Treatment abroad: Thailand 

Thailand is a leading destination for medical tourism, renowned for its world-class healthcare facilities offering specialised treatments in fields such as cosmetic surgery, dental care, and wellness retreats, attracting international visitors seeking high-quality care at competitive prices.

Patients from all over the world are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by medical tourism in Thailand. Quality of care, low prices and easy travel by low cost airlines make Thailand a popular overseas health care destination for anyone seeking cosmetic dentistry or dental implant treatment abroad.

Why choose Thailand for dental treatment?

Thailand now attracts tourists from all over the world to take advantage of competitively priced private medical treatments. The medical standards are high in Thailand and clinics and bilingual staff are more often trained in the US, Australia or Europe. The lower prices combined with the favourable exchange rate means that dental treatment is extremely competitive, allowing visitors to enjoy a wonderful holiday in a breathtakingly beautiful country and give their teeth some first class attention.

Thailand is an incredibly scenic country with plenty of options for the visitor, pre or post dentistry treatment ranging from jungle trekking in Chiang Mai, languishing on stunning beaches in the south, to learning about the exotic culture by visiting the country’s fascinating temples and buildings.

The Thai medical profession is well advanced, and medical tourism is expected to continue growing. Many private clinics offer complete cosmetic dental makeover packages and work with state of the art technology. As far as price comparisons go, Silom Dental Clinic in Bangkok offer laser tooth whitening for between 7,000 (€166) and 14,000 THB (€332). The treatment takes around an hour and a half to complete. A single tooth implant and one crown will cost around THB 80,000 (€1900), depending on materials used.

The official language is Thai but English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas. Thailand’s tropical climate is hot and humid, but there are regional and seasonal temperature variations. Bangkok is hot between March and mid-June between 27 and 35 degrees Celsius, rainy between June and October averaging 24 to 32 degrees Celsius and cool between November and February 18 to 32 degrees Celsius. Chiang Mai in the north has a much cooler temperature. Temperatures in the south, for example, in Phuket are lovely and warm – 34 degrees Celsius in the hot season with the sea water never going below 20 degrees.

Thai currency is the Baht with THB42 to the Euro.

Reasons to choose Thailand

Advanced medical tourism destination

Specialists in dental work and cosmetic surgery

Warm, friendly Thai welcome everywhere

Unrivalled relaxation and recuperation

Low cost flights from US and Europe

Excellent place to enjoy a healthcare holiday

Dentistry in Thailand : Dentist accreditation and qualifications

It takes six years to complete the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and many of the Thai cosmetic dentists achieve undergraduate, post-graduate and doctorial degrees in their specialist fields from prominent local and international universities where they also lecture and train dental students. Medical standards are high in Thailand and many staff train in the US, Australia or Europe, so are able to offer a bilingual service. Look out for hospitals and clinics which have achieved ISO 9001:2000 Certification, United Kingdom Accreditation service UKAS, the Swiss Accreditation service, SAS, and belong to management groups to ensure the very highest standard of medical service and strict sterilisation processes.

Regarding accreditation cosmetic dentists should be registered with the Thai Dental Council, the Thai Dental Association and the National Dental Industry Association. Dentists who qualify in another country must pass the national examination before they can be registered in Thailand. Additional membership will be with the relevant specialist group, for example the Thai Prosthodontics Association, the Thai Operative Dental Society, the Thai Prosthodontics Association or the Thai Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Depending on where their training was completed, dentists may have international memberships such as American Operative Dentistry Society.

The Dental Association of Thailand is located at: 71 Ladprao 95, Wangtonglhang, Bangkok 10310. Tel: +66 2 539 4748, fax: +66 2 514 1100.

Travel and accommodation

Thailand has several international airports, located at Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai (the gateway to the north), Chiang Rai, Ko Samui and Hat-Yai in the south. Major international flights arrive at Bangkok’s super new state-of-the-art airport; Suvarnabhumi, which is located in the Bang Phli District in Samut Prakan, 30km east of Bangkok. Getting to and from the airport takes 30 minutes and you can either book a taxi (avoiding the taxi touts) from the taxi counter or take the airport bus. Bangkok’s former major international airport is Don Muang, which is located 25km north of the capital previously the busiest airport in Asia but now the new hub for domestic flights. Out at the beach airports such as Phuket you will find mini vans and buses waiting to take passengers to the many beach hotels. At Chiang Mai there are reservation taxis at arrivals.

Travelling within the country

Thailand has an excellent transport system, and you can get even to very remote villages via local buses. Long distance journeys are probably best done by internal flight if you are there just for a few days or a week. Getting from Chiang Mai to Phuket by plane takes two hours, compared with two days by bus. Thai Airways has an extensive domestic service and there are other budget domestic airlines including Airasia, Bangkokair, Nokair, andOrient Thai Airways.

Bangkok is the heart of Thailand’s bus and coach network and almost any province is accessible from here. Bangkok has three main bus stations located on the outskirts of the city; Mo Chit bus station is Bangkok’s largest and handles all buses going to destinations in the North and North-Eastern regions (located near to Mo Chit sky train station, Kamphaeng Phet and Chatuchak subway station). The Sai Tai bus station (on the opposite side of the river) handles all the buses for destinations south of Bangkok, for example, to the southern islands or beaches and you can catch a bus to Pattaya, Ko Samet, Ko Chang (and other eastern provinces) from the Ekkamai bus station.

