Member Article

Dental tourism, money and implants – are they the value you think they are?

Dental tourism, money and implants – are they the value you think they are?

In the UK, many people, despite seeking treatment on the NHS, find that many dental services are not accessible – this is usually due to money as many of the cosmetic procedures, such as whitening, implants etc. are not available on the NHS.

Some people are entitled to free treatment, but find the process complicated and unclear; likewise, many people find that the check-up fees that they are expected to pay can fairly astronomical. Recent media stories too that suggest many NHS dental practices are not letting NHS registered dentists know they can have some of the treatment on the NHS, has only made the situation worse.

As a result, many people are paying into expensive dental plans or, even worse, forgoing preventative dental treatment altogether.

Now there is another option that is increasing in popularity as people become aware of the high quality of care and services – dental treatment in Poland!

On the climb

Back in 2010, medical or dental tourism as it is sometimes known was reported to be on the increase. In fact, research suggested that as many as 1 in 20 people in the UK – that is around 2.65 million people – were planning, or had sought medical or dental treatment abroad.

There are many services that people were accessing, from joint replacements, such as knee and hips, avoiding the long waiting times in the UK, as well as infertility treatment, hair implants and dental treatments, including cosmetic dentistry,

Of all the treatments that these millions of people sought, 43% - nearly half – were accessing high quality dental treatments, followed by 29% opting for cosmetic surgery and 28% opting for fertility treatment.

And which countries are people visiting to access these services? Bulgaria, the Czech Republic are popular but many people are choosing to access the high quality dental services available in Poland.

The right option for you?

With another round of spending cuts imminent in the NHS in England and beyond, it is no surprise that more and more people are seriously considering dental treatment in Poland. Already, the British Medical Association estimates that since the latest new system was introduced, the number of people willing or able to access dental treatments such as crowns, etc. has fallen by 57%. Saving both time and money, a dental holiday to Poland could be a worthwhile trip!

There have already been changes to fees and what people can and cannot access through the NHS, with the British Medical Journal already hinting that the future may not be rosy for NHS patients http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c5769.

However, many people are nervous about going abroad for treatment. Anxious, for example, that the dentist may not speak English and what happens if something goes wrong. We understand which is why we suggest the following:

i.Just as you would here in the UK, if you are looking to receive specific dental treatment in Poland – or any other country – you simply must do your research, on both the products, services and any clinics you feel you would visit. Many people in the UK still have issues with choosing between dental services, practices and medical treatments too as, for so long, we have been use to accessing them for ‘free’ at the point of delivery and so asking for quotes and estimates when it comes to our teeth is a slightly alien feeling!

ii.Language could be a barrier and so, if you are booking a clinic visit and treatment independently, it pays to have a phone conversation, if at all possible, with the dentist that will carry out the work. Making sure they understand exactly what you want – and don’t want!

iii.Aftercare and insurances are important too if you are travelling independently of an organising company. Ordinary travel insurance may not cover any issues, as you may find there are certain exclusion clauses and so special travel insurance may be required. You also need to check with the clinic or dental practice what happens if something does go wrong or you need help after your return home.

iv.Supplying a comprehensive breakdown of your health and any issues to the clinic is important too. Anything that you consider to be an issue, as well as obvious existing medical conditions is essential too as the dental team will need to know.

There are many myths and negative press around some aspects of dental and medical treatment abroad but one way of ensuring that some of these perceive pitfalls are avoided is by using a trusted, experienced organisations - such as Polish My Smile!

As a UK based company, we are specialists in organising escorted dental holidays to Krakow, Poland. Through us, you will have a great trip that will see you access the highest quality dental treatment as well as visit a fantastic city!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Trotter .