Seniors Explore Dental Tourism Vacations

According to many consumer publications, such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, among others, American Seniors are increasingly crossing the borders or going abroad in search of low-cost dental care. Dental Tourism is big and growing each year.

Dental tourism, also called dental vacations, is a subset of the sector known as Medical Tourism.  It involves individuals seeking dental care outside of their local healthcare systems and may be accompanied by a vacation. Dental tourism is growing worldwide.

As the world becomes ever more interdependent and competitive, technique, material, and technological advances spread rapidly, enabling providers in “developing countries” to provide dental care at significant cost savings when compared with their peers in the developed world.

Even Russia and the Ukraine invite those in need of dental work to check out what they have to offer.  Dental tourism, as a part of more general medical tourism, has existed for many years, of course, but over recent years, it has significantly grown in popularity. And the reason is obvious. When times are tough, dental tourism can save money while allowing you to travel abroad for a needed vacation at the same time.

Medical Tourism For Seniors

Medical Tourism is patient movement from highly developed nations to other areas of the world for medical care, usually to find treatment at a lower cost. Medical Tourism is different from the traditional model of international medical travel where patients generally journey from less developed nations to major medical centers in highly developed countries for medical treatment that is unavailable in their own communities.

Even far off Australia invites seniors to visit for dental tourism. Latvia  notes that during your dental tourism visit in Latvia you can also enjoy their beautiful capital city Riga, the city of lights.

Is It For Me?

The question is always “is it worth the risk?” One thing is clear: Clearly understand what dental treatment you need before you leave home. If you explore a bit you’ll discover health centers all over the world that offer a team of dental experts that use the latest technology and procedures.

More and more southwest residents head off to Mexico for dental work. Historically US nationals have traveled over the border into Mexico for discounted supplies, particularly pharmaceuticals.  Mexico advertises that you can save up to 85% with quality-checked dentists and receive the same high standards of workmanship you would expect at home.

For Americans willing to hop on a plane, visiting a dentist in another country could save travelers on dental procedures such as crowns and root canals, according to data from medical publisher Patients Beyond Borders.

Read what Fox News writes about dental tourism. Next go to Google and input Dental Tourism. You’ll discover that it is big, real big. But is it for you?  You decide. jeb