Patients Seek Cheaper Dental Treatment Abroad
Many people are now flying halfway around the world to seek health and dental treatments.
A report out Tuesday from a business consulting company estimated $700,000 Americans a year could go abroad for health care, saving an average of $15,000. Two local patients said they saved more going to countries where they didn’t speak the language but trusted the doctors.
By Wjla.com
Many people are now flying halfway around the world to seek health and dental treatments.
A report out Tuesday from a business consulting company estimated $700,000 Americans a year could go abroad for health care, saving an average of $15,000. Two local patients said they saved more going to countries where they didn’t speak the language but trusted the doctors.
A year ago, Larry Covell wouldn’t have wanted you to see him having fun with his kids, because he feared smiling in public. “It was hard. I was taking my kids to school and their friends would say, ‘why do you have such big teeth?’”
Dentists told Larry surgery to correct decaying teeth and gum disease would cost $70,000. “I was like, there’s no way I can afford it,” he said.
Larry looked at a second mortgage, then he looked 1,913 miles away in El Salvador, where a former Baylor University professor promised 19 days of dental work plus first-class accommodations, for $20,000.
“He really looks like a new guy. When he came home, for the first time in 28 years, I saw his whole face, and not just his teeth,” said Larry’s wife, Barbara.
Cassie Gritten chose medical tourism in January when hip problems made it impossible to walk. “I feel like I have my life back,” she said, “by the end, it was hard to get out of bed.”
Virginia doctors said hip replacement would cost $68,000. A company called Planet Hospital arranged a Belgian surgery for half that, including the price of a traveling friend.
“The first few days in the hospital were really hard. Hard to get used to the way they deal with things, they’re not the same here,” said Madge McQueen, Gritten’s friend.
Medical tourism companies said most of the surgeons they use have been trained and accredited in the United States or Europe. McQueen said her friend’s care was so good, she’s back to daily walks.
“Some small amount of elective surgeries can certainly be outsourced, but the question is, why can’t we provide it here at a cost people can afford,” said Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, a public health professor.
Dr. Mullan said medical tourism points to American shortfalls, though he said if patents do their homework, he wished them well.
“I love to smile now,” said Larry Covell.
The Covells paid for Larry’s surgeries out of pocket. Insurance wouldn’t cover international work, but they saved so much. The kids may get braces in El Salvador, with follow-up visits in the states. It’s a trip their parents feel they can’t afford to miss.
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Categories: Dental News, Dental Tourism
My partner and I have been getting one of our dental cleanings done at Bumrungrad in Bangkok for the past 3 years. We’ll be going back again this year. We love Bangkok and Bumrungrad is a beautiful, modern, JAHCO accreditated hospital.
We see the same dentist every year. Last year my partner needed a new temporary tooth (she was in between implant visits) because the original one made for her was very uncomfortable. She was very happy with the outcome.
In addition to my cleaning, which cost around $30, I had a series of amalgams done the year before at a fraction of the cost in the US.
If I ever need any major work on my teeth, I will definitely look into having it done at Bumrungrad. Especially because I have no dental insurance. In the meantime, we’ll most likely get to Bangkok once a year (we love to travel there anyway) and continue to get our cleanings.
Cheryl, you are one of satisfied dental tourists. We hope the quantity of so kind will increase.
I get part of my routine dental work done in Bangkok every year. As noted above, Bumrungrad is a modern hospital with very good services. The cost of dental care in the US has become almost prohibitive. I have very good medical insurance, but no dental insurance. This year I broke a tooth. My regular dentist made me a “flipper” ($300) and sent me to an oral surgeon for removal of the remaining tooth and root (over $3000). The oral surgeon does not accept dental insurance. My dentist retired, so I had to find a new dentist, who charged $175 for an initial visit to get to know me, then $2000 for the cap for the implant. This dentist also does not accept dental insurance plans. The total for this dental mishap was in excess of $5000.
While I was in Bangkok, the flipper broke. Fortunately, I had an appointment with my Thai dentist the next day. She took impression for a new flipper (which cost about US$30 and was better made than my US made one), and it was another $30 for an exam and cleaning.
If I could have done it, I would have made two visits to Bangkok for this procedure, and the cost, including air and lodging would have been less than I paid in the US. For me, the issue was my work schedule. As someone who is a self-employed health care practitioner, I simply couldn’t take the time away. Should I ever break another tooth, I would do everything I could to get it taken care of in Bangkok rather than in the US.
Thank you, Kathie, it is really great economy. Nowadays Bangkok is popular destination for dental tourists and for usual tourists too.
While riding my bicycle, I broke my 2 front teeth, damaged one of my ‘canines’ (had root canal on it, it will need build up and a crown) My 2 front teeth were completely damaged, so they were surgically removed (bone grafting included) My insurance will only cover a fraction of the $8,000 spent. I will need implants in a few months, something that in the USA will cost approximately $6,000 – $8,000 for 2 front teeth (I wonder if this includes the crowns that go on top of the implants/’scews’) Since I do not have enough money to buy a flipper or denture and a couple of my teeth have slightly ‘moved’, I am looking at the possibility of having braces/retainers (front teeth have always been protruding a little). However, this procedure, along with the implants, may be too expensive to do in the USA. I am now looking at the possibility of doing “medical tourism” (possibly in El Salvador), mostly for the braces. I now wonder if, including 3-5 trips to El Salvador for braces readjustment, the work will be worth it. Any idea as to how much braces for an adult would cost in El Salvador? Any thoughts on this? Since the implants are a very delicate procedure, I thought it would be best to have it here, in the USA.
Thanks