Annually, the U.S. spends $110 billion for oral and dental healthcare. Globally, the dental industry market was valued at $34.2 million in 2022. Its growth has been bolstered by the rise of dental diseases and increased spending on dental services.
If you have skyrocketing dental bills not covered by your dental insurance, perhaps it’s about time you’ve given dental tourism a try in 2025.
Having a wellness vacation in leading destinations like Thailand might be the best course of action to lower your dental bills if you have no choice but to pay for such services out-of-pocket.
It’s actually a bit of a life hack to combine your vacation destination with your dental work in one fell swoop so that you’re getting more bang for your buck when all is said and done.
Page Contents
- What Is Dental Tourism?
- Factors to Choose the Best Country for Dental Care
- Top 10 Countries for Dental Tourism
- 1. Thailand
- 2. Turkey
- 3. India
- 4. The Dominican Republic
- 5. Mexico
- 6. Costa Rica
- 7. Czech Republic
- 8. Romania
- 9. Spain
- 10. Poland
- FAQs About Dental Tourism
- Is dental tourism safe?
- What should I bring when traveling for dental procedures?
- Which dental tourism countries are closest for Americans?
- Which dental tourism countries are closest for Europeans?
- Which countries are closest for Asians and Australians?
- Comparative Table Summary
- The Great Things about Dental Tourism
- Why Choose Thailand and Thantakit Dental Center?
- Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds with Thantakit Dental Center
What Is Dental Tourism?
Dental tourism is when countries offer dental services as part of their tours there, thus enticing patients to vacation there for “business” and “pleasure.”
The main things that compel tourists to avail of dental tourism in places like Thailand, Turkey, and India is the relative affordability of such services even with travel expenses taken into consideration.
Furthermore, they’re also tourist spots on top of dental tourism destinations, thus giving you travel opportunities like any other vacation location out there.
This on top of international-level quality care that meet or exceed that standards Westerners are used to when it comes to dentistry.
It’s worth considering dental tourism in 2025 simply because many of our dental bills are skyrocketing due to inflation rate and the stagnation of world economies at present, wherein only the richest of the rich could afford such “privileges”.
Factors to Choose the Best Country for Dental Care
Places in the West like the United States and United Kingdom and places from down under like Australia and New Zealand have extremely expensive dentistry rates, especially when it comes to implants.
Thank goodness you can fly to other countries to get affordable dental care at a fraction of the local price. Let’s discuss the benefits of dental tourism.
- Costs: You can save tons of money by going abroad or choosing the nearest country and center for your dental needs. They’re particularly competitive when it comes to pricing dental implants.It’s also advantageous for those lacking dental insurance or can’t apply for the Affordable Care Act. These procedures aren’t just cheap though—they’re also high quality.
- Proximity: Certain quality dental tourism sites are closer to certain countries than others. Australians tend to go to Thailand while Europeans tend to go to Spain or Romania due to proximity considerations.This means that even if Turkey might offer more cost-effective or high-quality treatment than Mexico, many U.S. citizens would rather go to Mexico due to its nearness and convenience.
- Quality of Care: The quality of dental care in other countries are arguably the same as those in most Western countries, maybe even better in light of their affordability due to the lower cost of living in certain nations.Many Western dental patients also avail of dental tourism to get expensive dental care they normally couldn’t get at the fraction of the price, like cosmetic dentistry or implants.Or if they afford these, they can get the highest quality version of such services at a discount.
- Tourism Value: A dental tour doesn’t only offer dental work. It also gives you the opportunity to mix business with pleasure as a wellness vacation in a single package. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.Or perhaps it’s the best of both worlds—affordable dental service during a holiday. You’ll get to appreciate the beauty of Costa Rica, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, the Czech Republic, and Poland while also beautifying your smile!
Top 10 Countries for Dental Tourism
Let’s talk about the Top 10 countries for dental tourism. Keep your dental budget out of control by mixing your vacation time with dental work time. Know how to play your cards right and you’ll find plenty of dentistry alternatives abroad!
1. Thailand
When it comes to affordable dental implants and cosmetic dentistry, the “Land of Smiles” is right up there as one of the top destinations for cheaper dental work.
The three highly popular and trusted dental centers in Thailand for dental care abroad include the Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC), Thantakit International Dental Center, and Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic.
BIDC offers comprehensive dental services from general to cosmetic dentistry. Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic, meanwhile, is a good alternative to the above mentioned with its dental solutions for implants, orthodontics, and oral surgery.
Moreover, Thantakit—known as one of Thailand’s oldest and pioneering dental institutions—provides branded services for teeth whitening and implants at discounted prices and 5-year warranties.
You can also get even cheaper yet decent dental services in smaller clinics or even hospitals with students using patients for their on-the-job dentistry training.
When it comes to dental implant costs in Thailand, they come relatively cheap at $750 to $2,300 (฿26,000 to ฿80,000) for individual implants and upwards of $3,300 to $10,400 (฿115,000 to ฿360,000) if you’re availing of All-on-4 to All-on-6 implants.
