Going to the dentist can be a painful and costly experience, and not one many people enjoy, unless they are the type who floss, brush and gargle twice a day.
Last month, Nightline's Samantha Hayes had all four wisdom teeth removed and while insurance covered the bill of over $4,000 it got her thinking that there must be a cheaper way - and indeed there is.
Kiwis and all manner of foreigners are getting costly dental procedures at bargain prices in India, and taking a holiday to ease them through it.
India is dusty, chaotic and in parts clean - in fact, positively sterile. No longer is India just an exotic tourist spot - these days the country is promoting itself as the dental surgery destination of choice, enticing foreigners with its low cost care.
Karishma Jaradi's clinic Dentzz is tiny - a single room that just accommodates the dentist, an assistant and patient.
While it is not cutting edge, the equipment is clean and well cared for, and their work appears impressive.
They are no strangers to kiwis at Dentzz in Mumbai. Their international clients include 12 New Zealanders who were all seeking smile makeovers. In April last year they transformed the smile of 26-year-old Deemi Maton, who moved from Mauritius four years ago to Pakuranga, Auckland.
"Her friends used to tease her," says Mr Jaradi. "That's what she told me, that her friends used to tease her, that she had such a pretty face, but what was with her smile?"
Ms Maton had never been to India, and spent $6500 on fillings, root canals, whitening, correcting crooked teeth and veneers.
Her dentist at home told her the same treatment would have cost $15,000.
She felt like she was taking a big risk, as she didn't know "what will be the result, how I will look, how my smile will be. Will it be more horrible than before?"
In total Ms Maton spent around $10,000 on her trip to India - that included her dental bill and flights and living costs in Mumbai for five weeks
Now the woman who would not show her teeth when she smiled has a newfound confidence, even if she does still check them in the mirror each morning to make sure nothing has gone wrong.
So far, so good. But what if there had been a problem?
"Till now our track record stands that we have not received any complaints," says dr Shantanu Jaradi, Dentzz director.
And when their primary marketing tool is word of mouth, smiling customers mean sustained business.
The holiday resort region of Goa is also a dental tourism hotspot, where you can get any treatment you like at your leisure.
For the husband and wife dental team of Dr Adwait and Mahi Desai, 97 percent of their patients are foreigners. In the last four years they have seen more than 3000 European patients and around 15 New Zealanders.
"Dental treatment in Goa is of international standard and is far, far much cheaper, plus they enjoy a good vacation in Goa," says Dr Mahi Desai.
And you don't have to go far to find people who are getting it done.
"I had a full set of dentures made, and he did the whole lot in a week," says tourist Eric Remon. In England they would have cost 750 pounds, and here I paid 130, which I think is pretty good."
"I want a crown, a porcelain crown which would cost 200 pounds, 300 pounds in England and I'll probably get it done for 30 or 40 pounds here," says Christina Remon.
Steve Dawson was so happy with his extensive treatment, which included four root canals in one day, he now recommends it to people who go on his tours around India.
"It was absolutely first class," he says. "Ever since I got my mouth basically replaced I've never looked back, and to this day the dentist is still my friend."
So how do the prices compare?
Crown bridge work started from $320 dollars per unit in India. The average price here was $1200. Dentures were $360 dollars rather than $1900 and veneers were around $320, instead of $1000.
While there are plenty of low cost options available, the New Zealand Dental Association stresses "health care here is highly regulated and consumer rights are protected by informed consent and redress if things go wrong".
They believe good treatment is part of a long term plan, not piecemeal visits to a range of practices.
source: newshub archive
