Sun, sea & the perfect SMILE

Could travelling abroad for dental work come back to bite you?

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Thinking about heading abroad this summer? As well as the usual flight and hotel or rental reservations, many people are now also booking a trip to see a dentist - in between their visits to the beach. One in 20 UK adults have sought dental care outside the UK in the last year, according to the General Dental Council (GDC). But while you may be tempted by the promises of cheaper prices in sunnier climes, experts are warning of the hidden dangers of discounted dental treatment.

Cut-price care

Forget Turkey teeth. The reason many of us are travelling abroad for dental treatment is shifting. Instead of vanity procedures, Brits now want real medical help, including crowns and extractions.

'Why not?', you may ask. After all, it could mean you skip lengthy queues and pay less than going private in the UK - plus you can have a holiday while you're at it.

Passport to healthcare

Prices for foreign dental treatments, for example implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, extractions and root canals, can often be thousands of pounds cheaper than the same work done at home, says dentist Dr Stephen Dodd.

The most popular destinations are Turkey, Poland, Hungary and Mexico. But, be warned, these overseas dental surgeries may not be up to scratch. 'I've had patients in my clinic who have been to Turkey for health-related dental work and treatment has been below UK standards,' recounts Dr Dodd. 'As a result, patients can often pay more for revision work when they return.'