Dental tourism forms a significant portion of the total medical tourism worldwide. An estimated 30-40% medical tourists are dental tourists. Low cost, faster recovery time, and minimal evasiveness tend to be the major drivers. Dental tourists typically, are also more likely to vacation after the procedure. Dental tourism often requires more than a single visit, and quite often patients travel to nearby destinations.
Below we list top 5 destinations, with affordable and quality dental treatment.
India remains a much favored destination for dental tourists, offering savings between 60-80% on the procedures. Dental infrastructure in India is moderate to high, with all procedures being done there.
Dental Council of India (DCI) is the regulatory body which deals with licensing, training and other issues related to dentistry in India. Hospitals have English-speaking staff, with doctors trained in western countries as well. Irrespective of which part of India you opt for, there are scores of opportunities for vacationing. Cultural and geographical diversity, make India an ideal spot for post-treatment vacationing. Famous sites include Ajanta and Ellora caves in south and Red Fort and Taj Mahal in the north.
There are worldclass dental clinics in India with US trained dentists and specialists in dental implants, smile design and cosmetic dentistry. Dental tourism forms 10% of total medical tourism in India. Source: dentaprime via flickr.com.
This tiny Central American country is becoming a sought after destination for dental tourism. Most patients are from nearby countries like US and Canada. El Salvador offers high quality healthcare at a fraction of the US cost, and most clinics there are equipped with the modern facilities.
The government of El Salvador recognizes the importance of medical tourism, and the past decade has seen heavy investment in upgrading the medical infrastructure. The doctors here are highly skilled, and many have undergone training in the US. On the vacationing front, El Salvador is a beautiful country. Volcanic mountains, lakes, and the ancient Mayan sites are popular among tourists.
Mexico sees a lot of cross-border tourism. For patients from US, savings can amount up to 80%. The dental infrastructure here is quite developed, and towns like Los Algodones, Tijuana, and Mexicali have become dental hubs.
Mexico is easily accessible by road and air from USA and other parts of the world. It’s close proximity to east coast of USA, is an added advantage, as most dental procedures require 2 or 3 visits. Many families choose their family dentists from Mexico, and travel frequently for regular checkups. Famous tourist sites include Chichen Itza, Palenque and Los Cabos.
Poland lies at the centre of European continent, making it accessible from all parts of Europe. This clubbed with relatively lower costs, and fast treatments is the reason behind Poland’s popularity. Cosmetic dentistry like teeth whitening, implants and others are more sought after in Poland. Famous places for dental patients include Krakow, Warsaw etc.
Dental infrastructure in Poland is state of the art and the doctors are well qualified. Patients looking for post-treatment vacationing can choose from various activities like sightseeing, historical monument visit, trips to Lake town and Tatra Mountains.
With cities like Wroclaw and Krakow only a cheap flight away from many other European cities, dental tourism in Poland has become increasing popular. Source: Emran Kassim via flickr.com
Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is visited by dental patients across the world for its state of the art medical infrastructure and healthcare. After which they move on to other parts of Thailand for relaxation and vacationing. Savings amount up to 50% for most good clinics, although this can increase depending on your choice of clinics.
Thailand has more than 500 American Board certified doctors, and offers a wide range of dental treatments. Travelling to Thailand is hustle free. Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) in Bangkok sees around 40 million footfalls every year. Majority of patients travelling here are from the eastern countries like Japan, China and Australia. Thailand is famous for its exotic wildlife, islands, spa treatments and culture.
While choosing your dental clinic and dentist, make sure to inquire about accreditation and patient reviews. Most dental costs vary depending on procedure, therefore it is a good practice to inquire about the exact costs in your particular case. In each case, you should evaluate the treatment and post treatment opportunities and make your choice.
Interested in getting a Dental Treatment overseas? Check out these hospitals popular for medical tourism in Dental treatment.
