Dental Tourism: What to Consider
If you’re considering going abroad to save money on having some dental work done, there’s some important things to keep in mind before you go.
Care Quality
Comparing the kind of dental care that exists in the U.S. with that in other countries is not a fair comparison. In fact, they are two different things altogether. Our top NYC dentists, like all dental professionals across the U.S., are required to obtain specific licensing and specialized training. Standards may vary from state to state, but regulations are in place and enforced. Dental care in other countries is cheaper because it lacks educational accountability and consistency.
Additionally, the U.S. has federal agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that administer sterilization guidelines and regulate dental equipment and materials. From training and education to rules and supervision, American dental practices like ours in Manhattan are held to a higher standard of care.
Hidden Costs
At first glance, dental implants may seem less expensive abroad, but be cautious of hidden costs. If your dental procedure requires several visits for follow-up appointments or adjustments, calculate the cost of airfare and lodging for each of those return trips. It may add up to costing you more in the long run. And what happens when unexpected complications occur? Since the standard of care is lower abroad, the failure rate is higher which means return visits for a re-do is a distinct possibility.
The Wise Choice
As tempting as it may be, it’s not wise to combine vacation with getting dentistry on the cheap. In addition to adhering to strict, mandated guidelines and protocols, local dental care integrates follow-up visits that are not a simple option when traveling. These follow-up visits help ensure case success short term and long term.
If cost is the driving factor for you, we may be able to work with you to ease your financial burden with financing plans. We want you to get adequate care. And putting off dental work has its risks, so call us today and schedule an appointment where we can discuss your dental care and provide you the appropriate oral services before your dental problems develop into greater health problems.
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