Dental tourism

What is Dental Tourism?

Dental Tourism is part of a wider practice, known as Medical tourism, which is gaining popularity in the UK and America. The practice involves people going abroad in order for fulfil their dental healthcare needs, instead of using their national healthcare systems.

Why is Dental Tourism popular in the UK?

The major factor in dental tourism growing in popularity is that certain treatments can be done more cheaply abroad than on the NHS or in private UK practices. A number of countries in Europe cater to UK dental tourism, as well as other nations, including; Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey and even as far out as India. Even with the added travel costs, many people find that the overall price of treatment is lower than if they stayed in the UK. The economic infrastructure of these nations is a key factor which allows for this to happen.

Typically, how much could I save doing it this way?

Prices, and therefore savings, will change depending on where the treatment is carried out and which procedures are completed. In a lot of cases prices can be cut in half compared the cost of treatment in the UK, including travel expenditures. Sometimes the savings could be well over half, reaching up to as much as 75% off the price of UK treatment costs.

What are the other advantages?

There are a few other advantages which are attracting more and more UK patients to look into Dental Tourism. These pros include:

• Open information - It is easy to check which practices abroad are credible, so that you know the proper care and treatment can be provided. The dentist’s registration number can be checked in the UK before you travel.
• Joint foreign and UK practices - Dentists abroad may also be registered with the British General Dental Council, meaning that they work under the same laws and regulations that are enforced in the United Kingdom.
• Aftercare - Aftercare abroad is usually cheaper too. Also, with practices that have offices in both the UK and abroad, the worries concerning aftercare can be relieved.

What are the disadvantages?

Leaving the UK and seeking treatment abroad can, understandably, contain risks. It’s not the case with all countries, but the possible dangers and risks of dental tourism include:

• Cost vs. Saving - Smaller and less complex treatments might not be worth the trip, especially once travel costs are added up. It’s best to fully evaluate the combined costs before agreeing to treatment abroad.
• No guarantees - Some countries cannot guarantee certain treatments and resolutions may be hard to come by, especially if travel has already been paid for.
• Quality of materials - The quality of the materials used for certain procedures in practices overseas cannot be guaranteed.
• Possibility of extra treatment - If poor or sub-standard treatment is received abroad then it may require extra and unnecessary work to be completed in order to correct the problem.
• The need for numerous trips - If a certain treatment requires numerous visits to a dentist’s office then the cost of travel can add up. Several trips will mean that you might not save any money at all by being treated overseas.