What questions to ask on your first consult

A first consultation is a two-way interview. The clinic is evaluating whether they can treat you safely and predictably; you are evaluating whether you trust them enough to fly. Most patients only do the first half. The clinic asks the questions, the patient answers, the patient gets a quote, and the decision gets made on price.

That asymmetry is how bad outcomes happen. The clinics worth flying for expect to be interviewed and have prepared answers. The clinics that aren't worth flying for treat the patient's questions as friction. Below are twelve questions to bring to every consultation, what each one is really testing, and what a good answer sounds like.

1. Who specifically will be the lead surgeon on my case, and what is their dental board registration number? You want a name, not a team. A serious clinic gives you the name and the number on the first reply. A weak clinic answers 'our team of specialists' and changes the subject.

2. How many of this specific procedure has the lead surgeon completed in the last 24 months? You're looking for a real number — '187 full-arch cases since June 2024' — not a vague claim of 'extensive experience.' Volume in your procedure is the single best predictor of outcome.

3. What is your clinic's complication rate, and how is it tracked? Every honest surgeon has one. A healthy answer names a percentage (implant failure rates of 1–3% at one year are normal in the literature) and explains how it's measured. A clinic that claims zero complications is not tracking, or not telling the truth.

4. Will I get a written, itemized treatment plan before I commit to travel? The answer must be yes, with every line item priced. If the quote is a single number, the clinic is selling, not treating.

5. Is CBCT (3D) imaging done on site, and is the lead surgeon the one reading it? On-site imaging means problems can be caught and re-scanned during your visit. The surgeon reading their own scans, rather than relying on a written report from an outside radiologist, means surgical planning happens in their head, not on paper.

6. What contingencies are in the plan if imaging reveals a complication on day one — insufficient bone, a sinus issue, an infection? A good answer names the options (graft now and delay surgery, change the implant plan, refer out for a sinus lift) and the price impact of each. A weak answer is 'we'll figure it out.'

7. When was your last sterilization audit, what was the result, and how often do you run spore tests on the autoclave? Weekly spore tests are standard. A clinic that doesn't know the answer doesn't run them.

8. What is your protocol if a case requires general anesthesia or hospital admission? Most full-arch work is done in-clinic under IV sedation. But complications happen. The clinic should have a written admitting agreement with a nearby hospital and a named anesthesiologist they work with regularly.

9. Are emergency contacts available 24/7 during my trip window, and who picks up at 2am? A WhatsApp number that goes to the surgeon, not a switchboard, is the standard for international patient care.

10. What is your written warranty on the restoration, and what does it cover? You want the document, not a summary. Look for the duration on the implant fixture (typically 5–10 years), the duration on the prosthetic (typically 1–2 years), what triggers coverage, and what the patient is responsible for paying.

11. If something fails after I return home, what is the process? A good answer walks through it: photo and email to the clinic, video consultation within 48 hours, decision to handle remotely or fly back, who pays for what. A weak answer is 'come back to Lima.'

12. Can you put me in touch with two recent international patients who completed the same procedure and are willing to talk on the phone? A clinic with satisfied patients produces this in a day. A clinic that can't, or stalls, has told you everything you need to know.

Take notes. Compare across two or three clinics before you decide. Pay attention to how the answers are delivered, not just what they say: a clinic that has answered these questions a thousand times responds quickly and specifically. A clinic that hasn't gets vague, defensive, or unusually charming.

If a clinic hesitates on more than one or two of these, that is the answer. A serious operation has prepared, confident answers to every one of them — because their patients ask, and because the clinic itself wants to know.

Bring the list to every consult. Send it by email beforehand if that's easier. Any clinic that resents the questions is telling you not to go.