Traveling is supposed to be relaxing and pleasurable. Adding a little pain to that pleasure might not be ideal, but for many Americans, obtaining medical and dental treatments abroad is appealing.
Why choose dental tourism?
Also known as a dental vacation or dental holiday, dental tourism is a popular way to save money on your mouth. So, your dentist is in Thailand? Talk about a trip to the dentist (8,000 miles later).
According to an article in the Washington Post, The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis says Americans spent $2.6 billion on medical and dental tourism in 2018. That’s up from just $757 million in 2008. While there are no reliable counts of how many people leave the United States for discount foreign dentistry, officials in Costa Rica, a hub for dental tourism, estimate that tourists spent more than $200 million on implants, crowns, veneers and other tooth care there in 2017.
Medical and dental tourism has become a booming industry. There are designated organizations such as Patients Beyond Borders that work with government agencies and health care providers to operate an international medical community that helps match patients with affordable and high-quality care.
Destination: Dentist
Dental Authority, a reputable online dental website, lists the following countries as the best and most popular destinations for dental tourism.
- Mexico
- Thailand
- Hungary
- Romania
- Costa Rica
Mexico is particularly popular for Americans, especially those living close to the border in Arizona, California, and Texas. Mexican dentists have gone as far as establishing their practices in border cities specifically to lure Americans across the border for dental work. Some Mexican dentists even provide shuttle services and transportation guides to ease the travel experience.
Beware of Foreign Dentistry
Choosing to jet set for dental work, is not a decision to make lightly. While there are indeed some positive outcomes of pretty smiles, sometimes it sounds too good to be true. Some reasons why less developed countries offer more affordable dental care are because of cheaper malpractice insurance and real estate costs, less stringent medical laws and school requirements, and overall cheaper cost of living.
If you do dare to take the plunge into dental tourism, here are some important things to keep in mind.
Communication: Traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language can be daunting. This could be a recipe for disaster, leading to miscommunication about finances and treatment.
Costs: Obviously a big one, the financial obligation should be understood. This includes travel, lodging, food, incidentals, and perhaps time off work. Some tourism dentists offer travel packages to make the trip easier on patients.
Insurance: Don’t count on your American dental insurance to work outside the states. Consider unforeseen fees for cancelled trips, failed dental work, malpractice lawsuits.
Recovery: Some treatments such as dental implants can require multiple visits and recovery time. Factor that into your travel plans and budget.
Standard of care: Some countries have lax infection control standards, which is a huge red flag! Unsanitary conditions could jeopardize your health by exposing you to serious diseases.
Traveling outside the U.S. for dentistry has its pros and cons. If you are looking for affordable and high-quality dental care within the US, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.