00:02Legendary cricketer Brett Lee has had a long love affair with India, including spruiking
00:07a dental company to Australians.
00:10In Mumbai last February, he met Sunshine Coast couple Janelle and Brent Jeel.
00:16One year on, their grins have faded.
00:20I definitely got a life-changing experience, but not what I was hoping for.
00:25The retired cafe owners had been regular travellers to India.
00:30In search of affordable major dental treatment, they contacted companies including dents.
00:36It was going to be cheaper to go to India, even covering the flights.
00:41Over two trips, Janelle had teeth removed and six implants or small metal screws put in
00:48her top jaw.
00:48Next, the 61-year-old had prosthetic teeth fixed to the implants.
00:54She said to him, it feels like it's digging into the roof of my mouth, it's causing me
00:58trouble and they assured her it would settle.
01:02It didn't, even after a third trip for adjustments.
01:06Not much bone around that implant.
01:08In despair, she went to a local maxillofacial surgeon who operated to replace what was done
01:14at Dent's.
01:14Incorrect implant placement, bone graft not working and incorrect prosthesis was supplied.
01:20So there's failures in multiple levels.
01:22I've spent a lot of time in tears.
01:24It's been a lot.
01:27Brent's dental work also isn't expected to last.
01:31The design of the prosthesis sets him up to fail, but also the implant placement isn't
01:36in the right part of the bone.
01:37It's been a financial disaster too.
01:40All the payments we made and bank statements.
01:44Dent's cost more than double what was expected and Janelle's treatment at home has added to
01:49the bill.
01:52In Lismore, another Dent's patient, Paul Giles, is happy with his new teeth, but he's furious
01:59the cost skyrocketed when he got to India.
02:02This is the ballpark quote?
02:03Yes, yes.
02:04He was given an upper quote of $5,800, which rose to almost 10 grand.
02:11He argued and ended up paying eight.
02:14They got you over a barrel when you're there, you know, halfway around the world, staying
02:18in a hotel room.
02:19The retired handyman's also had trouble finding a local clinic to maintain his teeth.
02:25As soon as I said I had it done overseas, oh no, no.
02:28Dent says Janelle Giles' situation is largely due to factors beyond its control, including
02:34her history of smoking and existing oral health condition.
02:38It says the couple has made an unreasonable demand for compensation.
02:42The company says treatment costs are confirmed only following an in-person clinical evaluation.
02:48Dr Lincoln often sees complications after overseas treatment.
02:53Last month it was four patients off the top of my head from India and one from Vietnam, but
02:59it's typically three to five.
03:02Dentists in Australia have complications too.
03:05The difference is patients have legal protections.
03:08What's driving people overseas is the nation's largely private dental system.
03:14Teeth aren't covered by Medicare.
03:16Dentists say there's been no progress on a public scheme for those most in need, including
03:22seniors.
03:23We've been calling for that for many years.
03:25It's disappointing to not see anything in that space.
03:28The health department says a national group will develop options for sustainable and longer
03:33term dental funding arrangements that better meet community needs.
03:37I'd like them to make it so people could look after their teeth at a reasonable price here.
03:43Stop everyone having to go overseas.
03:44Paul Giles isn't holding his breath.
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