This is a very important question, and for many Australians, the allure of cheaper dental work overseas is a strong temptation. However, most dental professionals and organisations, including the Australian Dental Association (ADA), strongly advise against it. Many Australians who wish to reconstruct their missing teeth with a fixed solution (Prosthesis that is not removable) but cannot afford the Australian Dental fee, felt that their only option is to do the work overseas in a less developed country. However, people are much less aware of the issues and complications of dental works done overseas.
- Quality and Standards: This is the most significant risk. Australia has rigorous standards and regulations for dental materials, practitioner qualifications, and infection control. In less developed nations, there are much less rigorous (if not almost non-existent) standards and regulations for material safety and quality, clinician expertise, and infection control observations. Overseas clinics may use cheaper, unapproved implant systems or materials that are not TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) approved in Australia.
This can lead to implant failure, infections, and allergic reactions. Hygiene and sterilisation protocols may not meet Australian standards, increasing the risk of serious post-operative infections. While many overseas dentists are highly skilled, it can be difficult for a patient to verify their qualifications and experience. There may be a lack of accountability or legal recourse if something goes wrong. At Tripitaka Dental, Cabramatta, we only use TGA approved products and equipments, our infection control observes "Best Practice Standards", and our clinician must have formally recognised postgraduate qualification to perform implant dentistry. Our clinician maintain latest updates in research and protocols on implant dentistry, ensuring our patients all deserve the best. - Follow-up and Continuity of Care: Dental implants are not a "once-and-done" procedure. They often require multiple appointments over several months to allow for proper healing and bone integration. Good restoration often require more than two visits to finish, in order to to achieve a good balanced bite and natural cosmetic appearance. To fit a patient's travel schedule, a complex procedure that should be done over several visits may be rushed into a short timeframe, which can increase risk for complications and compromise outcome, leading to failure. If you return to Australia and experience complications, you'll need to find a local dentist to manage the issue. Many Australian dentists are reluctant to take on cases where they don't know what materials were used or how the procedure was performed. If an implant fails, the cost of having it removed and a new one placed can be more expensive than the original procedure in Australia, completely wiping out any initial savings, let alone the trauma of multiple surgeries. Long-term implant success requires on-going maintenance. This maintenance is not possible done in Australia because the dentist don't know the product details in your mouth.
