The Risks of Dental Holidays

Often people travel abroad seeking out more advanced procedures, such as smile makeovers or dental implants. It is rare that patients travel abroad for simple treatments or services.

All dental treatments are susceptible to complications. These risks increase considerably with more complex or advanced treatments.

If you have such treatment abroad, and then face complications when you have returned home, it is not always simple to return to the provider who delivered your treatment. This is especially the case with urgent or emergency complications, such as infection or acute pain.

Many dental treatments including dental implants, crowns, bridges and veneers are not simple to deliver in one or two visits, and often require repeat visits to enable refinement and improvements.

Patients are understandably keen to ensure the best possible function and look for dental treatment that is often a significant investment, and it's simply a fact that this can sometimes take time.

Treatments delivered abroad often have limited or even no opportunity for refinements or corrections, especially if delivered as part of a 'tourist' or 'holiday' package.

As with many countries around the world, UK dental standards are rigorously enforced and sit within established and regulated frameworks. Unfortunately this isn't the case for many countries.

Standards are important throughout all aspects of dental treatment. As well as simple standards such as infection prevention and safety, the UK has a well established ethical framework for dental treatment.

For example, providers in other countries may embark on courses of treatment that do not fit within UK ethical frameworks, such as over-preparing otherwise healthy teeth or recommending treatments solely for cosmetic benefit, without informing patients of the clinical risks or drawbacks.

Understandably, the UK has strong safeguards not only to ensure high standards but also to provide redress to dental patients if things go wrong. Several organisations exist to assist patients in these cases, and UK clinicians rightfully adhere to strict regulations and standards.

Often, such safeguards are substantially diminished, or even non-existent, in other countries and patients who have travelled abroad for dental treatment may find redress difficult or even impossible to achieve.

The package prices for dental holidays may be attractive at first glance, but it is important to understand if they are comprehensive.

Advertised prices rarely include costs for maintenance or follow up treatment. Further, they necessarily do not include the costs of managing complications or putting things right if they go wrong; these can add considerable cost to treatment, sometimes up to £10,000.