If you’re on our dental implants website, then chances are you’re trying to find a solution to tooth loss or decay. As you’re aware, finding a solution to tooth loss is a pressing matter, and it can be expensive. And, when you’re in a hurry for dental care and on a budget, you probably don’t have the time to save money for your treatments.
Every year, thousands of Americans try to get cheaper dental work by participating in a growing fad called “dental tourism.” As the name implies, dental tourism is when someone travels abroad in hopes of receiving cheaper dental care.
On an international scale, the most popular destinations for dental tourism are Costa Rica, Hungary, and Mexico. Sometimes people travel domestically for cheaper dental care. For the most part, dental implants in a large city like New York City will cost you a lot more, than if you travel to a smaller city like Spokane.
If you already have a dentist at home that you trust, it’s usually a better idea to try and find a plan to receive your dental care through him or her. But, if you’re dead set on taking a dental vacation, we recommend going the domestic route. While international dental tourism has the perk of providing you with cheaper dental care, it can end up a gamble in the long run.
Financing Dental Restoration at Home
Running a practice in America is much more expensive than lower income countries. In America, dentists abide by rules and guidelines, remain up to date on dental associations and certifications, purchase the best equipment and materials, as well as purchase insurance for our practice.
Not to mention, the cost of land is more expensive here than in places like Mexico and Costa Rica. All of this adds up to more expensive treatments to keep our practices running. We’re not going to pretend like dental care in America isn’t expensive.
But, before you resort to hopping on the PanAmerican highway for dental care, we recommend exploring your financing options at home first. For one, if you don’t have dental insurance, it has become more and more affordable with the passage of the affordable healthcare act. We suggest finding a policy that will at least cover the partial cost of a restoration treatment.
If you’re really strapped for cash and can’t afford dental insurance, most dentists will help you set up an affordable payment plan to get your treatments. You can also try getting a short term loan from a bank or credit loan, or seek treatments at a family health clinic or dental school.
The Pitfalls of Dental Tourism
The primary perk of taking a dental vacation is that you can get treatments done cheap, but it also comes with a lot of inherent dangers. Dentists abroad don’t have to use treatments and materials that are ADA or FDA certified, so there’s a good chance that you’ll receive the “Great Value” off-brand version of whatever treatment you opt for. And, if you’ve ever bought “great value” trash bags, you’re aware that they don’t hold up as well as the name brand “GLAD.”
If you end up suffering from a dental problem, like a failed implant, after returning home from travel, you’ve spent all that money in vain. Readdressing your faulty dental work at home will then end up costing you even more money.
Secondly, the cost of traveling, such as buying plane tickets, food, and room aboard can add up to costing about the same as getting the treatment at home. Going on a dental vacation with the expectation that you’re going to get a real holiday is another mistake that many people make.
Chances are that you’ll need to avoid tourist attractions after undergoing surgery. The CDC recommends that you don’t drink alcohol, swim, take long tours, sunbathe, or put your body under stress after any kind of surgery. When it comes to deciding on whether you want a dental vacation, you’ll have a lot of factors to take into account. Make sure that you do your research first, because remember, your smile and dental health is worth it.