10 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Hanoi Dental Clinic (2026)
You've shortlisted a few Hanoi clinics. The quotes look similar. The photos look similar. Now what? These are the exact 10 questions that separate serious Hanoi dental clinics from the ones you want to avoid — with the good answers, the red flags, and a scoring rubric you can use tonight.
Quick Summary
Before you pay a Hanoi dental clinic a single dong of deposit, you need written answers to 10 specific questions. In 2026, the top-tier Hanoi clinics (Picasso Dental, Westcoast International, Australian Dental, Home Dental, Global Dental, Greenfield Dental) answer all 10 in detail, in English, over email. The clinics you want to avoid will dodge at least 3. This guide gives you the question, the ideal answer, the red flags, a copy-paste email template, and a 100-point scoring rubric to rank your shortlist before you fly.
On this page
- Q1 — Is your lead dentist qualified and what's their training?
- Q2 — Which implant brand will you use and why?
- Q3 — Will I get a CBCT scan before treatment?
- Q4 — What's your warranty on implants and crowns?
- Q5 — Can you provide a written, itemised treatment plan?
- Q6 — How many international patients this year?
- Q7 — What if something goes wrong after I fly home?
- Q8 — Will the same dentist treat me every appointment?
- Q9 — What's your hygiene and sterilisation protocol?
- Q10 — Can I speak to past international patients?
- Bonus: 5 advanced questions for complex cases
- The copy-paste email template
- How to spot good vs bad answers in writing
- Which Hanoi clinics consistently answer well
- The 100-point scoring rubric
- FAQs
Why these 10 questions matter in 2026
Hanoi has more than 600 licensed dental clinics. Fewer than 40 operate at international standard. The visible signals — Google reviews, photoshopped before-afters, glossy websites — cannot separate tier one from tier three. Price cannot either: we have seen US$950 Straumann implants at clinics with CBCT and ITI-trained surgeons, and US$1,200 "Straumann" quotes at clinics that turned out to be using unverified grey-market stock. For a deeper dive on exactly which CBCT machine brands to expect (Vatech, Sirona, Planmeca, Carestream) and the full digital workflow, read our CBCT and digital dentistry in Hanoi guide.
What does separate them is how they respond to direct, specific questions over email. A good Hanoi clinic will treat your questions as normal due diligence. A bad clinic will get defensive, vague, or will redirect you to a "consultation" before committing anything in writing. Work through the 10 questions below and you will rank your shortlist correctly in a single afternoon.
For a wider overview of how Hanoi compares as a destination, start with our Hanoi dental tourism destination page, or read the companion Best Dental Clinics in Hanoi for International Patients 2026 roundup.
Is your lead dentist qualified and what's their specialty training?
Why it matters
Dental implants, full-arch rehabilitation, and complex prosthodontics are not general dentistry. A general practitioner with a weekend implant course can legally place implants in Vietnam, but you don't want them to. The gap between a dentist with a Straumann Academy certificate versus an ITI Fellowship, AAID accreditation, ICOI diplomate, or Master of Clinical Dentistry in Implantology is the difference between a textbook 30-year implant and a 3-year failure.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags in a bad answer
How to verify
- Cross-check named dentists in the ITI member directory.
- Check AAID for American Academy of Implant Dentistry credentials.
- Look up university on LinkedIn and confirm graduation year.
Which implant brand will you use and why?
Why it matters
"An implant is just a titanium screw" is the most expensive sentence in dental tourism. The four Tier-1 brands (Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Astra Tech/Dentsply Sirona, Zimmer Biomet) invest heavily in surface chemistry, long-term data, and global parts availability. Mid-tier brands like Osstem (South Korea) and Dentium (South Korea) have solid data at 10 years. Tier-3 unbranded or "equivalent" implants have poor supporting data and often no path to abutment/crown replacement in 15 years.
A Hanoi clinic should tell you, for your specific case, which brand they recommend, which product line within that brand (e.g. Straumann BLT vs BLX, Nobel Biocare Active vs Replace), and why. They should also offer you a mid-tier alternative with a clear price delta so you can choose.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
Will I get a CBCT scan before treatment?
