Should you consider dental tourism? This is a question that continues to be asked by many seeking dental care. Dental tourism is also known as dental holidays or vacations with the medical travel industry. This involves seeking dental care outside of your local health-care systems and may be a part of family vacations. This form of medical tourism continues to soar in global popularity. This is due to growing dental costs domestically, as well as many insurance HMO plans no longer part of dental coverage networks.
Cost Saving Dental Care
Dental tourists continue to travel for dental care across the world. With the latest in dental techniques and procedures, even developing countries have specialists that offer this care at significantly lower costs than domestic dentists. Similarly, those without adequate access to health-care or public resources may be able to travel abroad for dental care. However, this depends on their personal finances, along with any stipends or savings on dental treatments from accepting countries.
While most dental tourists come from high-income countries, this does not necessarily mean they travel to low-cost developing countries for care. For example, many Americans choose Canadian dentists for their treatments and care each year. While certain restrictions do apply, Americans with a form of global or universal medical coverage may receive dental care north of the border. Similarly, patients within the EU are free to travel to other member-nations if their countries are not providing adequate care.
Dental Tourism is growing
Dental tourists are able to take advantage of lower treatment costs. This includes common treatments like cavities, crowns, bridges, and even dentures and teeth-whitening. Similarly, they have access to oral hygiene and cancer screenings, as well as chipped teeth, missing teeth, and gum disease care. Most dentists outside of the developed world are also able to access lower fixed costs and less government intervention. Similarly, they have specialists that are able to focus on their dentistry like implants and porcelain veneers at cost-affordable rates for patients.
Price Savings and Quality Treatments
While dental vacations continue to increase, the debate over quality and cost savings continues to rage. Another concern is over large and intricate dental procedures being safely completed abroad. For anyone wishing to travel abroad for dental care, it is important to review dentist ratings and citations online. Similarly, look to see if these specialists are able to meet your needs within the dates per travel.
In addition, make sure they are certified dentists or orthodontists and not just scammers looking to make a buck. There are even governing bodies that mandate, manage and oversee dental tourists to ensure true quality for patients arriving from all corners of the globe. For example, the Irish Competition Authority oversees dental treatments for patients coming in from the United Kingdom. They check the treatments and care plans, as well as how the dentists are performing these treatments. They also monitor the rates per service, along with whether these professionals are charging competitively or hiking up rates to make quick money.
Dental Tourism May or May Not Be for You
If you are considering traveling for dental care, make sure to keep pricing and qualifications of dentists in mind. Again, perform thorough and adequate research or simply contact these professionals and their practices for more information. Also, keep in mind that if something goes wrong after you have left — it can be a long way to return to have it fixed. These are some points to ponder when debating over traveling for dental care overseas. Simply check the web or contact international dentistry firms today for more information.
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