Getting dental treatment overseas

A health insurer has announced its plan to sell offshore surgical packages to Australians who want the cheaper prices offered by medical systems in Asia, as well as shorter waiting times, but with guarantees about safety and quality.

Many Australians are going overseas to get cheaper dental treatment. But is it risky? Dental Health Services Victoria wants you to know the facts before getting dental treatment abroad.

 

Why do people go overseas for dental treatment?

Dental treatment in other countries can be cheaper, treatment is often faster and you can get away from home and enjoy a holiday. This might sound great, but cheap and fast treatment is not always a good thing. When dental treatment is fitted around a holiday, it can be rushed and you can’t easily go back to the person treating you if you have a problem afterwards. At home, the person treating you is easily accessible in case you have any problems with your care.

Before you begin any treatment, have you asked your clinician...  What qualifications they have. Which university did they graduate from? If they are registered with a dental board or standards association. How many appointments it will take to complete your treatment. What is involved What options are there? What can go wrong with the treatment? What happens if things go wrong with your treatment How the instruments are cleaned and sterilised.

Is treatment in Australia a better option? 

You can be sure that:

1. Australian dental professionals have gone through quality training and have to follow strict rules and standards to ensure you get the best care possible.
2. In Australia, we have strict standards for sterilistation of dental equipment that have to be followed by all oral health professionals.
3. The person treating you in Australia has an obligation to provide you with the best treatment possible and make sure that your recovery is as quick and painless as it can be. If you have had treatment in another country, this follow-up care can be difficult back home as the person treating you here will not know the full history of your care.

You might also find that your travel insurance doesn’t cover overseas dental treatment and your insurer may not pay out if something does go wrong.

Where do people go overseas for dental treatment?

For Australians, the most popular places are Malaysia, India, the Phillipines and Thailand.

What are the benefits to treatment in Australia?

Dental professionals in Australia are strictly regulated by the Dental Board of Australia who is responsible for:

• registering dentists, students, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists
• developing standards, codes and guidelines for the dental profession
• handling complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings
• assessing overseas-trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia
• ensuring the quality of courses of study. These levels of regulation and accountability ensure that dental treatment in Australia is as safe and effective as possible.

Download the Dental Tourism fact sheet [PDF 387KB]