“My dentist back home warned me not to do it. He said I’d regret it.”
A software engineer from San Francisco sat across from me at our Hanoi clinic, recounting this conversation. His California dentist had quoted 18,000 US dollars for the dental work he needed: four crowns, two implants, and several fillings. He’d done his research on dental work in Vietnam, found our clinic, and felt confident about his decision. Still, his dentist’s warning lingered in his mind.
I hear variations of this story regularly. International patients arrive at Picasso Dental Clinic excited about potential savings but carrying concerns planted by well meaning friends, family members, or even their home country dentists. Some of these concerns are valid and worth discussing. Others are myths based on outdated information or assumptions that don’t reflect modern Vietnamese dentistry.
After treating over 70,000 patients from 65 different nationalities since 2013, I’ve encountered every myth imaginable about getting dental work in Vietnam. Some make me laugh. Others frustrate me because they prevent people from accessing quality care they genuinely need. Today, I want to address the six most common myths I hear and share what the reality actually looks like across our Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat locations.
Myth Number One: Vietnamese Dental Clinics Use Inferior Materials
This myth tops my list because it’s both common and completely disprovable with facts.
The reality is that reputable dental clinics in Vietnam source materials from the exact same manufacturers as clinics in Australia, the United States, or Europe. At Picasso Dental Clinic, we use dental materials from globally recognized brands: 3M, Ivoclar Vivadent, Dentsply Sirona, Nobel Biocare, and Straumann. These aren’t Vietnamese knock offs or cheaper alternatives. They’re identical products ordered through official distribution channels.
Our dental implants come from Nobel Biocare and Straumann, the two most respected implant manufacturers worldwide. Our composite filling materials are 3M and Ivoclar products used in premium dental practices globally. Our crown and veneer porcelain comes from the same sources that supply high end cosmetic dentists in Beverly Hills or London.
Why would we use the same premium materials? Because our patient base demands it. When you’re treating patients from 65 countries who have access to dental care in their home countries, you can’t cut corners on materials. They know quality, they research specifications, and they ask detailed questions. Our reputation depends on using materials that meet international standards.
I remember treating an engineer from Germany who literally brought specification sheets for the dental implants he wanted. He’d researched thread design, surface treatment, and long term success rates. When I showed him we exclusively use Nobel Biocare and Straumann implants, the exact brands he’d researched, his entire demeanor changed. He realized we weren’t using “Vietnam quality” materials but rather the same implants his dentist in Munich would use, just at 70 percent lower cost.
The price difference in Vietnam doesn’t come from cheaper materials. It comes from lower overhead costs, rent, staff salaries, and operating expenses. A dental clinic in central London or Sydney pays exponentially more for space than we do in Hanoi. Those savings get passed to patients, not achieved by compromising material quality.
Myth Number Two: The Technology and Equipment Are Outdated
Some international patients arrive expecting to find dental offices that look like something from the 1980s. The reality often surprises them.
Modern Vietnamese dental clinics, especially those serving international patients, have invested heavily in current technology. At Picasso Dental Clinic, our Hanoi location has CEREC same day crown technology, allowing us to design, mill, and place ceramic crowns in a single appointment. This is the same technology used by progressive dental practices worldwide, and many clinics in smaller Western cities don’t even have it yet.
We use cone beam computed tomography, or CBCT, for 3D imaging when planning implant cases or complex root canals. This technology provides far more detailed information than traditional 2D X rays, allowing precise treatment planning and better outcomes. Digital impression scanners eliminate uncomfortable traditional impressions, creating more accurate models for crowns, veneers, and orthodontic work.
Our sterilization equipment includes Class B autoclaves, the highest standard for sterilization, exceeding what many Western dental offices use. We have digital X ray systems that reduce radiation exposure by up to 90 percent compared to traditional film X rays. Our surgical suite for implant procedures has dedicated air filtration and follows protocols you’d find in hospital operating rooms.
