Medical tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today.  With health care costs soaring in places such as the U.S. and Canada and many in Europe forced to sit on long waiting lists before they receive treatment, medical tourism is sometimes the only option for those requiring care.  In the past, plastic surgery was the primary procedure for medical tourist; but with health coverage around the world failing to meet the needs of their patients, many are turning to medical tourism for other treatments – like dental work.

With the high cost of insurance and many left uninsured or under covered, American’s in particular are looking abroad for dental work.  For years they have travelled south of the border into Mexico for lower cost root canals, filings, and implants.  Countries such as Costa Rica and Panama are also more affordable options for those living in the U.S. and Canada.  They are able to perform quick uncomplicated procedures at a much lower cost, and since they are within such close proximity to North America the travel cost is usually low as well.  For those living in Europe, Turkey and Hungary are top locations for low cost dental care without paying a lot for travel.

If you are requiring more extensive dental work, Thailand and Singapore are good choices.  One the top dental tourism destinations is India.   Known for their state of the art technology and facilities, most of the dentists have been trained in North America or Europe.   Gum grafting, bone grafting, ceramic caps, maxillary surgery, dental bonding, surgical intervention, tooth contouring, veneers, and palatal orthodontics are just of few of the many treatments available in India.  To top it off, each of these procedures costs approximately 10% of what you would pay in the U.S. or other western countries.

There are, however, a few things to consider before travelling abroad for dental work.  The first is frequency of post-procedure visits.  If the procedure you are considering requires you to make frequent visits back to the dentist, the cost of travel may not be worth it (unless of course you live close to the border and can travel back and forth easily and at a minimal cost).  Braces, for example, would not typically be considered a good dental tourism procedure because of the frequent visits required for tightening and check-ups.

The most important thing to do before deciding on any medical tourism procedure is research.  Weigh the cost of the procedure, both at home and abroad, and the travel costs.  Research different countries and their methods and records of treating the procedure you require.  There are many options out there, and with medical tourism becoming a more common practice you’ll be able to find a deal that works for you.