The Pros and Cons of Dental Tourism

When you think of going on vacation, you may think of skiing down the slopes or relaxing at the beach. Sitting in a dentist's chair may be the furthest thing from you mind. However, many Americans do just that.

Fewer people have dental insurance coverage today. And, unfortunately, dental procedures can be very expensive. So, some Americans have started going abroad to have their dental procedures completed. Find out about dental tourism - and why it's probably not right for you.

Mexico is especially popular with American dental tourists, and for Americans willing to travel farther, India and Thailand are dental tourism hubs, though the former is more patronized for medical tourism. In Thailand, most dental tourists head to resort towns for their procedures.

Costa Rica is more popular with Canadians, and Europeans often head to Hungary, where there are more dentists per capita than any other country. Hungary even boasts entire towns mostly dedicated to practicing dentistry. Americans will sometimes travel to Hungary for more complex procedures as well, such oral surgery and implants.

Dental tourists can get almost any procedure done abroad. However, they tend to travel to have the most expensive procedures performed. In addition to oral surgery and implants, dental tourists also seek to have procedures like root canals, dental crowns, and dental bridges performed.

Cosmetic procedures often aren't covered even for patients who have dental insurance, making them another sought-after service.

Dental tourism really has only one main advantage - cost. Dentists in the above-named countries perform procedures at a fraction of the cost of American, Canadian, or British dentists.

If you look on dental tourism websites, they'll promote the dental offices in those countries citing their modern equipment and commitment to service as reasons to consider them. However, those qualities are only advantages if you can't find the same in the United States. For most American dental offices, modern equipment and a commitment to service are bare necessities, not promotional features.

The main danger associated with dental tourism relates to the fact that you don't know what you're getting. This danger is exacerbated if you don't speak the language.

In the U.S., dentists follow standard practices for specific dental procedures. They apply said procedures based on what the accepted standard of care is for the underlying issue. They also typically walk you through your options every step of the way.

Dentists abroad might not hold the same standard practices. Indeed, in some cases they perform wholly different procedures than an American dentist might suggest. They also might not perform all the attendant procedures that are necessary for good dental health, such as removing cavities before applying a crown.

Many of the above countries don't have governmental agencies looking over their work. In other words, some countries don't have oversight to ensure dentists are meeting a specific standard of care. They might not even have agencies ensuring they're protecting patient safety.

Conversely, American dentists are driven by meeting a standard of care, which is the standard a reasonable professional would exercise. Likewise they have a lot of government oversight to ensure they're meeting all health and sanitation requirements.

Dental tourism is only for the strong of heart - literally. If you have any underlying issues, you can't be sure a foreign dentist has the same qualifications to deal with them as your local dentist. Asthma, high blood pressure, and a heart murmur are all conditions that can complicate even simple dental work.

Finally, in that vein, an important aspect of dental care is aftercare. The procedure itself may go fine, but any follow-up care will be impossible if you've returned home. Indeed, if major problems arise from the work performed, you'll have to visit your local dentist and likely pay much more than if you'd just had the procedure performed at home.

Any type of medical tourism, including dental tourism, is for gamblers. Keep your smile and health safe by sticking with your local dentist. We at Eastland Dental Center & Professional Dental Care can take care of all your dental needs.