How Australians are saving THOUSANDS in dental bills – and getting a Thailand holiday in on the side

Cosmetic Dentistry in Sydney

Are you looking to see a cosmetic dentist to correct imperfections in your teeth? Cosmetic dentists specialise in aesthetics as opposed to regular ones that generally limit themselves to function alone. For problems like stained, broken or chipped teeth a cosmetic dentist can certainly help but only if you end up choosing the right ones.

Australians are saving thousands of dollars on dental expenses by heading to Thailand to have their teeth fixed, and combining it with a holiday.

A surge in the medical tourism industry has seen more than 15,000 Australians head abroad each year for dental work, and companies claim the demand is not slowing down.

While breast augmentations and tummy-tucks have always been popular procedures undertaken in Thailand, it is dental work that has seen the boom with more people travelling to the Southeast Asian country than ever before.

Dental Tourism

Dental Getaways markets itself as the country’s ‘Leading Dental Tourism Agency’ and say their lavish all-inclusive trips combine ‘indulgence and group support’.

Dental Getaways markets itself as the country’s ‘Leading Dental Tourism Agency’ and say their lavish all-inclusive trips combine ‘indulgence and group support’ with luxury accommodation to boot 

Running bi-monthly, the trips find a opulent balance between often taboo cosmetic procedures and an ample amount of downtime

According to its Senior Cosmetic Consultant Chloe Clarke, the business’ has seen a significant growth in interest over the past year.

‘There’s been a huge surge in interest, especially over the last year we’re getting so many more dental enquiries ever before,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘The group tours are not just about organising the procedure or the treatment, there’s also the travel and accommodation – they’re extremely popular.

‘It’s because not only are you able to get a procedure – it’s a holiday. You’re also able to have some dental work done in the morning, and in the evening organise a dinner and a show.’

Running bi-monthly, the trips find a opulent balance between often taboo cosmetic procedures and an ample amount of downtime.

‘They all stay in the same hotel and hosts facilitate every logistically for follow up appointments,’ said Ms Clarke.

‘You might have an appointment day 2 and 3, have a free day on day 4 and 5 and then have more sporadic appointments.

‘In the morning we’ll suggest to everyone what we’re doing for dinner and they can opt in or out depending on how they’re feeling. It’s all inclusive – a one stop shop.’

For those seeking an ‘All on 4’ dental implant system, the savings can amount to $15,000 per jaw, according to Chloe Clarke from Restored Beauty Getaways

For those seeking an ‘All on 4’ dental implant system, the savings can amount to $15,000 per jaw, according to Ms Clarke.

It comes as hoards of Australians took to an online forum this week to boast about their decision to fly to Thailand for dental work.

‘I go to Thailand once a year and go to the dentist every time. Quality is as good as here and the cost is ridiculously cheap,’ one man said on Facebook group, Bondi Local Loop.

Restore Beauty Getaway founder Rebecca Cosier (pictured) has seen her business go from strength to strength 

‘I went to Phuket four years ago, got an implant and whitening and a couple of other bits. It was top notch, and literally worked out half the price,’ another man said.

One man said the best thing about going to Thailand for dental work was the holiday on the side.

‘I had a boss holiday with it and [the dental work] didn’t affect the holiday. They work around you and I was able to get the implant done without having to wait six months like you do here in Australia,’ he said.

Some 500-600 Australians book themselves into the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok each year, according to Choice.

Barbara Sherriff, a Queensland travel agent, said she started a health travel service to cater for clients who wanted to travel overseas for dental work, cosmetic surgery and laser eye surgery.

She said the business came about after her husband was quoted $25,000 for dental work.

After the couple compared costs in Australia and Thailand, they discovered he could get the same work done for just $5,500.

‘It’s because not only are you able to get a procedure – it’s a holiday. You’re also able to have some dental work done in the morning, and in the evening organise a dinner and a show,’ said Ms Clarke of the service

According to its Senior Cosmetic Consultant Chloe Clarke, the business’ has seen a significant growth in interest over the past year thanks to demand from Australian clientele 

Since starting the business three years ago, Mrs Sherriff said the demand for dental work in Thailand had soared.

Mrs Sherriff said she sent about 160 clients to Thailand for various treatments in 2015, and 75 per cent of them were for dental work.

‘We now receive up to 20 inquiries a week, and most of these are from people wanting dental work,’ she told Choice.

So-called ‘dental tourism’ is popular for both clients and dentists, with many clinics taking advantage of the inflated business.

Thailand clinics offer services for up to 70 per cent less than costs of equivalent treatments in first-world countries.

Despite the growing demand, some dentists have warned against flying overseas to have work done.

Australian Dental Association’s President Dr Hugo Sachs told Daily Mail Australia that people should be aware of potentially-lax medical standards before making any decisions.

‘I know patients who have been to Thailand and ended up with HIV,’ he claimed.

‘I would be very, very cautious of having treatment anywhere in the world because the standards in Australia are second to none.’

‘If you go to a Third World country, expect to receive Third World dental treatment.’

However, Dr Sachs also acknowledged that if Australians were to take the risk, ample research should be paramount.

‘Research it very well in the first place, some countries don’t have the same education standards as this country and they certainly don’t have the same materials, so yes it’s definitely buyers beware,’ he said.

‘Why would you want to go over and test your luck in another country that doesn’t have the same regulations?’