Dental Tourism Savings Calculator

Dental tourism means traveling to another country for dental treatment. The CDC notes that millions of US residents travel abroad for medical care each year, that dental care is one of the most common reasons, and that lower cost is one of the main motivations. A lower treatment quote is only one line of the budget, though, and this calculator is built to show the rest.

The tool adds the cost of each trip (flights for every traveler, hotel nights, local transport and other costs) multiplied by the number of trips, plus any earnings you lose while away. The result is compared with your quote at home. It never supplies clinic prices or assumes that one country is less expensive than another: every figure comes from you, so the answer is only as good as the quotes and estimates you enter.

• Return flights for you and anyone traveling with you
• Hotel nights for the whole stay, including recovery days before flying home
• Airport transfers, taxis and transport to each appointment
• Meals, baggage fees and travel health insurance
• Unpaid days off work for every trip, not just the first

Many dental treatments are done in stages, so one trip may not be enough. Ask the clinic abroad in writing how many visits the full plan needs and how long each stay should be. Because the trip cost is multiplied by the number of trips, a plan that needs two or three visits can change the result a lot.

The break-even line shows how many complete trips the difference in treatment quotes could pay for. If your plan needs more trips than that, treatment abroad costs more than your quote at home with the numbers you entered. It is also worth running the calculator again with one extra trip to see what an unplanned return visit would do to your budget.

The CDC explains that the risks of medical travel depend on the destination, the facility and whether you are healthy enough for the procedure. Licensing, credentialing and accreditation rules may be less strict than in the US, facilities may not have adequate infection control, and language barriers can lead to misunderstandings about your care.

Before you book, the CDC suggests checking the qualifications of the clinician and the credentials of the facility, seeing a healthcare provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before the trip, and arranging how you will communicate with your care team if you do not speak the local language. The CDC also notes that accreditation does not guarantee a good outcome, because all procedures carry some risk.

• Bring copies of your dental and medical records and tell staff about any allergies
• Pack medicines in their original packaging, with extra for delays and a written medication list
• Consider travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation to the US
• Ask for copies of all records and X-rays before you fly home; they may need translation

If problems appear after you return, you may need to see a dentist in the US. The CDC warns that this follow-up care can be expensive, can take a long time and may not be covered by your insurance. Before you travel, review what your dental plan covers, ask a local dentist whether they would see you for follow-up, and set aside a buffer for possible out-of-pocket costs.

You can enter an estimate for local follow-up visits under Other trip costs or add it to your thinking separately. Either way, a lower quote abroad is not a measure of quality, and the decision about treatment itself belongs with a licensed dentist who has examined you.