Dental implants abroad?

Voyager2002

Tats22 said:

Although I can't comment from personal experience as to which clinics to use, I know a few young British/Irish people studying medicine and dentistry in Poland (a much more affordable option than studying here) who tell me their standards and training are just as rigorous over there. Their qualifications are accepted here so it's generally their intentions to come back here to work. That would therefore make me confident in getting dental work like implants done in Poland (and Croatia and similar) as long as I'd done my homework as to the clinic's credentials, staff qualifications etc and not consider it a "bodge job". As a nervous patient in the dentist's chair I would be worried about being used as a student's guinea pig at a dental college, but they are carefully overseen by their tutors so it is an option I suppose if any offer implants, and I imagine as an advanced procedure it's only already fully qualified dentists who'd be learning this technique anyway rather than more inexperienced dental students.

Some helpful insights, thank you. I do wonder whether standards in Hungary are equally high, since dentists here seem particularly appalled by Hungarian dentisty gone wrong.

Ibrahim5

It's quite a complex situation really. A dentist has to give you good advice wherever you had your implants done. My UK implants were done by a dentist who will probably retire while I still have them. One option I have heard is that people tell the dentist they were done elsewhere in the UK. So if you live in London, "I had them done in Aberdeen when I lived there. At that dentist on the corner, built of red bricks, by the shop. Can't remember the name. Anyway he got killed in a skiing accident just after I had them done". Can't tell you to go back there. Not sure if a dentist can tell which country they were done in.

lisyloo

Voyager2002 said:

lisyloo said:

Implants are not fit and forget.
what if something goes wrong?
youll need to then pay a lot over here as another dentist won’t be keen to take liability for a botch job abroad.

are you brave enough to use a dental college in the uk?
not sure I would be.

save up, have gaps or get dentures.
sorry

Yes, I am happy to use a dental college but they don't offer implants.

Adequate research before buying should make it unlikely that anything would go seriously wrong.

With any health procedure things can go wrong.
any good dentist will tell you things can go wrong.
im not saying it’s risky or even that uk has higher standards, just that it’s harder to get fixed IF something goes wrong.
in this country I can bang on the door (during working hours) or phone the emergency number out of hours,
It’S a bit different if you have to book and get on the next flight.

personally I wouldn’t be comfortable with it, but let’s say you’ve been warned.

brook2jack2

Ibrahim5 said:

It's quite a complex situation really. A dentist has to give you good advice wherever you had your implants done. My UK implants were done by a dentist who will probably retire while I still have them. One option I have heard is that people tell the dentist they were done elsewhere in the UK. So if you live in London, "I had them done in Aberdeen when I lived there. At that dentist on the corner, built of red bricks, by the shop. Can't remember the name. Anyway he got killed in a skiing accident just after I had them done". Can't tell you to go back there. Not sure if a dentist can tell which country they were done in.

The problem is that implants will need maintainance throughout their lifespan. 

Each implant system has its own set of tools, and bits and pieces to fit them . To set up with tools etc for a particular implant system costs a five figure sum. Even just to tighten up an implant needs the original dentist to tell the treating dentist what torque was used and the treating dentist will need to have the correct equipment to adjust. 

There are well known brands of implants which most dentists will have the parts for . Some countries , however use systems which are not widely available and which may be only manufactured for a short time , so replacing parts or even just tightening the superstructure may be impossible. It can be impossible to identify the implant from x rays if it is not a well known system. So what should be a "simple" maintainance job can result in having to replace the implant. 

If one of my implantologist colleagues treats one of my patients they send me a letter and x rays , detailing what has been used, the measurements , and with the x rays I can see immediately if any problems start with the implants. The patients are also recalled on a yearly basis by the implantologist to check all is well. 

There are good and bad dentists in all countries . But however well dentistry is done anywhere it can go wrong . When it does there is a lot of difference between driving a short distance for perhaps a few visits , to getting on a plane for a visit or visits to a different country with those associated costs . If things go very wrong there is a world of difference to the protections in law you have in your own country , to negotiating a foreign legal system , possibly in a language you don't speak. 

Ibrahim5

When the dentist was tightening my last implant I asked him what torque he was using and he didn't know.

brook2jack2

I am most surprised because all the wrenches used in implants have settings as over tightening can fracture the implant and under tightening can affect the integration . 

pennell12

Voyager2002 said:

May I ask if anyone has travelled to another country for affordable dental implants? If so, please share how you found a competent dentist and the various checks you performed to make sure that you would get a decent implant, correctly fitted. I am horrified by the cost of this work in England, but have heard a few horror stories about failed implants.

hi how have u got on i understand , all the comments from people that have teeth or good dentures , i cant talk properly eat and have lost confidence from having my teeth out feel failed by NH and cant afford uk prices , im about7 stone and live on soft food cant eat out and lisp when i talk very unhappy , did u find somewhere to go would love recommendations ,uk quote was 20,000 i dont have that money please help