Why is dentistry abroad popular?
Cost is the main reason why dental tourism to lower cost economies such as Poland has become so popular among Western European residents. Prices for complex dental treatments as well as popular cosmetic work in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary or Slovakia are at least 50% cheaper than in the UK, Ireland and other Western European states. Going abroad to seek a dental treatment is one of the most popular forms of medical tourism. According to British Dental Association, the shortage of NHS dentists and long waiting lists in the United Kingdom has additionally contributed to a boom in dental tourism abroad. Since the accession to EU, the medical standards in Eastern European states are the same as in the Western Europe. This has put at ease many British patients who do not need to worry anymore that they will get a lower quality dental treatment in those countries.
Getting to Poland or other Eastern and Central European countries has also become affordable in the past few years, thanks to a fierce competition in the budget airline industry. Healthy teeth are often synonymous with wealth and overall well-being and this change in people’s attitudes towards a beautiful smile is another factor behind the popularity of dental tourism. This trend is growing in the UK as people become more educated and interested in thorough oral hygiene.
Another reason for popularity of dentistry abroad is the fact that most of dental treatments are completed usually within a few days and are often non invasive (unlike most of plastic surgery procedures). Dental clinics in Easter Europe promise low cost and high quality and but they pitch their services to relatively affluent but cost-conscious consumers in Western Europe. It is common that dental treatments are combined with a short city break.
The most popular dental tourism destinations globally are India, Mexico, Thailand, Poland, Hungary, Turkey and Czech Republic. The prices of services differ between countries. Asian countries are popular among North American residents whether Eastern and Central European states are mainly visited by Britons and Scandinavians.
