More and more people are considering taking a ‘dental holiday‘ – that is, going abroad for their dental treatment. Most people believe that they will be able to save money by looking to another country’s dental health services for a less expensive option, but do the potential risks outweigh the possible benefits?
Leaving the United States in order to get inexpensive dental healthcare further afield sounds like it might be a good idea. During these economically strained times, it makes sense to look to make savings wherever you can. Dental treatment charges range widely depending upon where you live in the US, and what you are getting done. However, people are using private dental services in other neighbouring countries as a way of saving money. That’s the main benefit, but it’s not all as easy as it seems. It may initially reduce the price of your treatment but at what cost? What are the risks?
It’s very difficult to establish the standard of dental treatment and care that you are likely to get outside the States. Whilst all American dentists and dental hygienists must pass stringent tests, their overseas counterparts often do not have to pass the same level of testing. This can lead to a lower standard of treatment and care, and also potentially less well qualified dental professionals.
One of the main things to consider is the amount of time it takes to undergo some dental procedures. Imagine you went to Costa Rica for inexpensive dental treatment, many procedures require weeks or months of ongoing checks to ensure that there are no complications or problems after treatment. Can this all be accomplished in two weeks in San Juan? The cost of travelling back to that country for after care, or follow up visits is surely more than the original cost of getting treatment in the USA.
Of course, one of the biggest problems is whether you will have recourse if things go wrong. Living outside the country, the cost of returning to the country of your dental holiday to fight a costly lawsuit could be more expensive than your home dental bills ever were.
At home in the USA, you’ll have highly trained dental experts that speak your language. Overseas, you may discover that you find it difficult to communicate with the people performing your dental treatment. What if you want to ask a question? What if you cannot understand the instructions that you give you for your post-treatment after care?
Furthermore, if there are immediate complications to your dental procedures, will you have the funds to stay in the country whilst they are resolved? Will this be covered by your holiday insurance? If you return to the States and there is a problem with your procedure, you will then incur the cost of fixing it with no recourse in the country of your dental holiday. Can you afford to take that kind of gamble with your money or your health?
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