going to a dentist

yogivivek

there is a change i have to go to the dentist when im in india ( my dentist here dont have time anymore


is it ok to go to a dentist in india?
are they hygienic?

probbably better to go in the better cities..

is there something i need to know?

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Jorge Reverter

Hi,

People from Europe goes to India for big and expensives dental treatments
like implants. I suposse, is done in big cities, but at least it means that dentist are ok in India.

yogivivek

that sounds good

janetdawson

Okay be ready for some surprises...

I had a terrible toothache in Varanasi- and though some ppl did tell me to go to Delhi- I went to the local guy

Surprise 1
I had to take no appointment

Suprise 2
I was seen 10 minutes after walk with no appointment

Surprise 3
The clinic was clean and facilities hygenic

Surprise 4
The doc knew his job- and showed me the problem on his TV

Surpise 5
He did not charge me anything for the visit

Surprise 6
His secretary gave me (free) antibiotic tablets- tht I had to take for 3 days

Surprise 7
I was scheduled for an appointment on the fourth day

By this time I was so surprised that I decided to take a notebook and note it all down so that I could show to my grandkids some day

Day 4

Surprise 8
I had to wait 8 minutes (did I say I arrived 5 minutes early for my appointment?)

Surprise 9
The root canal was finished and done with in record time

I came down a couple of day later to have it done permanently by the same dentist
The net cost Rs. 1500 (USD 30)

Next time I go to India- I am going to have my appendix removed (I am sure it will cost less) Who knows, with rising maternity costs I may even have my kid there

Digital Drifter

Janet, you never cease to surprise. After the pepper spray thread, I had this image of an Alabama Ninja on the prowl.

You actually found things which happened even better than you thought? :-)

The mind boggles at the thought!

Nice notes!

--

yogivivek

thanks everybody, and yes that r sure some nice notes


im feeling more convident to go now

UltraViolet

Why do people worry about medical treatment in India? I thought India was known for having good medical practises and lots of medical practitioners...i might be wrong.

janetdawson

The traditional image of India that most tourist have in mind is the one projected by The Amazing Race- down in the mud- making bricks!! I have been to places in China which actualy stink- but let a foreign journalist with a camera come to China- they will only let him shoot Beijing and Shanghai.
While in India- you are free to shoot the glorious Taj Mahal, the hustle and bustle of MG Road in Banglore or the slums of Dharavi.

More often than not- it is the Dharavi footage that is aired... So many people tend to equate rest of the things equally....

I used to have this Indian expats who lived across the street... The local bully used to get after the kids telling them that "I have seen on such and such channel- Indians live on trees" (maybe a coverage of some houses in Assam) So after sometime- to avoid any tension their 14 year old son started accepting it.

So one fine day when the kids were hanging out on my front porch and all the kids were asking him- how he survived on the tree (and he was relating funny stories) one kid asked him-"how do you get on top of the tree?"

The kid in all seriousness replied-"well all trees have lifts in India"

We often have a very myopic view of places and people we have not met

Nick-H

I can recommend the dentist I used in Chennai if you are intested.

Expensive in Indian terms, but very cheap compared to UK.

Very clean, surgery in part of big house, lots of assistants, not just one nurse, plastic disposable syringes; all that stuff. Even has his own on-site dental lab for making crowns, bridges etc, which, along with implants are his speciality.

He was recommended to me by the familly doctor of native friends.

beach

Surprise 10

Google : tourism medical & India

Frooty

Shimishai heres my POV... as a UK based dentist.

Are Indian dentists ok?..,

Well I have seen some preety good work done in India and I have seen some cringeworthy atrocious work done in India. For that matter I have seen the same from UK trained dentists.

A lot of Indian dentists have done work placements and post-graduate degrees in the UK/US/Europe/Australia and are just as competent.

Anywhere in the world it really boils down to the personal ethics of the dentist involved.

