When people pack their bags, leave their everyday routine and jet across the globe to interesting and exotic destinations they expect to find a culture and lifestyle quite different to the one they left behind. More and more britons are using their holiday to cash in on being somewhere far far away from the UK’s NHS, so as well as looking forward to sun, sea and sights these travellers are also looking forward to healthcare and dental work, minus the big health insurance bill.

As odd as it sounds, an increasing number of British holidaymakers are using their holiday as an excuse to put their feet up… in a dentist’s chair. Unable to be treated on the NHS and unable to afford going private, these Brits combine a fortnight at a holiday resort with a visit to the dentist in order to make the most of the low-cost, yet high quality dental care provided in places such as Thailand, Croatia, Poland and Turkey. This growing phenomenon of ‘dental tourism’ is catching on rapidly, with 35,000 Britons travelling abroad for dental work each year, according to a survey conducted by medical search engine, revahealthnetwork.com.

The problems some people have in finding an NHS dentist who will take them on, since reforms in 2006 set a limit on the number of patients a dentist could treat with NHS funding, has spurred on this trend of people seeking an alternative overseas. The majority of dentists made the move to go private, which only heightened the difficulty for those patients relying on the low-cost NHS options. Revahealthnetwork asserts that Britons can save up to 70% by going abroad for dental treatment, although people must of course take into account the fact that flights and accommodation will add to the overall cost, however, the end result makes the whole trip worthwhile. Of course, the most sensible thing to do is to include your visit to the dentist with your holiday to make it as cost-effective as possible.

The contrast in price between the UK and its foreign competitors is rather substantial, with people paying around £2,000 to have implants in Britain but only £800 in Poland. Meanwhile, getting veneers could cost you £500 in the UK but in Hungary the price is £270, Poland will charge £215 and, with the biggest saving, Thailand will cost you a tiny £150. However, if the dental treatment you require involves work by an orthodontist, for example if your child is having braces fitted, then it is more advisable to have the work done in Britain as the procedure requires regular follow-up visits and the child will in most cases be wearing the braces for about a year.

Several websites, including London-based company dentistabroad.co.uk, offer information on how to go about arranging dental treatment abroad and some will even assist you with booking the actual trip. In terms of health and dental insurance, going overseas to obtain dental care will add up to momentous savings on your policy back home. The benefit of having dental insurance in particular is that policyholders can choose which dentist they see, and for a monthly premium, patients can claim back part or all of the cost of treatment up to agreed limits. General work, such as fillings, crowns and bridges are generally covered as standard, while check-ups, X-rays and hygienist visits are not. Just remember to shop around for the best insurance package and the best package holiday, including dental.