Being a Specialist Prosthodontic Practice, we have a large number of patients referred to us for complex treatment by our colleagues. Increasingly we now have them referred for replacement or correction of failed dental treatment, which in the majority of cases was done overseas for those seeking a “cheaper ” option. There are many issues associated with seeking cheap dental treatment overseas which unfortunately can be very difficult, time consuming and expensive to rectify. In some cases, where teeth have been over-prepared for cosmetic treatment such as veneers or crowns, the damage caused to teeth is irreversible.
How come its so much cheaper overseas? Many clinics outside Australia offer cheap dental treatment because they are using cheap materials, usually with poor results, or implant systems not TGA approved here in Australia. When trying to correct complications that arise it is often difficult to get all the information regarding what system was used , sizes and components for the system can sometimes be very difficult to source. Often the only option is removal and replacement, which often involves the need for bone grafting in order to do so. What in many cases was a routine implant placement now becomes more complex due to the failure for the “cheaper” alternative. If it seems “too good to be true” Maybe it is?
In Australia there are strict infection control protocols and guidelines which must be adhered to, this may not be the case in other countries. Do you really want to undergo a surgical procedure in a country where you cannot drink the tap water!
