Dental Tourism
What is Dental Tourism?
It is natural for patients to admire both the talent and hard work showcased on social media when viewing the transformation of a “Hollywood smile” crafted by a skilled dentist. The artistic portrayal of perfect smiles on these platforms has contributed towards this growing expectation to achieve this natural look at a significantly lower cost, and hence patients tend to be attracted to this certain, unique group of dentists more who are willing to carry out this procedure only in a short period of time, allowing patients to also enjoy the period of a vacation. Whilst dental tourism emerges as a popular trend, drawing thousands of patients from America, Australia and UK, who are in search of affordable treatment in return of a smile makeover, there is a gambling risk of the quality of care offered that will be discussed later in the blog.
Benefits of Dental Tourism
There are countless benefits for individuals choosing to go abroad to undergo dental treatment, few include: confidentiality, cost-efficient and modern facilities, shorter waiting times and leisure. Dental tourism has the added benefit of protecting your confidentiality as travelling abroad for a treatment offers freedom to choose the treatment you find most suitable to your needs, though considering how individuals may feel a sense of stigma of being judged, or self-conscious seeking certain dental procedures in their home country, it offers a degree of privacy in protecting their confidentiality. Being a very cost-effective alternative to UK based dental treatments, this is a major factor in deciding to go abroad for a treatment for a large number of patients. Additionally, modern facilities are further encouraging for dental tourists to be rest assured they will receive similar quality of care as expected at home, as these clinics equipped with the latest technology further promises trust in treatment planning.
Furthermore, dental tourism combines the patient's experience with leisure, as they have the opportunity to explore another culture and spend time sightseeing with friends or families. This experience almost acts to alleviate the patient's stress or anxiety they may have before undergoing the dental procedure and so turning this into a memorable, enriching experience. Moreover, many countries as such the UK’s NHS system faces a crisis since the pandemic of appalling waiting times for certain procedures, besides due to the pandemic, but due to a short supply/materials/resources or due to a demand. Therefore, dental tourism successfully aids in offering quick services, allowing patients to address their dental problems promptly without any further delay and so proves as time-effective reducing any inconvenience the patient may have to cope with in the NHS system of waiting.
The Pitfalls of Dental Tourism
Despite the positive effects of dental tourism, it however may pose as a significant risk for both parties of patients and dentists involved, in regards with rushed delivery of treatment, to inconsiderate planning and a lack of informed consent. A primary challenge ignored as a minor by patients, is the pressure placed upon the dentist to deliver the end-product of the treatment in a short-time frame, with the expectation of the dentist to deliver a smooth ‘smile makeover’, ignoring the healing process associated with the treatment. Without the patients realizing the complexity of the dental procedure, managing aftercare and the healing process can be difficult to manage upon returning, especially if the patient hasn’t received the correct education from the clinic.
In contrast to the strict regulation of the GDC in the UK, tourists undergoing dental treatment abroad may come across the dilemma of not receiving any protection, although there may be protection available, there are a myriad of reasons to consider of tourists being unaware of the procedure in accessing protection outside the UK, perhaps due to the unfamiliarity of the place, but due to language barriers, which poses as a huge challenge when communicating any concerns with the irreversible damage done from the treatment. In addition to this, patients can experience the loss of support from the NHS system upon returning back to the UK, as the NHS trust have the ability to refuse in undertaking remedial treatment for those patients particularly caught up in the damaging consequences of choosing to undergo treatment abroad.
Conclusion
To conclude, dental tourism offers an alternative route to achieving that high-quality care by offering that perfect smile, yet it comes with pitfalls and complications that patients can expect themselves to deal with. By weighing both the pros and cons, this journey can prove worthwhile or at the cost of your oral health.
Written by Masooma
Moderated by Adelene
References:
The Pitfalls of Dental Tourism. 18th February 2025. (Online). Available at: https://www.mkvasant.co.uk/pdf/pitfalls-of-dental-tourism.pdf
Dental Tourism: Benefits, Disadvantages, and Misconceptions. 18th February 2025. (Online). Available at:
