TOP MEDICAL & DENTAL TOURISM DESTINATIONS 2016 Survey By Certified Dentists & Doctors Internationale'

Photo: Land's End, Cabo San Lucas. Mexico medical and dental tourism is the most popular in the America's



Many Americans, Canadians and Western Europeans are traveling abroad for non-emergency procedures such as dental makeovers, hip replacement, cosmetic surgery, or even heart surgery. Each year, some 750,000 U.S. citizens travel to foreign destinations seeking medical treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents to a Medical Tourism Association survey who traveled abroad for health reasons did so because they were uninsured. Americans also travel for elective procedures insurance doesn't cover. Cosmetic surgery and dentistry are particularly popular tourism choices, because they are rarely covered by health insurance.

Cost is a big factor in deciding whether to seek care abroad. As a rule of thumb - Procedures that cost more than $6,000 generally are cheaper if performed outside the U.S.

12 TIPS FOR GREAT DENTAL HOLIDAYS IN THAILAND or THE PHILIPPINES By Certified Dentists Internationale'

ASIA DENTAL HOLIDAYS - How to have a great Thai or Philippines Dental Vacation!

Thailand and Philippines Dental Travel Checklist

By  David Mandich for Certified Dentists Internationale’

If your Sydney cosmetic dentist or Los Angeles dental implant specialist is over-the-top on prices - consider a dental holiday in Asia. 

Bangkok and Manila dentist prices are even less than dental prices in Mexico! Same materials, same equipment and many dentists in Asia have Western education and/or clinic practice in the West.

Below is the Board Certified Asia Dentist Association’s tips for dental tourists considering a dental holiday in Asia.

1. Get a price quote before taking off on an your dental holiday. Email a copy of your home dentist’s treatment plan, x-rays or panoramic x-ray to the dentist in Asia. Many dentists will give online estimates subject to a clinical exam.

Take digital pictures of your teeth. They are almost as good as an in-the-chair exam. If none of the foregoing items are possible - don’t worry, x-rays and panos are inexpensive in Asia. Panoramics for dental implants are only around $24-40usd in Asia vs. $150 -250 in the USA & Canada. Same equipment.

2. Get an idea of  how many crowns, bridges, dental implants. you will need and list it all in the clinic’s online Contact Form. Be sure to note health issues the dentist in Asia should be made aware of.

3. Choose a certified dentist in Asia qualified to do the type of procedure(s) you are seeking. You will be assured of the best results from a board certified dentist rather than a less-skilled general dentist in Asia.

4. Discuss your payment options with the dentist. Credit cards are accepted in most places, but often subject to bank and credit card add-ons. American Express Travelers checks work in some countries but not others. 

Important tip: Advise your credit card company you will be going overseas

If bringing cash - be sure to check with customs bureaus of your countries of departure and destination before getting on the plane. In many countries undeclared large amounts of cash will be confiscated. (Oh Yes!) Ex. $10,000us (per person or per family) is the magic number for declaring cash to customs in the US and Mexico.

Dental Tourism in Danger of Getting a Black Eye...

Certified Dentists Internationale Combats Bad Dental Tourism - Most dental tourism patients have a great experience, but some don't. And here's why.

By Sandra Jamala

Board Certified Asia Dental Association

Dental tourism today faces new challenges according to Ms. Carla Helena Sanchez the new Director of Certified Dentists Internationale.

“The expanding dental tourism industry is in danger of getting a black eye with many dental tourism websites and dental travel brokers promoting any dentist who is willing to pay their annual membership fees. The dentist membership fees can cost $1,500us or more per year and generate much valued high treatment patients for dentists in developing nations. 

The websites cannot possibly screen the credentials of the 1,000’s of dentists some agencies claim to list.  Consumers are often getting shoddy work from general dentists anxious to bag lucrative treatments by misrepresenting their qualifications to unsuspecting dental tourists."

ASIA'S BEST DENTAL TOURISM COUNTRIES By the Board Certified Asia Dentist Association

Dentists in Manila and Bangkok are much less expensive than Mexican dentists! Asian Dental holidays are growing in popularity with American and Canadian dental patients. 

Dental Travel Agencies Recommend Manila or Bangkok Dentists for Affordable Dentistry

 The Board Certified Asia Dental Association Asia Dental Travel Guide service has Asian dentists including certified Manila, Hong Kong and Bangkok Dentists.

And you thought only Mexican dentists were affordable!

Dental prices in Asia are generally 20-30% less than Mexican dentists who are already 50-75% less costly than US, Canada, UK and dentists in Australia. 

Ex. A teeth cleaning by a dentist in Mexico including 2 x-rays will run $40-60 vs. $20 in Manila. I won't quote you a price for a cleaning by a US dentist - most don't do cleanings - or windows. But if they did - it would be $100 - $175. (including a couple of x-rays)