PHILIPPINE DENTAL TOURISM
By Dr. Joel S. Gutierrez
Dental Tourism Committee ChairmanPhilippine Dental Association�Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come.� Chinese Proverb
BALIKBAYAN PATIENTS
Dental Tourism is not that new in the Philippines. It has actually been existing for the past several decades since Filipino Dentists both from the cosmopolitan avenues and the urban areas have been exposed to this in their practice. Our �Balikbayans� or Filipinos abroad come home for vacation for a much-needed rest, family occasions, school reunions, or simply to once again feel the warmth of Filipino hospitality and step on the soil of the land of their birth . A great number of them take this opportunity to have their dental treatments as well.
WORLD-CLASS DENTAL TREATMENT
It is a common knowledge that dental treatment is very costly in foreign countries. For example, the common procedure of porcelain crown and bridge would regularly cost $800 to $1200 per unit. In the Philippines, the customary rate for this procedure is merely $100 to $200 and can be done in a shorter period of time because of the availability of local but world-class dental laboratories. Other dental procedures will cost them much less and can save them a substantial amount they can allot to pay for their airfare and vacation expenditures.
FOREIGN PATIENTS
On the other hand, foreign patients have also discovered the expertise, craftsmanship, and professionalism of local dentists, notwithstanding the hospitality that each and every practitioner has remarkably and comfortably combined in his line of service to the patients. Foreign patients, visiting our local tourist spots, enjoying our white beaches, tasting our sumptuous and exotic food and delicacies, and shopping for an array of budget-friendly commodities, can now include a complete dental treatment in their itinerary. Excellent dental packages designed and conceptualized for tourists can be enjoyed simultaneously while vacationing in the country.
CHARISMA OF FILIPINO DENTISTS
A Filipino dentist can be at par with any foreign dentist. Through our continuing education, awareness, and access to modern equipment, local dentists can truly be comparable to foreign practitioners. We may even be better simply because of the natural �charisma� of a typical Filipino. We are compassionate and warm. We are as skilled as the foreign practitioner but we are friendlier and more enthusiastic! We are as professional as the foreign dentists but we are hospitable and more approachable! All these make a whole lot of difference.
(published with permission from Dr. Joel Gutierrez)
MORE DENTAL TOURISM RESOURCES...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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Philippine dentists selected by Meditour
Dentists in the Philippines strictly follow the educational system practiced in the USA. All dental practioners graduate with a Degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) after six years of study, both theory and practice, thus they are called Doctors in our country, as with graduates of dental medicine, worldwide. Dentists (Doctors of Dentistry) are allowed to practice their procession only after taking and passing the National Licensure Examination. When they decide to open their clinic, a government agency oversees that all clinics comply with acceptable international protocol in infection control and regulates the practioners in terms of continuing education, skill development and ethical practice.
The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has a Dental Tourism Committee aimed to make members aware of, follow, and execute guidelines on global compliance. The foremost concern is the proper sterilization of equipment using autoclave sterilizers, and the prevention of cross contamination. The PDA conducts mandatory continuing education to upgrade their members’ skills and to make sure they keep abreast with global practices.
MEDITOUR is proud of the fact that they are affiliated only with active members of the Philippine Dental Association, who are not just compliant with the requirements of the Philippine Regulation Commission but follow all the rules and regulations of the Philippine Dental Association and comply totally with International Dental Protocols Furthermore, they have all undergone graduate studies and continuing education seminars in the United States and elsewhere, and are conscious of the need of updating themselves with the latest trends, technology, and practices.
Our Qualified dentists are located in the following areas in the Philippines:
Makati, Metro Manila - The real CBD of Manila, with offices, banks, embassies, many restaurants, cinemas & supermarkets. Makati has the highest concentration of the country’s finest department stores, fashion boutiques, exclusive jewellery shops, antique stores, shoe stores, bookstores, and most other commercial establishments.
Cebu City- Located an hour's flight south of Manila, it is the second largest city in the Philippines. Has beach resorts 30 minutes from the city centre. modern shopping centres, very interesting Spanish history, and an International airport with daily flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
Angeles City - 2 hours by road north of Manila- Once home to the US Air Force with a vibrant entertainment district and new huge shopping mall recently opened.
