International standard dental implants at an affordable cost

The segment of medical tourism saw substantial growth in India’s tourism industry. In October 2015, medical tourism was estimated to be worth US$3 billion and projected to grow 200% by 2020, hitting an estimated $9 billion.

One of the significant contributors to the rise of medical tourism has been dental tourism. Off late, the full mouth dental implants in Pune or any other Indian city saw a large influx of foreign patients for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look at them. 

Why is dental tourism in India on the rise?

The concept of dental tourism originated in countries where dental treatment is costly. Therefore, natives from these countries travel foreign as tourists, while also seeking dental treatment. India is one of those foreign countries where dental tourism formed 10 percent of the total Indian medical tourism and grew at 30 per cent to Rs 9500 crore by 2015. How so? The following reasons shall explain it – 

• Affordability – While monuments such as the Taj Mahal or the Golden Temple have their unique charm, it is equally competed by the prospect of affordable dental care. It’s because the dental insurance and treatment costs in developed countries such as USA, Canada, Australia and the UK are exorbitant, as compared to the economic costs in India. For instance, the root canal of a single tooth, which costs $40 in India, costs a whopping $800 in the USA. Moreover, the conversation rate of a Dollar or a Pound concerning the Indian Rupee gives a massive cost advantage to tourists. Hence, affordability is one of the reasons why dental tourism is on the rise in India.

• Quality healthcare – Recognizing the rise of dental tourism in India, the overall investment in increasing the quality of dental care in India has increased manifold. More and more dental speciality centres are implementing modern technologies to comply per international standards. As a result, the reputation of Indian doctors delivering world-class dental care grew to the point that it encouraged more and more foreign nationals to choose India for their dental treatment. 

• No language barrier – In the past, a lack of fluency in English was a major put-off for foreigners to travel in India, let alone get dental treatment. However, India has gradually become the second second-largest English-speaking country, according to the BBC. The fluency has also extended to doctors and their nursing staff, who make it a point to communicate in English. Therefore, the prospect of no language barrier coupled with affordable dental care not only filled tourists with confidence about getting treated but also worked wonders for India’s dental tourism.

In India, one can get the following dental implant procedures done at the mentioned costs –

• Dental X-Rays – Dental X-rays are images that provide an accurate representation of a patient’s teeth, which dentists later use to evaluate their oral health. Through low levels of radiation, dental x-rays capture images of teeth and gums. It helps dentists to identify their patient’s oral problems such as cavities, tooth decay, and impacted teeth. 

 A dental x-ray in India is relatively cheap. It will cost between INR 500-1000.

• CAD-Cam Zirconia Crowns – Zirconia crowns are sturdy crowns that are made of an element called zirconium. Thanks to its durable and compatible nature, zirconia crowns are used for dental prosthesis. Through the use of computer technology, zirconia crowns can provide highly aesthetic and metal-free restorations with a lifelike reproduction of natural teeth, along with added strength and durability. 

In comparison to foreign countries, the cost of zirconia crowns in India is economical, around INR 14K ($200). It is one of the reasons why foreign nationals come here for this form of a dental implant.

• Root canal treatment – Root canal treatment is a therapeutic treatment sequence that eliminates the infection from the infected pulp of a tooth and also decontaminates it from future microbial invasion. Off late, this treatment has seen the use of modern rotary tools, which ensures accuracy in every root canal treatment. For instance, the ProTaper Gold tool offers superior metallurgy and flexibility, which allows dentists to drill and work on their patient’s teeth with start state-of-the-art-hardware and complete the process in one sitting. It ensures long-lasting results without issues. 

In India, a root canal treatment will cost between the range of INR 2000-3500. The new price of the crown could be between the range of INR 3000-4000.

• Immediate dental implants – First implemented in 1976, immediate dental implant placement is carried out at the same time as the natural tooth is extracted. It not only shortens the time to place new teeth but also reduces the number of visits, which greatly benefit the patient. Moreover, immediate dental implants aesthetically restore a patient’s teeth, returning the said individual’s priceless smile. 

While the cost of immediate dental implants is on the expensive side, it is still economical in comparison to international standards without any loss of quality. The price ranges between INR 35K-45K, and               the treatment usually takes one week to complete.

• Invisalign – When it comes to teeth alignment, Invisalign is recognized as the most advanced orthodontic treatment system. It’s because these customized alignments are removable, unlike traditional braces, which allows patients to smile and eat without any inhibition. Thus, Invisalign braces offer precise and gradual teeth alignment. 

Because of the unique benefits offered, Invisalign braces are costly in nature. It costs between the range of INR 1 Lakh to 4 Lakhs. Only patients who can undertake the whole process, physically and                     financially, are advised to consider Invisalign braces. 

• CBCT planned treatments – Cone-beam computed tomography, or CBCT is a medical imaging technique which uses X-ray computed tomography. Through CBCT, dentists take X-rays from multiple angles to get a complete picture of their patient’s inner jaw. Moreover, advancements in CBCT technology have also enabled dentists to accurately diagnose the quality & quantity of bone structure before proceeding with the surgery. It helps dentists serve their patients better. 

The cost of a CBCT scan ranges between INR 4-5K.

         By availing these world-class facilities at the best dental implantology in Pune or elsewhere, patients from all parts of the globe can expect international standard dental implants at an affordable cost in India.