The Complete Guide to Getting Dental Implants in Thailand

The Complete Guide to Getting Dental Implants in Thailand

Thailand is the world’s leading destination for getting dental implants because of cost and quality.

Even the most expensive clinics won’t charge you more than $3,000 USD for the best implant systems they offer. You might even pay less than $1,500 USD for a single tooth implant, which can be more than 50% less expensive than many countries in the world including USA, UK, and Australia.

In addition, dentists in Thailand are internationally trained and use the same implant systems and materials as those in the west. Your results can be just as good or better than your dentist at home. 

And you may need to undergo only once and it will last you a lifetime.

If you are thinking about getting dental implants in Thailand, this article is for you. It covers everything you need to know, including implant systems, procedures, costs, payment plans, and the best clinics to visit.

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Why Getting a Dental Implant? 

While dental implants are easily the most expensive dental treatment, there are several reasons you may want to have them.

  • Best Way to Replace a Missing Tooth: A dental implant is one of the best ways to replace a missing tooth. It involves placing an artificial tooth root in the jaw and attaching a separate tooth cap on top of the root to replace the missing tooth.
  • Comfort and Durability: Dental implants can last for a lifetime and fit more comfortably in the mouth.
  • Versatility: A dental implant can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even all of your teeth.

Requirements

Your health status, time, and money are the three main considerations when getting dental implants.

  • Money: It’s one of the most expensive dental treatments since there are several procedures involved including CT scans, dental crown, artificial root, tooth extraction, and more. You should expect to pay THB50,000 for a single tooth implant. For an all-on-four treatment, it can cost you a few hundred thousand baht. 
  • Health: You need to have healthy gums and bones as they hold the artificial tooth root. After getting dental implants, you will need to maintain good oral health
  • Time: You will need to visit the dentist a few times over a period of 3 to 6 months minimum. In some cases, it can take eight months in total. Each time, you will need a day to visit the dentist and a few days for recovery. Depending on your condition, it’s also possible to do it within a single day.

While the requirements can be high, it’s a life-changing treatment that significantly increases your confidence and improves your ability to eat.

Steps of Getting Tooth Implants in Thailand

There are several steps involved in a dental implant procedure. The process you undergo in Thailand will be similar to getting it in the West.

Below is a rough guideline of what you need to do to prepare.

*Please note that there are several ways to perform a dental implant procedure. Your procedure may not be similar to what’s outlined below. 

Evaluation and Planning

Before you begin, a dentist will order dental x-rays, examine your overall oral health, and come up with a treatment plan and inform you about the cost of your procedure.

You can also get an estimated price before visiting the clinic, but you need to send an X-ray to them first.

Depending on your condition and requirements, a dentist may use a 3D CT scanner to examine your entire mouth in order to get accurate data on your bone and jaw structure. Note that the CT scan is only available at major hospitals and dental clinics. 

After the evaluation process, you will set a date to begin the process of implanting the tooth. 

Implanting an Artificial Tooth

A dentist may need to extract an old tooth first before implanting an artificial tooth. 

If you’re in good oral health, a dentist might be able to drill your jawbone and place the implant right away on the day you visit. This is called an immediate implant.

titanium screws for dental implants
This set of titanium screws are used as artificial roots.

If you need bone grafting or other situations arise, then you need to wait a few weeks to a few months before the dentist can place the implant after preparing the area. 

Once the implant is placed, you need to wait 8 – 24 weeks until you are healed and the implant is fully integrated into your jawbone. 

Placing Abutment

An abutment screw connects an artificial root to the crown and bridges with a replacement tooth. Once it’s placed, a dentist may create a model of your tooth that needs replacing and put a temporary crown in its place.

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Placing a Permanent Crown

This is the final step in a dental implant procedure. This involves replacing a temporary crown with a permanent crown, with the dentist making sure that your new tooth is going to function normally and have a similar color as your natural teeth. 

