Thailand Dental
Thailand Dental
Thailand dental work is growing in popularity and Bangkok has become one of the most popular dental tourism destinations in the world. With Thailand dental clinics sporting the latest technology and equipment, Europeans, Australians, and even Americans are lining up to get lower cost tooth whitening and cosmetic dentistry work that would have cost 3x as much back at home.
Thailand dental implants vary in price, but luckily many Bangkok dental clinics post their prices directly on the web. A quick search estimated implants at a top Thailand dental clinic to be less than $1000 a tooth.
Thailand dental clinics must be certified by the Ministry of Health and many dentists in Thailand hold Western degrees and certifications.
Thailand Dental Procedures
You should plan your stay in Bangkok around the amount of dentistry work you have done. Keep in mind that flying directly after some dental procedures can cause severe jaw pain because of the pressure changes on an airplane. Allow yourself time before your dental work to adjust for jetlag and maybe even diet changes – don’t plan on flying directly into Bangkok and having dental implants started the next day.
Here are recovery times from one Thailand dental website:
- Veneers – 3 – 7 days recovery
- Filling – 1 day recovery
- Tooth whitening – 1 day recovery
- Crown – 3 – 7 days recovery
Their website is a little outdated, but you can get a feel for prices on lots of procedures here:
http://www.dentalthailandprice.com/
Concerns
The number one concern with dental tourism is ongoing treatment after the procedure. Talk to your dentist at home and find out if they will support work done by someone overseas. Thailand dentists are gaining reputation in the world and your local dentist may have some recommendations before you go.
Do your research before going to Thailand – check forums and blogs for actual accounts of people’s experiences with Thailand dental clinics. Don’t be afraid to contact the dentist and ask for English speaking references.
- Do not assume that because a Bangkok dentist is the top match in Google that they are reputable.
- Do not ask locals in Bangkok for dentist recommendations. You will invariably end up at an uncle’s dental clinic or somewhere that they have something to gain by providing new business. This includes even asking at government offices or T.A.T.
Thailand Dental Clinics
(I don’t endorse any of these, just found them from various places on the web)
Thailand dental in Bangkok
- Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic
- Khao San Road Dentist (if you are staying near Khao san road)
- Dental White Clinic (Sukhumvit is a nice area of Bangkok to stay)
- Promjai Dental Clinic, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok
- ACT Dental Clinic, Bangkok
- Dental Hospital, Sukhumvit Soi 49
- Bangkok Dental Image
- Dentist @ 51, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok
- Ratchada Dental Center, Bangkok
- Dr. Sunil Dental Clinic, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok
- Denta-joy – Dental Clinic, Bangkok
- Dentition Dental Clinic, Ladprao, Bangkok
- Thonglor Dental Clinic (Sukhumvit Road, soi 55)
- SilomDental.com, Silom Road, Bangkok
- Bangkok Dental Clinic
- Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC)
- Bangkok Dental Home
- Bangkok Dental Spa Clinic, Sukhumvit Road
- Dental Design Clinic and Lab, Asoke Road
- Excel Dental Lab
- Dental Click Clinic
- Asian Crowns (Outsourcing)
- Asavanant Dental Clinic
- Happy Smile Dental Clinic
- Siam Family Dental Clinic
- Thantakit Dental Clinic, All Seasons Place
- Watchaweeron Dental Clinic
Thailand dental in Chiang Mai (great alternative to Bangkok in the north)
Thailand dentists in Pattaya
Thailand dentists in Phuket (a nice option for healing on the beach afterward!)
- Phuket Family Dental Clinic
- Sea Smile Dental Clinic, Patong Beach , Phuket
- Dental Sea, Phuket
- D.D.S. Dental Clinic, Phuket
- Dental Care Clinic, Phuket
Thailand dentists in Ko samui (large island in the Gulf of Thailand)
If you have experience with Thailand dentists or end up having work done on your next holiday, please leave a comment or write in with your experiences – good and bad!
Categories: health
Categories: health
Categories: health
Insects in Thailand
Insects in Thailand
You never knew that so many insects in Thailand existed and it seems that they are all out to suck your blood – welcome to Southeast Asia! There is no vaccination for Dengue Fever which is quite common in the islands – so don’t play Russian Roulette with the biters. Being smart is easy and the two of you can even peacefully co-exist.
Always, always use your mozzie net if you have one and make sure it is sealed up good before falling asleep at night, especially in the islands. Close up holes with safety pins or clothes pins and spray DEET around them.
