For many Indian-American and Indian-Canadian families, a trip to Delhi is already on the calendar: a cousin's wedding, Diwali with the grandparents, a long winter break. With about 14 to 16 hours of non-stop flying each way from New York or Toronto, it makes sense to use that time well. Many dental treatments fit comfortably into a visit home, as long as each stage is timed around the trip rather than squeezed into its last few days.
This guide is for NRIs and their families in the USA and Canada. If you are mainly comparing implant costs, start with our USA guide or Canada guide; this one is about planning treatment around a trip you are already making.
What fits in one visit home, and what needs two
| Treatment | One visit home? | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Check-up, X-rays and cleaning | Yes | A single appointment; book it early in the trip in case it finds something that needs treatment |
| Teeth whitening (Zoom!) | Yes | About an hour in the chair, after a check that whitening is safe for your teeth and gums; some people have temporary sensitivity |
| Root canal treatment | Usually | Many cases are done in a single sitting; complex cases need more than one appointment, a few days apart. Most back teeth then need a crown |
| Crown (CEREC same-day) | Usually | A CEREC ceramic crown is designed, milled and fitted in one appointment in most cases |
| Single implant | No: two visits | The implant is placed on one visit and heals for a few months; the crown follows on a later visit. Sometimes a same-day crown is possible, provisional or permanent depending on your gums and bone |
| Full arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6) | No: two visits | Visit 1, about 7–14 days: implants and a fixed temporary bridge, or a removable denture while the implants heal if the bone does not allow a fixed bridge on the day. Visit 2, about 3–6 months later: the final bridge, about two weeks |
| Bone graft or sinus lift | Depends | Often done with the implant; if the implant has to wait for the graft to heal, it is placed at a later stage |
Sterling's current implant and crown prices are below. Root canal treatment and whitening are quoted after an examination.
| Treatment at Sterling | Indicative price (INR) |
|---|---|
| Single implant, DIO (Korea) | ₹40,000–45,000 |
| Single implant, Alpha-Bio (Israel) | ₹45,000 |
| Single implant, Zimmer (USA) | ₹50,000 |
| Single implant, Nobel Biocare (Sweden/USA) | ₹60,000 |
| Single implant, Straumann (Switzerland) | ₹60,000 |
| Crown, metal-ceramic (PFM) | ₹15,000 |
| Crown, zirconia full ceramic | ₹20,000 |
| Full-arch implants (All-on-4 / All-on-6) | ₹3,50,000–6,00,000 |
| CBCT 3D scan (full) | ₹10,000 |
In short: a single implant at Sterling is ₹40,000–60,000 depending on the system, and the crown is extra, ₹15,000 metal-ceramic or ₹20,000 zirconia. Canadian-dollar figures are in our Canada guide.
Timing around weddings, Diwali and winter breaks
- Have treatment early in the trip. After implant surgery or an extraction you want a few quiet days, not a sangeet the same evening.
- Whitening a few days before the event, not the morning of it, so any temporary sensitivity has settled.
- Leave time before the flight back. A British Dental Journal review suggests at least 72 hours after implant placement before flying, ideally about a week, and longer after a sinus lift (Felkai et al., 2023).
- Soft food for a few days after surgery. Worth remembering before the wedding feasts.
- Festival and wedding seasons are busy. Book appointments as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Send your X-rays before you fly. A recent OPG or CBCT lets the team tell you in advance whether your plan fits one visit or two.
Example plans
| Your trip | A plan that fits |
|---|---|
| Two weeks in December, a painful back tooth | Examination early in week one; root canal treatment, often in one sitting; a CEREC crown in most cases the same day or soon after |
| Three weeks for a family wedding, a missing tooth | Scan and implant placement in the first few days; a temporary tooth while it heals; the final crown on your next visit home, a few months later |
| Diwali now and another visit in spring or summer | Full arch: visit 1, about 7–14 days around Diwali, with implants and temporary teeth; visit 2, about two weeks, 3–6 months later, for the final bridge |
| A short trip with a wedding at the end | Check-up and cleaning, then whitening a few days before the wedding |
For implants, flight length matters: New York to Delhi is about 14 hours non-stop (Air India) and Toronto to Delhi about 16 (FlightsFrom), so it helps to line up implant stages with visits you are already making.
OCI card or e-Medical visa?
| You hold | For treatment in India |
|---|---|
| An OCI card | No visa needed. The OCI card works as a multiple-entry, lifelong visa (Consulate General of India) |
| An Indian passport | No visa needed |
| A US or Canadian passport, without OCI | Apply online for the e-Medical visa (official portal) |
According to the official e-Visa portal, the e-Medical visa is valid for one year from arrival with multiple entries. You apply at least 4 days and no more than 120 days before arrival, with a letter from the clinic on its letterhead; Sterling provides it once your plan and dates are agreed. Up to two companions can apply for e-Medical Attendant visas. Because it lasts a year with multiple entries, one e-Medical visa can usually cover both visits of a two-stage implant treatment, if both fall within the year. Visa rules change, so check the portal before applying. Step by step: e-Medical visa guide.