The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has a Dental Tourism Committee aimed to make members aware of, follow, and execute guidelines on global compliance. The foremost concern is the proper sterilization of equipment using autoclave sterilizers, and the prevention of cross contamination. The PDA conducts mandatory continuing education to upgrade their members’ skills and to make sure they keep abreast with global practices.
MEDITOUR is proud of the fact that they are affiliated only with active members of the Philippine Dental Association, who are not just compliant with the requirements of the Philippine Regulation Commission but follow all the rules and regulations of the Philippine Dental Association and comply totally with International Dental Protocols Furthermore, they have all undergone graduate studies and continuing education seminars in the United States and elsewhere, and are conscious of the need of updating themselves with the latest trends, technology, and practices.
Our Qualified dentists are located in the following areas in the Philippines:
Makati, Metro Manila - The real CBD of Manila, with offices, banks, embassies, many restaurants, cinemas & supermarkets. Makati has the highest concentration of the country’s finest department stores, fashion boutiques, exclusive jewellery shops, antique stores, shoe stores, bookstores, and most other commercial establishments.
Cebu City- Located an hour's flight south of Manila, it is the second largest city in the Philippines. Has beach resorts 30 minutes from the city centre. modern shopping centres, very interesting Spanish history, and an International airport with daily flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
Angeles City - 2 hours by road north of Manila- Once home to the US Air Force with a vibrant entertainment district and new huge shopping mall recently opened.
Dental procedures in the Philippines
TOOTH WHITENING
To make your teeth look shinier and give you more confidence when smiling, our dentists use Cold Light tooth-whitening technology. It cuts down the time needed for the whole whitening process to less than an hour. A study in the February, 2004 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) found that: “The application of lights significantly improved the whitening efficacy of some bleach materials.” The same study found that high-temperature lights can be dangerous to the teeth, which makes it a very good choice for safely whitening teeth.
TOOTH IMPLANTS
Every tooth consists of two parts: crown (the visible part) and root (the unseen part which anchors the tooth in your jawbone, providing stable support for your crown). When an entire tooth is lost – crown and root - shrinkage of the jawbone may occur. There are many ways to replace tooth crowns, but only dental implants can replace the entire tooth including both crown and root. Dental implants are permanent fixtures of titanium posts anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge that screws or cements into the posts. The success rate for implants is very high nowadays: 98 percent for lower implants and 91 percent for upper implants. Dental implants feel, look and function like your own natural teeth. They often last for life, and have the advantage of improved comfort, removal of pain associated with missing roots, and improved self-esteem.
GUM DISEASE TREATMENT
Periodontal disease is a major dental care issue affecting a large sector of the population, whose primary cause is bacterial plaque located near or below the gum margins. A mild form of periodontal disease is called gingivitis and this may result in bleeding during brushing, swelling and increased redness of the gum tissue. The severe forms of periodontal disease which may develop lead to pus formation, tooth mobility and perhaps eventual tooth loss. The disease often occurs in short destructive bursts at a variable number of sites in the mouth. Therefore early identification of the patients at risk of any form of destructive periodontal disease is paramount.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY
To help you restore the natural beauty of your smile, our dentists offer metal-free restorations, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers (porcelain coverings of your teeth attached to the natural tooth tissue that look just like your other teeth and help you cover stains, shades or shapes) and others. In fact, cosmetic dentistry is incorporated in all our treatment and we aim to use tooth coloured materials whenever possible, except where more traditional methods such as some metals have functional advantages.
VENEERS
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made of tooth-coloured porcelain designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are bonded onto the teeth so as to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discoloured, worn, chipped, or misaligned. The translucent ceramic quality of today's veneers provides a more natural look than what’s been available in the past. In some cases, veneers may replace the need for a dental crown, eliminating the need for more invasive tooth preparation.
CROWN AND BRIDGE
If you have heavily damaged or missing teeth, crowns and bridges are often the only satisfactory long-term solution. Our dentists will make sure that these are well-fit in our mouth and look like your natural teeth in order to achieve excellent aesthetic and functional results.
MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery involves procedures concentrated in and around the mouth and includes defects, injuries and diseases involving the mouth, teeth, gums and jaws. We put emphasis on saving as much of the supporting bone and gum tissues as possible in order to provide a good basis for subsequent cosmetic procedures.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Root canal treatment is needed when the nerve or blood supply of the tooth (known as pulp) is infected through injury or decay. The infection can spread through the root canal system of the tooth and eventually the tooth may need to be taken out. To avoid this, the pulp can be removed; the root canal cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Unlike in the past when this resulted in discolouration, with modern technology and materials the teeth will preserve their natural appearance.
FILLINGS
Fillings are needed to fill in cavities caused by tooth decay. You can choose between the traditional amalgam fillings and tooth-coloured fillings. Tooth-coloured fillings are made from durable plastics called composite resins and are not only functional, but natural-looking as well. You may also decide to replace your old amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured ones and restore the confidence in your smile.
Quotes: Best to send us a quote and X rays from an Australian dental clinic so we can forward to our dentists and give a better estimate of costs and treatment duration. Email glenn@meditour.com.au
To make your teeth look shinier and give you more confidence when smiling, our dentists use Cold Light tooth-whitening technology. It cuts down the time needed for the whole whitening process to less than an hour. A study in the February, 2004 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) found that: “The application of lights significantly improved the whitening efficacy of some bleach materials.” The same study found that high-temperature lights can be dangerous to the teeth, which makes it a very good choice for safely whitening teeth.
TOOTH IMPLANTS
Every tooth consists of two parts: crown (the visible part) and root (the unseen part which anchors the tooth in your jawbone, providing stable support for your crown). When an entire tooth is lost – crown and root - shrinkage of the jawbone may occur. There are many ways to replace tooth crowns, but only dental implants can replace the entire tooth including both crown and root. Dental implants are permanent fixtures of titanium posts anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge that screws or cements into the posts. The success rate for implants is very high nowadays: 98 percent for lower implants and 91 percent for upper implants. Dental implants feel, look and function like your own natural teeth. They often last for life, and have the advantage of improved comfort, removal of pain associated with missing roots, and improved self-esteem.
GUM DISEASE TREATMENT
Periodontal disease is a major dental care issue affecting a large sector of the population, whose primary cause is bacterial plaque located near or below the gum margins. A mild form of periodontal disease is called gingivitis and this may result in bleeding during brushing, swelling and increased redness of the gum tissue. The severe forms of periodontal disease which may develop lead to pus formation, tooth mobility and perhaps eventual tooth loss. The disease often occurs in short destructive bursts at a variable number of sites in the mouth. Therefore early identification of the patients at risk of any form of destructive periodontal disease is paramount.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY
To help you restore the natural beauty of your smile, our dentists offer metal-free restorations, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers (porcelain coverings of your teeth attached to the natural tooth tissue that look just like your other teeth and help you cover stains, shades or shapes) and others. In fact, cosmetic dentistry is incorporated in all our treatment and we aim to use tooth coloured materials whenever possible, except where more traditional methods such as some metals have functional advantages.
VENEERS
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made of tooth-coloured porcelain designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are bonded onto the teeth so as to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discoloured, worn, chipped, or misaligned. The translucent ceramic quality of today's veneers provides a more natural look than what’s been available in the past. In some cases, veneers may replace the need for a dental crown, eliminating the need for more invasive tooth preparation.
CROWN AND BRIDGE
If you have heavily damaged or missing teeth, crowns and bridges are often the only satisfactory long-term solution. Our dentists will make sure that these are well-fit in our mouth and look like your natural teeth in order to achieve excellent aesthetic and functional results.
MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery involves procedures concentrated in and around the mouth and includes defects, injuries and diseases involving the mouth, teeth, gums and jaws. We put emphasis on saving as much of the supporting bone and gum tissues as possible in order to provide a good basis for subsequent cosmetic procedures.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Root canal treatment is needed when the nerve or blood supply of the tooth (known as pulp) is infected through injury or decay. The infection can spread through the root canal system of the tooth and eventually the tooth may need to be taken out. To avoid this, the pulp can be removed; the root canal cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Unlike in the past when this resulted in discolouration, with modern technology and materials the teeth will preserve their natural appearance.
