Dental Resources
Dental Tourism
Dental tourism is a subset of medical tourism, where patients seek affordable care for decaying teeth.
Why not to have a holiday and the fixed teeth for the price of the same dental treatment at home?
Unfortunately, the price of dental procedures in many countries (including Australia) forces many patients to go abroad.
The historical economical differences between various countries make the dental tourism a strong market.
This is especially true for Asian countries where dental consultation and labour is cheap.
For countries within European Union dental qualifications are being standarised.
Thus, the former eastern block countries, which have the lower dental cost and similar dental qualification, experience an influx of patients from the west.
Dental Tourism of Dentists
The global economy, removal of border restrictions and internationalisation of qualifications allows many dentists to seek better pay in developed countries. Ironically, this increases the local dental competition and reduces the cost.
Therefore, influx of dental experts should be promoted by richer countries.
This will allow patients to get a better price and spend the the money within their own country.
The fear of lower dental qualification of foreign dentists is often exaggerated by local dental practitioners (for obvious economic reasons). Majority of foreign medical professionals have to pass exams to be able to practice within their new country.
There are number of publications within developed countries which estimate the price for each dental procedure.
However, it is really the consultation and labour cost which brings dentists apart.
This is particularly true if you compare the price of veneers between Sweden and India. Both use the same material but the price in India is $900 cheaper.
Dental Tourism of Patients
Despite the popular believe it is not just the cosmetic dentistry which promotes dental tourism. Some prices for urgent dental treatments are so immoral that overseas trips are the only option. Thailand and India are the most popular Asian destinations for dental tourism. Poland and Hungary are the attractive dental options in European Union. Mexico and even Cuba offer the best prices for dental treatment in Northern America. Other, third world countries also picking up the pace as the market is very strong.
Dental Tourism and The Cost
Implants with crown can cost anything between $1500-$6000 in Australia. India will offer $600-$800 for exactly the same procedure. $1000 veneers in Australia can cost as little as $240 in Thailand. The price of crowns in Poland is as little as $400 while in United States you cannot pay less than $700 The outstanding case to show the differences in prices among countries is the cost of root canal. This is a typical situation when both the consultation and the labour solely determines the price of the treatment. In Australia or US the $800 tag for root canal is not unusual. India and Hungary offers the same treatment for 10% of the Australian or US price.