The cost of new teeth with dental implants can quickly skyrocket – cheap offers from abroad are then very tempting. How long-lasting implants abroad and how safe is the treatment?
The cost of dental implants is about € 2,000 per implant. Added to this are the costs for the dentures worn on them. Many patients cannot or do not want to spend so much money on dental treatment and look for alternatives on the Internet. Relevant websites promise exactly that: perfect supply of the highest quality, all-around organization for travel, hotel rooms, and on-site support at an unbeatable price. Testimonials from satisfied patients and dentists round off the impression that it is a good bargain.
But why are dental implants in countries like Hungary, Turkey, or Serbia so much cheaper than in Western countries? And can there be the same quality for so little money?
Why are the costs of implants in Eastern European countries are so much lower?
In countries like Hungary or Serbia, the costs for personnel are significantly lower: the employees at dental clinics receive fewer wages, wage taxes, and expenses for insurance are cheaper. Thus, costs for dental implants can be saved.
Lower fee for the trained specialist
Implants are placed by certified specialists who are well trained and have a lot of experience. This training costs a lot of money, so the fee for such a dentist is correspondingly high.
It is often not possible to precisely check whether you will get the dental implants placed by a trained specialist in low-wage countries. The fee for the dentist is also lower in Poland, Hungary, or Turkey, and the costs for the implant are lower.
Lower material costs
More than half of the cost of a dental implant comprises material costs: the screws themselves are expensive. Sophisticated plug-in systems for assembly, special coatings, and heavy-duty materials drive up prices. In all practices and dental clinics, the highest quality and above all strictly tested we use quality.
In other countries, dental implants are subject to significantly less stringent requirements, have not been developed over many years, and are made of much cheaper materials. This explains the lower price.
Usually hardly any individual pretreatment
So that an implant can be placed optimally, and the dental treatment goes well, individual pretreatment and advice from an experienced dentist are necessary. Not every patient is equally suitable for treatment with dental implants. This is standard, in other countries not necessarily. A lot of money can be saved by eliminating individual conditions and advice.
Usually hardly any individual planning
Just as important as the pre-treatment is the individual planning of the treatment by the dentist. Dental implantation is a routine procedure, but since every jaw is different, the drilling and the position of the implants must be planned individually for each patient. The subsequent supply of dentures depends on it. With simple standard applications, the price for dental treatment can be lowered further.
Reliable aftercare is usually not workable
Regular follow-up care by the attending dentist is just as important as an excellent treatment when placing the implant. He is familiar with the case and knows exactly which special features must be observed or whether there were special incidents during the treatment. If you travel abroad for an implant, long, detailed follow-up care is difficult, but the price of dental treatment is reduced even further.
What are the risks associated with implants abroad?
- It is unclear what qualifications the dentist has
- Untested materials that may be hazardous to health
- Standard applications: Individual jaw build-up is often ignored
- Subsequent care with dentures is not included
- Follow-up care by the practitioner difficult or not possible
The risks that implants abroad bring with them are diverse and not insignificant.
What are the risk factors for implants abroad?
The risk factor practitioner
You can usually not check which qualifications the practitioner and the dental clinic have, because you do not know the standards and certificates in other countries, such as Hungary or Serbia, and you do not know whether you can trust them. It is usually exceedingly difficult for laypeople to tell the difference between specialists and inexperienced people. Also, reputable dentists usually charge a higher fee for foreigners and do not accept dental tourists for implant bargains.
The risk factor material
This risk is high: This is where a lot of savings are made with “cheap implants”, so the quality is highly likely to fall by the wayside. Incompatible materials often trigger inflammation, which can ultimately lead to implant loss. The geometry of the implants is also often unfavorable, and the ingrowth into the jawbone may then be slower and worse.
The standard applications risk factor
The lack of individual implant planning can cause that your implants are in an unfavorable position for the dentures. The subsequent prosthetic restoration is not included and can be difficult or even impossible. Then there is also a lack of follow-up care by the practitioner: Many problems only arise afterward when you are already back home. A new dentist will have to familiarize themselves with your case and will not know all the details. And you bear the costs yourself.