If you have proper shoes other than flip-flops, shake them upside down before putting them on in the morning so that you don’t interrupt a spider or centipede’s breakfast.
As mentioned, treat every bite like it might get infected and do your best not to scratch. No one wants to hang with an oozing leper.
When sitting in common areas or on your bungalow porch, burn mosquito coils. No need to pack them, you can buy them or borrow them everywhere.
Always turn your lights out before leaving. Not only does it save precious electricity but it serves as a beacon to flying insects in Thailand.
Shut your toilet door or partition, the water attracts creepy crawlies which might visit you at night.
Gecko lizards are noisy but they can be your best friends! They eat loads of insects that may have been waiting to bite you, so always let them hang out around (or inside) your room when you can. Besides, the Thais say that it is lucky when one drops on you.
Don’t eat in your room, always go outside. Any trivial amount of spilled drink or crumb dropped can cause an infestation of insects….don’t make it easy on them. Don’t dispose of food wrappers in your trash bin.
Sweet smelling shampoos, body washes, or perfumes will make the insects in Thailand fall in love with you instantly.
Read more about avoiding mosquitoes.
Categories: health
Stomach problems
You do not want to get stuck in here!
Stomach Problems and Traveler’s Diarrhea
Any time you change continents or bacteria zones (even when coming home after a long trip), you can almost count on having a bad stomach (also known as TD or traveler’s diarrhea) for a week or two as your body adjusts to the new bacterias. Its all part of the fun of extended travel. Here are some survival tips:
You can buy drinkable yogurt with active cultures in shops and 7-11s to help your stomach.
A great natural way to fix a bad stomach is to eat bananas. They are cheap and plentiful, or you could make a habit of getting a banana shake (you can request no sugar) at the end of every meal.
Only take anti-diarrhea medicine (Loperamide) if an explosion is emanate or you have a long bus journey planned. Your body is trying to flush out bad things in your gut and stopping it up isn’t always the smartest option.
Green Coconut milk (available everywhere) will make you go more in case you had to resort to Loperamide.
Diarrhea will dehydrate you. If it is persistent, avoid spicy and oily food for a day or two – stick with white rice and eat bananas. Lay off other acidic fruits for a day or two also. Drink plenty of water to re-hydrate and stay out of the sun until you catch up.
ALWAYS carry toilet paper – the number one rule for budget travels in Asia! You will not find toilet paper in most public toilets, but you will find it on the tables in restaurants to be used as napkins. Get into the habit of grabbing a handful every time that you eat or get used to using your left hand and then washing it without soap which is the norm.
Never, ever put your toilet paper (or anything else) into the toilets. The sewer system is ancient and the whole order of the universe will be disrupted if you do. Put it into the small metal or plastic bin with a lid instead.
Always try to eat in restaurants and at food carts that have a high volume of customers. This insures that stuff is fresh and the locals generally know who has the best (and safest) food. Whatever you do, don’t avoid the delicious street food out of fear – just eat at the busy places.
Read more about Traveler’s Diarrhea for backpackers.
Categories: Food and drink, health
Water in Thailand
Water in Thailand
Yes, its safe to use for showering and doing laundry. No – you cannot drink it. Many bungalows use cisterns and collect clean rain water, but I have actually witnessed local kids that climbed on the roof and bathed in the those same cisterns!
It goes without saying – don’t drink the water! Bottled water is extremely cheap. Try to buy the largest size available (you can even get 5 litre bottles) and refill smaller bottles to help not contribute to the plastic bottle mountains and growing refuse problem. You can also find water refill machines in some places.
It is still necessary to change out your water bottle every few days because bacteria collects on the threads. Always avoid touching the cap and threads and smell it first before you take a drink.
Some people do use local water, but it is safest to brush your teeth with bottled water. Save the last bit in a bottle and keep it in the toilet for brushing and rinsing. Make sure not to leave sweet toothpaste around the top as it may be covered with ants when you come home!
The cheapest bottles of water do not contain minerals and after sweating all day you will still feel like your batteries are drained no matter how much you drink. For only a little more, you can buy Minerale or some other mineral water to help replenish your lost Sodium and Potassium. An alternative is to add sports drink mixtures (without sugar) to the water, but it may be difficult to find if you don’t pack your own.
Ice is generally made from filtered water, but sometimes handled with dirty hands or a dirty scoop. If you feel worried, you can ask for drinks without.
Categories: Food and drink, health
