Veneers in Thailand: Risks and What to Ask
The short answer.
Porcelain veneers usually need at least two appointments, and some enamel is removed, which can't be undone. If you're considering Thailand, check the dentist's registration, what the quote covers, and how you'll get repairs or follow-up care once you're home.
Some people look at veneers to change the colour or shape of their front teeth, and many Australians compare prices in Thailand. Veneers are a cosmetic treatment that can’t be reversed, so it’s worth understanding exactly what’s involved before you decide where to have them. If you’d like to talk through veneers closer to home, read about veneers at Dental Spot in Croydon.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin layers of composite resin or porcelain that your dentist bonds to the front of your teeth. They can cover discolouration, chips and small gaps.
Porcelain veneers (another site) usually need some enamel removed from the front of each tooth so the veneer sits flush. That can’t be undone: once a tooth has been prepared, it will always need a veneer or another covering. Veneers can chip, and they usually need replacing at some point, so ask how long yours are likely to last.
You’ll usually need at least two appointments for porcelain veneers. At the first, your dentist prepares your teeth and takes an impression. A laboratory then makes the veneers, and at the next appointment your dentist checks the fit and bonds them in place.
Results vary from person to person. A dentist should examine your teeth and gums first, as veneers aren’t suitable for everyone, and talk you through what is realistic for your teeth.
What to Consider About Veneers in Thailand
Time and travel
Because porcelain veneers need at least two appointments with time in between, you’ll need to plan your stay around the treatment. If you’re unwell when you arrive, or the veneers need adjusting, treatment may take longer than planned, which can mean a longer stay or a second trip.
Clear communication
You need to understand what will be done to your teeth, the risks, and what result is realistic, before you agree to treatment. Make sure you’re comfortable asking questions, and ask for the treatment plan and costs in writing.
Your dental records
A dentist seeing you for the first time won’t have your dental or medical history. Bring your records, X-rays and a list of your medicines and allergies.
Checking the dentist and clinic
In Australia, dentists must be registered with the Dental Board of Australia and follow its infection control guidelines. In Thailand, the Thai Dental Council (another site) oversees dentists (its website is in Thai). Wherever you go, ask about the dentist’s registration and experience with veneers, which materials they use, and how the clinic sterilises instruments.
The Costs Beyond the Quote
A quote for veneers in Thailand usually covers the treatment only. Add flights, accommodation, time off work and travel insurance. Australian private health insurance generally doesn’t cover treatment overseas.
Plan for the longer term too: if a veneer chips, comes loose or needs adjusting after you’re home, you may need a dentist here to repair or replace it, at your own cost. If something goes wrong, it can be harder to raise a complaint or seek compensation with a clinic in another country.
Before You Book
Smartraveller, the Australian Government’s travel advice service, notes that elective procedures can cost much less in some countries, and that while many hospitals overseas are of a similar standard to Australia’s, quality and standards in some countries can be poor. Its advice before you book treatment overseas includes:
- check that the dentist is registered with the local authority and has indemnity insurance;
- check whether your travel insurance covers complications from the treatment;
- get copies of your records to bring home.
For implants and other treatment overseas, see our guide to dental treatment overseas.
Talk to Us
If you’re weighing up veneers, we’re happy to talk through your options, the risks and what result is realistic for your teeth.
Sources
- Medical tourism (another site), Smartraveller
- Dental veneers (another site), Healthline
- Thai Dental Council (another site) (in Thai)
This guide is general information, not advice about your own teeth. Your dentist can tell you what applies to you, including the risks of any treatment.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
