Posted on: 14 October, 2025
Heading overseas for dental implants could save you money, but it can also involve disappointment and serious risks
5 minute read
If you’re thinking about replacing your teeth with All-on-4® dental implants, but you’re worried about the cost, you might be tempted to have the treatment abroad. While this can sometimes work out cheaper, it’s important to be aware of the possible risks involved to your health, your appearance and your finances if things don’t go to plan.
As more Australians choose dental tourism for the savings, we’re sadly hearing more horror stories about poor-quality dental work, unexpected complications and unsatisfying results that need to be corrected by a local dentist at extra cost. To make matters worse, dishonest prices and fake reviews make it harder for people to tell which dentists they can trust with their smiles and their savings.
Read more about the risks of dental tourism, how to choose a reputable dental clinic, and how to make dental implant costs more affordable without compromising quality or your safety. If you need to talk to a dentist about All-on-4® treatment, get in touch with our team today.
It’s estimated that around 15,000 Australians travel abroad for medical procedures each year, many seeking dental procedures such as dental implants, veneers and smile makeovers after seeing them advertised on social media at lower prices than at home. But when something goes wrong, dental tourism can cost more in the long term.
The Australian government and peak dental body, Australian Dental Association (ADA) are urging people to think twice before flying abroad.
Deputy Chairman of the Oral Health Committee, Dr Michael Foley explains: “While it’s true you may save some money in the short-term, the reality is that things can go wrong and all those expected savings can quickly disappear and end up costing more than the holiday itself.”
Following are some of the problems that many Australians face when taking a risk on unregulated overseas practitioners.
Dentists and dental clinics in Australia are strictly regulated and regularly assessed to make sure they adhere to high standards of patient safety. Registered dentists have achieved a high level of dental education and must be qualified and experienced if they are to provide surgical or complex treatments such as dental implants.
This is not the case in all countries, where dentist experience and standards of practitioners may be more variable. This can affect the safety of procedures as well as their outcomes. Some patients of overseas clinics have reported that their prosthetic teeth are poorly shaped, making it difficult to eat, trapping food and difficult to keep clean, a key factor in reaching a long-term positive treatment outcome.
Dental implants and materials used in Australia must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). However, implants placed overseas may not meet the same strict standards. If a component of the implant fails once the patient is back in Australia, compatible replacement parts may not be available.
At Mount Lawley Dental, we offer genuine Nobel Biocare All-on-4® implants and MIS implants for single implants and small fixed implant bridges, and we're transparent about our treatments and prices. Call us on (08) 9227 8777 to learn more or book a consultation.
Like any surgery, dental implants carry risks. These risks can be much higher overseas if the dentist is not properly qualified or experienced, if the right materials aren’t used, or if proper procedures aren’t followed.
Healing after implant surgery can take up to six months, and having your dentist nearby during this time is important for monitoring your progress and managing any complications.
With overseas treatment, time pressures often lead to shortcuts. Procedures may be rushed, with multiple surgeries performed too close together, leaving little time for healing. In some cases, surgery may even be scheduled too close to a flight date, increasing the risk of complications such as blood clots.
The risk of infection after implant surgery will also be higher in overseas dental clinics that don’t follow strict hygiene and infection control practices. In Australia, all dental instruments, materials and the surrounding environment must be kept sterile during surgery to minimise the risk of infections being transferred.
Some patients have reported developing an infection after overseas dental treatment that Australian doctors struggled to identify and fight. The growth of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ that were previously rare in Australia is thought to be linked with the rise in medical tourism.
“Superbugs are appearing more and more as people return from treatment in overseas hospitals and clinics that do not adhere to Australia’s infection control standards.” – ADA Media Release, 29th June 2017.
Getting implants placed shouldn’t be painful as your dentist uses anaesthetic and sometimes other sedatives during your procedure. After your procedure, they will advise you about pain relief during your recovery period. While it is common to experience a degree of pain and swelling in the weeks following surgery, symptoms generally resolve after two to three weeks. Anecdotally, pain and sensitivity are common complaints of some people who’ve had dental implant treatments abroad, and these problems typically persist until they have been treated by a dentist back home.
If something does go wrong with an overseas medical procedure and you need to make a claim, this is unlikely to be covered by travel insurance, leaving you on your own without the ability to make a complaint or claim compensation. ADA President Scott Davis explains, “You don't have the legal support that you’d have in Australia – the required regulatory standards that we have in Australia.”
In these situations, the only options for patients can be to arrange another corrective procedure overseas or at home in Australia. This can add to the overall cost and can even work out more expensive than if they’d seen an Australia-based dentist originally.
Choosing a dentist to provide your All-on-4® treatment is a big decision, so it’s important to do your research. One way to find a reputable practitioner is to read reviews and testimonials from patients on platforms like Google and Trustpilot. Unfortunately for those looking into overseas clinics, fake and deceptive reviews are widespread.
Investigating one clinic in India, Trustpilot reported that it had detected “a significant number of fake reviews” using its fraud detection technology. Some patients have also reported that the negative reviews they left after bad experiences were quickly removed by clinics, leaving them unable to warn others.
Christine Gwin says she's been in pain from day one of her dental treatment at Dentzz Mumbai. (Image by Nickoles Coleman, link to ABC News article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-13/indian-dental-clinic-low-cost-dentistry-fake-reviews-removed/104205618)
The appeal of dental tourism lies in the cost savings, but even this can be deceptive. Many who fly abroad with the purpose of saving money on their implant procedure are disappointed to find that the price they’re quoted when they arrive is higher than they were originally quoted. Some have reported dentists doubling or tripling their original estimate.
https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/dentzz
The higher risk of complications and unsatisfying results also mean that many patients need repeat or corrective treatments at a later date. Women’s Health GP Dr Kavita Krishnan explains, “If complications arise, the costs of corrective treatments can quickly add up, and patients may struggle with limited access to follow-up care, particularly if the overseas dentist is unavailable for ongoing consultation.”
In these cases, people can end up paying more overall than they would have done when choosing an Australian dentist in the first place, while also dealing with unnecessary pain and suffering.
Whether you decide to have All-on-4® implants in Australia or overseas, it's important to research your dentist and their clinic as much as you can. Some things to look for are:
A dentist should also be happy to answer any questions about their treatments and their practice to give you confidence in their abilities.
There could be ways to afford your new teeth without the risks involved in having treatment overseas. Your All-on-4® dentist will give you a reliable estimate of your treatment cost and can discuss finance options that could help you save or spread out your payments.
At Mount Lawley Dental, we offer a choice of payment plans and dental loans from trusted providers including Zip, Afterpay and Pretty Penny Finance. Our staff can also help you to check whether any part of your treatment cost can be claimed on your private health insurance or if you may be eligible for early super access if you don’t have other means of paying for treatment.
If you’re considering restoring your smile with All-on-4® implants, book a consultation with our accredited dentists at Mount Lawley Dental to discuss your options and prices. We’re transparent about our treatment costs and use the highest standard of care and materials. Call us now on (08) 9227 8777 or book online. We welcome patients from all nearby areas, including Highgate and Inglewood.
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