Dental Treatment Abroad – the myths

You often hear horror stories about going for dental treatment abroad outside the UK. And a recent article in the Daily Mail is no exception but we wanted to just dispel some of those myths. What we would always say, is that it is important to do your research for your dental treatment abroad and makes sure that you are completely prepared before you go.

The important thing is to weigh everything up before going abroad for treatment. But the very fact that you are reading this blog is a good sign that you are doing just that. I don’t agree that people just travel abroad for a bargain without thinking about everything associated with travel abroad.

What is true is that more people are considering treatment abroad since it has got so hard to find an NHS dentist. What is more, UK dentists are no longer paid different fees for each treatment. They get lump sums instead, meaning they find it less cost-effective to carry out difficult, time-consuming procedures.  Recent statistics have revealed that the number of treatments such as crowns, bridges and dentures in the UK has plummeted by 57% since the new system was introduced.

So now many people go abroad for these complicated procedures, often at a cheaper cost. They want the best options for their teeth and fear the costs in this country will be prohibitive. Yet one argument often given AGAINST treatment abroad is that it actually doesn’t work out any cheaper. Yet if you check out this blog it is clear that treatment abroad can often be cheaper. So I would say the advice is to research the clinic carefully, using resources like this blog and www.treatmentabroad.com so that you know for sure what is included in the cost of treatment, and confirm you are only paying for the dental treatment you need.

Another myth often propagated about dental treatment abroad, is that if you have problems with your dental treatment abroad then it is a lot more hassle than if you were at home. Now in some ways this is true – you are in a foreign country and will have flights booked to return home – but if you are fully prepared before you go , these problems can be minimised. For example, you can make sure you have specialist travel insurance for treatment abroad, that way you can be covered if problems arise. For example, with AllClear Treatment Abroad, we include special benefits in the event that your recovery from treatment extends past the anticipated date. And we provide cover for additional accommodation or travel expenses for you and a companion in the event that a complication prevents you from returning home or continuing your trip.

Ultimately, the decision is yours if you want to plump for treatment abroad, but hopefully this blog has helped you be aware of some of the things to consider, and what you can do to minimise any potential risks. Really it is like the Scouts – the motto is ‘Be Prepared’!

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Tags: AllClear Treatment Abroad, Dental treatment abroad, dental treatment abroad myths, medical tourism, NHS dentist, specialist travel insurance for treatment abroad, treatment abroad