Dental treatments done in India are by far 65 to 90 per cent cheaper than the developed world. The favourable cost-benefit ratio in treatment has led international patients from US, Europe, Middle East and South East Asian region to flock to India to maximise not just the affordability but the quality and expertise for both simple and complex procedures.
The country is recognised for its qualified pool of dentists, orthodontists, dental surgeons besides its technology adoption and implementation which is on par with international destinations.
The most sought after treatment by international patients are replacement of missing tooth and in this case an implant is a regular and preferred treatment procedure. Cosmetic dental procedures are also picking up. Teeth whitening procedures, veneers are also generating interest among dental tourists.
Indian dentists are amongst the best and are patient friendly. Treatments are cost-effective and the dentists are also known to be accessing the world’s best consumables and instruments, VS Venketesh, CEO, Apollo WHITE Dental.
While there are many private practitioners who make individual referrals, our facility is known for its systematic processes and multi-location convenience that garners patient confidence, he added.
It is seen that patients from the Middle East countries account for 50% of the total dental tourism cases. This is followed by the South East Asian and neighbouring countries reporting 30% inflow and European Union is reported to have 20% of patients coming to India. Now the key reason for the highest number of cases reported from the Middle East is primarily due to lack of medical technology and need of infrastructure in their region. The availability of the same in India at an affordable cost attracts many to choose India as their destination, said Venketesh.
Other countries which offers dental tourism include Singapore, Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico and Hungary. India features among the top 5 destinations for dental tourism because of quality treatment, cost, skilled dental practitioners and high-end technology. The low waiting period is a major encouragement. For the neighbouring countries, India’s cultural and geographic proximity persuades patients to choose opt for our dental care, he observed.
Indian medical tourism market is expected to touch $4 billion in 2015. The number of medical tourists is expected to touch 5 million this year. Dental tourism is also turning out to be a booming market and accounts for 10% of the medical tourism market and is projected to garner a 30% growth annually.