Dental tourism.
Dental tourism (also called dental vacations or commonly known as dental holidays in Europe) involves individuals seeking dental care outside of their local healthcare systems, which may be accompanied by a vacation.
Dental treatment abroad. Who is the client?
A person’s choice to seek treatment abroad is typically price-driven, but other factors such as the quality, accessibility and transparency of dental care in their home country can also influence their decision. Dentists who practice in emerging economies are able to take advantage of lower overall costs, particularly for labor, rent and insurance. As for quality, there are many experienced and skilled dentists who have graduated from well-respected schools of dentistry in Europe or North America.
Cost of dental implants abroad. The search for savings.
Getting dental treatment can be very expensive – especially if you live in a country such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, etc. and unfortunately for many people, the cost of the procedure is prohibitive and they are unable to get the care they need. An alternative solution to this problem is to get treated while on vacation/holiday (which is where the term “dental tourism” comes from) in a country that offers procedures that are significantly lower-cost.
Dental travel. Destinations.
An increasing number of people are traveling overseas in order to get access to affordable treatment in countries such as: Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Romania, Thailand and others. In fact, over 1.2 million Americans traveled abroad for health and dental care in 2014.
Complex dental procedures such as dental implants are quite expensive in many countries – especially those in North America and Europe. This is prompting an increasing number of people to consider treatment abroad.
A quick Google search of “dental treatment mexico” (for example) will reveal many tempting deals on implants, veneers, crowns, etc. with the promise of a vacation thrown in for good measure.
Dental implants abroad. Problems.
While there are huge savings to be had, dental tourism is not without its risks. Factors such as language barriers, legal protection, health regulations and scheduling all present their own challenges. On top of all that, finding the right dentist can be a daunting process.
Thankfully, there is an effective way to address these challenges and give your treatment the highest possible chance of success.
