Dental work while in Malaga.

I do not. But, before you do, call around and ask a few local oral surgeons this question-“I’m planning on having a dental implant in Spain. If I have trouble with it when I get home will you take care of me?” Just make sure that’s in place and don’t be surprised if there are no takers.

If I have trouble with it when I get home will you take care of me?

It's a bit of a surrealist question (to me anyway). If I have any health trouble, regardless of why, where or how, I'll be taken care of back home by any health professional I ask. No questions asked, it's their job -and their business too. Perhaps the work culture in the US is different...

Anyway, just for info, it's well known that some of the best health treatments in Europe are in Spain, so I wouldn't worry much. Anyhow, as in everything else in life, you should choose carefully, like in any other profession, there are the good, the mediocre and the bad. A starter: https://www.topdoctors.es/malaga-ciudad/odontologia/

You read so many horror stories about foreign medical treatment, regardless of which country, that I would be very careful.
It's the aftercare if there are problems, as much as anything.
And, of course, if anything goes wrong after you have come home..........

Having said all that, I lived not far from Malaga for 12 years and there is a very high standard of dentistry available.
At least two friends had implants done.

I have no direct experience of this company, but they have been operating for over 20 years, advertising in expat media, so must be doing something right.
https://www.clinicadentalcrookelaguna.com/en/dental-implants/

It is my understanding that getting implants requires several months of treatment.

To follow up on the point made by marsh

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622

https://www.deltadental.com/us/en/protect-my-smile/procedures/dental-implant/step-by-step-procedure.html

Interestingly, the UK Government has started working with Tiktok influencers to publicise the risks of overseas cosmetic and dental surgery, together with precautionary advice.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-works-with-tiktok-to-help-safety-for-treatments-abroad

Enric, I wish I could live in Spain (lifelong dream) and would have no problem with seeing a dentist or doctor there. But the US health-care system is --let's just use the word "strange." There are dentists who will not touch a patient who had work done elsewhere, even elsewhere within the US.......

I'mm having implants done now, in the US...it is taking me more than a year so far but I do travel a lot.....months between the implant of the posts and the fitting of the crowns....sometimes you need a bone graft (I did) and also a sinus graft (I did)......and the cost of dentistry in the US is horrific, as you all know........and many, or most, people do not have dental insurance...

If you can't afford the implants they just pull out all your teeth and give you those fake teeth--not sure what they are called.....the kind you put in a glass next to your bed when you go to sleep......

Shame, shame on our health care system. I'd have no issue having all this done in Spain......

Not Spain, but "Turkey teeth" is the current British vernacular for a big shiny white smile because so many people travel to have OTT cosmetic dentistry done in Turkey.

@ekscrunchy

But the US health-care system is --let's just use the word "strange." There are dentists who will not touch a patient who had work done elsewhere, even elsewhere within the US.......

Why is that? Has anything to do with the sort of private-insurance-monopoly setup you have over there? Is it due the rather peculiar —at least to European eyes— system of professional liability claims in the US? It's a puzzling thought that someone turns away business coming his way...

Over here, a dental professional would take on (almost) every case that comes into the clinic—after all, it’s their business. I say almost, because there are probably some extreme cases where many might prefer not to get involved if another dentist caused great damage.

There are dentists who will not touch a patient who had work done elsewhere, even elsewhere within the US......

If that were true, then what is everybody doing for dental care when the first dentist they went to retires?

As to the question posed by OP, it looks like the hurdle is the prep time, that extends over a fairly significant stretch of time, that might be the critical issue.

When my dentist retired, he referred me to the person who took over (bought) his practice in NYC. They do not want to deal with "repairing" dentistry done in other countries. When I see my dentist in a few weeks I will ask her for more information.....

The conversation is not focused on going to a new dentist if yours retires. It is about a densit willing to take on a patient who had major work done in another country....again, I will try to get more info when I go in a few weeks...for yet more implants!!

… funny, nobody mentioned ‘repairing’ anything… it sounds rather arrogant to assume that dentists do a good job only in the U.S. What it really shows is sheer ignorance by some, doesn't it?

There's many dentists working to very high standards at a cost a fraction of the US or UK right across Europe. I was being a little snobby talking about "Turkey teeth" but the standards are generally high.

The first thing my Romanian ex did when she made a bit of money working in London was go back to Romania to get her teeth done. Fraction of the cost of a UK dentist and it made a big difference to her confidence.

I’ll take it one step further, to expand upon what I wrote in my initial reply. If you have a medical emergency and go to an emergency room in the US they have to treat you by law. But an oral surgeon working in his/her office is under no obligation to treat you. When I said check with one here before you go, that is what I meant. Ask this” I’m going overseas to have a dental implant. If I run into problems with it when I return can I see you for that?” If the answer is sure, no problem, then you’ve covered your bases. But don’t be surprised if the answer is something along the lines of (politely said) hell no!

David, no need to apologise at all, I wasn't offended. Your views are always appreciated. Probably a language nuance: as we all learn that "to fix" = to repair something broken or to remedy something poorly done, but maybe it's being used figuratively in certain contexts.

We have friends who travel to San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico for all their dental work. It's a 3-hour drive for them. They claim they save 50% on their care, and they've been doing this for 20 years or more. They've never had any problems with the work done by their Mexican dentists, and they've not had any issues getting emergency care from US dentists during this time. So I wouldn't be concerned about that part of the question.

I have some implants, as does my husband, and can attest to the mention above that it takes months to complete the process if done correctly. The commercials that promise implants in a day? Not happening. They just don't talk about all the stuff that has to happen before 'teeth' are attached to the posts. As well, not everyone's bone structures can even support implants and they can fail to integrate, thus a thorough exam, xrays, 3-d scans, medical history, etc. to see if you're a candidate to begin with, and even then they can fail. It's a process, and ongoing exams - I have new xrays done once or twice a year - plus careful bi or tri-annual office cleanings are necessary for the rest of your life to keep them in good shape and avoid gum or bone infections.

While I'm sure there are some excellent prosthodontists in Spain, I just don't know how a tourist from a visa-waiver country and subject to the 90-days-every-180 rule could manage the sort of process I experienced first hand. Shoot, I didn't even need the bone grafts or other extras procedures that some people do and would further lengthen that process.

Anyway, I did a lot of research before choosing my prosthodontist and while definitely pricey, I also know he's had to undo damage done in other offices that in the end cost the patients more in cost, time and discomfort. A good prosthodontist will also try and save all the natural teeth they can versus extract willy-nilly. So just be careful, OK?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622

We know 2 people who had dental work done in Turkey. Both had minor issues which their regular dentists took care of.
One actually had all her teeth removed the first visit and permanent implanted bridges the second visit. In between her bottom temporary came out. The dentist here fixed it no problem. They both had to make two trips.

We are currently in Croatia where my husband is having his 3 implants finished. His first visit was in June. Instead of $6,000 for one implant, he is paying $3,500 for 3 implants and a scaling. Luckily I have better teeth than him cause I’ll stick with my local dentist at home.
Most of the patients at the dental clinic are from Italy, we are close to the border.
FYI, most Croatians go to Bosnia where it is cheaper.

This thread seems to attract a lot of spam posting.