Why it matters
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography produces a 3D image of your jawbone, sinuses, and nerve canals. No responsible implantologist places an implant without one. A 2D panoramic X-ray cannot show bone width, nerve proximity, or sinus floor position accurately enough to plan modern implant surgery. CBCT is equally critical for All-on-4 cases and sinus lifts.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
What's your warranty on implants and crowns?
Why it matters
There are two warranties on every implant you buy, and you need both in writing:
- Manufacturer warranty — covers the titanium fixture itself. Straumann and Nobel Biocare offer lifetime manufacturer warranties on the implant body. Osstem and Dentium typically offer 10 years.
- Clinic labour warranty — covers the placement surgery and the prosthetic work (abutment, crown, bridge). Top Hanoi clinics warrant their placement for 5 years and crowns for 5 to 10 years.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
Can you provide a written treatment plan with itemised costs?
Why it matters
The single most common source of dental tourism price shock is the gap between the "from US$X" marketing quote and the final bill. A serious Hanoi clinic will build an itemised plan based on your CBCT and photographs, emailed to you before you buy a flight. That plan should list every procedure, every material, every alternative, and the full timeline day by day.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
Shortcut the shortlist
SmileJet pre-vets every Hanoi clinic we list against all 10 questions. Browse verified profiles with real warranty terms, named dentists, and brand transparency.
Explore verified Hanoi clinicsHow many international patients have you treated this year?
Why it matters
Treating an international patient is not the same as treating a local patient. The consultation is remote, the timeline is compressed, the materials are often higher-tier, and the clinic needs to coordinate with a home-country dentist for follow-ups. A clinic that treats 200 international patients a year has a playbook. A clinic that treats two has an improvised process.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
What happens if something goes wrong after I fly home?
Why it matters
Around 2–4% of implant cases require some form of post-treatment intervention in the first 5 years — a loose abutment, a chipped crown, peri-implantitis, or a rare early failure. If you are 10,000 km from your Hanoi clinic, you need a documented pathway for what happens next.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
Will the same dentist treat me across all my appointments?
Why it matters
Implant surgery, bone grafting, impression-taking, abutment placement, and final crown seating are five to ten separate visits spread across one to six months. Continuity of care — the same dentist seeing every visit — is the single biggest predictor of case quality in our review of 1,200+ patient outcomes.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
What's your hygiene and sterilisation protocol?
Why it matters
A Class B autoclave sterilises hollow and porous instruments (the standard for implant surgery in the EU and Australia). A Class N autoclave does not. Many budget Hanoi clinics still run Class N units and reuse instruments across patients. Water-line sterility, single-use burs, and dedicated surgical operating rooms are equally important.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
Can I speak to past international patients?
Why it matters
Google reviews are gamed. Facebook reviews are gamed. The only reliable patient-side signal is a direct conversation with someone who has completed treatment at the clinic, ideally in your demographic. Top clinics maintain a small pool of past patients who have consented to be referenced.
What a good answer looks like
Red flags
Bonus: 5 advanced questions for complex cases
If you are considering All-on-4 / All-on-6, full-mouth reconstruction, or have significant bone loss, add these to your list:
B1 — Who designs the prosthesis and where is it milled?
Good answer: In-house CAD/CAM lab (5-axis mill) or a named premium lab like Ivoclar, Zirkonzahn partner, or a Korean/German lab with shipping tracking. Red flag: unnamed lab with no turnaround SLA.
B2 — Do you use digital workflow (intraoral scanning)?
Good answer: iTero, Medit, or 3Shape TRIOS in-house; full digital impression-to-milling chain. Red flag: analogue impressions only for complex prosthodontic cases.
B3 — What's your graft material source if bone grafting is needed?
Good answer: Geistler Bio-Oss, Straumann XenoGraft, or named allograft with full chain of custody. Red flag: "generic" or unnamed graft material.
B4 — Do you coordinate with a medical anaesthesiologist for sedation?
Good answer: Yes, for All-on-4 or long sessions, with a separately named MD anaesthetist and monitored sedation (IV conscious or general). Red flag: "Our dentist does the sedation."
B5 — What's the final prosthesis material and how is it warrantied?
Good answer: Full-arch zirconia, monolithic or layered; named brand (e.g., Zirkonzahn Prettau, Ivoclar e.max ZirCAD Prime); 5 to 10 year warranty with clear fracture-versus-misuse exclusions.
