Dental Tourism

Dental tourism is a subset of the sector known as medical tourism. It involves individuals seeking dental care outside of their local healthcare systems. While dental tourists may travel for a variety of reasons, their choices are usually driven by price considerations. Wide variations in the economics of countries with shared borders have been the historical mainstay of the sector. Examples include travel from Austria to Slovakia and Slovenia, the US to Mexico, and the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland. While medical tourism is often generalized to travel from high-income countries to low-cost developing economies, other factors can influence a decision to travel, including differences between the funding of public healthcare or general access to healthcare.

T32 Advantages for international clients

The UK and The Republic of Ireland are two of the largest sources of dental tourists. Both have had their dental professions examined by competition authorities to determine whether consumers were receiving value for money from their dentists. Both countries' professions were criticized for a lack of pricing transparency. A response to this is that dentistry is unsuitable for transparent pricing: each treatment will vary, an accurate quote is impossible until an examination has occurred. Thus price lists are no guarantee of final costs. Though they may encourage a level of competition between dentists, this will only happen in a competitive environment where supply and demand are closely matched.

• Initial query handling through electronic mailing
• English speaking staff & doctors
• World class technology & most modern equipments
• International standard patient management
• Stringent infection control mechanisms
• Tailor made treatment plans
• Efficient time management through dedicated treatment slots
• Computerized patient history & database management
• Effective relationship management
• Travel help

Worldwide Scenario of Dental Tourism

The UK and The Republic of Ireland are two of the largest sources of dental tourists. Both have had their dental professions examined by competition authorities to determine whether consumers were receiving value for money from their dentists. Both countries’ professions were criticized for a lack of pricing transparency. A response to this is that dentistry is unsuitable for transparent pricing: each treatment will vary, an accurate quote is impossible until an examination has occurred. Thus price lists are no guarantee of final costs. Though they may encourage a level of competition between dentists, this will only happen in a competitive environment where supply and demand are closely matched. The 2007 Competition Authority report in the Irish Republic criticized the profession on its approach to increasing numbers of dentists and the training of dental specialties – orthodontics was a particular area for concern with training being irregular and limited in number of places. Supply is further limited as new dental specialties develop and dentists react to consumer demand for new dental products, further diluting the pool of dentists available for any given procedure.

Figure below shows that roughly 50% of the world’s dental travel market is driven by European patients. 86% of this travel is internal to the EEA with 13% to Asian countries and only 1% to Mexico & Caribbean countries. On the whole Hungary, Mexico, Thailand, Poland, India, Costa Rica is the countries where majority of patients from Europe and US visit for dental tourism. (For Gender split and popular treatments refer annexure 4)

Dental tourism source countries

Rate comparison

Comparison Of The Cost Of Few Treatment Procedures Between USA And India
Dental procedure	Cost in US ($)—Top End Dentist	Cost in India ($)—Top EndDentist
Dental Implants	4,000.00	1000
Porcelain-Metal Crown	1,200	150
Porcelain Metal Bridge(3 Unit)	3,000	450
Metal Free Crown	1,500	200
Metal Free Bridge (3 unit)	4,500	600
Veneers	1,500	200
Tooth whitening (At Home)	500	110
Tooth whitening (In-Office) Britesmile	1,000	350
Root canal Treatment	1,200	150
Smile designing (Ant 6 teeth)	8,000	1,500
Complete Dentures	3,000	500

Advantage India

Tourism and medicine have become synonymous in India. And the latest one to join the bandwagon is our line of talented dentists. Holidaying in India has become all the more relaxing as the tourists are set to get a perfect smile, new crowns and fresh implants, all at a much lower cost than other countries. The result is that tourists can spend the rest of their time relaxing in the wide range of mystic places in India.

The maximum patients as shown below come from countries such as Germany, France, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Middle East, the former Soviet Republics, South Africa, Spain, Singapore and Denmark. Though foreign patients are flocking to various parts of the country for dentistry, the four metros witness the maximum inflow.

Indian Dental Tourism Source Countries