What is Dental Tourism?
Dental tourism is a very popular term at the moment. It is a growing branch of the medical tourism, where people travel outside of their countries to get dental care. Dentistry is becoming a real luxury in some countries. With the continuous advancements in technology, dental procedures become more modern every day. New technologies, means new machines, which leads to expensive procedures.
Having a good oral health and a perfect smile is definitely a wish for many people. But when they experience pain, gum bleeding, a missing tooth or yellow teeth, the first thought that comes to their mind is money. This is a completely natural thing to do because money makes the world go round. Since dentists can be extremely expensive, visiting one might not be your favorite thing to do, not only because of the pain. There are also many people that simply can’t afford a regular dental treatment.
It’s even harder for patients that have missing teeth or a malocclusion. A missing tooth or teeth have to be replaced with restorations. Crowns and bridges are the less expensive solution, but they also cost a lot, much more than some people can afford. Implants are the best solution, but they are really in the high range of the budget. Cosmetic procedures such as veneers or teeth whitening can definitely cost a lot. Orthodontics is one of the least affordable branches of dentistry.
As we age, our teeth also undergo changes. So reconstructive measures are often necessary. Others just want a shiny, bright Hollywood smile. People that decide to do dental tourism need more extensive reconstruction. They get to travel, get their treatment and even save money, compared to what the dental procedures would’ve cost in their country.
Why do people decide to receive a dental treatment in another country?
The first and main reason why people decide to travel to another country and get dental treatment there is the cost of the treatment. In countries such as the USA, Australia, England, Ireland, getting only one dental procedure done can cost a whole fortune. Instead with the same amount of money, or for much less, patients will get their teeth done, and also get to travel. Some countries offer whole packages that include your flight, stay, and procedures. For example, in the USA, health insurance plans cover only some basic dental procedures. It is estimated that over 150 million Americans don’t have a dental insurance.
The other reason, in fact, the better one, is the chance to travel and explore new places. Most of the countries that offer dental tourism have a beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit. So if you are a traveling fanatic, this might be the perfect opportunity for you. You will be surprised of the breath-taking places you will visit and the rest you will get while on that vacation. If you need more extensive dental treatment, which is usually the case, your stay will be longer.
So if you have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel across the ocean and visit someplace beautiful and get a dental treatment at the same time, would you do it? Also considering the fact that you will spend much less than you would on the same dental treatment in your country.
Will you get the same quality of treatment?
Usually, people travel from high-income countries to developing countries. But the lower cost of services doesn’t mean that you will get a treatment that doesn’t have the same quality. Most of these countries have a very well educated dental staff and invest a lot in new technologies and in the quality of their doctors. Their dentists attend many educational seminars, and practical workshops, so they are as good as the expensive dentists in high-income countries.
How can you find the right dental office for you?
Before you decide on a dental office you have to choose a country. People usually choose a country close to where they live, because that way they can save on travel expenses. Another thing is, if you have a business trip to another place, you can check their dental clinics there, and make an appointment before traveling. If you’ve already scheduled a vacation somewhere, you can use some of that time to visit a dental office.
There isn’t a general rule on which country you should aim for. It’s all up to you. People from Canada and the USA, usually travel to Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t find a clinic in Europe or Asia. Australians are the ones that most commonly visit Asia, especially Thailand. Europeans tend to stay on their continent and go to Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey.
When you do the research you have to pay attention to the clinics. You don’t only find a clinic that claims that is the best one, but you should search for a lot of reviews, experiences, and testimonials from previous patients. There are many tourist agencies that can take care of your whole trip without you having to worry about it.
When you plan the trip yourself, you have to think about all of the costs. Those include flights, hotels, meals and maybe even a visa. If you have any serious health issues, dental tourism might not be the right choice for you. First of all, you should talk to your physician and get a professional opinion. If the doctor tells you that there aren’t any risks in you traveling to get a dental procedure, then go ahead and plan the trip. Since dentistry can be very unpredictable, some things might happen after you are back. A crown can fall off, or a filling, a tooth might hurt and so on. That happens even to the best of doctors. So it is your decision whether you will visit your hometown dentist, or make another trip.
Dental tourism at the Philippines
The Philippines is a wonderful country located in South-East Asia. They consist of more than 7.000 islands. Dental tourism is not a new term for this country. All certified dentists are extremely competent and well educated. They are trained in the latest and most advanced procedures that include dental implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers. All of the dental clinics at the Philippines are very modern and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The clinics are visited by hundreds of patients from all over the world, especially Australia and New Zealand.
Your visit to the Philippines will definitely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This amazing country has a lot to offer. Besides the quality dentistry, you will have the chance to experience a unique culture, delicious food, breath-taking beaches and views and popular touristic attractions.
Dental tourism in the Philippines is becoming more popular every day. As mentioned before, the price is not the only thing why people decide to travel abroad. The dentists that work in the dental clinics in this country are very competent and approach every single case with a lot of attention. You won’t have any trouble communicating since all of them speak English.
The quality of the procedures is undisputed, which you can notice from the many positive reviews all over the internet. Also, the number of procedures that are available is pretty impressive, that only tells you more about the quality of the dentistry in this country. You will probably be able to get a free consultation. This will be very helpful for you to understand what kind of treatment you need and the cost of it. Everyone in the Philippines is warm and friendly, and you will end up really enjoying your stay.