| Bargain deals are not limited to groceries, household | | | | country, you would still end up saving money than if |
| products or fashion goods any more. Today, even | | | | you had had the treatment done in the US at your |
| dental care is on sale. But the catch is that you have | | | | local dental clinic. |
| to cross the international border to buy it. | | | | If you have a couple of small and big dental issues to |
| Dental tourism, as this phenomenon is known, is a | | | | take care of, then it might actually pay to go abroad |
| close cousin of medical tourism, and can be defined as | | | | and solve them in one go. For example: If you had to |
| the act of going to another country for low cost yet | | | | get dental bonding, root canal treatment, tooth |
| top class dental services. | | | | contouring and dental fillings, it may be best if you |
| Why go abroad for dental care? | | | | addressed them all in the same visit. |
| If you have dental insurance benefits from your | | | | How do you find a good dental care provider? |
| employer you are among the lucky few. For a lot of | | | | Of late many dental clinics have emerged hosting |
| people who do not have dental insurance, going to see | | | | sleek websites and boasting high quality care by |
| a dentist can be a big blow on their pockets. | | | | top-class dentists but often dental tourists complain of |
| People go abroad for dental care for one of two | | | | poor jobs at those clinics. So make sure that the |
| reasons: because it’s so much cheaper there for | | | | dental clinic or dentist you choose doesn’t fall into |
| the same quality of care that you get at home and | | | | that category. You do that by inquiring about the dental |
| because it’s available with no-wait. | | | | care provider in question. Word-of-mouth |
| The low cost dental care seekers are usually | | | | recommendations from friends and family help here. |
| Americans going mainly to Mexico, Costa Rica, or | | | | Ask about the credentials and experience of the |
| Panama. The no-wait seekers are Canadians and | | | | dentist you are considering. Call up the provider and |
| Britons with the former seeking help in Mexico or | | | | ask them about the equipments and technology they |
| Central America and the latter traveling to East | | | | employ. Talking to them will also give you an idea of |
| European countries like Belgium, Hungary, Poland or | | | | whether they are capable to handling foreign patients, |
| Turkey. For some dental procedures which tend to be | | | | for example by judging from their conversational skills |
| expensive or complicated, Asian countries like India, | | | | and willingness to answer your questions. |
| Thailand and Singapore are becoming hot dental | | | | You can save yourself the hard work of researching, |
| tourism destinations. | | | | planning, arranging and scheduling your dental care |
| Can travel costs outweigh the potential savings? | | | | overseas by working with a dental tourism service |
| Possibly, yes. So, you have to plan your trip smartly if | | | | providing company. Dental tourism firms like Healthbase |
| you are to save money. | | | | are specialized firms that connect dental tourists to |
| Suppose you are going on business to Costa Rica. | | | | affordable and top quality dental care providers |
| While you are there, consider taking advantage of the | | | | overseas. They also take care of several other |
| low cost of dental care in the country and get some | | | | related services like arranging pre-consultation |
| imminent dental work done, like professional dental | | | | conference calls with the foreign provider, digitizing and |
| cleaning or teeth whitening or the likes. | | | | transferring your dental and medical records, ensuring |
| But what if you were in need of a full mouth | | | | that the provider is top-notch, scheduling your |
| restoration and didn’t exactly have any vacation | | | | appointment at the foreign dental clinic, negotiating the |
| planned in Thailand in the near future? Well, if you flew | | | | best price for you, acquiring your passport and visa, |
| from the US to Thailand, had your full mouth | | | | booking your travel and accommodation, and much |
| restoration there, and spent some time holidaying in the | | | | more. |