Follow-Up Treatments

You may need to visit a dentist a few times for check-ups and follow-up treatments. This is to make sure that the process is a success and you can use your new tooth/teeth as normal. 

Implant Systems

You can choose from a variety of implant systems available in Thailand. These systems mainly differ in size, shape, and material.

The most popular system is the ITI Straumann from Switzerland. It’s one of the best dental implant systems in the world because Straumann is known for the quality and stability of its materials.

Alternatively, you can go with a more economical option from SIC Invent (also from Switzerland) and PI Branemark from Sweden. There is also Osstem from South Korea and Astra Tech from the United States.

If you are looking for Nobel Biocare, another popular dental implant system from the U.S., you may need to look elsewhere, as Nobel Biocare no longer has a distributor in Thailand.

Although you may choose an appropriate system for yourself, the dentist’s recommendation ultimately carries a lot of weight. Consult with them about which system is most suitable for you based on your jaw and bone conditions.

Note that some dental clinics may not tell you which implant system they use. You may need to ask.

Straumann is one of the world’s most popular implant systems in the world.

One-Day Implants

Because of advancements in dental technology, it’s now possible to complete every step of the surgical procedure in one day. This is called a one-day implant or a single-day implant.

Performing one-day implants depends on your dental requirements, oral conditions, and the dental clinic facilities.

After one-day implants, you still need to wait for a few days to get the crown or prosthesis over the implants.

This means, while it’s called a one-day implant, you need to prepare for at least a week to get it, so that the entire process can be done within the same trip.

Then, you need to eat soft food for a few months and may be required to regularly visit the dentist. 

You can have one-day implants in Thailand in many leading dental clinics and hospitals including BIDC, BIDH, and CIDC

All-On-Four Dental Implants

All-on-4 dental implants are a popular dental implant technique to replace every tooth in the entire upper and lower jaw. 

All-On-Four implants sample
All-On-Four implants only require 4 screws into the jaw bone and are available in Thailand. 

Four rods are placed into the upper jaw and/or four rods into the lower jaw and then dental bridges are created and a whole set of teeth are placed like permanent dentures. 

Fewer rods leads to quicker recovery times and less pain.

This video shows you how all-on-four dental implants work. 

Costs

The cost of dental implants in Thailand depends on the following factors:

  • Implant system type
  • How many implants you need
  • Related treatments
  • What clinic you go to

Implant Systems

Different clinics in Thailand offer a variety of different implant systems.

  • ITI Straumann from Germany is usually the most expensive system.
  • Osstem from Korea is the cheapest implant system, followed by Astratech, and ITI Straumann.

For a single dental implant, Osstem can be cheaper by at least ten thousand baht than ITI Straumann.

In addition, each system requires different materials and products, and therefore has different price points. For example, you can choose between Roxolid and titanium for the ITI Straumann system.

Roxolid is a combination between zirconium and titanium which is more durable and results in faster healing compared to titanium alone. But it’s also more expensive. 

For ITI Straumann, you can expect to pay at least THB70,000 for a single-tooth implant. On the other hand, an implant system from Korea will cost less than THB50,000 per tooth. 

Complexity 

In addition to how many implants you need, the level of complexity of your case will determine the cost. A dentist may charge you more if your case is complicated.

When getting implants, you need to pay additional costs for related treatments including attaching an implant crown, CT scan, X-ray, check-ups, and tooth extraction.

The price you see on the website may not be the final price you pay. 

Some dental clinics may provide an initial quote indicating that you need to pay only THB30,000 for the dental implants when in fact, there could be an additional THB20,000 or more on top of that. 

Avoid surprises and ask the clinic first to give you a detailed breakdown of all the costs that will be incurred before you choose them. They should be able to provide it to you after examining you. Get it in writing. 

Full Mouth Dental Implants Cost

With all of the costs combined, you should expect to pay around THB200,000 (US$6,700) to THB500,000 (US$16,700) to get a full mouth of dental implants in Thailand.

