People have known about “dental tourism” for some time now. I even had a patient many years ago, who made the trip to Mexico to have a crown made – and at a substantially lower fee than mine. Honestly, I thought it was… not bad! But, then, I’ve also seen many, many cases in which the result was horrendous.
Some dental treatment failures can be fixed after the fact, (which adds tremendously to the “cost” savings that patients were going for) and many others, particularly ones involving dental implants and prosthetics – can be much more complicated and expensive, if possible, to rectify at all.
A while back, the CBS show “60 Minutes” did a feature on the Mexican town of Los Algodones, also known as “Molar City”; Population of 6,000 including 600 dentists, Molar City is one of the world’s top destinations for dental tourists. On one “60 Minutes” episode, an American Dental Association spokesperson was quoted as saying “There are good and bad dentists everywhere”.
True, but that’s not the whole story!
So why would someone travel from around the world to Mexico, India, or Eastern Europe for their dental work? Some of the reasons are:
- Lower fees
- Reduced waiting times
- Good care (in some cases)
There are, however, potentially significant risks with this scenario:
- Inadequate training. Many foreign countries do not have the rigorous and uniform training programs and licensing requirements that we maintain here in the U.S. This can often lead to poor outcomes!
- Infection Control. Many foreign countries do not have organizations like OSHA to insure and enforce a safe standard for infection control. There have even been cases of patients acquiring Hepatitis B and C and even HIV from having procedures done in unclean clinics overseas.
- Unapproved materials. Some countries permit the use of materials that have not been approved here in the United States. Why does this matter, you might ask? Well, you may recall the fact that the FDA never approved Thalidomide for use in pregnant women in the U.S. Canada, England, and Belgium, on the other hand, all suffered horrendous birth defects as a result of this practice.
- And finally, what if there is a problem? It’s not very easy to see your dentist to repair or treat an unexpected problem if they are 2,000 miles away!
The old saying, “Buyer Beware” would surely apply here! For more information on this interesting topic visit the American Dental Association’s page on this:
See our “Out-of-Town” page for patients traveling to Dallas for care.
We routinely treat patients from out of town. With larger treatments, we arrange for as much to be done as possible for each trip. We try to minimize the number of flights/drives a patient must make to complete treatment. Our consultation is complimentary. CONTACT US here to schedule either an in-person or a virtual consultation, or call us at 214-956-9100.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dental tourism?
Dental tourism refers to traveling to another country to receive dental care, often motivated by lower fees, shorter wait times, or perceived good care compared to local options.
Why do some people go abroad for dental work?
Many patients travel abroad for dental care to take advantage of lower costs, reduced waiting times, or to access certain treatments. Destinations like Mexico, India, and Eastern Europe are popular for this reason.
What are the risks of getting dental treatment in another country?
Risks include inadequate training of dentists, poor infection control standards, use of unapproved materials, and difficulties obtaining follow-up care if complications arise.
Are infection control standards the same overseas?
Not necessarily. Some foreign clinics lack regulations like OSHA standards in the U.S., which can increase the risk of infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV.
Can materials used abroad be unsafe or unapproved?
Yes. Some countries allow materials not approved by the U.S. FDA, which can pose safety risks. The page compares this to how unapproved drugs like Thalidomide caused harm in other countries.
What happens if complications occur after getting dental work abroad?
Getting follow-up care can be difficult since your treating dentist may be thousands of miles away, making it hard to repair or address unexpected problems.
Are all foreign dentists poorly trained?
No. As mentioned in the CBS '60 Minutes' report, there are good and bad dentists everywhere. However, training standards vary widely between countries, which can affect treatment quality.
Does the Dental Implant Center treat out-of-town patients?
Yes. The center routinely treats patients traveling to Dallas, arranging efficient treatment schedules to minimize the number of visits required.
Is there a consultation fee for out-of-town patients?
The Dental Implant Center offers complimentary consultations, available both in-person and virtually, to help patients plan their treatment before traveling.