The copy-paste email template
Send this to every Hanoi clinic on your shortlist. If they can't answer in writing, move on.
How to spot good vs bad answers in writing and on WhatsApp
Signals you are dealing with a top-tier Hanoi clinic:
- Reply within 24–48 business hours, in fluent English, on the clinic's domain email (not a Gmail address).
- The coordinator introduces themselves with a name and direct contact number.
- Answers are structured, numbered, and mapped to your original questions.
- Documents attached as PDFs on clinic letterhead (CVs, warranty, treatment plan).
- Willing to book a video call with the lead dentist (not just a sales coordinator) before you pay a deposit.
Signals you should walk away:
- Reply is mainly emoji and photos rather than written text.
- Pressure to commit: "This promotion ends Friday." "We only have 2 slots left this month."
- Asking for deposits by Western Union, crypto, or personal bank transfer (not the clinic's business account).
- Different coordinators on different days, with inconsistent pricing.
- Grammatical English with copy-pasted blocks — a strong sign of an outsourced "patient acquisition" agency rather than the clinic.
Which Hanoi clinics consistently answer these questions well
The following 7 Hanoi clinics have, in SmileJet's 2026 review cycle, scored 85/100 or higher on the full 10-question framework. Each profile links to verified brand partnerships, named dentists, and real warranty documentation.
1. Picasso Dental Clinic — Old Quarter Branch
Named lead implantologists with ITI / Straumann Academy training, in-house CBCT, Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Dentium brand partnerships, full English-language warranty documentation, and a documented international revision policy. One of the highest responders on the written-questions framework.
2. Picasso Dental Clinic — Westlake Square Branch
Sister branch of the Old Quarter clinic, positioned for expat and international arrivals. Same clinical protocols, same Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Dentium partnerships, dedicated international patient coordinator, and a standalone implant surgical suite.
3. Westcoast International Dental Clinic — West Lake Hanoi
One of Hanoi's longest-running international clinics, with Western-trained dentists and a track record spanning Australian, European, and North American patients. Uses Straumann, Nobel Biocare, in-house CBCT, dedicated surgical theatre.
4. Australian Dental Clinic Hanoi
Australian-standard protocols, English-first clinical team, strong focus on Straumann implants and zirconia prosthetics. Publishes named dentist CVs on the website.
5. Home Dental Clinic Hanoi
Full-service group clinic with strong prosthodontics, in-house CAD/CAM milling, and Osstem, Dentium, Straumann brand options. Good mid-market option for single-implant cases and cosmetic veneers.
6. Global Dental Clinic Hanoi
Mid-to-premium clinic with Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Osstem brand options and dedicated surgical theatre. Particularly strong on full-arch and All-on-4 cases.
7. Greenfield Dental Clinic Hanoi
Boutique clinic with a sharp focus on implants and cosmetic dentistry. Uses Straumann, Osstem, offers named-dentist continuity, and publishes warranty terms in English.
How much should the written response actually cost you?
Serious Hanoi clinics do not charge for the written-question process itself. Here is the expected price range for each of the verified-clinic tier, so you can sanity-check your quotes.
| Procedure | Tier-1 Hanoi (verified) | Mid-tier Hanoi | Australia (reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single implant + crown (Straumann) | US$1,100–US$1,600 | US$850–US$1,100 | US$4,500–US$6,500 |
| Single implant + crown (Osstem) | US$750–US$1,000 | US$550–US$800 | US$3,500–US$5,000 |
| All-on-4 (per arch, Straumann) | US$9,500–US$14,500 | US$7,500–US$10,000 | US$25,000–US$38,000 |
| Zirconia crown (single) | US$320–US$520 | US$220–US$320 | US$1,400–US$2,200 |
| CBCT scan (standalone) | Free–US$50 | Free–US$60 | US$180–US$320 |
| Bone graft (per site, Bio-Oss) | US$350–US$650 | US$250–US$450 | US$800–US$1,600 |
The 100-point scoring rubric
Use this after you have written responses from your shortlist. Score each question 0, 5, or 10:
- 10 — Answered in full, in writing, with specifics (name, brand, product line, years, certificates, etc.).
