The Dangers of Dental Tourism

As a dentist in Jacksonville, I have been watching the rise of dental tourism in recent years with great concern. Many Americans think that they can save money on their dental care by traveling to another country where the treatment that they need is less expensive. On paper, this might seem less costly and even exciting, but the fact is that dental tourism comes with a lot of risks and hidden downsides that you may not have even thought about.

To begin with, different countries have different regulations for dentistry. Here in the United States, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set the standards that all dentists must adhere to. American dentists need to meet the certification requirements set by the ADA, and they need to keep their practices safe and sterile according to the FDA’s regulations. But when you travel outside United States borders, these requirements no longer apply. Many countries do not give dental practices the same strict oversight, so you can’t be assured of your overall safety or the quality of care you’ll receive.

The potential lack of health regulations is especially a problem when you consider that traveling to another country means potentially exposing yourself to different germs and bacteria that your body isn’t used to. We all have a friend with a horror story about what happened when they travelled abroad and tried the local food or water. There are steps you can take to protect yourself, of course (such as washing your hands vigorously, drinking filtered water, and being careful about what you eat), but having dental work performed can potentially expose your mouth to all kinds of harmful organisms, including potentially drug-resistant ones. In other words, you could inadvertently get sick as the result of seeing a dentist in another country.

Regardless of regulations and health risks, though, seeing a dentist in another country has its own risks for one simple reason: the dentist in question won’t have easy access to your past dental and medical history. When you visit a dental practice in your home country, it is relatively easy to get the necessary records so that the dentist is aware of your situation. A foreign dentist simply won’t have access to this information. That means they won’t know about any past procedures that you’ve undergone, they won’t know how you react to certain medications, and they won’t be as familiar with you as your regular dentist. As a result, they could end up accidentally putting you in danger even with the best of intentions.

Finally, dental tourism can complicate the recovery process in a variety of ways. First, if you don’t speak the local language very well, you may not fully understand the instructions you receive; needless to say, that will make it very difficult to follow them. Second, there’s always a risk of an infection occurring during the recovery process, and it may be difficult to get the care you need in the worst-case scenario. And third, sitting still on a plane for long periods of time could cause harmful blood clotting, so you’ll have to be extremely careful during your trip home.

In short, going to another country for cheaper dental care can lead to all kinds of problems that you won’t necessarily be prepared to deal with. Why take the risk when you can just reach out to an affordable dentist near you? A local dental practice is safer, more reliable, and can take insurance or offer financing to make the financial aspect of your care a little less stressful. When it comes to taking care of your smile, it’s best to stay close to home and save the traveling for your next vacation.