The green flags
Look for a dentist whose name, specialty, and training you can actually look up — not just a clinic brand. Look for named materials (E.max, zirconia, recognized implant systems like Straumann or Nobel Biocare) rather than "premium" with no specifics. Look for on-site digital imaging, a written and itemized treatment plan, and clear answers about sterilization and aftercare.
Photos of the actual facility, a real street address, and consistent reviews across independent platforms (not just testimonials hosted on the clinic's own site) all add confidence.
The red flags that should stop you
A price quoted before anyone has seen your X-rays or mouth. Pressure to pay a large deposit immediately to "lock in" a rate. Refusal to name materials or put the plan in writing. A treatment timeline that compresses major irreversible work into a day or two with no recovery built in. Reviews that are all five stars, all recent, and all generic.
Any one of these is a reason to slow down. Two or more is a reason to walk away.
Verify, then verify again
Cross-check the clinic name with independent review sites and patient forums. Ask for the treating dentist's full name and confirm their credentials with the country's dental association where possible. Request the written plan and read it carefully — a real clinic produces one as a matter of course. This vetting is precisely the work Nira does before any introduction is made, so you're not auditing a stranger's clinic on your own.
- Insist on verifiable credentials and named materials — never accept vagueness.
- A real plan is written and itemized before you pay anything.
- Pressure for a fast deposit is a classic red flag.
- Cross-check reviews on independent platforms, not just the clinic's own site.