British Fire-Fighter Shares Cautionary Tale After Going Abroad For Dental Treatment
Stephen Carter, a 53 year old fire-fighter, has shared his experience of dental tourism to try and encourage people to think carefully about going overseas for dental treatment.
Mr Carter had extensive decay as a result of years of consuming fizzy drinks and sugary foods combined with several missed dental appointments. His teeth were weak and brittle and he was already missing several teeth when a play fight at work caused his false teeth to break. Mr Carter became increasingly aware of his oral health problems and decided to research treatment abroad after deciding that costs in the UK were too high. At the time he had just five natural teeth and wanted to have treatment to restore his smile.
Mr Carter’s girlfriend, Sally Groves, said that her boyfriend had become very self-conscious and was reluctant to show his teeth because he didn’t want people to see his gappy smile.
After researching the cost of implant treatment online, Mr Carter found that he could save thousands of pounds by travelling to Budapest for treatment. The quote for treatment at home was between £16,000 and £21,000, but he found a clinic in Hungary offering a fixed palate with a lifetime guarantee for just £6,500.
Initially, Stephen was very happy with his new smile, but just three months after he returned from Budapest, he started to experience problems. Part of one tooth came loose when he was eating a Mars bar and this was followed by more teeth; the first tooth was replaced by the clinic, but soon after the bridge supporting the false teeth snapped completely.
Despite the fact that his treatment was covered by a lifetime guarantee, Mr Carter was informed that he would be liable for travel costs to get replacement treatment in Budapest and he was also told that he would have to pay for the replacement bridge, which also snapped after he returned home.
Mr Carter ended up paying more than £10,000 for treatment without any benefits. After he lodged a complaint, he was given a refund, but this only amounted to 25 per cent of the treatment costs.
Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Patrick Mallucci, said that unfortunately, Stephen’s is not an isolated case and many patients are seeking treatment in the UK following botched treatment abroad. Discount prices and clever advertising campaigns are designed to lure in patients and sadly, many are falling foul to these situations, with most ending up with higher bills that the original quote for work at home.
Thankfully, after all the stress and heartache, there was a happy ending to Stephen’s story. After seeing his tale on a Channel 5 documentary, Stephen was offered treatment by Dr Adam Slade and is now delighted with his new, healthy looking smile.
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