2. Turkey
Turkey or Türkiye is another top destination when it comes to cost-effective yet high-quality dental treatments. While most are more familiar with Turkey or Istanbul hair transplants, it’s also the go-to country for dentistry in Europe and the Middle East.
The country is among the first countries to offer affordable dental implants and a wide range of dental care abroad, catering to both locals and tourists.
Turkey is particularly popular among Western nations, particularly those in Europe, because they specifically cater to the region.
In regard to the dental implant costs in Turkey, they’re super affordable while at the same time they’re done by the most modern of clinics and the most skilled of dentists.
You can get up to 93% savings in Turkey. Single implants cost $600 to $1,500 (in the U.K., it’s £1,800 to £3,000 or $2,260 to $3,760), while All-on-4 implant packages cost between $2,500 to $3,500 (in the U.K., it’s £14,000 or $17,550)
3. India
Because of the super low cost of living in India plus the exchange rate, you’re sure to get the most affordable dental care abroad there. The cost of living in India is around 66% lower than in the U.S., to be more specific.
According to the Global Medical Tourism Index, India is ranked 10th, with its dental tourism flourishing in particular. It’s also another go-to destination for affordable dental implants.
India combines world-class amenities with affordability that challenges even the likes of Thailand and Turkey. The huge cost advantage is huge enough to appeal to faraway Western countries like the U.S.
You’ll get bargain-basement prices when it comes to dental implant costs in India. For example, single tooth implants in India cost in the ballpark of $355 to $830 (₹30,000 to ₹70,000 for both the implant and the crown).
As for the All-on-4 implants (and above) package, they cost $2,370 to $4,740 (₹200,000 to ₹400,000).
4. The Dominican Republic
The main appeal of the Dominican Republic compared to the top three dental tourism destinations is also both cost-effectiveness and high-quality dental services, but this time it’s super near North American countries like the United States and Canada.
The Dominican Republic shares maritime borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Turks and Caicos Islands (United Kingdom), Curaçao (Netherlands), Aruba (Netherlands), and Puerto Rico (United States).
So, it’s practically an international type of dental tourist destination, although it mostly gets North American clientele by proximity.
Americans can avail of dental care abroad in the Dominican Republic instead of Mexico to avail of services like affordable dental implants.
Even Canadians with their advanced healthcare are looking into Dominican Republic dental tourism for savings and a vacation in tropical paradise during Winter.
The dental implant costs in the Dominican Republic are around $1,095 for single tooth implants (the crown being the most expensive part) and $7,500 to $9,449 for All-on-4 implant packages.
The beach-filled country also boasts of well-trained, university-educated dentists with modern dental utilities and English-speaking staff and crew in places like Puerto Plata, Cabarete, and Sosua.
5. Mexico
In a pinch, most U.S. Americans—particularly the states nearest to it, like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas—will automatically jump the border to Mexico to get affordable dental care not covered by their dental insurance.
It’s the nearest possible oral and dental care abroad they could avail of without boarding a plane or going literally overseas, in fact. This also makes it a great destination for specialized treatments like wisdom teeth surgery.
Mexico attracts 1.2 million Americans yearly with its dental tourism offerings thanks to their huge cost savings for dental care and affordable dental implants.
Speaking of which, the dental implant costs in Mexico are $790 to $1,270 for single implants and crowns and $3,600 for All-on-4 implants.
Because of the huge figures brought in by dental tourism, Mexico has invested in delivering impressive dental services with Western-standard clinics and English-speaking dental specialists.
6. Costa Rica
If for some reason neither Mexico nor the Dominican Republic are available for their dental tourism needs, a good third alternative for them is beautiful Costa Rica. Their main claim to fame, however, is their high healthcare standards.
In turn, their life expectancy surpasses that of U.S. citizens according to the World Health Organization. They also deliver everything from affordable dental implants to cosmetic dental care abroad.
Their broad-spectrum dental services reflect their broad-spectrum healthcare services that helped improve the quality of life of Costa Rican citizens.
It also helps that Costa Rica is the go-to tourist destination for beaches, rainforests, and outdoor activities like kayaking, ziplining, and hiking through parks and rivers.
As for dental implant costs in Costa Rica, it’s between $800 and $1,500 for single implants and up to $26,450 for All-on-4 implants per arch. It’s 75 percent less than U.S. prices, in short.
7. Czech Republic
Located in the heart of Europe, between Germany and Poland, the Czech Republic (or Czechia, formerly Czechoslovakia) is a global superpower when it comes to dentistry. It has a proud tradition of topnotch dentistry spanning longer than dental tourism itself.
Therefore, many of its European (and occasional American, Canadian, or Australian) patients go to Czechia not only for its nearness but for its quality service.
Prague is particularly dependable for its quality dental care abroad and for those out-of-insurance-coverage services like affordable dental implants and cosmetic dentistry. Their dentists undergo six years of academic education, leading to Ph.D. qualifications.
Although the savings from Czechia aren’t as big as 75 percent savings from Mexico, it’s still 50 percent less than the dental service prices of the United Kingdom or United States, but with stricter quality control.
Regarding dental implant costs in the Czech Republic, it’s $899 for single tooth implants and $12,000 to $50,000 for All-on-4 implants.