Taking your records back to your US or Canadian dentist
Your dentist at home should be able to pick up where we left off. Before you fly back, ask for:
- Copies of your X-rays and scans, taken before and after treatment.
- A treatment summary: what was done, on which tooth, and the materials used (for example, a zirconia crown).
- For implants, a full implant record: the system and brand, diameter and length, batch number, abutment type and how the crown is fixed (what your dentist needs).
- An itemised invoice listing each procedure, tooth and date, with payment receipts.
If you have dental insurance in the US or a private plan in Canada, coverage for treatment abroad varies widely between plans, so check with your insurer or plan administrator before you travel. If your plan does reimburse it, the itemised invoice and clinical notes are what it will usually ask for. If something needs attention once you are home, send photos or an X-ray on WhatsApp and the team can review them with you and your dentist.
Booking your parents in the same week
A trip home is often the one time the whole family is in the same city, and many NRI patients book their parents in alongside their own appointments. Older parents often need more than a check-up: a loose denture, a failing bridge or teeth that cannot be saved. A few things make it easier:
- Bring a list of their medicines. Blood thinners, diabetes medicines and bone medicines such as bisphosphonates all matter for extractions and implants.
- Book back-to-back appointments so the family makes one trip to the clinic.
- Ask about sedation if a parent is anxious; nitrous oxide, or general anaesthesia given by an anaesthetist for longer treatment, is available (sedation dentistry).
- Treatment can carry on after you fly back. Parents living in Delhi can continue any remaining visits on their own schedule.
For a parent with loose dentures, the options range from a better-fitting denture to implant-supported teeth (dentures vs implants).
Where we are
The Sterling Dental Clinic is in Vasant Vihar, South Delhi, about 12–13 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3: roughly 15 to 45 minutes by road depending on traffic, or about ₹550–750 by taxi (Rome2Rio). Implant treatment is led by Dr. Tarun Kumar Giroti, who has placed 12,000+ implants as lead surgeon, in more than 31 years of practice. For hotels and recovery days, see where to stay in Delhi.
How to start
- 1
Send your X-rays and dates
A recent OPG or CBCT, a short medical history and your travel dates, on WhatsApp.
- 2
Get an indicative plan
The team replies with what looks possible, whether it fits one visit or two, and an indicative cost. How the virtual consultation works.
- 3
Book early in your trip
Appointments are set around your family events and your flight home.
- 4
Leave with your records
X-rays, a treatment summary, an itemised invoice and, for implants, your implant record.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get dental work done while visiting India from the USA or Canada?+
Yes. A check-up and cleaning, whitening, a root canal or a crown can often be finished within one visit home. Implants need two visits a few months apart, which many families time with two trips they are already making.
Can I get a root canal and a crown done in one trip to India?+
Often, yes. Many root canals at Sterling are done in a single sitting, and a CEREC ceramic crown can usually be made and fitted in one appointment. Complex cases may need more than one appointment, so book early in your trip.
Do I need a medical visa if I have an OCI card?+
No. The OCI card is a multiple-entry, lifelong visa for visiting India, including for treatment. US or Canadian passport holders without OCI can apply online for the e-Medical visa.
How soon before a wedding should I get dental treatment in India?+
As early in the trip as you can. Leave a few quiet days after implant surgery or an extraction, and have whitening a few days before the event so any sensitivity has settled.
Can my parents in Delhi be treated in the same week?+
Yes. Many families book parents in alongside their own appointments. Bring a list of their medicines, since blood thinners, diabetes medicines and bone medicines affect extractions and implants.
Will my dentist in the US or Canada look after implants placed in India?+
With the implant record Sterling provides (system, size, batch details and X-rays), your dentist can carry out routine check-ups and minor maintenance.
Will my dental insurance cover treatment in India?+
It depends on your plan, so check with your insurer before you travel. If your plan reimburses treatment abroad, Sterling can provide an itemised invoice, clinical notes, X-rays and receipts.
Sources
- Consulate General of India, San Francisco: General information on the OCI card (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Government of India: e-Visa (incl. e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant) (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Felkai et al. (2023), Dental tourism and the risk of barotrauma and barodontalgia, Br Dent J 234:115–117 (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Air India: New York to Delhi flights (accessed 28 September 2026)
- FlightsFrom: Toronto to Delhi non-stop (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Rome2Rio: IGI Airport Terminal 3 to Vasant Vihar (accessed 28 September 2026)
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Whether implants suit you, and what they will cost, depends on a clinical examination and 3D scan. Prices are indicative and are confirmed in writing before any treatment.