[mugface]

HI,

I have just had a very bad experience from a Hungarian company. I am still in shock to find that after a year ago of having 7 implants placed and continuous pain, I now have to under go extensive remedial work. Three of my teeth need to be removed I have a cyst infection and decay. I had spent £9,000 for my treatment. I kept writing to the agent that I was in pain I went to see them twice in London. Nothing was done. I then paid to have a scan done elsewhere. Then when I got back to them they sent me an email telling me that, I had NEVER complained of pain!! My god, what liars. I have so much proof to the contrary that I can't see how they hope to get away with this. Other customers I have met have not been happy.

Which brings me to this: Be very wary of websites, forums when they a praising dental companies abroad. How genuine are they? Yesterday I tried to post on a forum that helps people to decide where to go for treatment. My post was turned down. I wondered why. it was obvious there were only good things on there so people will carry on using these dentists because they have not been told the truth they only read the good comments the bad are held back. This is so wrong, where can anyone get a proper review good and bad. (they must be paid for advertising) I used BHMS and I will make sure that everyone knows what liars they are and how they try to take more money off you for their mistake.

[admin]

Dear Mugface,

no doubt people will have bad experiences at some clinics but I wouldn't use this to brand all clinics in an area the same. However we at the cosmetic dentistry guide believe that before making the choice with which dentist to use be sure to ask a lot of questions especially to see previous patient testimonials and photographs of work they have carried out. One of the advantages to going to a UK practice is that they are all governed by The GDC but the fee will probably be higher. I hope you have managed to resolve your dental problems.

[prosman]

hi mf
sorry to hear about your terrible experience. unfortunately, this happens all too often
i am sure there are some excellent dentists abroad and the low fees must make this approach very appealing
however it does not matter how cheap it was if it doesn't work or has been done badly, i have seen one women who had 18 implants placed of which 15 had failed and the other 3 had to be removed as they were in the wrong place
if you want to go abroad for treatment do your research
find out what implants are they using...
what qualifications they have...
how many implants have they placed...
what their failure rate is (don't believe anyone who tells you 0)...
what lengths of sterility do they go to
can you talk to some one who's had the treatment
how long they guarantee their work & what happens if things go wrong
how long they have been in business at that location etc...
Hope that helps
Nick

[mugface]

Originally Posted by admin

Dear Mugface,

no doubt people will have bad experiences at some clinics but I wouldn't use this to brand all clinics in an area the same. However we at the cosmetic dentistry guide believe that before making the choice with which dentist to use be sure to ask a lot of questions especially to see previous patient testimonials and photographs of work they have carried out. One of the advantages to going to a UK practice is that they are all governed by The GDC but the fee will probably be higher. I hope you have managed to resolve your dental problems.

Thanks for your reply. No, at present I have not had any surgery. I agree, it's very important to get patient testimonials. Having said that, I was given a few phone numbers I rang to previous clients what surprised me was the lady I spoke to claimed to have had 12 implants which she says didn't hurt!! I did not believe that and from my own experience I thought the pain was quite bad and the swelling. So now I doubt if she really was a "proper" patient. I went with this company because the aftercare is in the UK (altough it don't exist) therefore, the dentists concerned are registered here and still have a duty of care.

[mugface]

Originally Posted by prosman

hi mf
sorry to hear about your terrible experience. unfortunately, this happens all too often
i am sure there are some excellent dentists abroad and the low fees must make this approach very appealing
however it does not matter how cheap it was if it doesn't work or has been done badly, i have seen one women who had 18 implants placed of which 15 had failed and the other 3 had to be removed as they were in the wrong place
if you want to go abroad for treatment do your research
find out what implants are they using...
what qualifications they have...
how many implants have they placed...
what their failure rate is (don't believe anyone who tells you 0)...
what lengths of sterility do they go to
can you talk to some one who's had the treatment
how long they guarantee their work & what happens if things go wrong
how long they have been in business at that location etc...
Hope that helps
Nick

I know what you are saying Nick, but the thing is they claim on their website to be "The best!! "Everyone claims to be the best !! They told me they don't see many failures I think they quoted 98% success. I checked the qualifications it took me a year to decide to go with them . Their website is a lie. Guarantees are 5 years.

It wasn't until I started under going treatment I noticed the cracks in their statements. I started meeting other english people who had returned with problems. This began to worry me so I started keeping a record of all my visits etc.
I wish there could be a website or data base where patients can check a company's success rates and if there have been complaints, etc. A bit like hotel reviews if you know what I mean
Mugface

[admin]

some great advice there from Nick (our resident specialist prosthodontist advisor) regarding dental implants and what to look out for, we may ask you to write and article for our readers which may be useful:

Something along the lines of :

How to choose an implant dentist and what questions to ask at your consultation?

Would you be keen to put something together?

And regarding the reviews website like trip advisor, in principle it seems like a good idea but many places will have both good and bad reviews...its a bit of a tricky one but understand where you are coming from mugface.

[Dr Pav Khaira]

I agree with Nick, I see a lot of bad dentistry done abroad.

That's not to say that all dentists abroad do this! I know and would recommend several dentists on the continent. They all have one thing in common; their fees are extremely comparable to what you would pay in the UK. Unfortunately many people are looking for the cheapest option, and in many cases I understand why but all too often there is a reason for reduced fees

I hope this helps

Kindest regards

[prosman]

Originally Posted by mugface

I know what you are saying Nick, but the thing is they claim on their website to be "The best!! "Everyone claims to be the best !! They told me they don't see many failures I think they quoted 98% success. I checked the qualifications it took me a year to decide to go with them . Their website is a lie. Guarantees are 5 years.

It wasn't until I started under going treatment I noticed the cracks in their statements. I started meeting other english people who had returned with problems. This began to worry me so I started keeping a record of all my visits etc.
I wish there could be a website or data base where patients can check a company's success rates and if there have been complaints, etc. A bit like hotel reviews if you know what I mean
Mugface

MF, I don't think you can beat your self up about this! You have done more research than most people I see at Harley street! You have asked a lot of the right questions and it seems you have been burnt.

It is not my place to comment on where is the best place to take your grievance, but I am also concerned about your experience and that of other people in the same position.

[prosman]

Originally Posted by admin

some great advice there from Nick (our resident specialist prosthodontist advisor) regarding dental implants and what to look out for, we may ask you to write and article for our readers which may be useful:

Something along the lines of :

How to choose an implant dentist and what questions to ask at your consultation?

Would you be keen to put something together?

And regarding the reviews website like trip advisor, in principle it seems like a good idea but many places will have both good and bad reviews...its a bit of a tricky one but understand where you are coming from mugface.

Happy to do that for you, admin.

As for the reviews it is tricky as I am sure there are lots of ghost reviews. However, in time, I think this is the way things will go.

There is talk of a specialist list in implantology being set up by the GDC, which I am actually opposed to for various reasons, but I believe it is going ahead and this is because the public and the medical defence unions are demanding more clarrification on who should be actually doing dental implants.

[prosman]

Originally Posted by Dr Pav Khaira

I agree with Nick, I see a lot of bad dentistry done abroad.

That's not to say that all dentists abroad do this! I know and would recommend several dentists on the continent. They all have one thing in common; their fees are extremely comparable to what you would pay in the UK. Unfortunately many people are looking for the cheapest option, and in many cases I understand why but all too often there is a reason for reduced fees

I hope this helps

Kindest regards

Ha ha Pav,
I would have to say you are braver than me saying this on a public forum
But I agree 100%

Here is a good quote from Prof Youdelis (1965) "If your patients knew what you knew, they would want what you would want"