Although the cost may look expensive, it’s much cheaper than other countries. For example, in the US, the same treatment can cost US$90,000.

To get a precise cost of treatment, you need to visit a dentist. Your cost will depend on your unique situation. 

Which Clinic To Go

Different clinics quote different prices even those who offer the exact same technology and procedures.

Brand-name dental clinics tend to be more expensive than privately owned clinics. But those that charge more are not always better, and more affordable clinics will not necessarily be bad.

It boils down to a matter of trust. Many expats would rather get dental implants at a brand-name clinic and pay more because they trust that the service is high-quality and they want to make sure everything goes well.

These types of clinics in Thailand have modern facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and experienced specialists.

Below is a table comparing the costs of dental implants in popular (i.e., brand-name) dental clinics in Thailand. This should give you an idea how much you need to pay for dental implants.

However, the actual price that clinics will charge may vary.

ITI Straumann

ClinicITI Straumann (1 implant with 1 crown)
Smile SignatureTHB69,000
BIDCTHB79,000
BIDHTHB85,000
ThantakitTHB85,000

PI Branemark

ClinicPI Branemark (1 implant 1 crown)
Smile Signature40,000
BIDC49,000
BIDH55,000

Where to Get Dental Implants

The process of getting dental implants is a specialist procedure, you can’t just go to any clinic on the street.

Instead, it’s better to visit a clinic with implantologist and aesthetic dentists on board. If possible, you should choose a clinic that has a 3D CT scanner, which is essential to the procedure.

In this section, we include a list of dental clinics throughout Thailand that are known for dental implants.

If you are unsure about which clinic to choose for dental implants, simply fill out this form and we will recommend the one most suitable for you.

Bangkok

As the center of Southeast Asia’s medical tourism industry, Bangkok offers world-class dentists, clinics, and technology to make sure your dental implant treatment is a success.

The variety of options will ensure you can find the right dental clinic for your budget, comfort, and needs. 

As a plus, you will be able to find the largest number of internationally board-certified dentists in Bangkok compared to other cities in Thailand.

You can get any dental treatment done, including dental implants at BIDC.

Majority of dentists in Bangkok speak English well enough that a translator is not needed. Some places will even staff employees fluent in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.  

Let’s take a look at our recommended clinics where you can get dental implants in Bangkok. 

Learn More:

Bangkok International Dental Hospital (BIDH)

BIDH is one of Thailand’s newest and largest dentistry centers. It is a fully licensed hospital that offers an extensive range of dental treatment services as well as the most advanced dentistry technologies accessible in Thailand. 

The BIDH Dental Implant Center is staffed entirely by overseas board qualified dentists. 

BIDH can be one of the most expensive options for getting dental implants in Thailand. However, they are also one of the best. In addition to modern facilities, all dental implant cases are handled by experienced implantologists, not general dentists.

In addition, they are one of the few dental clinics in Thailand that offers general anesthetic and sedative options for dental implants, for both single and full-mouth treatments.

Prices as of September 2024 are listed below. It includes implant post, abutment, crown, anesthesia, and surgery fees. 

It does not include additional procedures needed for pre and post treatments, such as CT Scans and minor repairs. 

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
P-I BranemarkTHB55,000
SIC Invent SwissTHB65,000
StraumannTHB85,000
Straumann RoxolidTHB90,000

You can use this link to schedule an appointment with BIDH right away.

Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC)

BIDC is among the most comprehensive dental care facilities in all of Thailand.

BIDC and BIDH are owned by the same corporation. They are both part of the Dental Corporation Public Co. Ltd., Thailand’s largest dental network. 

With its main office located in Ratchadaphisek and satellite clinics in major shopping complexes like Paragon and Emquartier. 

BIDC is an approved dental implant center and accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI). 

Its dentists include the largest concentration of certified ITI Straumann dental implant specialists in the country.

