By guest writer Suzanne Wyhldher

It’s a tough decision when the dental work we need is beyond our budget – generally because for some reason the mouth in most countries is treated as separate from the rest of the body.

For many people, their mouth is what gets them/us into trouble – but not on its own. A lot of other parts were involved; although not too much interaction from the neurological department.

In a world of scientific and technological advances like no other era, it’s ridiculous to pretend to not know what we already do. We categorically know how imperative oral health is, because of its deep links and connectedness to the efficiency, resilience, and happiness of a human.

Teeth and gums are our smile, our impact, our perception of self. They are our experience and response to the textures, tastes, nutrition and social connectedness of food as fuel, and as an expression of love.

We are our kiss.

So to be hindered or humiliated, edgy or embarrassed by the state of our oral health is Chinese water torture for soul and self-esteem.

It’s far from surprising that many people travel the world for the adventure of found, and very fairly-fee’d dental perfection whether it be cosmetic, reconstructive or therapeutic.

Hyper-perfectionism is the meter of the me-me-media where reality is so fake, fake is reality; and the reality is people need affordable dental care and it’s rarely in your own country.

In the same way Bali became the Aussie holiday destination because it was cheaper than an interstate one, dental tours now have all the information and convenience of a TopDeck ‘slammer tour in 1980s Europe.

In Australia alone, up to $AU300 million a year is spent overseas on healthcare costs. Around 15,000 citizens choose another country in order to have the cosmetic or dental surgery they need or want.

It’s a frustrating tale when even in a nation with an excellent healthcare system in comparison to the bankrupting, family-destroying US one; and not so up to par standing in the same room as the South Koreans, Taiwanese, Danes, Norwegians or Swiss – who likely travel for holidays rather than a squealing and healing.

Anecdotally, a close friend returned only last week from a month in Mumbai for corrective dental. The first stage of the implants went extremely well. The appointments were punctual, the clinic pristine, the dentist deftly skilled, and the team beautifully empathetic and helpful to their lone-traveller patient.

The return in six months to complete the process is happily anticipated. Even on a limited budget, including flights, food as well as lovely and restful accommodation for thirty days, it cost less than half the price of having it done at home.

Turkey is renowned for the number and variety of world dental experts available there.

Ukraine too, is applauded for its quality work. Doctors and dentists are very highly trained and mentored in this country, now so senselessly and protractedly ravaged.

Certainly India is a popular dental destination. As are Thailand, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Cambodia, Vietnam, Columbia, Bulgaria and Romania also make the list.

Many, many happier smiles and healthier gums have good, great and inspiring stories to tell about the time they booked their ticket to change the face of their face. As one of the trickiest decisions they ever made, they’re so glad they didn’t talk themselves out of it because of the fear of the unknown, fear of the procedure, and the risks.

Returned warrior stories are always relatable; always enthralling. In the end, there’s delightful enlightenment or burnished unburdening.

Then there are other stories.

One weekend in March 2023, four Americans were kidnapped in the cut-price-cosmetic border town of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It’s a city that faces Brownsville, Texas; and one of the most crime-riddled, turf war areas of Mexico where drug cartels pose persistent threats.

Two were confirmed dead, two survived. This is one of the top medical tourism towns for tens of thousands of US citizens who cannot afford quality healthcare in their home state.

Many have done it for decades.

Just a three-minute drive south of the San Diego border is a 33-storey medical facility in Tijuana, Baja California, which opened in November 2022. For Mexican border cities, medical tourism is a fast-growing industry.

Familiar medical shoppers take precautions. Although passenger busses can also be targeted, car owners register their vehicle in Mexico to be less conspicuous, and avoid walking around town. Many have never encountered a problem – still, safety is always front of mind.

Dentistry by its sheer nature is never risk-free, regardless of location, reputation or cost.

Dental associations will always advocate for not travelling for cheaper oral health solutions citing lack of quality and higher risk of infection. Quite frankly, I contracted a very severe and painful gum infection from a reputable dentist when all I had was a check-up and clean. It’s reasonable to say there would be instances of dental patients in Australia being unsatisfied with their practitioner, so the argument seems a moot point.

Two moots really: dubious cleanliness and un-guaranteed quality. So moot!moot! because if it matters that much, Australian Dental Association and American Dental Association, associate yourselves with making good oral care easily accessible and always affordable to every citizen in your respective country.

Then and only then, will suggestions to opt for the knowledge and skills of local dentists seem a fair, rather than ostensibly biased comment.

As with everything, caveat emptor – let the buyer beware. In dental tourism, it’s “let the biter beware”. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it – it means you shouldn’t do it lightly, because there are risks. There are cases that are more gross than glamour – on both sides of this dental decision.

The most important choice to make is understanding that having good oral health will always take you places.

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Note: All content and media on the Bacchus Marsh Dental House website and social media channels are created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.

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