This investment in technology isn’t altruistic. It’s competitive necessity. When patients can choose dental care anywhere in Southeast Asia, clinics that maintain cutting edge technology attract more international patients. Vietnam’s dental tourism industry has grown specifically because clinics recognized they needed to match or exceed Western standards to compete.
A photographer from Canada toured our Ho Chi Minh City facility before committing to treatment. She’d visited dental clinics in Thailand and Malaysia during previous trips and wanted to compare. After seeing our equipment and technology, she told me our clinic matched the best she’d seen anywhere, including her dentist’s office in Vancouver. She proceeded with a full mouth reconstruction that saved her over 25,000 Canadian dollars.
Myth Number Three: Communication Will Be a Problem
Language barriers represent a legitimate concern for international patients, but this myth assumes Vietnamese dental clinics haven’t addressed this obvious need.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, English is our primary working language for international patients. All our dentists speak English fluently, having either trained internationally or completed English language programs specifically for medical professionals. Our support staff, from receptionists to dental assistants, communicate effectively in English.
Beyond basic communication, we provide written treatment plans, cost estimates, and post treatment care instructions in English. Our consent forms are available in English. We can discuss complex treatment options, explain risks and benefits, and answer detailed questions without language creating barriers.
We also have staff members who speak Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese, reflecting our diverse patient base. When we occasionally treat patients who don’t speak English or Vietnamese, we arrange professional medical interpreters rather than relying on inadequate communication.
The communication quality often surprises international patients. A journalist from the UK told me she’d expected basic, functional English but found our conversations about her treatment options more detailed and informative than consultations she’d had with her London dentist, who often seemed rushed and used technical jargon without explanation.
Clear communication goes beyond language fluency. It includes taking time to explain procedures, showing patients images and scans, discussing options thoroughly, and ensuring they feel informed and comfortable. This patient centered communication style is part of Vietnamese culture and something international patients consistently mention in reviews.
I’ve treated patients from France who spoke minimal English, requiring us to communicate more slowly and carefully. Rather than becoming frustrated, my team and I used visual aids, translated written materials, and took extra time to ensure understanding. That patience and effort resulted in a successful outcome and a grateful patient who referred several French speaking friends to our Da Nang location.
Myth Number Four: Infection Control Standards Are Lower
This myth particularly frustrates me because it suggests Vietnamese dental professionals don’t care about patient safety or don’t understand proper sterilization protocols. Both assumptions are insulting and wrong.
Reputable dental clinics in Vietnam follow the same infection control guidelines as clinics worldwide, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, and World Health Organization, or WHO. We treat infection control as non negotiable, not a place to cut costs or corners.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, every instrument that enters a patient’s mouth is either single use and disposable or thoroughly sterilized between patients using Class B autoclaves. Instruments are packaged in individual sterilization pouches that remain sealed until opened in front of the patient. We use indicator strips to verify sterilization effectiveness with every autoclave cycle.
Treatment rooms are disinfected between patients using hospital grade disinfectants. Surfaces that can’t be disinfected are covered with disposable barriers that are changed after each patient. We wear fresh gloves for every patient, never reusing them or washing and reusing them, which I know happens in some budget clinics but never at established practices.
Our staff receives regular training on infection control protocols. We maintain detailed sterilization logs documenting every autoclave cycle. International patients are welcome to tour our sterilization area and see our protocols firsthand, which many do before committing to treatment.
These standards exist not just because they’re right but because our international patient base demands them. Patients from countries with strict medical regulations expect nothing less, and we deliver nothing less. Our reputation depends on maintaining impeccable safety standards.
A nurse from Australia specifically asked to see our sterilization area before agreeing to treatment. As a healthcare professional, she knew what to look for. After inspecting our protocols, equipment, and documentation, she said our infection control exceeded what she’d seen at several dental offices in Sydney. She proceeded with confidence and later sent her husband and two colleagues to us.
Myth Number Five: If Something Goes Wrong, You Have No Recourse
This myth assumes that once you leave Vietnam, any problems with your dental work become impossible to address. While international dental care does require more planning than local treatment, established clinics provide substantial support.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we provide warranties on our work. Crown and veneer work typically includes a two to five year warranty covering defects in materials or workmanship. Dental implants often have lifetime warranties on the implant fixture itself, with warranties on the crown that attaches to the implant.
