Preparing for dental tourism does not mean asking your doctor for every available blood test. Most patients should begin with a clear medical summary, a current medication and allergy list, and the dental records related to their proposed treatment. Additional tests or a letter from a general practitioner may be useful in selected cases, but they should be requested for a clinical reason.
The documents needed for several crowns or veneers may differ from those required for extractions, dental implants or full-arch surgery. A patient with diabetes, a heart condition or anticoagulant medication may also need to provide more information than someone without a significant medical history.
Before booking a flight, international patients can send their existing records to Delia Dental Clinic for an initial review. The team can identify information that may need clarification and estimate the likely treatment direction, cost and travel timeline. The final assessment still takes place in person at Delia’s Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City branch.
Quick Answer
Bring a current medical summary, medication and allergy list, relevant dental records and recent test results connected to any existing health condition. Do not request a standard set of blood tests or stop medication without clinical advice. Send the available records to Delia before booking so missing information can be identified early.
What Should Every Dental Tourist Prepare Before Travelling?
A useful medical file does not need to be long. It needs to be current, readable and relevant to the treatment being considered.
A brief health summary should identify diagnosed conditions, previous major operations or hospital admissions, and any ongoing care from a GP or specialist. Patients should also prepare a complete medication list rather than relying on memory during the consultation.
| Record | What it should contain | Why it may matter |
| Medical history summary | Current conditions, previous major surgery and ongoing specialist care | Helps identify issues that may affect treatment, medication or healing |
| Medication list | Brand and generic names, dose, schedule and reason for use | Allows the dental team to review possible bleeding, healing or medication considerations |
| Allergy information | Medication, latex or other known allergies and the reaction experienced | Helps avoid preventable exposure and distinguish an allergy from a minor side effect |
| GP or specialist details | Name, clinic and contact information | Supports clarification when needed and authorised by the patient |
| Relevant test results | Recent results connected to an existing condition | May provide useful information about current medical management |
| Prescription copies | Current prescriptions for medicines carried during the trip | Helps verify the correct medicine and dose |
| Emergency contact | Name, relationship and telephone number | Provides a contact point if assistance is required |
Medication should be listed even when it seems unrelated to dentistry. This includes prescription medicine, over-the-counter products, supplements and injections. Blood thinners, diabetes medicine, osteoporosis medicine, steroids and medication affecting the immune system are particularly important to disclose, but the dental team still needs the complete list.
Patients should carry enough medication for the planned trip, plus a reasonable allowance for travel delays. Medicines should remain in their original packaging where possible, accompanied by copies of the prescriptions.
Which Dental Records Should You Send to Delia Dental Clinic Before Booking?
Medical records describe the patient’s general health. Dental records provide information about the teeth, bone, previous treatment and proposed procedure. Both may be relevant, but they answer different questions.
Before travelling, patients can send Delia Dental Clinic:
- Full-smile and close-up dental photographs
- Recent panoramic or periapical X-rays
- Existing CBCT files in their original format, when available
- Previous treatment notes
- A written treatment plan or quote from another clinic
- Root canal, crown, bridge or implant records
- Implant brand and component details for existing implants
- A description of current symptoms and treatment priorities
Each type of record has limits.
| Dental record | What it may help show remotely | What it cannot confirm alone |
| Dental photographs | Visible teeth, restorations, spaces, gum appearance and the patient’s smile concern | Root condition, bone anatomy, infection below the surface or gum-pocket depth |
| Panoramic X-ray | Overall view of the teeth, jaws and existing dental work | Detailed three-dimensional implant anatomy |
| Periapical X-ray | A focused view of a tooth, root and surrounding area | The complete bite or full jaw |
| CBCT files | Three-dimensional anatomical information when the scan is current and diagnostically suitable | Current symptoms, tooth mobility, gum condition or the complete clinical diagnosis |
| Existing quote | Proposed treatment, materials, stages and cost categories | Whether the proposed plan is clinically suitable |
| Treatment notes | What was previously diagnosed or completed | The present condition if the records are outdated |
Patients considering implants can read more about what an X-ray can confirm before an implant trip to Vietnam. Even a suitable CBCT scan does not replace an examination by the dentist who will provide treatment.
Do You Need Blood Tests Before Dental Treatment Abroad?
Most dental tourists do not need a universal set of blood tests simply because they are travelling overseas. Testing should be based on the patient’s medical history, current medication and proposed procedure.
A patient arranging veneers on otherwise suitable teeth may not need the same medical investigation as someone planning multiple extractions, bone grafting or full-arch implant surgery. Likewise, a person with a well-managed condition may already have recent results from their usual clinician, while another patient may need an update before treatment can be confirmed.
The safest sequence is to send the available records first. Delia can then identify questions that may need to be discussed with the patient’s GP, specialist or prescribing clinician.
HbA1c or glucose results for patients with diabetes
Patients with diabetes should tell the dental team how the condition is managed, which medicines they use and whether they have experienced recent changes or complications.
A recent HbA1c result may be useful because it provides information about average blood glucose over the preceding months. A recent glucose reading may also be relevant in selected circumstances. However, neither test should be treated as a mandatory requirement for every dental patient.