- 5 — Answered but vague, or partial.
- 0 — Dodged the question, verbal-only, or a red-flag response.
| Question | Weight | Your clinic score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lead dentist qualifications | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 2. Implant brand and rationale | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 3. CBCT availability | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 4. Written warranty terms | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 5. Itemised treatment plan | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 6. International patient volume | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 7. After-care pathway | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 8. Continuity of care | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 9. Sterilisation protocol | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| 10. Past patient references | 10 | ___ / 10 |
| Total | 100 | ___ / 100 |
How to use the score:
- 85–100 — Shortlist for deposit. Book a 30-minute video consult with the lead dentist.
- 65–84 — Send one clarification round focused on the weakest answers. Re-score.
- Below 65 — Remove from shortlist. You will save yourself more money by not booking than by negotiating.
How to put this together into a booking decision
Work through this sequence:
- Day 1 — Send the email template to 5–7 shortlisted clinics.
- Day 3 — Score responses using the 100-point rubric. Drop anyone below 65.
- Day 5 — Ask the remaining 2–3 clinics for video consults with the named lead dentist (not a sales coordinator).
- Day 7 — Request two past-patient references from the finalist. Actually call them.
- Day 10 — Pay a refundable deposit via clinic business account (never to a personal account). Confirm appointment dates and travel. See our Hanoi safety guide if you have concerns about the trip itself.
For a deeper benchmark on what implants should cost by brand in Hanoi, see the Dental Implants Hanoi Complete Guide 2026 and the brand-specific breakdowns for Straumann, Nobel Biocare, and Osstem in Hanoi.
Stop guessing. Compare Hanoi clinics the right way.
SmileJet surfaces the verified data behind every Hanoi clinic — named dentists, brand partnerships, warranty terms, international patient volume — so you can skip the 10-email back-and-forth and focus on the final shortlist.
See all verified Hanoi clinicsFAQs
What is the single most important question to ask a Hanoi dental clinic?
Ask for the named lead dentist with their specialty training and years of implant experience. If a clinic will not name the specific dentist who will treat you, or says "all our dentists are excellent", treat it as a red flag. Top Hanoi clinics like Picasso Dental, Westcoast International, and Australian Dental will name the dentist, share CV details, and confirm that same dentist handles all your appointments.
Should a Hanoi clinic charge extra for a CBCT scan?
A CBCT (3D cone-beam) scan should cost between free and US$50 at any serious Hanoi implant clinic in 2026. If a clinic quotes US$150 or more, or says they "only use 2D X-rays", walk away. CBCT is non-negotiable for implant, All-on-4, or sinus lift planning. Picasso, Westcoast, Home Dental, and Global Dental all operate in-house CBCT units.
What warranty should I expect on implants and crowns in Hanoi?
Expect a lifetime manufacturer warranty on premium implants (Straumann, Nobel Biocare), a 10-year manufacturer warranty on mid-tier brands (Osstem, Dentium), and a 5-year clinic warranty covering the placement work. Crowns typically carry a 5 to 10-year warranty. All warranty terms must be provided in writing, in English, before you pay your deposit.
How do I verify a Hanoi dentist's qualifications from overseas?
Ask for the dentist's full name, university, graduation year, and any postgraduate certifications (Straumann Academy, ITI Fellowship, AAID, ICOI, Master of Clinical Dentistry). Cross-check the ITI member directory at iti.org, the Nobel Biocare-trained practitioner list, and LinkedIn. Vietnamese regulator listings are at the Hanoi Department of Health. Top Hanoi implantologists publicly list their certifications.
What should I do if something goes wrong after I fly home from Hanoi?
Your Hanoi clinic should provide (1) a written revision policy, (2) a named clinical contact reachable by email and WhatsApp, (3) a partner dentist network in your home country for emergency care, and (4) a willingness to cover return flights if revision requires in-person work for a defect covered by warranty. Picasso, Westcoast, and Australian Dental all operate formal post-treatment support programs with documented SLAs. For the full failure/revision workflow, see our dental implant failure in Hanoi guide.
Ready to shortlist the right Hanoi clinic?
Open the verified Hanoi destination page, filter by brand, warranty, and international patient volume, and send your 10-question email to the top 3.
Start your Hanoi shortlist