Train travel in Thailand is very extensive and the level of service good. Trains connect Thailand with Malaysia and Singapore in the south from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station, and train journeys should be booked in advance. Getting about in Bangkok is straightforward with a choice of river buses, taxis, subway (which runs from 5am till midnight) or the Skytrain, which runs every few minutes from 6am till midnight. You can flag down a ‘Songthaew’ in small towns or rural areas (these are vehicles with two rows of seats facing each other which follow set routes with fixed fares) or negotiate a fare with a taxi driver. Bangkok has metered (and un-metered) taxis, buses and train travel is safe and comfortable. Another popular mode de transport is the ‘Samlor’, a three wheel bicycle (rickshaw) or the motorised version which is more commonly known as a ‘Tuk-tuk’. Always negotiate your fare before stepping into a Thai taxi. Driving is a viable option outside of Bangkok, but attempting to drive in the capital it is not for the fainthearted, as it has some of the worst traffic jams in Asia. However, for those brave enough to try it, the good news is that road signs are in English and driving is on the left.

Accommodation prices vary greatly in Thailand depending on where you are staying. If you are in Bangkok and want to stay near to the airport, then the newly opened, ultra modern Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel offers rooms from around 3,380 THB (approx €80) per night. Packages including spa treatments and added extras will also be available and bookings can be made online. It is located just a three-minute walk from the airport’s main terminal, connected by an air-conditioned underground walkway. In contrast, accommodation at the southern beach bungalows will cost from 300 to 3,000 THB (€7-70) per night depending on the level of luxury you are looking for.

The currency is the Thai baht and €1 = approximately 42 Thai Baht (THB). Thailand is +7 hours GMT and there are no daylight savings.

About Thailand

For some reason, Thailand has never been colonised by the ubiquitous western powers and so it remains as authentic a taste of South East Asia as you can get, with ancient Thai culture and traditions popping up everywhere you look. That said, as a modern tourist destination, it is second to none, with everything you could possibly ask for to help you relax and unwind.

Thailand is one of South East Asia’s largest countries and stretches from the mountainous border in Myanmar (Burma) in the north to the Malaysian Peninsula in the south, and is nestled next to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to the east. With delicious food, warm, smiling people, breathtaking beaches and glorious islands as well as a wealth of culture and history, it’s not surprising that Thailand has been a fashionable holiday destination for many years.

Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, making it a peaceful, welcoming place. Often referred to as the ‘land of smiles’, Thailand seems content with itself and who can blame it. The Thai people, and their millions of visitors every year, enjoy a warm tropical climate, lush vegetation, beautiful beaches and food to die for. No wonder they celebrate life with so many colourful festivals throughout the year.

Thailand gives its name to a unique culinary experience, with Thai curries unlike anything else you’ll taste. A mixture of sweet, sour and spicy, Thai food is original and unique. Wherever you decide to go in Thailand, tasting some authentic Thai cuisine should be high on your list. Thai cuisine involves around 30 different herbs and spices including a number of basil varieties and the ubiquitous lemongrass and ginger flavourings while the fresh fish and sea food is out of this world. The country also gives its name to another famous tourist draw, the Thai massage, which reflects the relaxing, service orientated culture that wants to share its laidback lifestyle by massaging away your troubles.

Thailand’s rich history is all around you, with magnificent Buddhist temples and shrines littering the countryside and cities. And its future is clear to see to, in the thriving capital city of Bangkok, where modern skyscrapers tower over the traditional markets and the melee of Tuk Tuks in the streets below, in this thronging hub that is home to seven million people.

Bangkok, otherwise known as the ‘City of Sin’, offers a constant reminder of the country’s rich cultural heritage, along with fabulous shopping opportunities and plenty of entertainment along the popular Khao San Road. The Chao Phraya River divides Bangkok from Thonburi and although the city is noisy and busy, there are plenty of peaceful escapes. Quiet sanctuary can be found inside one of the city’s 400 Wats (temples), most famous of which is Wat Pho (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha), the oldest and largest Wat in Bangkok. Shopaholics and bargain hunters should hit Khao San Road for the ultimate shopping experience.

Bangkok also hosts some of the world’s finest luxury hotels and high quality restaurants, but make sure you find time to check out the traditional side too, from steaming street food stalls to the incredible sights and sounds of the floating markets.

Away from the city, Thailand is blessed with some pristine white beaches and paradise islands, such as Ko Samui, Ko Phang-Nga, Ko Tao in the south east and Phuket and Ko Phi Phi in the west, where crystal clear green/blue seas lap gently at palm fringed shores. Here you can enjoy as much action, or relaxation, as you wish, with everything imaginable available, from parascending and waterskiing to snorkeling and diving. Thailand’s parties are the stuff of legend, with the Full Moon parties a particular favourite. Or if you prefer, you can simply stretch out and relax as the friendly, attentive staff keep you refreshed with exotic cocktails.

Perhaps the reason Thailand has never been conquered is that no one wants to change a thing. It is magical just the way it is.