The importance of these results depends on the proposed treatment, the patient’s health and the information already available. Implant surgery, multiple extractions or another complex procedure may require more medical context than non-surgical treatment.
Patients should not change insulin, tablets or meal timing without instructions from the clinician managing their diabetes and the treating dental team.
INR for patients taking warfarin
Warfarin affects blood clotting and is monitored using an international normalised ratio, or INR. A recent INR result may be requested before an invasive dental procedure, depending on the procedure, the result’s timing and the instructions of the healthcare professionals involved.
INR should not be treated as a test for every type of blood thinner. Direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran and edoxaban are managed differently and are not monitored through routine INR testing in the same way as warfarin.
Most importantly, patients must not stop warfarin, a direct oral anticoagulant, aspirin, clopidogrel or another prescribed medicine on their own. Any change must be coordinated with the prescribing clinician and treating dental team because stopping medication can create risks unrelated to the dental procedure.
Other blood tests are case-specific
A complete blood count, kidney or liver function test, coagulation test or another laboratory result may be useful in selected cases. This does not make those tests part of a standard dental tourism package.
A result may be considered when the patient has a relevant diagnosed condition, is taking medicine that requires monitoring, has recently received significant medical care, or is preparing for a procedure for which the treating team needs additional information.
Patients should not select tests from an online checklist and ask their GP to order them without context. The proposed dental treatment and medical history should determine what, if anything, needs to be updated.
Which Medical Conditions or Medicines Should Be Disclosed Early?
Having a medical condition does not automatically make a patient unsuitable for treatment in Vietnam. Early disclosure allows the dental team to understand what must be assessed, clarified or coordinated before the trip.
| Information to disclose | Why it may affect planning |
| Diabetes | May affect healing, infection considerations and appointment planning |
| Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine | May affect bleeding management during invasive treatment |
| Heart condition, stroke history or recent cardiac care | May require clarification before surgery or another invasive procedure |
| Kidney or liver disease | May affect medication and treatment planning |
| Immune suppression or cancer treatment | May influence healing and infection considerations |
| Osteoporosis medication | May be relevant to extractions, implants or other jaw procedures |
| Long-term steroid use | May require additional medical context in some cases |
| Pregnancy or possible pregnancy | May affect imaging, medication and treatment timing |
| Previous reaction to anaesthetic or medication | Helps the team assess procedure and drug safety |
| Smoking or vaping | Relevant to healing and implant-risk discussions |
| Recent hospitalisation or surgery | May indicate that treatment timing requires review |
The dental team should also be told about a pacemaker, artificial heart valve, previous joint replacement, bleeding disorder, organ transplant or any instruction previously given about antibiotics before procedures. Disclosure does not mean that an antibiotic or treatment change will automatically be required.
When Should You Ask Your GP or Specialist for a Medical Letter?
Not every dental tourist needs medical clearance from a GP. A letter may be useful when the patient has a significant or unstable condition, has recently been hospitalised, takes medication that may require procedural planning, or is considering complex surgery.
It is usually better to contact Delia before asking for a letter. This gives the patient a clearer idea of which questions need to be answered and avoids requesting a generic statement that provides little useful information.
When relevant, a GP or specialist letter may include:
- Current diagnoses and whether the condition is considered stable
- Current medicine and dosage
- Relevant recent test results
- Recent treatment, surgery or hospital admission
- Specific precautions the clinician considers important
- Contact details for clinical clarification
A GP letter does not guarantee suitability for dental treatment. The treating dentist remains responsible for the dental assessment, proposed procedure and final decision after examining the patient.
What Should You Never Change Without Medical Advice?
Patients should never stop or change prescribed medicine simply to make an overseas dental procedure easier to schedule.
This applies particularly to warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants, aspirin, clopidogrel, insulin, diabetes tablets, steroids and medicine used after a transplant or during cancer treatment. The reason the medication was prescribed may present a greater risk than the dental bleeding or healing concern the patient is trying to avoid.
Patients should also avoid taking antibiotics “just in case” unless they have been prescribed for a specific clinical reason. Previous advice to take antibiotics before dental treatment should be disclosed so the treating team can determine whether it remains applicable.
Fasting should only be undertaken when clear instructions have been provided. Many treatments under local anaesthesia do not require fasting, while sedation or another form of anaesthesia may involve different preparation. Patients should follow the instructions issued for their confirmed procedure rather than relying on general information online.
When Should You Prepare and Send Your Records?
The records should be prepared early enough to resolve important questions before non-refundable travel is booked.
| Timing | Recommended action |
| Before booking flights | Send the available medical and dental records to Delia for an initial review |
| Approximately 4–6 weeks before travel | Speak with a GP, specialist or travel health clinician if the case or health history requires it |
| After Delia identifies missing information | Request the relevant update, medical letter or case-specific result |
| About one week before departure | Confirm medication supply, document access and any updated health information |
| When arriving at Delia | Complete a current medical history and provide any new records |
| Before treatment begins | Undergo the in-person examination and required diagnostic assessment |
Patients coordinating appointments, flights and accommodation can also use Delia’s guide to planning dental treatment and a holiday in Vietnam.
