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Dental Tourism

Dental Tourism India
The New Phenomenon of Dental Tourism In India

Find the best dentist in Mexico for cosmetic dentistry, specialist for oral surgery in Mexico for dental implantsToday, there are many Americans who travel to foreign countries such as India for their dental work, despite the convenience of visiting their local U.S. dentist which are just a few blocks away from their house. The lure of India dental tourism is price and quality.

Every year, many Americans travel to India because of lack of dental insurance or inadequate dental insurance. Dental tourists include clients just passing by for a $30 dental cleaning all the way to clients in need of full mouth restoration, but have been quoted $30,000 to $50,000 by their U.S. dentist.

History of Dental Tourism in India

The dental tourism trend started several decades ago along the border towns of India, such as Nogales and Tijuana. Americans living right across the border on the U.S. side were the original dental tourist. The mostly Hispanic populations living on the U.S. side received recommendations from their relatives across the border to see Tourism Dental India dentists that offer dental treatments at a fraction of the cost of their U.S. counterparts.

The India  dental tourism trend spread among seniors living in retirement and active adult communities in the border states of Arizona, California, New India and Texas. In conjunction with the trend of seniors crossing the border to buy cheap prescription medication in the ‘90s, dental tourism in India became popular as people discovered clean, professional, and state-of-the art India dental facilities. Word-of-mouth travelled fast, especially among seniors living in close-knit retirement communities.

In the early 2000s, the media brought attention to the growing trend of medical tourism. Dentistry in India  became a spotlight for both positive and negative news from the American media. People reported about their wonderful experiences with their dental care in India while saving thousands of dollars. A select few reported their outrage about receiving bad dentistry in India. Such widespread media attention brought both controversy and interest among the general American population. Although many people still have apprehension about travelling to India for dental work, it is common knowledge in the U.S. that India is a great option for people looking for savings in their dental work.

The Lure of Affordable Prices

Los Algodones Arizona Border, Cosmetic Dentist in Mexico Border for Crowns Veneers ImplantsAmericans travelling to India for dental work can save up to 70% off their local U.S. dental quotation. The most common procedures sought by clients are cosmetic dentistry involving crowns, veneers, and dental implants. A combination of a standard dental implant and porcelain crown can cost as much as $3000- $6000 in the Border States such as Arizona or California. Across the India border, a similar procedure can cost around $1500 to $1800. Indeed, people travel from as far as Hawaii for the same procedure, where the implant and crown can cost as much as $8000 per tooth in some Hawaiian islands.

The Promise of High Quality Dentistry

People from all over the world travel to the India border towns, which have become hotspots for dental tourism. Often, first time clients travel to India with mixed expectations, only to be surprised at finding state-of the art dental facilities and highly qualified India dentists. Prominent dental facilities in India usually have modern equipment, such as Panoramic and Digital X-rays, intra-oral cameras, and flat screen monitors. SpecializedIndia dental clinics offer the most modern industry standard practices such as Laser Dentistry and Biological Dentistry. Some Holistic doctors in the U.S. even refer their patients to India for hard to find holistic dental procedures such as Ozone Dental Therapy.

Many India dentists also travel around the world, especially to U.S. dental schools, to receive certifications and advanced education. In border towns such as Los Algodones, where approximately 300 dentists practice, continuous improvement in education and dental practices is important to remain competitive with other dental facilities clustered within an area just one square mile. The concentration of dentist in one area works in favor of patients, as dental facilities keep up with the latest innovations in dentistry to continue to attract patients from the U.S. Not only are the dentists competing with their U.S. counterparts, but they are also competing with the dentist next door. Similarly, India dentistare able to share their best practices through their local organizations. This healthy competition and collegiality breeds some of the finest dentists the international dental industry has to offer.

 

India The IT Hub

The fact that India is an IT hub has brought many young Americans to India for business. This has resulted  in a big boom for the Indian Dental Industry. Dental tourism forms 10 per cent of the total Indian medical tourism which is projected to grow at 30 per cent to Rs 9500 crore by 2015. Dental tourism in India shows an upward trend: Indian Medical tourism to earn $1.87 Bn a year by 2012 .

 

Macroeconomics of Dental Tourism

As the cost of healthcare in the U.S. spirals out of control, the demand for medical and dental tourism will continue to increase. Currently, it is estimated that more than 40 million Americans are without health insurance; the similar statistic for dental insurance is even higher. However, even clients with dental insurance find themselves going to India as their policies dictate yearly maximum expenses that barely cover major dental work. A $1500 yearly insurance cap with 50% coverage on crowns can approximately only cover 2 crowns and the dental evaluation, plus the client has to pay the remaining 50% of the cost. This becomes a challenge for clients in need of major cosmetic dentistry work.

To cater to the needs of dental tourism clients, many major insurance companies provide reimbursements for dental work performed in India. Similarly, many medical and dental financing companies are following suit.

Moreover, new market conditions such as the housing bubble and credit crisis are reshaping the way people look at their limited resources. As the economy continues to slow down, dentist in India offering big savings become high demand for American consumers.

