There’s no point denying it: dental costs in the UK can be eye-wateringly high.
Especially for the more complex procedures and for most oral surgery cases. This is why a lot of people do their dental implants abroad. Beyond just the cost element, several other factors make this form of dental tourism so appealing. In the next few paragraphs or so, will take you through 10 reasons why a growing number of patients choose Europe to have their dental implants done. 1. NHS and Private dental costs continue to rise
The dental arm of the NHS is just as much under huge pressure than any other part.
With NHS dentists required to churn out more and more UDA (Unit of Dental Activity) with less time available per patient, it is no wonder that they face the impossible task of giving their best. Understandably, whoever can afford it, many will migrate to private dentists for various procedures. But even the most vulnerable won’t be shielded from the ever-increasing cost of dental, even under the NHS banner. In 2019 the government increased the NHS contribution and this will continue to rise to cushion the impact of increasing costs on the healthcare system. With the Covid pandemic wreaking havoc, the private sector has and will continue to shift the increased costs of PPE and other equipment purchases onto customers. The cost reopening of dental clinics will definitely mean a price hike for most procedures for independent practices as well. In summary: if you thought dental implant prices are wild now, it will be more expensive soon. This may be a bit deflating news, but this may already be a good enough reason to start shopping around outside the country, especially when an expensive dental implant procedure is at stake. And while we are on the subject of money. 2. Dental implants are a lot cheaper
With a significant difference in economic output and size, there are places like Budapest, Hungary where everything including the cost of your dental implants is remarkably lower.
A single implant costs about £900 in Hungary compared to the usual average for £2,000 in the UK. You can see how and why even with the travel included; one can make significant savings by looking beyond the UK border for this treatment. 3. Durable and premium materials & technologies readily available
The cynical side of you can easily turn around and say: Lower costs don’t always mean adequate quality.
People say “when you pay peanuts, you get monkeys” for a reason. It is a pleasant surprise, however, that with Hungary’s incredibly strong dental education and ecosystem, it is not the case. Titanium, zirconium, porcelain fused to metal materials are readily available for a range of cases ranging from routine ones to the most complex and challenging ones alike. The latest implant technologies, teeth whitening lasers and other equipment aren’t novelties either, but commonly used and widely adopted by the local industry professionals. You may be wondering: fine, costs are lower and they have the same materials available. But the tools are only as useful as the people using them, right? 4. Quality of dental care is as high as the UK's or higher
Students at dental universities in the country first train as a general dentist and then they go on to specialise in a specific field.
So, after a minimum of 5 years of dental training, one can specialise by doing a post-graduate and/or masters degree in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery with an additional course done in Implantology. From a regulatory point of view, Hungarian dentists must acquire a government certificate that they have to display at their clinic for inspection. Finally, a large number of professionals in the country are members of international dental organisations that require them to accrue credits by attending lectures and seminars of new techniques and technologies to stay up to date. A lead dentist at a clinic often has at least 12-15 years of experience with a Master Degree in Implantology and Dental Surgery from a renowned European university.
That should put your mind at ease in terms of expertise, they know what they are doing.
Which is incredibly important if they have to treat patients who are either short on time or are the rather nervous kind. Here’s what I mean: 5. General anaesthesia is available for nervous patients
Let’s speak the truth: while a lot of tooth problems can be resolved in one go, a dental implant procedure is just not one of them.
If there’s a situation when bone-degradation makes the implantation procedure more challenging, the dentist/oral surgeon may have to apply bone graft to create a more welcoming environment for the implant. In this case, the anaesthesia can make a trip abroad more productive because the dentist can complete a large part of the work in one session. And there’s the group of people with bad experiences and dental phobia. For them, general anaesthesia is a true blessing as they can have an absolutely pain-free dental experience. One huge caveat, however: General anaesthesia is not always an option. People with certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk and while there are specialist doctors to oversee the entire procedure, not everyone should go under. Communicating the risks of the above and just getting facts across is very important. In dental healthcare, you have to speak the same language after all. 6. Well-spoken English
At these clinics, you would be surprised how well they speak English.
Nothing gets lost in translation, both verbal and written communication is done via quality English. You may even get a little entertaining value when hearing the local accent. Some people call it Hunglish. :) But let’s get serious again and steer back the issue on costs and value. 7. Dental consultation trip costs the same as a private checkup
Some dental clinics in Budapest have a value-packed consultation trip package for a price that you would pay for a simple check-up at a private dentist in the UK.
This is crazy right? As in crazy good! For £200* you could have yourself:
And it’s not over: the clinic staff would organise the whole thing for you. I mean if this reason alone hasn’t convinced you yet, I am not sure what will. It gets better. 8. Guarantee and aftercare included
Since you would make a trip to Budapest to complete your dental implantation treatment, your dentist will obviously have to be on the ball to ensure referrals and a growing (happy) clientele.
With such a high quality of work and service, some dentists will provide guarantees on the condition of annual check-up and professional dental cleaning. Note that different treatments will carry varying guarantee periods. For example, a filling will have a single year warranty whereas fixed solutions will have a guarantee period of up to 5 years (with certain conditions of the dentist). It’s an absolute value galore and a no-brainer for many. And let us not forget the most fun reason and benefit of having dental implants abroad. 9. Mini holidays and weekend getaways
Many dentists will swear by the holistic health approach. Beyond the obvious, regular and appropriate oral hygiene routines there’s stress reduction.
A nice little trip to a beautiful and picturesque Budapest is an ideal way of killing two birds with one stone: Having a lovely stroll, enjoying some drinks on the bank of the river Danube or a visit to a museum or art gallery is one. Visiting a highly professional dental clinic and getting dental implants done abroad is another. Want to know the best part? 10. Best dental implants abroad in Budapest
We partnered with a best-in-class dental clinic in Budapest to offer our clientele alternative options: (Prices are subject to GBP/EUR fluctuations and to in-person consultation)
For finishing lines, I think a collection of Q&A would add a nice value boost:
Frequently Asked Questions about Dental implants abroad
What country is best for dental implants?
I may be biased, but Hungary is certainly the best option for UK patients who wish to have extraordinary quality for about half the price that of the UK. Should I go abroad for dental implants? The main driver for going abroad to have this treatment done is the price. So if cost sensitivity is high and financial resources scare, you should definitely go abroad for getting implants done. What is the best brand of dental implants? The best brand is Nobel Biocare without a shadow of a doubt. The Swiss technology company has technological superiority in many aspects of dental care, including implants. Is All On 4 implants good? For patients who have weaker bone structure and sinus lift is not an option, the All On 4 implant is a perfect solution. Do tooth implants hurt? Your nerves are numbed during the procedure and thus you don’t feel any pain or discomfort. You will feel the pressure as the dentist is prepping the area but there is no pain associated with the treatment. Well there you have it, 10 reasons why you should consider doing your dental implants abroad. Would you have any other reasons for at least considering it? Let me know in the comments below!
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