Czechs travel abroad for dental work: what are the risks?

Dental tourism has become an increasingly common trend in recent years. More and more Czechs are traveling abroad for dental procedures – most often to Turkey, Bulgaria, or even Asian countries. The main attraction is lower prices and quick results. However, these can represent a fundamental problem.

Cheaper teeth abroad attract thousands of Czechs

Rising prices of dental procedures and limited availability of care in the Czech Republic are leading patients to seek alternatives. Dental tourism is thus experiencing significant growth, with thousands of people traveling abroad for it every year.

"Czechs most often travel abroad for dental procedures to Turkey, attracted primarily by lower prices for complete smile reconstructions, speed of production, accompanying services, and well-executed marketing of dental clinics. Czechs also frequently visit Hungary for teeth corrections, particularly Budapest, Bulgaria, Albania, and possibly even Asian countries such as Thailand or Vietnam," states Jakub Hladík, dentist at The Clinic dental center and member of the Czech Dental Chamber.

Rapid smile transformation also carries risks

Patients most often travel abroad for complete smile reconstruction – for example, for crowns or implants. The decision is often influenced by price or the length of treatment in the Czech Republic.

Poor quality work can cause serious complications

Precisely the speed of procedure execution is, according to experts, one of the greatest risks. Treatment that takes place over several days often does not allow for sufficient precision or proper healing.

"The main problem with these reconstructions is poor quality workmanship, especially excessive grinding of one's own teeth on which the crowns are placed," warns Hladík.

Patients return with pain and inflammation

Complications after procedures abroad are not uncommon. Patients often return with pain, gum bleeding, or other problems. Among the most serious complications are poorly placed implants, which can lead to extensive inflammation.

Resolving complications is often complicated and expensive

"Complications should always be resolved first by the dentist who performed the work. In practice, however, patients come to Czech offices, where it is necessary to remove the original work, treat the teeth, and create new crowns. The final solution is thus significantly more demanding, longer, and more expensive," adds Hladík.