FILLINGS
Fillings are needed to fill in cavities caused by tooth decay. You can choose between the traditional amalgam fillings and tooth-coloured fillings. Tooth-coloured fillings are made from durable plastics called composite resins and are not only functional, but natural-looking as well. You may also decide to replace your old amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured ones and restore the confidence in your smile.
Quotes: Best to send us a quote and X rays from an Australian dental clinic so we can forward to our dentists and give a better estimate of costs and treatment duration. Email glenn@meditour.com.au
Our Dentists in the Philippines
Dentists in the Philippines strictly follow the educational system practiced in the USA. All dental practioners graduate with a Degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) after six years of study, both theory and practice, thus they are called Doctors in our country, as with graduates of dental medicine, worldwide. Dentists (Doctors of Dentistry) are allowed to practice their procession only after taking and passing the National Licensure Examination. When they decide to open their clinic, a government agency oversees that all clinics comply with acceptable international protocol in infection control and regulates the practioners in terms of continuing education, skill development and ethical practice.
The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has a Dental Tourism Committee aimed to make members aware of, follow, and execute guidelines on global compliance. The foremost concern is the proper sterilization of equipment using autoclave sterilizers, and the prevention of cross contamination. The PDA conducts mandatory continuing education to upgrade their members’ skills and to make sure they keep abreast with global practices.
MEDITOUR is proud of the fact that they are affiliated only with active members of the Philippine Dental Association, who are not just compliant with the requirements of the Philippine Regulation Commission but follow all the rules and regulations of the Philippine Dental Association and comply totally with International Dental Protocols Furthermore, they have all undergone graduate studies and continuing education seminars in the United States and elsewhere, and are conscious of the need of updating themselves with the latest trends, technology, and practices.
Our Qualified dentists are located in the following areas in the Philippines:
Makati, Metro Manila - The real CBD of Manila, with offices, banks, embassies, many restaurants, cinemas & supermarkets. Makati has the highest concentration of the country’s finest department stores, fashion boutiques, exclusive jewellery shops, antique stores, shoe stores, bookstores, and most other commercial establishments.
Cebu City- Located an hour's flight south of Manila, it is the second largest city in the Philippines. Has beach resorts 30 minutes from the city centre. modern shopping centres, very interesting Spanish history, and an International airport with daily flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
Angeles City - 2 hours by road north of Manila- Once home to the US Air Force with a vibrant entertainment district and new huge shopping mall recently opened.
The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has a Dental Tourism Committee aimed to make members aware of, follow, and execute guidelines on global compliance. The foremost concern is the proper sterilization of equipment using autoclave sterilizers, and the prevention of cross contamination. The PDA conducts mandatory continuing education to upgrade their members’ skills and to make sure they keep abreast with global practices.
MEDITOUR is proud of the fact that they are affiliated only with active members of the Philippine Dental Association, who are not just compliant with the requirements of the Philippine Regulation Commission but follow all the rules and regulations of the Philippine Dental Association and comply totally with International Dental Protocols Furthermore, they have all undergone graduate studies and continuing education seminars in the United States and elsewhere, and are conscious of the need of updating themselves with the latest trends, technology, and practices.
Our Qualified dentists are located in the following areas in the Philippines:
Makati, Metro Manila - The real CBD of Manila, with offices, banks, embassies, many restaurants, cinemas & supermarkets. Makati has the highest concentration of the country’s finest department stores, fashion boutiques, exclusive jewellery shops, antique stores, shoe stores, bookstores, and most other commercial establishments.
Cebu City- Located an hour's flight south of Manila, it is the second largest city in the Philippines. Has beach resorts 30 minutes from the city centre. modern shopping centres, very interesting Spanish history, and an International airport with daily flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
Angeles City - 2 hours by road north of Manila- Once home to the US Air Force with a vibrant entertainment district and new huge shopping mall recently opened.
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