Is dental tourism safe? The risks, and how to reduce them

Dental tourism can be safe. Many people travel for treatment every year and come home happy with the result. The risks are real, though, and most of them come down to two things: choosing the wrong clinic, and rushing the treatment to fit the trip.

The main risks

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NHS both list similar concerns for treatment abroad:

• Infection, if instruments aren't properly sterilised or aftercare isn't followed.
• Work that fails later, such as a crown that comes loose or an implant that doesn't heal into the bone.
• Communication problems, so you agree to treatment you didn't fully understand.
• Flying too soon after surgery, which can cause pain or problems with healing.
• Limited follow-up, because the clinic that did the work is in another country.

How to reduce them

Check the clinic and the dentist

In Vietnam, a dental clinic needs an operating licence and each dentist needs a practising certificate. Ask for both. Every verified clinic on VietDentalTrip has shown us its licence, its lead dentist's certificate and its address. How we verify clinics explains each check.

Ask about sterilisation

Reusable instruments should be cleaned, sealed in pouches and sterilised in an autoclave between patients. A good clinic will show you how it does this. Our article on how clinics sterilise instruments lists the questions to ask.

Get the plan in writing

Before you book flights, ask for a written plan that lists each tooth, the treatment, the materials, the number of visits and the price. If the plan changes once you're in the chair, ask for the change in writing too.

Don't rush

Allow the time your dentist recommends, including healing time between implant stages and a day or two after your last appointment. Read flying after dental treatment before you book the trip home.

Plan for follow-up

Ask the clinic what its warranty covers after you leave, and take copies of your X-rays, treatment notes and any implant details home. Your dentist at home will need them.

Look after your own health

If you have a medical condition, take regular medication or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before you plan treatment abroad. Arrange travel insurance, and check your government's travel advice for Vietnam before you go.

Safety checklist

• The clinic's licence and the dentist's certificate are checked
• You know the name of the dentist for each step
• You've seen how instruments are sterilised
• The plan, quote and warranty are in writing
• The trip allows for healing time and a final check
• You have copies of your records and the clinic's contact details

Our guide to choosing a clinic covers each of these checks in more detail.