If problems arise after you return home, we maintain detailed records of your treatment including X rays, photos, and technical specifications. This documentation helps your home country dentist address issues if necessary. We’re also available via email and video consultation to discuss any concerns.
For minor issues like adjustments to bite or small areas of irritation, most problems can be addressed by a dentist near you. We provide clear guidance on what needs adjustment and authorize local dentists to make necessary changes. More significant issues may warrant a return trip to Vietnam, and our warranty terms typically cover the dental work itself, though not travel costs.
Importantly, established clinics want to maintain their reputation. Negative reviews spread quickly in the age of social media and online review platforms. We have strong incentives to ensure every patient has excellent outcomes and feels supported even after returning home.
I’ve had patients contact me months or even years after treatment with questions or concerns. We’ve never dismissed these inquiries. We review their records, discuss the situation, and provide guidance or arrange follow up treatment. A patient from New Zealand returned two years after getting veneers because one had chipped slightly. We replaced it under warranty at no charge, and she appreciated that we stood behind our work despite the time that had passed.
The key is choosing established clinics with track records, verifiable reviews, and clear warranty policies. Avoid clinics that seem to come and go or lack online presence and patient testimonials. Dental tourism isn’t risk free, but working with reputable clinics dramatically reduces those risks.
Myth Number Six: Vietnamese Dentists Lack Proper Training
This myth probably bothers me most because it directly questions my credentials and those of my colleagues. Let me address it with facts about dental education in Vietnam.
Vietnamese dentists complete rigorous training programs. Dental school requires six years of study after high school, including classroom education, laboratory work, and clinical rotations. Many Vietnamese dentists, including myself and several colleagues at Picasso Dental Clinic, have completed additional training internationally or pursued specialty certifications.
I trained at Hanoi Medical University and completed continuing education programs in Australia, Thailand, and Singapore. I regularly attend international dental conferences to stay current with evolving techniques and materials. This commitment to ongoing education is common among Vietnamese dentists, especially those treating international patients.
Vietnam’s dental tourism success has attracted talented dentists who could work anywhere but choose to practice here. The opportunity to treat diverse international cases, work with advanced technology, and build successful practices attracts ambitious, skilled professionals.
Many Vietnamese dentists also maintain professional memberships in international dental organizations. These memberships require meeting educational and ethical standards that transcend national boundaries. The quality of Vietnamese dental education and training enables practitioners to meet these international standards.
What international patients often don’t realize is that dentists treating international patients face higher scrutiny than those serving only local populations. Our work gets compared directly to dental care in developed countries. Patients come with expectations set by their home country experiences. This forces us to maintain excellent standards or lose patients to competitors.
A dentist from Ireland came to our clinic as a patient, needing implant work. He was naturally skeptical, being a dental professional himself. After discussing treatment planning, examining our facility, and observing my clinical approach, he said my methodology matched what he’d expect from specialists in Dublin. He proceeded with treatment and has since referred several patients to us, comfortable vouching for our clinical competence to his own patients.
The Real Questions You Should Ask About Dental Work in Vietnam
Instead of worrying about myths, international patients should focus on asking the right questions when researching Vietnamese dental clinics.
Ask about the clinic’s experience with international patients. How many do they treat annually? Can they provide references or testimonials from patients from your country? Clinics regularly serving international patients have systems in place for communication, treatment planning, and follow up care.
Inquire about specific materials and brands used. Reputable clinics will specify exactly which implant systems, crown materials, and filling products they use. If a clinic is vague about materials or defensive when asked, that’s a red flag.
Request detailed treatment plans and cost estimates in writing before committing. You should know exactly what procedures are planned, what materials will be used, and what the total cost includes. Hidden fees or unclear pricing are warning signs.
Ask about the dentist’s training and experience. Where did they study? How long have they been practicing? Do they have experience with your specific procedure? Qualified dentists are proud to discuss their credentials.
