Questions to ask before dental treatment overseas: a checklist of 12

The questions to ask before dental treatment overseas come down to five things: who the dentist is, what goes into your mouth, how many visits you need, what the price includes, and who helps if something needs fixing after you fly home. Below are twelve questions in that order, and a short email you can send to any clinic, ours included.

Your own country's dental regulator and dental association are the first place to look for advice on treatment abroad: in the UK the General Dental Council, in the US the American Dental Association, in Australia the Australian Dental Association. We could not open their pages while writing this guide, so we have not summarised them. Read what they say first and use these questions alongside it.

Who is the dentist, and can I check?

Ask for the name of the dentist who will treat you, not just the name of the clinic. Then ask three things:

1. Which dentist will do my treatment, and which licence do they hold? Ask for the details in writing so you can check them yourself.
2. Will the dentist look at my case before I book a flight? At our partner clinic, the dentist looks at your photos before you book. If a clinic quotes you a plan without seeing anything, treat that quote as a guess.
3. Can the dentist explain the plan to me in English, and will I get it on paper? A plan you can read at home is one you can show your own dentist.

What materials and brands will be used?

Ask for the brand and material of everything that stays in your mouth, named on the plan. "A good implant" is not an answer. Dental implants in Vietnam: what they cost and what the price includes shows how a plan can name the implant brand, the crown and anything else the treatment needs.

1. Which brand and material will you use for each tooth, and why? Ask for the same names to appear on the plan and on the invoice.
2. Can I keep a record of what was fitted? Your dentist at home may need to know the brand later, for a repair or a replacement part.

How many visits will I need, and how long must I stay?

Ask for the number of appointments and the gaps between them before you book flights or hotels. Some treatments fit one trip. Others, such as implants, need a second visit months later: at our partner clinic the crown on an implant is fitted at a second visit about six months after the surgery, and the dentist confirms the timing for your case.

1. How many appointments do I need, and how many days apart? Ask which days you must be in Ho Chi Minh City and which days are free.
2. What happens if something needs extra time? Ask whether a delayed appointment, or one more night, changes anything on the quote. Our trip plans show how appointments and rest days fit together.

What is in the price, and what could be added?

Ask for a written quote that lists what is included and what is not. A quote that says only "implant" or "crown" leaves room for extras later.

1. What does the quote include and exclude? Ask about X-rays and scans, temporary teeth, and anything the dentist may add if needed. For implants, a bone graft is quoted only if the dentist says you need one.
2. Who do I pay, when, and what can I get back? With us, you pay a holding deposit to Tripora, which is our booking fee, and the clinic takes it off your treatment invoice. You pay the rest at the clinic. The holding deposit is refundable in full within 7 days. There is no markup on treatment prices, and nothing is added at the chair beyond what you have confirmed in writing. For the figures, see the current price list and how it works.

What does the warranty cover, in writing?

Ask to see the warranty terms for your treatment on paper before you pay anything. Warranties differ by product and by clinic, so a spoken "it's covered" is not enough.

1. What does the warranty cover, for how long, and what voids it? Ask who pays for travel if you need to come back, and whether a fix at home with your own dentist keeps the warranty valid.

What happens if something goes wrong after I fly home?

Ask before you go, not after. Any dental treatment can need follow-up, at home or abroad, and being far from the clinic makes that harder. These two questions are the ones people most often leave out:

1. Who do I contact if I have a problem at home, and how quickly will someone reply? Ask for a named contact, a channel you will really use, and the language it is in.
2. Will I get my records, such as X-rays, notes and a list of materials? A dentist at home can only help if they can see what was done. It also helps to tell your own dentist about your plans before you travel, so they can say whether they would take on follow-up care.

A short email you can send to any clinic

You can copy this and change the details. A clinic that answers each point in writing is easier to compare with one that does not.

Hello, I am considering dental treatment with you and would like to ask some questions before I decide. 1. Which dentist would treat me, and which licence do they hold? 2. Will the dentist review my X-rays or photos before I book travel? 3. Which brands and materials would you use, and can the plan and invoice name them? 4. How many appointments do I need, and how many days apart? 5. Can you send a written quote that lists what is included and excluded? 6. Who do I pay, when, and what is refundable? 7. What does the warranty cover, for how long, and what voids it? Please send the terms in writing. 8. Who do I contact after I fly home, and will I receive my records? Thank you.

How we answer these

We cannot promise a result. What we can do is give you straight answers to the questions above. The dentist looks at your photos first, and the final plan and price are set at your in-person exam. If you want to start, send your photos and ask us any of these twelve questions. To see the clinic behind the plan, visit our partner clinic page.