AUD $15,000
Paid abroad
AUD $33,000
In Vietnam
At-home quote
AUD $48,000
Original estimate
Before and after
Before
After
Diagnosis
Generalised chronic periodontitis with multiple non-restorable teeth, severe wear and staining, pathological migration of the lower incisors, and a small bone deficit at the upper left lateral site that needed socket management before implant placement.
Treatment plan
Graham had been quoted A$48,000 for a full-mouth restoration in Brisbane.
He sat with the quote for the better part of a year. Two of his back teeth were broken. The front ones were stained and crowded. A few were genuinely starting to ache. His Brisbane dentist had been straight with him: at his age, it was either keep nursing what was left until the next one fell out, or fix the lot properly. The 'fix the lot' option was A$48,000.
'I'm comfortable in retirement, not rich,' Graham says. 'Forty-eight grand on teeth was a hard ask.'
The mate who'd already done it
A friend from his bowls club came back from Hanoi the year before with a brand new set of teeth. Graham had noticed but hadn't said anything. When he finally asked, the mate showed him a photo of the invoice. Flights, hotel, full job, about a third of the Brisbane number.
That was enough to start looking.
The plan
He uploaded his X-rays and a recent panoramic scan to SmileJet. Within 48 hours he had a written treatment plan back from a Hanoi clinic. Extract everything that was failing. Four implants in the upper jaw and six in the lower. Twenty zirconia crowns once the implants had healed in. Two trips, six months apart.
The Vietnam clinic also flagged one issue the Brisbane consultation had not mentioned: a small bone deficit at the upper left lateral site. That would need socket management before the implant could go in. Cost: included.
Trip one
Graham flew into Hanoi at the end of the dry season. Ten days. Surgery on day two, fixed temporary bridges on both jaws by day eight, and out the door for the long flight home with a soft-food list and a phone number for the surgeon's WhatsApp.
'They wrote it all down in English. The pharmacist at the hotel even spoke better English than my pharmacist at home, frankly.'
The first three days he stayed close to the hotel. After that he was eating pho twice a day and walking around the Old Quarter like a tourist.
Trip two
Six months later he flew back. Seven days. Final impressions, twenty zirconia crowns made in the clinic's on-site lab, fitted, adjusted, polished. Bite check on the last morning before the flight home.
Total spend across both trips, in Australian dollars: about A$33,000 once flights and the hotel were added in. Against the Brisbane quote of A$48,000, Graham is roughly A$15,000 better off.
'I should have stopped putting it off five years ago. It is not as scary as it looks from the outside.'
He sees his Brisbane dentist for cleanings every six months. He goes back to Hanoi once a year for a full check-up and a chance to eat decent banh mi. His wife, who originally thought the whole thing was a terrible idea, is now booking her own consult.
Frequently asked questions: The Aussie Retiree Who Got His Smile Back
Questions patients commonly ask after reading this story about dental treatment in Vietnam.
- How much did this patient save on dental implants in Vietnam?
- This patient paid AUD $33,000 for dental implants in Vietnam, compared to an at-home quote of AUD $48,000, a saving of AUD $15,000 (31%). Dental treatment costs in Vietnam are typically 60 to 80 percent lower than equivalent private dental care in Australia, the UK, or the United States, primarily because of lower clinic overheads and labour costs rather than any difference in materials or technology.
- How long does dental implants take in Vietnam?
- This patient's dental implants treatment in Vietnam took 17 days across 2 trips (6 months apart). Treatment timelines vary depending on the number of implants, whether bone grafting is needed, and the healing interval between implant placement and final crown or bridge fitting. A SmileJet treatment plan quote will include a personalised timeline based on your X-rays and clinical photos.
- Is dental implants in Vietnam as safe as getting it done at home?
- Implant survival rates in accredited Vietnam clinics are comparable to Western standards. The Moraschini 2015 meta-analysis of 7,711 implants reported a pooled 5-year survival rate of 94.6 percent, consistent with outcomes published by US and European implant societies. SmileJet partner clinics are independently verified for practitioner credentials, sterilisation protocols, and implant brand traceability before listing. Patients receive all clinical records and X-rays digitally for their home dentist.
- What implant brand was used in this dental implants case?
- This patient's dental implants used Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Osstem, BioHorizons implants with zirconia, porcelain restorations. Straumann is a globally recognised implant system manufactured in Switzerland, with more than 10 million implants placed worldwide and over 50 years of peer-reviewed clinical data. The same brand is used by specialist implantologists in the United States, UK, and Australia.
- How did this patient find and choose a dental clinic in Vietnam?
- This patient used SmileJet to request a written treatment plan and cost estimate from verified clinics in Vietnam. SmileJet verified clinics are screened for practitioner credentials, hygiene standards, implant brand traceability, and English-language patient coordination before listing. The patient submitted dental X-rays and a description of the problem, received a written plan within 48 hours, and booked directly through the platform. The process is free and carries no obligation to proceed.
- Can you fly home after dental implants surgery in Vietnam?
- Most patients fly home 7 to 14 days after implant surgery, once the surgical sites are stable and temporary restorations are fitted. Long-haul flights (over 8 hours) are generally fine after the first week, provided there is no active bleeding or acute swelling. Your SmileJet clinic will confirm a specific travel clearance date based on your clinical progress. Patients are advised to carry a copy of their treatment records and the surgeon's contact number in case their home dentist needs to follow up.
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