Dental implants cost less in some other countries than in the UK, and it is no surprise that many people look into having treatment abroad. Wherever you choose to go, implants are a medical procedure that takes months from start to finish, and the questions worth asking are the same. This guide sets them out, so you can compare any provider, in the UK or overseas, on more than the headline price.
In a 2022 survey of 1,000 UK dentists by the British Dental Association, 94% said they had examined patients who had travelled abroad for dental treatment. Of those dentists, 86% had treated cases that developed problems afterwards, and implants were the second most common treatment needing follow-up work, named by 85%. Two thirds said putting problems right had cost patients at least £500.
That does not mean treatment abroad always goes wrong. It does mean the questions below are worth asking before you book.
Implant treatment usually happens in stages. The implant is placed, then left to bond with the bone, which typically takes a few months, before the final crown or bridge is fitted. If bone grafting is needed, there may be another stage before that. Ask how many visits are planned, how long each one is, and what happens if healing takes longer than expected. Treatment that is compressed into one short trip may not leave time for this healing.
Ask who will carry out the surgery and what training and experience they have in implant dentistry. In the UK, every dentist must be registered with the General Dental Council, and you can check any dentist on the GDC register. Abroad, ask which body regulates the dentist and how you would raise a concern.
A good implant plan starts with a full assessment: your gums, your general health and a 3D scan of the bone. We explain what this involves in Am I suitable for dental implants? If a quote arrives before anyone has examined you or seen a scan, ask how the plan was put together.
Compare like with like. Ask whether the quote includes the consultation, scans, any bone grafting, the temporary teeth, the final crowns or bridge, and the follow-up appointments. Then add travel, accommodation and time off work for each trip.
Ask for the brand of implant and for a record of the parts used. If you ever need an implant repaired or a crown replaced, the dentist treating you will need to know which system you have. Some systems are widely used and easy to source parts for; others are not.
This is the question most often overlooked. Implants need regular checks and professional cleaning, and problems such as infection or a loose crown can appear months or years after treatment. Ask who you would see if something went wrong after you were home, whether there is any guarantee on the work and what it actually covers, and whether you would need to travel back for it to be honoured.
Gum disease, decay or infection usually needs to be treated before implants are placed. Ask whether that will be done, and by whom, before the implant work starts.
We are happy to see patients who are comparing quotes. Your first implant consultation with us is free, and it includes an honest view of whether implants are suitable for you and what treatment would involve. You will receive a written plan with costs, and you are welcome to take it away and compare. Our current prices are on our fees page.
If you have already had implants elsewhere and something does not feel right, such as soreness, swelling, bleeding around an implant or a crown that has worked loose, it is worth having it checked promptly. Our implant team can assess it and talk you through the options.
To book, contact us online or call the practice on 01625 599 001.
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