Despite Gloom Dental Tourism Booms

Despite Gloom Dental Tourism Booms

DESPITE the world recession and swine flu pandemic, Australians are flocking to the Philippines for much needed dental care and are saving up to 80% on comparable dental work in Australia .

Rather than putting up with the slow and inadequate health systems in a ‘first world country’ like Australia, they are heading OS for very high quality procedures in the Philippines by Western trained, English speaking doctors and dentists at very short notice and are saving themselves thousands of dollars.

Meditour, a Brisbane based company that specializes in organizing dental holiday’s, has seen a marked increase in the numbers of people who can’t afford dental treatments at home, willing to take the 71/2 hr trip to the Philippines to get their smile back despite health scares and economic gloom.

Meditour Managing Director Robert Graham says the all time low airfares are also helping.

“It’s definitely having an impact. When people discover that we use highly qualified practitioners in the Philippines and that they will be saving vast amounts of money even when factoring airfares and accommodation in, they can’t wait to get on the plane.

Some even enjoy a holiday in between visits to the dentist,” he added.

Dr Joel Gutierrez is an Affiliate member of the American Dental Association and heads up the Philippines Dental Tourism Committee in Manila .

“Most patients I see from Australia come to me because of the cost,” says the 30 year dental veteran and member of the prestigious Pierre Fauchard Academy, an International Dental Honour Society where admission is by invitation only.

“Here in the Philippines we have the people and means to work to international standards but where you might pay AUS$1800 for a crown in Australia , I can do the same work here for AUS$300-$400”.

“We also can get the work done sometimes in as little as a few days,” he added, capitalizing on the fact that he owns a dental laboratory a few floors below his practice that services clients locally and exports to the USA.

Proper sterilization and the prevention of cross contamination are foremost concerns for patients and doctors alike.

“We have a Government agency that oversees that all clinics comply with the acceptable international protocol in infection control and regulates the practitioners in terms of continuing education, skill development, and ethical practice,” Dr Gutierrez said.

Such is the demand that Meditour’s Robert Graham set a Philippines dental first by taking 12 travel agents to the Philippines last month for a medical familiarization tour which was reported in the Manila Times.

Medical | July 3rd, 2009