed it does not provide all the information you'll ever need. In fact medically most of the information is wrong/dangerous/misleading unless from a few very good sites. On the other hand look at all the glowing references... Without exception they are provided by press releases etc.,emanating from the clinics themselves.

I'm amazed you think the two links were positive .... Spending several thousand pounds and ending up with failing implants doesn't seem positive to me.

You are an electician presumably and see everyday botched jobs. You will know people who do a bad job. Are the general public as well informed, no otherwise there still wouldn't be cowboys about still employed by people.

scotsbob

Mark2spark wrote: »

As your stance seems to be wary of going to Hungary,

Not just wary of going to Hungary but going anywhere except the UK, it is complete xenophobia.

Look back at any of the threads from people going outside the UK for dental treatment and the same small handful of posters will come out with scare stories to dissuade you. You will note that they will frequently hijack posts to do this.

Not surprisingly they all have a vested interest.

welshdent

scotsbob thats absolute nonsense. We could only have a vested interest if we were personally in line to provide treatment for mark. ALL dentists are independent of each other. We get no kickbacks. In fact some of the most critical comments of other dentists regardless of where they are ... are from dentists. The fact that some of us bother to post on here when we do have better things to do is because we actually care that people get good care but are made aware of all possible outcomes not just the ones that the unscrupulous chose to tell you about or those lacking knowledge miss. In addition to your unfounded comments have you not seen what is posted not 3 or 4 posts up?? About sweeden? Why would we be saying this if we were xenophobic?? No the real reason we are telling mark and others to be careful is we are aware of what can go wrong and that his right of complaint, compensation is severely weakened by taking the "cheap" option which can often end up costing significantly more than the "expensive" option.

brook2jack

You are right scotsbob we do have a vested interest. Not financial , as none of us do implants and at least one is a mostly nhs dentist. Not in our own interests because then we would advertise who we are and happily mop up the mess that comes from ill advised treatment in this country or abroad.

Our vested interest is all of us will have seen and treated folks who have had illadvised treatment both in this country ( Ive had a patient who went on a makeover programme had implants, veneers etc free but not their underlying problems addressed. They are now facing treatment which they can't afford or full dentures. Their other cosmetic surgery has problems which they can't afford to sort out because all of this stuff needs maintainance) , and from abroad. Universally it is people wanting a quick fix without the underlying problems being addressed.

I hate having to tell someone who's spent £10,000 or more abroad that their only option when something goes wrong, as it can do in the best of treatment, is to go back and spend more money when they are already spent up . At least in this country I have few problems getting things sorted for folks a quick letter normally does the trick. I have tried letters to some of the dentists abroad where there have been problems ,even getting them translated. I have never had a reply from a foreign clinic. The implantologists I refer to send me copies of treatment plans , xrays etc so that I can comment (after all I've know most patients many many years and know their history , problems well) and keep an informed eye out so when problems occur people are speedily referred back.

The best treatment abroad I've seen has been done on patients who are natives of the country or spend regular time in that country who sign up for a package of care , often lasting years, and don't regard dentistry as a one off purchase but a commitment to health.

welshdent

as usual brook sums it up better than I do!