With dental care one of Australians' biggest out-of-pocket health costs, it's no surprise that many people look overseas for cheaper treatment. Smartraveller notes that dentistry is among the most common procedures Australians travel overseas for. For many patients it goes well. But Australian practices regularly see the patients for whom it didn't.
A CommBank Dental Insights report published in 2024 found that 79% of surveyed dental practices had treated patients with complications from overseas dental work in the previous year, a figure highlighted again in an industry press release in October 2026.
This article looks at what practices are seeing, how to talk to patients considering overseas treatment, and how to manage patients who come home with problems, professionally and without judgement.
This article is general information for dental practices. It isn't clinical or legal advice.
Key takeaways
- Cost is the main reason patients travel for dental work. Australians paid about $8.6 billion out of pocket on dental services in 2024–25, according to the AIHW.
- Practices commonly report complications involving crowns and bridges, implants and cosmetic work.
- Treatment overseas can involve short timeframes, language barriers, incomplete records and products that are hard to maintain or repair in Australia.
- Basic travel insurance usually doesn't cover planned medical or dental treatment overseas, or complications from it.
- Practices should give patients balanced information, avoid disparaging comparisons, and document carefully when treating complications.
Why patients go overseas
- Cost: the main driver. See what Australians pay for dental care.
- Speed: treatment packages that complete extensive work in days.
- Marketing: packages bundling treatment, travel and accommodation, often promoted on social media.
What Australian practices report seeing
Practices report treating patients with problems such as:
- Crowns and bridges that don't fit well or have failed
- Implant complications, including infection and failure
- Extensive cosmetic work, such as veneers or crowns, that removed more tooth structure than patients expected
- Treatment completed too quickly to allow proper healing or review
- Missing records, so the Australian dentist doesn't know what materials or implant systems were used
The Australian Dental Association has highlighted that limited treatment time and language differences can affect communication and informed consent, and that follow-up care can be complicated by incomplete records or unfamiliar products and techniques.
Talking to patients considering overseas treatment
Patients are entitled to make their own choices. The practice's role is to give balanced, accurate information so they can decide well.
Questions patients can ask overseas providers
- What qualifications and registration does the dentist have, and with which regulator?
- What exactly is the treatment plan, and what alternatives are there?
- What materials and implant systems will be used? Can I get the details in writing?
- How much time is allowed for healing and review?
- What happens if something goes wrong after I return home? Who pays?
- Will I receive full records, including X-rays and treatment notes?
Insurance
Smartraveller notes that basic travel insurance usually excludes planned medical treatment and related complications. Patients should check their cover, and understand that fixing complications at home may not be covered by their health fund in the way they expect.
Local alternatives
Discuss options that might make care at home more affordable, such as staging treatment where clinically appropriate, health fund benefits and payment arrangements, explained accurately. See should your practice join a health fund network?
Advertising: be careful with comparisons
It can be tempting to warn patients off overseas treatment in your marketing. Be careful: Ahpra's advertising rules prohibit misleading or deceptive advertising and comparisons that can't be substantiated, and using fear to drive treatment can create unreasonable expectations. Keep public information factual and balanced. See Ahpra advertising rules and cosmetic dentistry advertising.
Treating patients with complications
- Be non-judgemental. Patients are often embarrassed, worried and out of pocket.
- Gather records. Ask the patient to request full records from the overseas provider, including X-rays, materials and implant details.
- Document thoroughly what you find, with clinical notes and imaging, before treating.
- Explain options and costs clearly, including uncertainty where records are incomplete.
- Get informed consent for remedial treatment, in writing for complex work.
- Know your limits. Refer complex implant or surgical complications to a specialist where appropriate.
- Check with your indemnity insurer if you have concerns about taking on complex remedial cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to get dental work done overseas?
Outcomes vary. Some patients have good results; others experience complications. Patients should research providers carefully and plan for follow-up care.
Will my health fund cover treatment done overseas?
Australian health funds generally don't pay benefits for treatment provided overseas. Check the policy.
Can an Australian dentist fix overseas dental work?
Often, but it depends on the problem, the materials used and whether records are available. Remedial treatment can be complex and costly.
Next steps
Prepare a short, balanced information sheet for patients who ask about overseas treatment, and a checklist for assessing patients who return with complications. To answer cost questions quickly and consistently, book a demo of IntelliDent.