8. Romania
Romania, along with Turkey, is one of the pioneers of medical and dental tourism. In fact, Romania isn’t just riding the recent wave of dental care abroad lasting a couple of decades or so.
The country has been providing affordable medical care for itself and its neighbors since ancient times, up until modern-day medical tourism started flourishing recently. It particularly prides itself in having a well-trained dental workforce.
It’s also a well-known provider of affordable dental implants since their invention and development back in 1965 by Swedish physician Per-Ingvar Brånemark.
The country offers substantial cost savings for many of its dental treatments, about 70 percent less than those from Western countries. It’s also super near most European countries—not as near as Czechia or Poland, but certainly nearer than Turkey.
To be more specific, the dental implant costs in Romania include $765 to $808 (€730 to €770) for single tooth implants and $3,150 (€3,000) per arch for All-on-4 implants.
9. Spain
Most Europeans or even Americans are surprised to learn that Spain offers dental care abroad at a significant discount.
Those who aren’t in the know might erroneously believe Spain offers the same high-level, yet expensive dental care like in its neighbors United Kingdom, Germany, or France. It was considered one of the old-world superpowers, after all.
Regardless, this hidden gem in affordable dental implants and dental care has significantly lowered its prices for dental surgery, implants, crowns, bridges, and so forth compared to fellow first-world countries like the U.K. and the U.S.
On top of that, after treatment, you can have a well-earned holiday in the beautiful seaside resorts of Alicante, Barcelona, Benidorm, Malaga, or Valencia.
Indeed, it’s also a high-value tourist destination, right up there with the likes of France and Italy. It offers patients quality dentistry and a must-visit “Euro Trip” in one go.
As for dental implant costs in Spain, it’s $944 to $1,573 (€900 to €1,500) for single tooth implants and $11,000 (€10,500) for All-on-4 implants.
10. Poland
Last but not least is Poland. Poland is also close to many major European countries. As such, it gets a large influx of tourist patients from the same countries the Czech Republic caters to.
Savings are more variable in Poland, but depending on which Polish dental clinic you patronize, you could save from 50 to 70 percent in your normal dental bills there, particularly in terms of affordable dental implants.
The country also offers some of the most skilled and accredited dental specialists on the planet. Two of the best dental clinics in the country include Dentineo in Gdańsk and Jesionowa Dental Clinic in Warsaw.
Even though it’s the tenth best country that offers dental care abroad, it holds a special space in the hearts of many Europeans for its nearness and affordability, making it a great alternative to Czechia.
Finally, the dental implant costs in Poland are $1,128 (€1,076) for single tooth implants and $5,570 (€5,311) per arch for All-on-4 implants.
FAQs About Dental Tourism
What are the most common questions about dental tourism? Read below to find out.
Is dental tourism safe?
Yes. It’s no less risky than “local” dentistry. Many people who’ve never availed of dental tourism are misinformed about why they’re so affordable even after travel costs are taken into consideration.
You can get the safest, highest quality, and even warranty-included dental services from destinations like Thailand, Turkey, India, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the like. Their affordability comes from their lower cost of living and the exchange rate.
It’s not from them offering substandard dentistry to lower the price tag on such an essential service.
What should I bring when traveling for dental procedures?
You need your passport, Visa (depending on your home country and destination), and your luggage with enough clothing to last you about a week to a month depending on the procedure you’re availing of.
You should also have dental items like your own toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and sugar-free gum.
Most anything you’d pack if you’re going on vacation applies to what you should pack during a dental tour.
Which dental tourism countries are closest for Americans?
Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica are among the nearest dental tourism countries for Americans. You’ll have to take longer flights abroad for places like Turkey, India, and Thailand.
Mexico is particularly accessible among Americans in New Mexico and Californians, Arizonians, and Texans.
Which dental tourism countries are closest for Europeans?
Turkey is right up there because it’s at the top or near it when it comes to dental tourism quality and cost-effectiveness. Most Europeans go instead to places like Romania, Czech Republic, Spain, Poland because of their proximity and relative discounted affordability.
Most could ride trains or buses straight to Spain (if you’re from France) or the Czech Republic (if you’re from Germany) and then back to their countries with no problem.
If they could stand to ride a plane, they’d go to the Middle East and avail of the dental services of Turkey. It’s a relatively short flight anyway, unlike going all the way to India or Thailand.
For those prioritizing efficiency and quality, Huangshan International Dental Hospital offers “heartfelt and reasonably priced” services with an in-house AI-powered lab for same-day implants. By producing dental crowns on-site, the hospital keeps costs low, making services more affordable.
The hospital has a highly experienced team trained in China and abroad. Each implant dentist has performed over 10,000 successful procedures. Through collaboration with RES Dental in the U.S., the hospital integrates international expertise to enhance its services. Dedicated operating rooms and a “three-tier preoperative examination system” ensure maximum safety.
Complete treatment on the same day of arrival, followed by quick recovery to explore Huangshan’s scenic attractions. For details or consultation requests, contact us at huangshandental.com (WhatsApp: +1 516 209 4358, Email: [email protected])
