We normally don't think of holidaying while having dental treatment, but a growing trend of dental tourism has paired the two. The idea of dental tourism is spreading so quickly that a stupendous number of Americans and several other nationalities now are considering travelling to a foreign country for inexpensive dental care.
In many countries, fees for dental treatments such as dental implants, crowns and bridges and cosmetic dentistry are more than 50% less than in many European and American clinics. For many people, this can mean significant savings, especially if they don't have dental insurance because many treatments are classed as restorative and cosmetic procedures which are not covered by regular health insurance policy.
By undertaking dentistry abroad you can combine a wonderful holiday trip or relaxing period of recovery, away from the daily stress of life, with your dental treatment in one of the overseas cosmetic dental clinics which are now attracting patients from around the world.
There are several dental tourism hubs which provide affordable dentistry abroad. But the most popular destinations that see huge influx of international dental patients every year include India, Argentina, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Philippines, Singapore, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Costa Rica and Ukraine.
The trend of having dental treatment in a foreign country is getting more and more popular nowadays. But much like other things, it too has its own advantages and disadvantages. Mentioned below are some of these ups and downs:
Pros
Undoubtedly, the biggest advantage of having dentistry abroad is enormous savings. If you are residing in a country where general and cosmetic dentistry procedures are very costly, and considering having dental treatment outside your country, you would be able to have it at fabulously lower prices abroad. Undergoing a dental treatment in any less developed country actually can save you up to 70 percent of your bill even after the cost of vacation activities and other expenses have been included.
Some international dental practices work with medical financial service companies that offer finance schemes for virtually every kind of dental treatment.
Another advantage is that several internationally trained dental experts abroad are registered with prestigious dental associations and are providing their high level of expertise in the area of dentistry at very competitive prices.
Most importantly, aftercare provided by foreign dental offices is not usually as expensive as at Westerns dental clinics.
What's more, people for whom taking a leave from the job isn't always easy can club their vacation and treatment into one trip. In short, you can have the treatment abroad during vacation time.
Cons
Despite the considerable savings one can make by having dentistry abroad, there are still disadvantages if you are going to have your dental problems fixed outside your country. These may include:
One of the main difficulties is communication because of the language difference. In some places, like in Mexico, Italy and France, people at the dentistry may not speak your language and you might face problems when visiting hospitals and dental care clinics.
Many patients may encounter problems after returning home. Rectifying the problem in your native country may eat up the 'saving' you have made by going overseas for the treatment.
Some dental treatments, such as crowns and implants, require several dental visits. Making multiple trips abroad can cost you a lot of money.
Follow-up care can also be a problem. If anything goes wrong with the treatment, it is not possible for you to get the problem rectified soon. Moreover, it is not so easy to pursue a dental malpractice claim against a dentist who is thousand miles away from your home.