Dentists and implantologists from across the country travel to BIDC for training courses and the latest implant methods so you can rest assured you’re getting professional care. 

Implant SystemImplant FeeCrown FeeTotal
SIC Invent SwissTHB35,000THB25,000THB60,000
StraumannTHB54,000THB25,000THB79,000
Straumann RoxolidTHB65,000THB25,000THB90,000

You can use this link to schedule an appointment with BIDC right away.

Smile Signature Dental Clinic

Smile Signature is a leading chain of dental clinics in Thailand with 8 locations in convenient locations throughout Bangkok. They provide dental implant packages for single, multiple, and full-mouth implants.

Although facilities might not compare to those at BIDH and BIDC, they are more affordable. For instance, getting a single tooth implant starts at just THB35,000 for P-I Branemark. 

Smile Signature also employs implantologists trained to handle all types of dental implants. The receptionists and dentists speak English fluently, particularly at their Siam Square branch. 

Therefore, if you are on a budget but still seek a high-quality dental implant in Bangkok, we recommend Smile Signature Dental Clinic.

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
P-I BranemarkTHB35,000
SIC SwissTHB49,000
Straumann SLATHB69,000

You can use this link to schedule an appointment with Smile Signature right away.

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Thantakit International Dental Center

Thantakit is one of Thailand’s oldest dental institutions, founders of the Thai Society of Dental Implantology, and JCI accredited. It is also the top choice for dental tourism because it offers accommodation and transportation packages in addition to dental needs.

Thantakit has a dedicated dental implant center for single, multiple, and full-mouth implant cases, as well as mini implants and implant-supported overdentures. Dr. Thara Sirikai, the current owner of Thantakit, leads the team and sees many dental implant patients personally.

Thantakit is one of the most expensive options, with prices that can surpass those of BIDH.

The fees listed below do not include check-up, consultation, or anesthesia fees. They offer a 10% discount on all cash payments or wire transfer

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
DentiumTHB65,000
BioHorizonsTHB75,000
StraumannTHB85,000

Chiang Mai

Aside from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is an excellent choice for modern dentistry, staffed by professional board-certified dentists.

While implant systems are priced similarly to those in Bangkok, you can save money on treatment plans, consultation fees, and other pre- and post-operative examination services, as well as living expenses in the more affordable city. 

Here are clinics that specialize in dental implants in Chiang Mai. 

Learn More:

Chiang Mai International Dental Center (CIDC)

Since CIDC is part of the same dental network as BIDH and BIDC, you can expect the same level of professionalism and quality from the staff and dentists. 

In addition, getting dental implants at CIDC can be more affordable than getting them from other leading clinics in Chiang Mai.

If you’ve previously visited them in Bangkok, your information is shared throughout their network, making your consultation at CIDC much faster and easier.

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
P-I BranemarkTHB49,000
SIC SwissTHB59,000
Straumann SLATHB75,000

You can schedule an appointment with them with this link.

Kitcha Dental Clinic

Kitcha Dental Clinic is one of Chiang Mai’s largest private dental clinics located across from the Chiang Mai Gate Market in a newly renovated 5-story building. They have also been recognized by Chiang Mai’s Provincial Public Health Office as an outstanding and high quality dental clinic. 

There is an international patient coordinator department to assist with communication for foreign patients. 

Kitcha uses 3D CT scans for dental implant treatments to ensure safe and more accurate results. They also provide a one-year local warranty for all dental implants. If for any reason the first implant placement is unsuccessful, they will re-do the implant procedure free of charge within one year. 

Dental implant prices below are only for implant and crown. X-rays, sterilizations, and other procedures fees are not included. 

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
DentiumTHB50,000
Straumann Roxolid SLATHB75,000

Dental World Clinic

Dental World is another popular clinic located in Chiang Mai Old Town. It is known to have skilled dentists who are professors from Chiang Mai university. The facility is very modern and equipped with implantation technology and 3D CT-Scans for dental implant treatments. 

