Where for dental implants in (or not in) London?

July 5, 2016 11:16 AM

I need implants for some very visible teeth. A bone graft is probably required. I've priced the top of the market, but can I get better value elsewhere---maybe even outside the UK?

For the price of an entry-level luxury car, a highly rated practice here can give me excellent replacements for my four missing top incisors. These are right at the centre of my smile, where everyone will see them. The practice's reputation gives me every confidence that they'll come out looking fantastic.

But that price. I'm extremely lucky that it's within the realm of affordability---and even then, only maybe. Can anyone recommend a dental practice that might be able to do high quality work on such visible teeth for slightly less?

I am willing to travel some distance from London if necessary.

Please don't remind me that I'll spend decades with these new teeth---I'm painfully aware. I won't have decades to pay the bill, and that's just the way it is. I'm looking for specific recommendations for getting better value, or for ways of obtaining such recommendations. Thanks!

posted by Chef Flamboyardee to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

I personally wouldn't travel very far from home for dental implants. Mainly because to do it right you'll need multiple visits, and may even be working with multiple dental professionals over the course of many months-to-a-year (or more). I had a single top front incisor replaced with a dental implant 7 years ago, and worked with both a dentist (located 30 miles away in a nearby city) and an oral surgeon in my city. When I had some stubborn problems with the implant early on, I was traveling back and forth to both of them quite a bit. I even had to have a follow-up surgery. Thankfully, everything is great with the implant now, but traveling an even longer distance would have been a major hassle.
posted by bennett being thrown at 2:07 PM on July 5, 2016 [1 favorite]

Some people travel to other countries for dental work. "Dental tourism" is the keyword you want.

Yes, there are advantages to getting it done nearby, but you don't have to go for years to the same dentist -- how would anyone ever get an implant done if they were planning to move in the next few years?

In my experience (in the US) asking your in-country dentists about getting work done elsewhere tends to be looked askance (not surprising, as they will make more money doing the work themselves), so make sure you'll be able to have a local dentist do the follow up.
posted by yohko at 4:17 PM on July 5, 2016

I had (minor) dental work done and my aunt more significant dental work (several visits for hours at a time over a week) done at Bangkok Dental Hospital in Thailand. For my aunt, it was cheaper to fly to Bangkok and stay in one of the best hotels and get the work done, than to do it in Melbourne. They don't have a price list on their website, but they did give me a hardcopy price list (unfortunately I don't have it any more) so I think they would give it to you via email to give you indicative pricing.

Obviously distance and time would be a factor as to whether this would work for you, but in case it is of use, I thought I'd share.
posted by AnnaRat at 1:50 AM on July 6, 2016