WE HAVE, in the past, highlighted the benefits of travelling overseas for low-cost dental work. It does not always work out that way, however.

Kathleen Dewar contacted an Irish agent in connection with dental work she needed done and has a pretty harrowing story to tell. “I researched this area and she assured me of the highest dental standards in a Hungarian clinic and emailed my X-ray arranging an appointment for me.”

Our reader travelled to Budapest to get crowns fitted and ended up with “huge damage to my teeth and gums and have subsequently had to have several teeth removed. I am currently undergoing medical treatment and I am now wearing dentures in my 30s. I have spent several thousand euro in fees and travel to the clinic during the last six years,” she writes.

She had a medical report carried out by a consultant who linked the damage directly to the work done in Hungary. “The cost will be up to €50,000 to repair, if it is possible to repair. This is without even mentioning the pain I have had on a near daily basis for the last year and a half.”

She has been told there is little recourse for Irish consumers where a clinic is not registered in Ireland. “Indeed, the clinic has refused to provide me with dental records for any of the work done on my teeth, something which no Irish dentist can do.

“I feel passionately that this area has to be discussed and consumers made aware that they need to check that clinics are fully registered in Ireland before they go abroad.”

It is certainly a valid point and one anyone considering travelling overseas for dental work needs to consider very carefully.