However, their dental implants fee are also among the highest in Chiang Mai. 

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
Hi-Ossen (USA)THB53,000
Blue Diamond (Korea)THB53,000
Astra Tech (Sweden)THB71,000
Straumann (Switzerland)THB86,000

Unlike many Thai dental clinics, they offer nitrous oxide N2O (laughing gas) as an additional anesthetic beginning at THB1,500 for thirty minutes. 

Dental World’s additional services include a CT Scan: THB3,500/time, panoramic x-ray: THB500/film. 

Phuket

With fewer clinics and implantologists, Phuket is not as convenient as Bangkok or Chiang Mai for receiving dental implants. 

Still, Phuket is a top spot for medical and dental tourists, so the services that do exist are very high quality. 

It’s about the same price for Straumann implant systems as it is in Bangkok, but additional procedures and living costs are more affordable in Phuket. 

Learn More:

Phuket Dental Signature Clinic

Phuket Dental Signature is the largest and most prominent dental clinic on the island. It is also a leading dental implant center, with the bulk of overseas patients seeking implant treatments here. 

They offer 12 treatment rooms, therefore waiting times are usually shorter than at other Phuket clinics. 

As a subsidiary of BIDC, Phuket Dental Signature standardizes its costs, resulting in dental implant treatments being slightly more expensive than at other dental clinics in Phuket. 

However, when compared with other leading dental clinics, the prices at Phuket Dental Signature can be more affordable.  

In addition, Phuket Dental Signature may offer more promotions or packages to entice tourists.

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
P-I BranemarkTHB45,000
SIC SwissTHB49,000
Straumann SLATHB69,000

Sea Smile Dental Clinic 

Sea Smile Dental Clinic is another highly regarded dental clinic that specializes in implantology and dental aesthetics. They now provide a service they call “Teeth-in-24-Hours”. Dr. Paulo Malo’s procedure, commonly known as the all-on-four technique, allows you to receive four dental implants and a full-jaw fixed bridge within 24 hours.

Sea Smile is also a part of the Malo Global Dental Network, which is one of the world’s largest networks of dental clinics and facilities. 

This means that if you have dental implants placed at Sea Smile Phuket, you can have follow-up care at any of the other Malo Dental member clinics throughout the world by purchasing a warranty through Malo Dental’s International Patient Guarantee Program (IPGP)

Sea Smile dental implants are inclusive of all surgical and check-up fees. If you are interested in the Teeth-in-24-hours treatment for full jaw implants, prices currently start from 270,000 THB depending on materials.

Implant System1 Implant 1 Crown
Nobel BioCare, AstraTech, Hi-OssenTHB80,000
Straumann THB90,000

Pattaya

If you live in Pattaya and need dental implants, there are just a few facilities to choose from. Most dental clinics in Pattaya will not have a professional implantologist on staff and will instead employ a general dentist for dental implant procedures. 

Fees for consultations, treatments, and dental materials are slightly lower than in Bangkok. 

Because dental clinics in Pattaya may not have the most up-to-date technology, it is normally better to get dental implants in Bangkok.

Pattaya Smile Dental Clinic

Pattaya Smile is an average sized dental clinic located along South Pattaya Road. It is currently the most highly rated and reviewed clinic on Google Maps in Pattaya. They currently have one implant dentist, Dr. Pom, who handles all dental implant cases. 

Dental implants range between THB48,000 – THB80,000 per tooth. Crowns are charged separately starting at 13,500 THB per tooth depending on the brand of ceramic crown. 

Pattaya International Dental Center (PIDC)

Pattaya International Dental Center has one of the nicest dental facilities in Pattaya with reviews saying the staff and dentist are able to communicate well in English compared to other clinics. 

PIDC has quite a large team of dentists with a few of them receiving training from dental institutions overseas. They currently have two dentists staffed specializing in implant dentistry as well.  

