Worth the Trip? A Look at Dental Tourism

With the constantly rising costs of healthcare, many people are making difficult decisions about their health, including sometimes forgoing routine preventive care as a way to save money. This includes dental care, which can result in patients requiring even more expensive and complicated emergency care down the road.

One way that many people are choosing to save money on costly dental treatments is by travelling abroad to have the work done for less. Medical and dental tourism — patients travelling to other countries for cheaper medical or dental care — has occurred throughout history, and today it’s as popular as ever. An entire industry revolves around connecting patients with care in other countries. However, patients should consider several important questions before taking a trip to a foreign country for any kind of dental treatment: Do the cost savings outweigh the risks of entrusting a dentist in another country with their oral health?

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What are the risks of dental tourism?

Dentistry, whether provided at home or abroad, is never risk-free. You might pay top dollar to see the best provider and still have something go wrong.

The Australian Dental Association advocates for patients to reconsider mixing holidays abroad with their oral health care. The association says the standards of dentistry overseas aren’t as good as in Australia and there could be issues with cleanliness and infection risk.

While there are no strong population-based studies that prove overseas dental treatment leads to poor outcomes, case studies do exist. These have shown lack of accountability and regulation are the main issues with dental tourism, particularly when complications arise.

Education, training and practice philosophies of overseas-trained dentists might be different to those of Australian-trained dentists. Dental education systems in a few major tourist destinations in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent are facing several challenges in terms of rapid privatisation, quality and regulation.

On the other side on the coin, Australia has also had reported cases of poor infection control practices.

Things to consider about Dental Tourism

Whether you choose to have dental treatment overseas or in Australia, here are some things to consider:

Have you had enough time to think about your treatment?

If you have a plane to catch and a tight schedule, you need to be wary about being pressured into committing to treatments before you feel ready. Holidays come and go but the effects of dental treatment stick around for a lot longer.

Have you been able to ask questions?

Most dentists are really good at telling patients about treatments and different options. If you don’t feel you can ask questions, or that you are getting answers that satisfy your needs, you should be able to have a second opinion. Don’t be afraid to ask for one.

What happens if things don’t work out?

Dentistry is as much of an art as it is a science. No matter how skilled your dentist, sometimes things don’t go to plan or are more complex than first thought. It usually isn’t too much of a problem to put things right, but if you need to see a dentist again, is this going to be difficult?

How to save money on dental treatments

If something goes wrong on your dental holiday, the cost of repeating your dental treatment in Australia along with any corrective work needed could end up costing more than it would have originally, not to mention the risk of pain, infection and permanent damage to teeth. Before flying abroad for a dental treatment, you should find out if you can access affordable dental care at your local clinic.

Final note to consider before choosing dental tourism

If you think dental tourism is for you then make sure you do your research- thoroughly. Don’t rely solely on PR and Marketing- it’s easy for companies to create glamorous websites and claim success. Ask around. Find dental tourism patient testimonials.

Also, don’t assume that one person’s dental tourism experience will be the same for you. For comparison purposes, try and find people who have had the exact same procedure you’re looking for.

Dental Tourism: 5 Risks Of Traveling For A Dental Procedure https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/dental-tourism–5-risks-of-traveling-for-a-dental-procedure-1

Dangers and risks of dental tourism https://www.dental-abroad.com/dangers-and-risks-of-dental-tourism-21.html

Dental tourism: Things to consider before going that extra mile for your smile https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-25/dental-tourism-overseas-dentist-cost-of-dentistry-thailand-india/10427136

Dental tourism: 6 questions to ask before you go overseas for dental work https://www.considerable.com/health/dental-care/dental-tourism/

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Dental Payment Plan Options That will Fit Your Budget

We don’t believe that dental care should be out of anyone’s price range. We want you to feel confident in a smile that looks attractive and functions naturally—and fits within your budget! If you don’t believe you can afford the dental treatment you need (or want), rest assured that we will try our best to help you afford the treatment you need. We have helped countless patients receive affordable dentistry, providing them with beautiful new smiles that have changed their quality of life.

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