 

Microeconomics of Dental Tourism in India

Recommendation Referral Mexico Dentist, Extensive Dental Work 	Dental Vacation, Brand New Hollywood SmileAside from understanding the comparative advantages of Mexican dentists, Americans still need to perform a cost-benefit analysis of going to India. Is it really worth travelling to India for my unique dental case considering all the travel expenses and my time-off work? Am I better-off seeing my local U.S. dentist just a few blocks away from my house?

The answer depends on the extent of one’s dental treatment and place of residence. It’s easier to make a decision if you need extensive dental surgery or full mouth rehabilitation as opposed to needing just one root canal. With people living in San Diego, Los Angeles, Yuma, or El Paso, the choice to go to India is simply just a one day trip. However, travelling from Alaska or New York involves different expenses such as airplane tickets and hotel accommodation. In order to have a successful travel experience, one needs to understand the comparative cost between the local U.S. dentist vs. the India dentist, together with the extra travel cost.

Here is a sample table to help analyze the cost of dental travel to India:

Sample Expense Analysis: U.S. Dentist vs. India Dentist

Dental treatment in India is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors. Dental treatment is sometimes not reimbursed by the national health schemes of some countries and is expensive. They can come to India and get their teeth fixed at a fraction of the cost back home.

A dentist can charge US Dollars 300 to 400 for a filling. It costs only US Dollars 20 in India. A root canal is US Dollars 3,000 in the West but only US Dollars 70 to 100 in India. Dentures can cost US Dollars 1000 overseas but only US Dollars 200 in India.

In the UK, where National Health Service covers dental health, a root canal patient will have to wait for over a year. The choice would be between bearing the pain and visiting a private doctor and paying an exorbitant fee. Britishers are taking the third option. Curing their teeth while touring India.

Some medical insurance firms in the UK are taking the initiative and are coming up with plans to sell India as a destination for pleasure-cum-business tourism.

There exists a highly energetic community of 80,000 dentists, offering world-class standards while serving an astonishing one billion population. The dentist population ratio of 1:300,000 in the 1960s stands at 1:22,000 today, demonstrating the vitality of the profession. Like anywhere else in the world, urban bias exists in India. Government hospitals and establishments treat 25% to 30% of the population for their dental ailments, while the remainder seeks treatment thorough private clinics.

Dental equipment and materials used by the profession are provided by both indigenous and international companies. A favorable import duty structure has boosted global trading and created opportunities for international dental manufacturers to establish joint ventures, tapping into the enormous market potential of this liberalized vibrant economy.

The 92nd FDI World Dental Congress at New Delhi is the perfect event through which to expose the untapped potential of the Indian dental profession and market to the rest of the world.

The Indian Dental Association, with its strong global affiliations, focuses on supporting dentists and dental students while working to improve dentistry in India.

Here is a small price comparison chart for tourist information:

 

USA & Europe

India

Root Canal Treatment

$ 1000 

$ 100 

Metal free porcelain crown
(Procera Crowns )

$ 800-1000 

$ 300

Composite Restoration
(White Restoration)

$ 500 

$ 40 to $ 50 

A brand new smile

$ 10,000

$ 4000 

Dental Implant ( Nobel Biocare)

$ 4000-5000

$ 1000

Teeth whitening                   

$ 700

$ 250

 

Procedure

United States

El Salvador

Mexico

Hungary

Poland

India

Thailand

Romania

Ukraine

Implants, with crown

$2990 to $5,000

$900

$990

$1000

$900

$600

$1700

$950

$590

Veneers

At least $800 to 2,000

$440

$495

$360

$450

$220

$240

$240

$240

Root canal

$699 to $2,000

$220

$300 to $450

$60

$150 to $200

$80

$90 to $200

$100 to $200

$65

Crowns

$750 to $3,000

$440

$495

$285

$280 to $ 800

$80

$210 to $390

$240 to $600

$190

Bonding

$150 to $300

$50

$70

$70

$60

$25 to $30

$80

$75

$40 to $50

 

What is the advantage of travelling to India vs. other countries for dental tourism?

 

 

Cosmetic Dentist Advanced Technology in Dentistry, Modern and Clean Mexico Dental Facilities, Latest Technology and EquipmentMany countries around the world are considered top medical tourism destinations. Countries such as Thailand and Brazil are popular international destinations for cosmetic surgery. Many people travel to India for surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements. Hungary and Costa Rica are also top dental tourism destinations.

Although other destinations offer the opportunity to enjoy a unique dental tourism vacation during your visit, India offers a several advantages to Americans due to its high level of expertise and many tourism spots. . The following outlines the advantages:

In conclusion, dentistry in India offers a comparative advantage for Americans seeking a more affordable alternative to the expensive dental care in the U.S. Many Mexican dental facilities offer safe and high-quality dental treatments along with modern technology. As the cost of healthcare in the U.S. enters crisis mode, options such as India dental care will continue to become a welcome relief to many Americans.

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