Implant systems start around THB40,000 per tooth with an additional THB15,000 per ceramic crown. They offer free consultation and oral examinations to get a more accurate quotation for dental implant treatments. 

Payments

Because of the high cost as well as the nature of getting dental implants, you may not need to pay the total cost of treatment in one go. 

At some clinics, you may pay in installments, depending on how many times you need to visit the dentist, with three installments being the most common. Payment installments are usually structured as:

  • 60% on the first visit
  • 20% on the second visit
  • 20% on the third visit

In addition to Thai Baht, some dental clinics may accept other currencies including USD, GPB, EUR, and AUD.

However, it’s recommended to pay in Thai Baht to benefit from a better exchange rate.

In case you want to pay by credit card, you should check with your credit card company to find out how much they charge for the currency conversion rate.

Some companies may impose an additional 1-3% foreign-exchange risk charges. 

Warranty

Leading dental clinics in Thailand typically offer a 5-year warranty on their dental implants.

For instance, if a dental implant fails for any reason, you should be able to undergo the surgery again without paying extra. 

The length of the warranty may vary with each procedure. For example, there might be a 2-year warranty on prosthetics and a 5-year warranty on fixture posts.

Additionally, you may not be eligible to claim the warranty if you have your dental implants serviced by clinics other than the one that performed the implant surgery. 

You can contact the clinic to learn more about their guarantee policy.

Insurance

Many insurance companies won’t cover dental implants since the procedure is considered an elective cosmetic treatment.

If you have an accident and dental implants are required to treat your condition, then the insurance may cover it.

If you have insurance which does cover implants, it might come with specific limits, which means only a portion of the treatment cost will be covered.

In general, for this procedure, don’t expect much from your health insurance provider — even insurance providers that provide dental coverage. 

How Long Does It Take?

The whole process may take several months depending on your oral condition, requirements, and chosen implant technique. In perfect situations, it is possible to have the whole procedure finished in one day known as one-day implants.

Is it Painful to Get Dental Implants?

Most people are afraid of going to the dentist. And the idea of opening up your gums and getting your jawbone drilled sounds really scary, right?

You are not alone in this. 

In various online surveys where people shared their experiences in getting dental implants, a majority said that it’s not as painful as they initially thought. Some even claimed that they didn’t feel pain at all both during and after the surgery.

And all of them agreed that it’s worth getting implants. 

Anesthetic and Sedative Options

In case you are still nervous, there is good news for you: there are dental clinics in Thailand that offer anesthetic and sedative options.

Depending on your health condition and your surgery requirements, your options will vary. 

The most basic is a local anesthetic injection to numb the affected area. Then, there’s twilight anesthesia using mild doses of drugs to block pain, reduce anxiety, and provide a temporary memory loss. 

Then, there is general anesthetic. You will be put into a deep sleep for the duration of the surgery.

Pain-free-dentistry, as it is known, costs more since you need to pay for anesthesiologists and a post-anesthesia care unit. 

Only a limited number of dental clinics in Thailand are licensed to do general anesthesia. One of them is BIDH

Do I Need to Make an Appointment?

Because dental implant procedures are more complex, you will be required to schedule an appointment with a dental clinic in advance.

If you walk in to make inquiries, you might not be able to get a consultation on the spot. 

Now, on to You

We hope that this article will answer all your questions about getting dental implants in Thailand.

Getting a dental implant is a typically long and expensive process but it is also well worth it. 

If you are ready to do it, you can set an appointment with a good clinic such as BIDH, get your oral health examined, and discuss your personal treatment plan with certified dental experts.

Alternatively, you can fill in the form below and we will put you in touch with a clinic that’s most suitable to your requirements.

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Please note: The information provided by ExpatDen is not intended to replace or serve as a substitute for medical or healthcare advice. It is strongly recommended that you seek guidance and consultation from a licensed medical practitioner or qualified healthcare professional pertaining to your specific circumstances and healthcare needs.

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