Verify sterilization and infection control protocols. Can you tour the sterilization area? What type of autoclaves do they use? How do they track sterilization cycles? Legitimate clinics welcome these questions.
Understand warranty terms and what happens if problems arise after you return home. Get warranty information in writing, including what’s covered and for how long.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we encourage these questions. International patients who ask detailed, informed questions tend to have better experiences because they’ve done their research and chosen clinics that meet their standards.
Planning Your Dental Trip to Vietnam
If you’ve decided to explore dental work in Vietnam, proper planning ensures the best experience and outcomes.
Start with research three to six months before your intended travel date. This timeline allows correspondence with clinics, reviewing treatment plans, and scheduling appropriately. Rush decisions rarely lead to optimal outcomes.
Send X rays and photos to clinics you’re considering. Many clinics, including ours, provide preliminary treatment plans and cost estimates based on this information. This helps you compare options and budget appropriately before committing to travel.
Plan to spend at least one week in Vietnam for most dental work. Simple procedures like fillings or basic crowns might take less time, but implants, multiple crowns, or complex work requires adequate time for proper treatment stages and follow up appointments.
Consider combining dental treatment with vacation. Vietnam offers incredible experiences, from Hanoi’s historic sites to Da Nang’s beaches to Ho Chi Minh City’s energy. Many patients treat their dental trip as an opportunity to explore a fascinating country while saving money on necessary dental work.
Our four clinic locations across Vietnam allow patients to choose based on their travel preferences. History enthusiasts often choose our Hanoi location near the Old Quarter. Beach lovers prefer Da Nang. Those wanting urban energy select Ho Chi Minh City. Da Lat appeals to patients seeking cooler mountain climate and natural beauty.
A retired couple from the United States planned a three week Vietnam adventure around dental work at our clinic. The husband needed implants and crowns, treatment that required two weeks with healing time between stages. They spent the first week in Hanoi for initial procedures, then traveled to Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue. They returned to Hanoi for final appointments, then explored northern Vietnam before flying home. They saved over 15,000 US dollars on dental work while experiencing an incredible vacation.
Making Your Decision
Myths about dental work in Vietnam persist, but they don’t reflect the reality at established, reputable clinics serving international patients. The combination of quality materials, modern technology, skilled dentists, and significant cost savings makes Vietnam a legitimate option for dental care.
Does every dental clinic in Vietnam meet international standards? Of course not, just as every dental clinic in your home country doesn’t provide equally excellent care. The key is doing your research, asking the right questions, and choosing clinics with established track records and transparent practices.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we’ve built our reputation over twelve years specifically by exceeding international patients’ expectations. We know you have choices, including staying home for dental work or visiting other dental tourism destinations. We’ve earned the trust of 70,000 plus patients by maintaining standards that match or exceed what they’d find at home, while offering genuine savings that make international dental travel worthwhile.
If you’re considering dental work in Vietnam, I invite you to contact us with questions, send your X rays for a preliminary assessment, or schedule a consultation during your next Vietnam visit. We’ll provide honest guidance about whether dental tourism makes sense for your specific situation, transparent pricing, and detailed treatment planning that helps you make an informed decision.
The myths I’ve addressed today shouldn’t prevent you from exploring an option that could save you thousands of dollars while providing excellent dental care. Instead, use the information I’ve shared to ask informed questions, evaluate clinics carefully, and make decisions based on facts rather than misconceptions.
Your smile deserves the best care possible, whether that’s in your home country or at a reputable clinic in Vietnam. I’m proud to have helped thousands of international patients achieve excellent dental outcomes while genuinely saving money, and I hope this article helps you navigate the decision with confidence and accurate information.
About Dr. Emily Nguyen
Dr. Emily Nguyen is the Principal Dentist at Picasso Dental Clinic, where she has specialized in treating international patients since 2013. Having provided dental care to over 70,000 patients from 65 different nationalities, Dr. Nguyen understands the unique concerns international patients face when considering dental work abroad. She is committed to transparent communication, international quality standards, and helping patients make informed decisions about dental tourism in Vietnam.
