Dental tourism/implant

[Laura Ingalls]

I had tooth 13 extracted in 2018. The oral surgeon said I had plenty of bone and did not graft any bone at that time. He also said that I probably cracked the tooth because the ligaments around the tooth were wrapped around too tightly.

I have had a hole there ever since

In 2006 I had a similar problem this its sister tooth 4. I had a implant done and it has been problem free.

I am planning on going to Budapest, Hungary this fall. Since I scheduled this trip I have learned that it kind of known for dental care.

It looks like the implant will be $750 and the crown $250. I know my dentist’s lab could make the crown and suspect my insurance might cover a crown if done at a network provider.

Any thoughts? Anyone do something similar.

[Stahlmann]

Well, if you have personal connection in real life to somebody who did this kind of travel to this specific dentist, ask them for "advice" (I hope you don't look for confirmation of your current beliefs, which is often the case)... just social proof in work. Any medical tourism group in your area? Or you have higher trust in random people from online retirement community

BTW, aren't you US based? So why Europe? Wouldn't be Mexico better place? Organizing short trip to Mexico for rework sounds more doable.

[chenda]

I've known several people do this in Turkey, it's a great way to save huge amounts of money. It's worth checking reviews from other overseas patients.

I imagine you could get follow up appointments done locally if needed, although if there were problems then you might need to go back to Hungary.

[jacob]

I am planning on going to Budapest, Hungary this fall. Since I scheduled this trip I have learned that it kind of known for dental care.

If so there may be dentists in Budapest specifically catering to tourists. There may even be US expat dentists or package deals like "arrive in the morning and spend hours in the chair to get everything taken care of the same day".

I know that Danes visit Danish dentists in Germany. (No, I don't have any references/recommendations.)

PS: If you need anything eye related (like new glasses), you might wanna consider that too.

[Western Red Cedar]

I think the key thing for implants is to make sure you have enough time for everything to properly heal. I'd be cautious about this if you are only there for a limited time with a hard exit. I haven't had an implant done for about twenty years, and I know the technology has improved, but I think it is still a multi-month process to ensure the foundation and gums heal correctly. I've looked into dental tourism in Mexico where it is very popular for US citizens. I've also heard India is very cheap for expat dental work. There are dentists and other specialists who cater to this service in many countries, so the best approach IMO is to connect to an expat community for local recommendations.

I had some pretty significant dental work done both years I lived in South Korea. It was about half the cost for similar procedures in the US. The dentists and oral surgeons were outstanding, spoke excellent English, and were often educated in Europe or abroad. I also used my local network of Korean colleagues and expats to provide recommendations.

Overall I think it is a great strategy, along with medical tourism, for those who are mobile but are willing to stay put while receiving treatment.

[Laura Ingalls]

@Stalhman
Getting to Budapest is a sink cost at this point. I am a long way from the Mexican border without any direct flights. My social circle doesn’t have a lot of world travelers.

@Jacob there are definitely places that cater English speakers and offer a very high touch concierge type experience. There is a dental school in Budapest that has three cohorts one with instruction in Hungarian, another in German, and the third in English. There are probably 10 places within walking distance of our Airbnb.

Our current coverage pays 100% for eye exams and nothing for glasses or contacts. We both just got exams.

I am a loyal Zenni customer. I just got prescription readers for DH and progressives for myself. $61 total.

@Western Red Cedar
I know it can be slow. Extraction then heal, bone graft and then heal, implant and then heal. Finally a crown. I suspect I really just need the implant and it’s healing I need to worry about. The other tooth was uneventful. I think the crown could be done locally and my dental coverage would pay. I have never had any real infection. The tooth hurt one day and less than 24 hours later it was gone and it healed just fine. I see your point though. You don’t want to be sitting in an economy seat with a throbbing dental pain.

[Western Red Cedar]

@LI - I'd give your dentist or oral surgeon's office a quick call to see if they'd consider this. I'd be surprised if you could split the work between different practitioners, particularly if one of them is in a different country. It seems like there would be liability or potential problems that could pop up.

Everything I've read about is more of a package deal with the same provider. This is why implants are tricky if you are looking for international care. They either require multiple trips, or a multi-month stay in the same country.

[Laura Ingalls]

@Western Red Cedar
I get what you are saying and I know dentist are not fond of taking on half done projects of other practitioners, but a titanium implant becomes part of your body. The implant I have is likely to be there for life. The crown is more of a “wear” item and may eventually need either repair or replacement. I don’t think anyone is going to deny me care if it craps out kwim?

My family dentist installed the crown on my current implant not the oral surgeon.

[SavingWithBabies]

I'm debating this for tooth #9 that I cracked off when I was a wee lad chasing my brother on a freshly waxed floor. One sharp turn later, a lost footing and most of that front tooth was gone. It lasted a good 30 years with the original root canal and crown. Not pretty but I didn't want to mess with it until I needed to. Now it definitely is wiggly after a couple of unfortunate accidental impacts. We are in a fairly remote area (depending on how you look at it) and there is one local endodontist. I was a bit worried but I finally googled and now I'm now relieved as they appear to be very well qualified with a long history of practice.

I think I'm going to go local. I was researching Costa Rica and Mexico but I don't want to fly with COVID and Mexico is a very long drive. I did have a referral to a endodontist practice in Ann Arbor area near where we used to live (and my in-laws still live) but it is a long drive too if rework is needed and not sure how many visits are needed.

I'm paying out of pocket (no dental insurance). I think I will go and talk to the local people and try to get an out the door price. If it seems reasonable, I'll go with them. If not, I'll do the same in Ann Arbor when we visit family. I could wait longer term but I worry about tooth decay. It doesn't hurt yet but it is tender (particularly for a couple weeks after letting the dentist and the hygienist wiggle it).