Dental Treatment in UK Vs Abroad – Why UK is best?

The UK ranks 6th out of 26 European countries for dental health.

However, dental treatment costs in the UK are 70% higher than in countries such as Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia.

You can receive free dental care in the UK if you match the criteria. Now you can wonder whether you should opt for dental treatment in the UK or go abroad. We vote for the UK. Stick till the end of this article, and you'll know why.

In the next five minutes, we'll discuss,

• Quality
• Cost
• Insurance
• Convenience

Dental treatment in the UK vs Abvsad – A Step-by-Step Comparison

Quality of The Treatment

Dentists in the UK,

• Conduct a thorough examination of your teeth in person, which includes X-rays and 3D CT scans.
• Ask for your complete medical history.
• Offers you reasons as to why a specific dental treatment is right for you, what the associated pros and cons are, and the associated costs.
• Refers you to specialists if you need the specialists' services.

However, in countries where 'dental tourism' is popular, such as Hungary, Turkey, and Slovakia, the scenario is completely different. In these countries,

• Dentists decide on your treatment plan even before you arrive in the country. They use photographs sent on Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp for the equivalent of a car mechanic telling you what to do to your car engine without taking a peek at it.
• Dentists use sub-par crowns and veneers that fall off or break within months or even weeks.
• You can opt for the treatment, trusting an experienced dentist, and arrive to find a junior cosmetic dentist carrying out the procedure.
• The treatment plan can change on arrival, usually to a more expensive one. Thus, patients feel cheated and pressured to accept treatments they don't want.

Associated Costs

Private dental treatment prices are unregulated in the UK and thus vary from clinic to clinic. However, here are the price ranges you can expect to pay for different treatments.

• A scale and polish: £25 to £85
• A white filling: £40 to £250
• Root canal: £45 to £970
• Crowns: £250 to £1,180
• Dentures or bridges: £355 to £2,520
• Extractions: £50 to £370

Dental implants are also affordable, especially in countries such as Turkey, Slovakia, and Hungary. If you're getting treated in these countries, expect to pay:

• £45 for a white composite filling
• £25 for tooth extraction
• £350 for laser teeth bleaching
• £850 for dental implants
• £44 for a root canal

However, the lower costs often come with inexperienced dentists, sub-par equipment and implants, and compromised treatment procedures for tooth placement. That's why 75% of people who flew to Turkey for dental treatment needed corrective home.

Convenience

• When you choose a local dentist, you can have quick access to them, including same-day appointments. Furthermore, finding dentists is easier; however, imagine how inconvenient it would be to hop on a plane for a review.
• If you don't know the local language and the clinic abroad doesn't offer a translator, you'll be in the dark throughout your treatment.
• The General Dental Council monitors all dentists in the UK. So, if you're unhappy with the treatment, you can get legal help from the council.
• If your dental treatment abroad fails, many dentists in the UK can refuse to treat you. The dentist who treats you is legally responsible for any complications that can occur

Dental treatment in the UK — hassle-free and cost-effective in the long run

Dental treatment in the UK — although expensive in the short term — saves you money in the long run. This is because of dentists' expertise, the quality of the materials used, and the pr aftercare and reviews. You won’twon't the same treatment abroad with their ‘impl'nts in a day’ pac'age.

Furthermore, it’s easier to visit your local dentist for reviews or corrections rather than hopping on a plane to visit the dentist.