Dental care is getting pricey—no wonder Aussies are flying to Thailand (but not all come home smiling)
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An Aussie man hoped a trip to Thailand would give him the smile he always dreamed of.
Instead, he ended up losing part of his jaw and suffering through months of pain.
Despite it all, he’s still considering going back.
Patrick Heaton was 56 when he decided to become a medical tourist.
After years of dental trauma—from childhood electrocution to a car crash in his 20s—his teeth were left badly damaged.
‘You see beautiful people with beautiful smiles everywhere you turn in the media. Because I didn't have one, I always covered my mouth—even when I laughed,’ Mr Heaton wrote in a column for SBS.
He tried multiple treatments in Australia, but said they ‘never lasted’.
The dental work he truly needed was far too expensive.
So when he saw a ‘glitzy and glammy’ dentist advertised on social media, he jumped at the chance.
‘I clicked, sent some X-rays and photos, had a chat on WhatsApp, and received a quote,’ he said.
‘I prepaid for surgery and the included accommodation and booked a flight to Bangkok.’
The procedure—getting dental crowns to cover damaged teeth—marked his first time leaving Australia.
At first, things went well.
Mr Heaton said he ‘looked a million dollars’ with his temporary crowns and was thrilled with the transformation.
But pain crept in when he returned to have his permanent crowns fitted.
One particular tooth throbbed with a sharper sting.
‘My face became swollen and I could barely lift my head. I slept all day on the painkillers and anti-inflammatories,’ he wrote.
He flew home after two weeks in recovery, but the trouble didn’t end there.
Six months later, the crown on the painful tooth fell off.
That’s when he finally visited a dentist in Australia.
The diagnosis: a severe infection running from the tooth down into the jawbone.
Three teeth, chunks of gum and a section of his upper jawbone had to be removed.
Despite the ordeal, Mr Heaton said he might return to Thailand to finish fixing his smile.
He admitted he ‘probably didn’t do my due diligence with research’ but refused to blame the Thai medical system.
‘I was a bit rash in my decision, but I am not against medical tourism. Why would I be? I was unlucky. I believe the same thing could happen in Australia,’ he wrote.
According to Smartraveller, common reasons Australians seek overseas medical care include dentistry, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, heart surgery, surrogacy, cancer therapies, gender-affirming procedures and stem-cell therapy.
The Australian Government warns travellers to thoroughly research the country, doctor and facility before undergoing procedures abroad.
‘There are always risks with medical procedures. You could suffer from complications, or you could die. Even if you're young, fit and healthy,’ the Smartraveller site states.
Thailand remains a hotspot for Aussie medical tourists due to its low costs.
However, Smartraveller cautions against using ‘discount or uncertified medical establishments’.
‘Standards at discount and uncertified medical establishments can be poor. Serious and life-threatening complications can result,’ it states.
‘Some hospitals and clinics have refused to provide compensation for patients who aren't satisfied with the results of cosmetic surgery, who are harmed during surgery, or who die during surgery.
‘Do your research. Choose your medical service providers with care. Don't use discount or uncertified medical service providers.’
If you're considering overseas dental work, it's worth looking at how things can go wrong—even before you sit in the chair.
In another troubling case, one clinic used glowing online reviews to reel in patients, only for them to face devastating consequences.
It's a stark reminder that research and real-life accounts matter more than polished promises.
Read more: Exposed! Indian Dental Clinic's 'Fake' Reviews Lure Australians with Low-Cost Promises – Don't Trust Until You Read This!
Would you risk your health for a more affordable smile overseas?
Instead, he ended up losing part of his jaw and suffering through months of pain.
Despite it all, he’s still considering going back.
Patrick Heaton was 56 when he decided to become a medical tourist.
After years of dental trauma—from childhood electrocution to a car crash in his 20s—his teeth were left badly damaged.
‘You see beautiful people with beautiful smiles everywhere you turn in the media. Because I didn't have one, I always covered my mouth—even when I laughed,’ Mr Heaton wrote in a column for SBS.
Dental trauma led to desperate overseas decision. Image source: Pexels/Pavel DanilyukDisclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
He tried multiple treatments in Australia, but said they ‘never lasted’.
The dental work he truly needed was far too expensive.
So when he saw a ‘glitzy and glammy’ dentist advertised on social media, he jumped at the chance.
‘I clicked, sent some X-rays and photos, had a chat on WhatsApp, and received a quote,’ he said.
‘I prepaid for surgery and the included accommodation and booked a flight to Bangkok.’
The procedure—getting dental crowns to cover damaged teeth—marked his first time leaving Australia.
At first, things went well.
Mr Heaton said he ‘looked a million dollars’ with his temporary crowns and was thrilled with the transformation.
But pain crept in when he returned to have his permanent crowns fitted.
One particular tooth throbbed with a sharper sting.
‘My face became swollen and I could barely lift my head. I slept all day on the painkillers and anti-inflammatories,’ he wrote.
He flew home after two weeks in recovery, but the trouble didn’t end there.
Six months later, the crown on the painful tooth fell off.
That’s when he finally visited a dentist in Australia.
The diagnosis: a severe infection running from the tooth down into the jawbone.
Three teeth, chunks of gum and a section of his upper jawbone had to be removed.
Despite the ordeal, Mr Heaton said he might return to Thailand to finish fixing his smile.
He admitted he ‘probably didn’t do my due diligence with research’ but refused to blame the Thai medical system.
‘I was a bit rash in my decision, but I am not against medical tourism. Why would I be? I was unlucky. I believe the same thing could happen in Australia,’ he wrote.
According to Smartraveller, common reasons Australians seek overseas medical care include dentistry, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, heart surgery, surrogacy, cancer therapies, gender-affirming procedures and stem-cell therapy.
The Australian Government warns travellers to thoroughly research the country, doctor and facility before undergoing procedures abroad.
‘There are always risks with medical procedures. You could suffer from complications, or you could die. Even if you're young, fit and healthy,’ the Smartraveller site states.
Thailand remains a hotspot for Aussie medical tourists due to its low costs.
However, Smartraveller cautions against using ‘discount or uncertified medical establishments’.
‘Standards at discount and uncertified medical establishments can be poor. Serious and life-threatening complications can result,’ it states.
‘Some hospitals and clinics have refused to provide compensation for patients who aren't satisfied with the results of cosmetic surgery, who are harmed during surgery, or who die during surgery.
‘Do your research. Choose your medical service providers with care. Don't use discount or uncertified medical service providers.’
If you're considering overseas dental work, it's worth looking at how things can go wrong—even before you sit in the chair.
In another troubling case, one clinic used glowing online reviews to reel in patients, only for them to face devastating consequences.
It's a stark reminder that research and real-life accounts matter more than polished promises.
Read more: Exposed! Indian Dental Clinic's 'Fake' Reviews Lure Australians with Low-Cost Promises – Don't Trust Until You Read This!
Would you risk your health for a more affordable smile overseas?
