My husband and I have just been given an incredibly expensive estimate from our dentist. Clark Howard suggests travel abroad (india, eastern europe, etc.) for excellent care at a fraction of U.S. prices. Naturally, we are hesitant and wondering if anyone out there has had experience with this or any knowledge to share? We would love to incorporate an Australian vacation into this - - Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much.....

I doubt that you would find our dentistry practises are any cheaper than the ones in the US. I reckon you would have to go to an indonesian or asian country to get cheap dental work done.

I had a toothache from eating too many Tim Tams. Does that count as dental tourism? Is there a special passport stamp for this?

A/D

Actually there was a thread a while back (search on dentist +cairns to find it) in which two US visitors separately reported having emergency work done in Australia at considerably less than US rates. Although US/Aust living standards are comparable, American medical practitioners make more money than their Australian counterparts. According to a recent opinion piece by Paul Krugman in the NY Times this is one of the reasons that so much of the US GDP is devoted to the health industry.

In Asia you'd have to make arrangements with an English-speaking practitioner in a clinic equipped to Western standards, probably one whose main clientele is local expats.

I have noticed that Dental Tourism is on the increase in a number of areas and one that I noted only yesterday was India. Now I am sure that I am going to get "flamed" here but may I just say that here in Australia we have had a Doctor Death Inquiry into an Indian Doctor who was working in the Hospital in a regional town in Queensland. There are many deaths attributed to his non-sterile methods of work and his mis-diagnosis. He is also being sued I think for similiar things in Oregon USA. I have had friends who are Indian and they have said that the conditions there are appalling in the hospitals so I doubt that the Dentist would be any better. That is not to say that there could be some very, very good, super standard Dentists in India but I think I would like good local knowledge first before opening my mouth to anyone there. Same applies to most of Asia with the exception of Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and up market areas of China.

No, I have heard that Australian dental work is expensive, and when you factor in the poor exchange rate, I don't think it will be the spot.. But I have heard Thailand suggested.

I read an article in a local publication a few months ago (Crosswinds, A/D, if you read it) about people going to Juarez for inexpensive dental care and prescriptions. It would certainly be cheaper than traveling to Asia or Australia.

Lee Ann

Costs for health care procedures (especially dentistry & optometry) can vary wildly from doctor to doctor within the same city. I've got to go under the gas to have three wisdom teeth removed soon and I've had estimates ranging from $700 to $3500 for the exact same procedure.

Not trying to be a "tall poppy" here, but I would try to find the best quality care near your home - regardless of the price. If you need followup care and your doc is in Oz or Timbuktu, that might be a problem!

I'm glad to offer my translating services to anyone seeking dental care in Juarez?!.

Leann , I think my dentist posted that article in his office.

There is an hospital in Bangkok, Bumrunbag or some such name about which I read an article in the NY Times a few years ago where US educated medicos perform plastic surgery at very low cost and the hospital facilities were reported as being not unlike a 4 star hotel.

I'd rather stay at the Oriental where I had a great rate 15 years ago, arrived from Karachi w/ food poisoning. The house doctor ,Thai trained was excellent and my room attendant was a very sympathetic nurse.

A/D

Thanks so much to everyone for your advice and input. We are now looking at Mexico after getting such positive feedback (here and elsewhere)- if anyone has a specific dentist the liked, we'd love to get the name/number. Thanks again for all your help!

If you go to the Asia forum, you will find a current thread on health care in Thailand. Bamrungrad hospital in Bangkok is indeed THE PLACE to go!! You will find dental and health check-up fees to be extremely reasonable and the care is excellent.

I seem to recall a story about this on Australian 60 minutes some time back and they featured a dental clinic in the Phillipines. I'm afraid I didn't keep the web address but it certainly interested me as the crown work etc quoted seemed to be about 1/10th what we would pay here in Australia. I would think it would warrant consideration if you had substantial dental work to be done. So maybe you should check the Phillipines out as well.

I had a filling done last week at the Bumrungrad Hospital Dental Clinic, Bangkok. Back tooth,large white filling cost 1100 Thai Baht - about $40 Aust or $30US. Very professional, on time, clean and touch-wood, successful!