Implant patients should remember that the length of the trip is different from the biological healing period. The guide to how long to stay in Vietnam for dental implants explains how surgical and restorative visits may be divided.
How Should You Send Your Medical and Dental Records?
You do not need to prepare a complicated medical file before contacting Delia Dental Clinic. Start by sending the records you already have, such as photos of your prescriptions, recent test results, dental X-rays, treatment notes or an existing quote.
Make sure each document is clear enough to read and that the patient’s name and date are visible where relevant. Dental photographs should be taken in good lighting and should show the full smile as well as close-up views of the teeth. If you already have a CBCT scan, send the original files or the download link provided by the imaging centre rather than a photograph of the scan on a screen.
Records written in another language can still be sent for an initial review. Delia may ask for an English summary or translation if important details about a diagnosis, medication or allergy are unclear.
Patients should maintain a digital copy that can be accessed while travelling and an offline backup in case internet access is unavailable. Medical records should only be sent through a communication channel confirmed by the clinic, not posted publicly in social media comments.
The Delia Dental Clinic Pre-Travel Medical Checklist
Delia’s pre-travel process begins with the information the patient already has. It does not require every international patient to produce the same medical file.
Ready to send
Most patients can begin by sending:
| Document | Status |
| Medical history summary | Prepare before the initial review |
| Medication and allergy list | Prepare before the initial review |
| Dental and smile photographs | Send when available |
| Recent dental X-rays | Send when available |
| Existing CBCT files | Send if already available |
| Previous treatment plan or quote | Send for comparison |
| Preferred travel dates | Include as an estimate |
Request only when relevant
After the initial review, selected patients may be asked to clarify or obtain:
| Possible additional document | When it may be relevant |
| GP or specialist letter | Significant condition, recent medical care or a question requiring clarification |
| Recent HbA1c or diabetes update | Diabetes and treatment where current management is relevant |
| Recent INR | Warfarin use and a procedure for which the result is required |
| Other laboratory results | Existing condition, medication monitoring or case-specific clinical concern |
| Additional dental imaging | Existing records do not answer the necessary treatment-planning question |
Confirm after arrival
The remote review remains preliminary. After arriving at Delia Dental Clinic, the patient must still complete an updated health history and undergo an in-person dental examination. Current symptoms, gums, tooth stability, bite and other clinical findings cannot be fully assessed from documents alone.
Further imaging or testing may be recommended when clinically indicated. The final treatment plan, itemised quote and appointment schedule are confirmed after the examination.
Delia Dental Clinic provides this process for international patients attending its Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City branches. Its wider international patient journey explains what happens from the first message through treatment, departure checks and follow-up after the patient returns home.
Patients can also review what a dental trip with Delia Dental Clinic includes and the questions international implant patients should ask about dental implant safety in Vietnam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every dental tourist need blood tests?
No. Blood tests should be based on the patient’s health history, medication and planned procedure. Many patients do not require additional blood tests solely because they are receiving dental treatment abroad.
Do I need a GP letter before getting dental implants abroad?
Not every implant patient needs a GP letter. It may be requested when the patient has a significant medical condition, recent hospital care, medication requiring clarification or another factor relevant to implant surgery.
Should I bring my HbA1c result if I have diabetes?
A recent HbA1c result may be useful, especially for complex or surgical treatment, but it is not a universal requirement. Send the result if it is already available and ask Delia whether an additional medical update is needed.
Do I need an INR test if I take warfarin?
A recent INR may be required before some invasive dental procedures. The acceptable timing and treatment plan must be determined by the healthcare professionals involved. Do not stop or change warfarin without medical instructions.
Should I stop blood thinners before dental treatment?
No patient should stop a blood thinner without instructions from the prescribing clinician and treating dental team. Stopping anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine can create serious health risks.
Can Delia confirm that I am suitable for implants from my records alone?
No. Records can support a preliminary assessment and identify questions before travel, but final implant suitability requires an in-person examination and any clinically necessary imaging or diagnostic tests.
Do my health records need to be translated into English?
Important information should be available in a language the treating team can understand clearly. Patients whose records are not in English should ask whether an English summary or formal translation is required.
Should I bring paper copies of my medical records?
Digital copies are usually easier to share, but patients should also keep an offline backup. A short printed medication and allergy list may be useful during travel or if a device cannot be accessed.
Final Thoughts
An effective dental tourism checklist is not a demand for every patient to complete the same medical tests. Its purpose is to make relevant health information available early enough for the dental team to identify uncertainty before the patient commits to travel.
Start with a current medical summary, medication and allergy list, dental photographs, relevant X-rays and any previous treatment plan. Additional tests or a GP letter should be requested only when the patient’s condition, medication or proposed treatment makes them useful.
Send your medical summary, medication and allergy list, dental photos, recent X-rays or CBCT files, and any existing quote to Delia Dental Clinic via WhatsApp or Messenger before booking your flight. The international patient team can identify information that may need clarification and provide a preliminary treatment, cost and travel-timeline review for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Final suitability, treatment planning and pricing are confirmed after an in-person examination.
