Aussie's medical nightmare after dental implant trip to Thailand goes horribly wrong - but he's going back for ANOTHER round
Patrick Heaton, 56, travelled to Thailand in 2023 for dental implants after seeing a 'glitzy and glammy' dentist advertised on social media.
Mr Heaton had suffered several severe injuries to his teeth and jaw - including being electrocuted by an overhead powerline as a child and a car crash in his 20s.
The combined trauma to his teeth and a tooth grinding disorder left Mr Heaton with teeth that were 'ground down to stubs, and some had fallen out'.
'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,' he wrote in a column for SBS on Wednesday.
Mr Heaton claimed he underwent several dental procedures to mend his teeth, and broken confidence, in Australia but the results 'never lasted'.
The real dentistry he needed was out of his price range.
Then he saw an ad online for medical tourism in Thailand.
'I clicked, sent some X-rays and photos, had a chat on WhatsApp, and received a quote,' Mr Heaton said.
'I prepaid for surgery and the included accommodation and booked a flight to Bangkok.'
The trip to undergo treatment for dental crowns, a covering for damaged teeth, was the first time he'd been out of Australia.
Mr Heaton's first appointment went incredibly well with the Aussie writing how he 'looked a million dollars' with his temporary crowns.
But when he returned to the clinic to have his permanent crowns fitted, he quickly knew something was wrong.
He recalled feeling pain across his mouth, typical for patients who've undergone significant dental surgery, but a heightened sting in one tooth.
'My face became swollen and I could barely lift my head. I slept all day on the painkillers and anti-inflammatories,' Mr Heaton wrote.
He flew home after two weeks of recovery in Thailand but six months later his suspicions proved true.
Mr Heaton's condition had steadily declined and he finally caved and visited an Australian dentist when the crown of the painful tooth fell off.
The dentist found the tooth was severely infected through to the jawbone.
Overall, Mr Heaton had to have three teeth, chunks of his gum and part of his upper jawbone removed.
Almost two years after heading to Thailand for the detrimental procedure, Mr Heaton is debating his return to fix his smile.
He acknowledged he 'probably didn't do my due diligence with research' and didn't blame the Thai medical system for his dental trauma.
'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.
Smartraveller claims the most common reasons for Aussies to head overseas for medical treatment are cosmetic surgery, dentistry, heart surgery, fertility treatments, surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, stem-cell therapy and cancer treatments.
The Australian Government website advises medical tourists to 'research the destination, doctor, hospital and procedure' before heading overseas.
'There are always risks with medical procedures. You could suffer from complications, or you could die. Even if you're young, fit and healthy,' it states.
As Thailand is a popular destination for medical tourists, Smartraveller has published advice specific to the country.
'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.'
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