Aussie bloke beams with confidence after treatment at Elite Dental Center

Richard had been living with missing teeth and uncomfortable dentures for five years. Fortunately, his strong jawbone allowed him to undergo dental implant treatment without needing grafting.

"It's remarkable that he hasn't suffered from bone density loss, which allowed us to complete his dental implant within our three-week treatment schedule," said Dr. Nguyen Phuong Hang of Elite Dental. She added that Richard's twin brother, John, will return to Ho Chi Minh City in six months to complete his implant integration and restoration.

Richard before (L) and after (R) completing treatment in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Richard

The brothers' journey to Vietnam was made possible by a group of Vietnamese women working in Derby. The women, grateful for the Garstones' free driving lessons, sponsored their trip as a gesture of appreciation.

"The girls threw a party to celebrate getting their driving permits and funded our trip to Vietnam to say thank you. They even covered all our travel expenses," John shared. "It made the entire experience so much more meaningful."

The twins chose Elite Dental Center after researching online and were impressed by its positive reviews, modern facilities, and the expertise of its dental team.

The journey began with a drive to Broome, followed by a Scoot flight to Ho Chi Minh City via Singapore. To their surprise, round-trip tickets cost just AUD600 (US$382) during the peak travel months of September and October.

Although seasoned travelers to Bali, Bangkok, Pattaya, Manila, and Davao, this was their first visit to Vietnam. The quality of care at Elite Dental Center exceeded their expectations.

"The facilities, staff, and treatment were excellent, and the prices were much lower than in Australia. The quality was beyond what we expected," John said.

Richard (R) and his brother John at Elite Dental Center in HCMC. Photo courtesy of Elite Dental Center

The brothers noted that receiving similar treatment in Perth would have been prohibitively expensive. "We would've had to fly to Perth, where airfare alone is high. The total cost for dental implants could easily exceed AUD50,000-60,000 (US$31,894-38,273), not including accommodation," John explained.

While other Southeast Asian destinations like Bali and Pattaya offer cheaper dental treatments, John's past complications in Davao made him prioritize reliability and quality. Vietnam, they agreed, struck the right balance.

During their stay in Ho Chi Minh City, the twins received an offer from a dental clinic in Turkey via Facebook: a total mouth implant for just US$5,000, completed in one day. However, concerns about the feasibility of such quick procedures and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East led them to stick with Elite Dental Center.

Richard will return to Vietnam with John in six months for the next phase of treatment. John joked that by then, he hopes to become a local celebrity back in Derby for his sparkling new smile.