So how can you tell if a dental practice is OK or not... here's a few questions/things that will give you an indication:

[color=DarkSlateGray]1) What do they use to sterilise instruments?[/
Good: Looks like a little oven with a thick door which seals shut... an autoclave; It sterilises under steam and pressure.
OK...ish: Boiling water type sterilisers, Usually does not have a thick cover/door which seals... better than nothing but well below UK standards
Bad: They get cross, make excuses, say they do not have time etc.

ANY dental practice with good standards should be completely accommodating as far as this is concerned... if they haven't they got anything to hide.

2)Disposables...
>Gloves, single use ONLY... request the dentist put on a fresh pair in front of you.
>If you need any treatment requiring an injection ask the dentist to put a new needle on the syringe in front of you ditto with the Local Anaesthetic cartridge.
> If you need a filling doing, Request that they use a new metal band (Matrix band) and not just one that has been sterilised... not all fillings need a matrix so don't worry if they aren't using one.

3) General cleanliness and decor... It might just be faded... and then again so might the dentists knowledge... If it looks shoddy it might be a good practice but do you want to take the risk?

4) Ask to see their emergency equipment... I'd expect some sort of equipment in a good practice at the very least... Here's some of the stuff I'd expect they might have.
> Glucose/ something sweet.... If a practice doesn't have this handy... be very wary... this is basic stuff, that is used uncommonly but at least a couple of times an year in a moderate practice, if they don't have it
> Oxygen... The practice has thought about stuff... good sign.
> Adrenaline... Very good.
> Other drugs... Excellent

5) Quaifications of dentist.


I realise dental practices are intimidating places to visit at the best of times... but these are quite basic things and will give you a reasonable idea of how "modern" the practice is.

Don't be shy or embarrased to ask these questions remember good dentists are more than happy to "show off" all the things we do behind the scenes ( I do!) especially if we got funky gear!

Yetijuice

Both times I visited Darjeeling (May 84 and Dec 85) I had the same dentist clean my teeth. He had a pre-Independence foot pedal antique contraption with wires that powered the polishing. It was exotic and only cost one dollar. This was teeth cleaning mind you, not drilling. No doubt the same machine was used for drilling. Being foot powered one did not have to worry about an electrical power outage.

I have confidence in Indian dentists. Usually I will see a dentist at home the month before I visit India. That is why I have only visited a dentist twice in India. Have toothbrush, will travel!

Shiva

Hi

I visited a female dentist in Sinquerim/Goa because I felt a little bit of pain while brushing my teeth the other day. She checked my teeth and found a small hole (is that the right word in english ;-) ?) She asked me if she should fix it or if I prefer going to my dentist at home (Switzerland). I thought, ok, give it a try and let her fill it (white filling material, fixed with light, same procedure like at home). It costed me 500 rupees.
Back at home, a couple of months later, I showed the filling to my dentist, he checked it and said it's good work. I am absolutely happy with it.
The indian dentist was a very young lady, the dentist chair etc. looked all a little bit second hand to me, but I trusted her. Hygiene seemed to be okay as long as I can know that as a non-professional.

I would do it again.

Sorry for my bad english.

Greetings Shiva

5reviews

People do come from Europe and Asia to India for medical treatment. We have some of the best hospitals in the world. Doctors are very capable and the latest technology is also available.

I do not see any reason why you should think twice to have your dental treatment done in India.

It will be done professionally and will save you a lot of bucks.

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Frooty

With all due respect 5reviews you cannot be sure of that, Dental standards vary greatly and more so in developing countries (India included) where regulation enforcement leaves much to be desired.

As an example one of my new patients had about 10 000 Rs of work done in Goa by a dentist who had a raft of diplomas (made up or not who knows?).

It was WELL BELOW acceptable standards UK or otherwise.... in the 18 months that I treated him he needed about £2000 worth of remedial work doing... all work fails eventually but for it to fail less than 6 months after it was placed is plain negligence.

If the dentist had been UK based I would be ethically bound to report him to the regulatory body (GDC).


On the other hand I have seen VERY good work done in India too... so if you are going to promote dentistry in India a SLIGHTLY balanced view would be appropriate.... after all this is not quite the same as recommending a hotel is it?