2026 guide to dental tourism for Australian patients

Dental tourism from Australia means travelling overseas, often to Southeast Asia, for dental work that would cost more at home. Medicare doesn't cover most dental treatment,Trusted Sourceprivatehealth.gov.au, Australian GovernmentOverview of health systemView source so many Australians pay for crowns, implants and veneers themselves, and some look abroad to pay less. Vietnam is one of the places they go.

This guide covers what an Australian patient should sort out before booking: what Medicare and health funds will and won't pay, what the Australian Dental Association (ADA) advises, how to choose a clinic, how to plan the trip, and how to get care once you're back home. It's general information, not dental or financial advice.

What Medicare and health funds cover

Start with the money, because it shapes everything else.

Cover	At home in Australia	Overseas
Medicare	Doesn't cover most dental examinations and treatment, apart from some surgical procedures by approved dentistsTrusted Sourceprivatehealth.gov.au, Australian GovernmentOverview of health systemView source	Doesn't cover medical and hospital costs incurred overseasTrusted Sourceprivatehealth.gov.au, Australian GovernmentOverview of health systemView source
Private health insurance (extras)	Can cover general dental treatment, usually with limits per service and per yearTrusted Sourceprivatehealth.gov.au, Australian GovernmentOverview of health systemView source	Depends on your policy, so ask your fund in writing
Travel insurance	Not relevant	Get a policy covering local treatment and medical evacuationTrusted SourceGOV.UKThe website for the UK government.View source , and ask whether it covers complications from planned treatment

The ADA lists the ability to claim rebates from funding agencies as one of the things to weigh before treatment overseas,Trusted SourceAustralian Dental AssociationThe Australian Dental Association, the national peak body for the dental profession.View source and it warns that you may not be insured for complications.Trusted SourceAustralian Dental AssociationThe Australian Dental Association, the national peak body for the dental profession.View source Ask your health fund and your travel insurer the same question: "If something goes wrong with this treatment, what will you pay for, here or there?"

If you're thinking of paying with superannuation, read our guide to using super for dental treatment first. The rules are narrow, and cosmetic work is unlikely to qualify.

What the Australian Dental Association advises

The ADA's position is that Australian residents should have elective dental treatment in Australia, and should get advice from an Australian dentist before considering treatment overseas.Trusted SourceAustralian Dental AssociationThe Australian Dental Association, the national peak body for the dental profession.View source It gives these reasons:Trusted SourceAustralian Dental AssociationThe Australian Dental Association, the national peak body for the dental profession.View source

• it's hard to keep up maintenance visits with a dentist overseas
• communication problems may affect informed consent
• there's a risk of oral and general health problems that may be hard to resolve
• you may not be insured for complications
• you may have little recourse if treatment or maintenance goes wrong
• you may not see the same dentist on later visits, or get your treatment records
• it may be hard to find a dentist in Australia to continue or repair the work

The ADA's consumer site adds that some treatment can't be done in one visit, and that squeezing several complex treatments into a holiday risks complications.Trusted SourceAustralian Dental Association (teeth.org.au)An oral health information website from the Australian Dental Association.View source It also says that for patients who have complications, treatment overseas may cost more in the long run.Trusted SourceAustralian Dental Association (teeth.org.au)An oral health information website from the Australian Dental Association.View source

Take the advice seriously. It's a good reason to see your own dentist before you go, even if you still decide to travel. A local dentist can tell you what you actually need, take X-rays you can send to overseas clinics, and agree to look after the work when you come home.

Is dental tourism right for you?

It suits some treatments and some patients better than others. Treatment that can be planned in advance and finished in a short stay fits a trip most easily. If the work needs healing time between steps, ask the clinic whether it means two trips, because the savings then have to cover two sets of flights and accommodation. Our article on whether dental tourism is worth it works through the full cost, and what dental tourism is explains how a typical trip runs.

The NHS checklist for treatment abroad says to think carefully before booking if there's no discussion of possible complications or no mention of aftercare.Trusted SourceNHSThe website of the National Health Service in England.View source If you take regular medication or have a condition such as diabetes, talk to your GP before you plan anything. The CDC suggests seeing a travel medicine specialist 4 to 6 weeks before a medical trip.Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.View source

Choosing a clinic in Vietnam

The ADA lists five things to check before treatment overseas:Trusted SourceAustralian Dental AssociationThe Australian Dental Association, the national peak body for the dental profession.View source

1. The practitioner's qualifications. Ask for the lead dentist's name, their practising certificate and the clinic's operating licence.
2. Infection control. Ask how instruments are sterilised and what water the clinic uses. Our guide to dental sterilisation lists the questions.
3. Materials and techniques. Ask which implant system and crown material will be used, and get the details in writing.
4. Rebates. Ask whether the clinic gives itemised receipts with treatment codes your health fund will accept.
5. Complaints. Ask what happens if you're unhappy, and get the warranty in writing.

The ADA's consumer site adds one more: ask whether you can trust the reviews a clinic shows online.Trusted SourceAustralian Dental Association (teeth.org.au)An oral health information website from the Australian Dental Association.View source Our how we verify page explains the checks behind the verified clinics on this site, and choosing a clinic covers each check in detail.

Ask two or three clinics for a written plan based on the same recent X-rays, then compare them line by line. How to read a dental quote shows what an itemised quote should include. Be wary of a plan that recommends far more work than your dentist at home did.

Planning the trip

Plan the trip around the treatment. Ask the clinic how many visits the work needs, how long each takes and how much healing time sits between them, then book flights to fit. The ADA's consumer site warns that squeezing complex treatment into a holiday risks complications,Trusted SourceAustralian Dental Association (teeth.org.au)An oral health information website from the Australian Dental Association.View source so don't book a shorter stay than the clinic recommends.

A few practical points for Australians:

• Visa. Australian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam. Our guide to visas and travel explains the e-visa and what to check before you apply.
• Where to go. Most clinics that treat international patients are in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang and Nha Trang. Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City compares the two biggest.
• Timing. Weather differs a lot between north, centre and south. See the best time to visit Vietnam.
• Health. Read vaccinations for Vietnam and tap water in Vietnam before you go.
• Flying home. Leave time after your last appointment for adjustments. Flying after dental treatment explains why.

The NHS advises making sure you understand the possible complications and how your aftercare will be coordinated before you commit.Trusted SourceNHSThe website of the National Health Service in England.View source In Vietnam, the number for an ambulance is 115.Trusted SourceGOV.UKThe website for the UK government.View source

Aftercare back in Australia

The CDC recommends getting copies of your medical records before you return home,Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.View source and notes that some facilities charge substantial fees for follow-up care on top of the base cost.Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Health guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.View source Before you fly home, collect:

• your X-rays and scans, in a digital format
• the treatment notes and a list of every procedure done
• implant brand, system and part numbers, and crown or veneer materials
• the written warranty and the clinic's contact details

Give these to your dentist at home at your first check-up. Our guides to aftercare at home and dental warranties cover the weeks after you return.

When to call a dentist

Contact the clinic first for anything that feels wrong, and see a dentist or doctor in Australia straight away if you have bleeding that won't stop, pain or swelling that is severe or getting worse, or a high temperature or feel unwell.Trusted SourceNHSThe website of the National Health Service in England.View source Don't wait to fly back to the clinic for something urgent.

If you're comparing countries, read Bali or Vietnam for dental work and the best country for dental tourism. When you're ready, the trip planner sends your request only to verified clinics.