Is Dental Tourism Still As Popular Today?
Between 2005 and 2007 dental tourism attracted more than 250,000 UK nationals. Now in 2014 it’s estimated that people travelling to places such as Hungary, Romania and Asia has dropped by 38%. So what’s changed in the last eight or nine years that has seen patients choose to stay in the UK for treatments such as dental implants. In Richmond, here at Sheen Dental we have our own theories…
Increased realisation into the risks of travelling abroad for dental treatment
Over the past few years there has been much written about the risks of travelling abroad for major dental treatments such as dental implants and these are now becoming far more publicised. These include:
- A possible language barrier when communication is key in procedures such as dental implants.
- No redress or come back if anything goes wrong.
- Concern over the quality of the service and the qualifications of the dentist delivering the treatment.
- Added cost of flights back to the country if problems need to be rectified.
This is not to say that every dental clinic operating abroad has these issues and some provide a first class service. However the risks involved to anyone considering travelling to a foreign country for dental tourism are very real and for this reason many people are thinking twice.
Falling prices in the UK
Fifteen years or so ago if you wanted implants then you’d probably have to go to a specialised Harley Street clinic for treatment. What’s more, it would have cost you a small fortune too. Nowadays, increased competition means patients have way more choice. Now if you wanted to undergo treatment for a dental implant in Richmond, Manchester or Birmingham, then it’s easy to find a reputable clinic where you can have it done. Ultimately the increase in specialised competition plus an insatiable demand for dental implants is helping to lower manufacturing costs. This means that more clinics can afford to offer treatments that aren’t financially out of reach of most people.
Greater transparency
As dental implants are still a big investment to most people it’s not surprising that most will carry out thorough research into every aspect of the process. Nowadays any reputable implant dentist in the UK will offer complete transparency in order that the patient can go away and make a fully-informed decision. This is often done using a free, ‘no-strings’ consultation where a patient can ask questions about the procedure as well as find out more about the experience of the dentist themselves. Those travelling abroad for dental treatment would find this level of transparency difficult.
Although going abroad for dental implant treatments might well appear cheaper it’s a risk that more and more people are not willing to take. If you’d prefer to seek treatment locally and undergo dental implants in Richmond then speak to Sheen Dental. We have many years of experience successfully fitting dental implants and we invite you to come along and discuss your options with us. Contact us on 020 8876 5277 or visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk where you can find a whole host of information.