5 Reasons Why Your Local Dentist is Much Better Than the Cheap Overseas Dentist

Every year thousands of Australians travel to locations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Mexico, Costa Rica and others to seek dental and medical treatment. The promise of cheap general dentistry, implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry is reason enough for people to pursue this. The main driver or push for this is the lower fees offered by overseas dentists due to their significantly lower wages costs AND often poorly or insufficient dental regulations when compared to the standards practiced in Australia.

There is also the attraction of a packaged holiday at the same time, leading many patients to consider this as importantly (if not more so!) when planning overseas dental treatments.

Dental tourism is not without its risks. This is often overlooked compared to the potential savings involved. The excitement of going for a holiday at the same time as saving money is a big driver in patients not considering all facts they need to before deciding.

The Australian Dental Association has expressed concerns that people getting dental treatments done abroad are falling prey to the dodgy handiwork of under-qualified and incompetent dental practitioners. When in time the shoddy dental work unravels, the costs of travelling back overseas for repairs and retreatment becomes prohibitive. There is then the cost of a highly trained and qualified local Australian dentist who would have to repair the damage done.

This begs the question, is traveling abroad for dental care really worth it? The truth is that the short-term benefits of the dental tourism are vastly outweighed by its long-term problems. Here are five reasons why you should prefer your local Australian dentist for getting all types of general dentistry, implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry treatments:

1. Dental Tourism is Not Cost-Saving for Everyone
Traveling abroad just to get dental crowns and bridges treatment does not ensure significant money savings. The money that you are saving from the dental treatment will be absorbed in the travel and accommodation expenses. The net savings might not be as much as you thought they would be. The prevailing exchange at the time of travel is a major factor to consider.

2. Some Dental Treatments Require Constant Dentist Care
Treatments like in implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry may need to be carried out over many sittings with the dentist. It is best to get these treatments from a local, trusted dentist with whom you can follow up with easily even after the treatment is completed. Getting complex treatment in a one or two week period will always result in compromised treatment.

3. It is Hard to Tell Apart the Good Dentists from the Shady Ones
For local Australian dentists, you have a lot of reliable data about their credibility to fall back on. Feedback from friends and colleagues, local reputation, work portfolio and so on. But with overseas dentists, you are taking a leap of faith. Not all overseas doctors offering cheap dental treatments are necessarily good at their job.

4. The Price You Pay in Australia is the Price You Pay for Superior Quality
Australia defines superior standards for care and safety in dental practices. In fact, infection control requirements and standards in Australia are one of the best in the world. In procedures like those of implant dentistry, that involve dental surgery, such adherence to excellence is important.

5. Language Barrier can Come in the Way of Your Treatment
The difference in language can prevent you from freely communicating your problems to your overseas dentist. Free and open communication with your dentist is important for a smooth dental treatment experience.

Shailer Park Dental is a leading dental care provider in Australia, highly trusted by people in the suburbs of Carbrook, Daisy Hill, Springwood, Mount Cotton, Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Tanah Merah, Loganholme in Logan and Brisbane Cities, Queensland. We offer general dentistry, implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry treatments that are not only of the highest quality but also very affordable.