How We Verify Clinics
How SmileJet verifies HCMC dental clinics
By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026
SmileJet maintains an 18-point on-site verification standard for clinic listing. Every HCMC clinic in our network has been physically inspected against this standard. This page explains what we assess and what disqualifies a clinic.
Why clinic verification matters specifically for HCMC
HCMC has over 3,000 registered dental clinics. The gap in quality between the top and bottom of that range is far wider than the equivalent range in Australia, New Zealand, or the UK. Independent verification is not a marketing claim – it is a practical necessity for international patients who cannot rely on home-country regulatory oversight when abroad.
Grey-market implants are a documented HCMC problem
A proportion of HCMC dental clinics have been documented selling Chinese-manufactured implants under the names of Swiss and Korean brands – Straumann, Nobel Biocare, or Osstem labelling on implants that bear no relationship to those brands. This is not a theoretical risk: it has been confirmed by multiple on-site investigations in HCMC. The patient has no way of detecting this from clinical experience alone – the implant looks the same and is placed the same way. SmileJet requires physical invoice and batch certificate verification at every partner clinic inspection. Inability to demonstrate an authentic supply chain is an automatic disqualifier.
Sterilisation standards are inconsistent without inspection
Class B autoclave sterilisation – the international standard for surgical instruments – is mandatory at SmileJet-listed clinics. Without on-site inspection, there is no way to verify what sterilisation protocol a clinic is actually using. Film-based X-ray (which some smaller clinics still use) produces lower-resolution images and delivers higher radiation dose than digital X-ray. Both are 18-point standard checkpoints. Self-reported compliance from a clinic's own marketing material is not a substitute for physical verification.
Pricing transparency protects against arrival-day surprises
A documented pattern at unverified HCMC clinics involves quoting one price to international patients before travel and identifying additional "requirements" on arrival – typically bone grafts, additional X-rays, or crown upgrades not in the original quote. SmileJet's pre-travel X-ray review process is specifically designed to prevent this: the clinical scope is agreed before you book flights. Listed clinics are monitored for quote-to-arrival pricing consistency. Clinics that show pricing discrepancies between SmileJet-coordinated quotes and on-arrival charges are suspended from the network.
English documentation protects patients legally and clinically
Treatment performed without English documentation leaves patients without a clinical record their home dentist can use, without an enforceable written guarantee, and without the basis for a valid insurance claim. HCMC clinics that cannot provide English-language consent forms, treatment plans, and post-op instructions are disqualified from the SmileJet network – not because they are necessarily poor clinicians, but because the patient cannot exercise informed consent in a language they understand.
The 18-point verification standard
Clinical credentials
Equipment and technology
Sterilisation and infection control
Patient experience
Commercial independence
What disqualifies a clinic
Clinics are disqualified from the SmileJet HCMC network – regardless of price or popularity – if any of the following are found:
Ongoing monitoring after initial listing
Clinic listing is not permanent. SmileJet monitors HCMC clinics continuously via patient feedback, periodic re-inspection, and review of clinical outcomes reported through the SmileJet patient follow-up process.
If patient feedback indicates quality deterioration, or if a re-inspection reveals non-compliance, the clinic is suspended from the network immediately. Patients matched to that clinic during the suspension period are offered re-matching at no charge.
What you can check yourself at any HCMC clinic
The 18-point standard is published in full on this page. You can use it to assess any HCMC clinic – not only those in the SmileJet network. If a clinic claims to meet international standards, the following five questions will tell you quickly whether the claim holds up.
Ask to see the autoclave certification
A Class B autoclave with a current biological indicator log is a basic infection control requirement. If the clinic cannot show you the autoclave or does not have a log, sterilisation protocols are not independently verifiable. This is an automatic disqualifier from the SmileJet network.
Ask for the implant batch documentation
If you are having implants placed, ask the clinic to show you the implant box, batch number, and import certificate. Authentic Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Osstem, and Dentium implants all have verifiable batch documentation. Inability or reluctance to provide this is the most common indicator of grey-market supply.
Ask what guarantee is issued in writing
Any credible HCMC clinic should provide a written guarantee on implant and major restorative work – not a verbal assurance. If no written guarantee document exists, the "guarantee" is unenforceable. Ask what the document covers and what the claims process is.
Ask for English documents at every stage
Consent forms, treatment plans, and post-operative instructions in English are a listed standard. If the clinic can only provide these in Vietnamese, your home dentist will have no usable records and you will have no documented basis for a guarantee claim.
Verification FAQ – Ho Chi Minh City
How many HCMC clinics did SmileJet reject before listing the current network?
HCMC has over 3,000 registered dental clinics. SmileJet assessed several dozen against the 18-point standard. More than half did not pass – most commonly failing on implant brand documentation, written guarantee process, or pricing consistency between SmileJet quotes and on-arrival charges.
Does HCMC have special challenges around implant authenticity?
Yes. HCMC has a documented grey-market implant problem at non-listed clinics – Chinese-manufactured implants sold under European brand names are not uncommon. SmileJet requires physical invoice and batch verification at every partner clinic. Failure to demonstrate authentic supply chain is an automatic disqualifier.
How does SmileJet respond if a patient reports a problem with a listed clinic?
Every patient-reported issue triggers a review. SmileJet investigates the specific issue against the clinic's record and the patient's treatment documentation. If the issue indicates a systemic problem, the clinic is suspended pending re-inspection. Patient-reported issues are the primary signal for between-inspection quality monitoring.
Can I inspect the 18-point checklist before choosing my clinic?
Yes. The 18-point standard is published in full on this page and on the verification methodology page. You can use it to assess any clinic you are considering – whether or not it is in the SmileJet network.
Frequently asked questions
How many HCMC clinics are currently verified by SmileJet?
SmileJet assessed several dozen HCMC clinics against the 18-point standard. More than half did not pass – primarily failing on implant brand documentation, written guarantee process, or pricing consistency. The current verified network is deliberately selective.
What happens if an HCMC clinic fails re-inspection?
The clinic is suspended from the SmileJet network immediately. Patients matched to that clinic are offered re-matching at no charge. Reinstatement requires a successful re-inspection after documented remediation.
Can I request to see the audit checklist for a specific HCMC clinic?
The full 18-point standard is published on this page. Per-clinic audit scores are not publicly published, but SmileJet confirms pass/fail status for any listed clinic on request before you book.
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Every SmileJet HCMC clinic has passed the 18-point on-site verification standard.
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