Dental Treatment Abroad

"Dental Holidays", as it is now known, is a growing industry and more and more countries are jumping on the bandwagon to offer people competitively priced cosmetic and general dentistry abroad.

The reasons for choosing to travel abroad for dental treatment are different for everyone but with lengthy NHS waits and ridiculously high UK private dental charges there is little wonder that a growing number of Brits are taking advantage of affordable, high quality private dental care abroad, and combining it with a relaxing holiday in a central European spa town and saving thousands of pounds compared with having the treatment done privately in the UK.

European countries like Slovakia are offering excellent cosmetic dentistry and cosmetic surgery treatments for reasonable prices, and are only a short flight from the UK. (1 and a half hours flight time).

Find out as much as possible about the procedure you are interested in - an informed patient is more able to make an informed decision. With cosmetic dentistry different techniques and materials may be used for different procedures, so check out the various methods and high quality materials used by Piestany Dental Clinic. It is also a good idea to read some of the patient stories on the web site for an insight into other people's experiences.

Will you have to go alone, or will a close friend/member of the family be able to accompany you? Try to be as flexible with your schedule as you can as you may have to stay overnight if there is a complication, and it is preferable that the dentist treat you there and then, rather than at home when it becomes more difficult.
However tantalising the prospect of cosmetic dentistry in an exotic country like India or Africa sounds, don't let the allure of a holiday in an exciting destination become more important than the reputation of the dental treatment in that particular country.

Having dental treatment closer to home can be advantageous. If you decide to return for further treatment or if it is necessary to go back for follow ups - it will be much cheaper and easier to do this in central Europe than a far flung destination.

Take a look at the flight map on www.dentalholiday.co.uk. Bratislava/Vienna airport is accessible daily from 9 UK airports. Even though you are dealing directly with the clinic and doctors personally, we also arrange the full trip abroad, speak fluent English, organise your dental appointments, day trips, accommodation and airport transfer. You have also the option to speak to us on the phone or email and ask as many questions as you like. Have your dental history to hand when you do so.

With so many budget airlines around, the dental holiday experience can be very affordable. During low season, return flights to Slovakia can be purchased for as little as £30 with no frills airlines such as Sky Europe or Ryan Air and of course your money goes a long way in Slovakia with around 50 Sk to £1.

In all cases you will find there are good savings to be made by going abroad for dental treatment, and the cost will be cheaper than having the same procedure carried out privately in the UK. Take a look at the price comparisons on the Dental Holiday website - www.dentalholiday.co.uk For example, the cost of Dental Implants are £498, compared with between £1,600 and £2,900 in the UK.

Piestany Dental Clinic prides itself on no hidden prices or charges, so the prices you are given in the email or see on www.dentalholiday.co.uk are the actual and only prices you will have to pay.

Included free of charge in our dental holiday service are all consultations, temporary crowns, x-rays, all airport transfers, medication, local mobile phone use and an English speaking personal assistant.

We prefer payments in cash (pounds sterling), which you can pay in advance, as a deposit, in instalments spread over each visit. Each time you make a payment, you will receive a detailed receipt of payment from the clinic, stating the prices involved and remarks for your next visit. Bank transfers fro the UK, travellers checks and local cash machines can also be used for payment.

The only other costs you'll need to consider are your flight tickets and accommodation. A list of suitable accommodation suggested by our clinic can be found on the www.dentalholiday.co.uk website. The typical cost of a meal with drinks is about £3 in most restaurants.

MuDr. Marek Salka has been in practise for 7 years as a cosmetic dentist. He has also served in the UK as a dentist and was on the General Dental Council's (GMC) register during that time. As a cosmetic dentist, he is also listed in Slovakia's General
Dental Council register and a member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD).
He has treated hundreds of foreign clients for implants, veneers and crowns and regularly attends seminars throughout Europe for extended cosmetic dentistry education.

Have a good read of the dental holiday website which has plenty of information about our clinic and services including details of Dr. Mareks' qualifications/accreditation and what dental treatments we perform.

All materials used in our cosmetic dentistry are guaranteed for 5 years, however we are willing to free check-ups on any cosmetic work that has been done in our clinic for the rest of your life.

Whether at home or abroad there are no guarantees regarding the result of any dental procedure, however, the one guarantee a patient CAN ask for is that if a complication should arise, the dentist will correct it without additional fees.

There are many questions to ask the dentist but the most important aspect is about safety, so grill the dentist as much as you need until you feel reassured. If you don't understand something don't be afraid to say so - remember this is your body/teeth/life and what the dentist does will remain with you for the rest of your life so make sure you have all of your questions answered. All work on UK patients is carried out by Dr. Marek Salka, and not just done by whoever is available on that particular day.

Our clinic and it's clients are insured by the Slovak Commission of Dentistry, as this is law in our country. However, some of our UK clients do take our basic travel health insurance from the UK as an extra measure of security.
As we are an EU country, just like the UK, the former E111 is no longer valid, and now people need to carry the European Health Insurance Card. If you don't have one already, you can apply for one online at the Department of Health website (dh.gov.uk/travellers), by phone (0845 606 2030) or by post, with forms available from the post office; however the process can take up to three weeks by post compared to seven days online. The card is normally valid for three to five years.

Once you have sent to us your flight details, everything will be outlined in an email which clearly describes the services provided to you at the agreed price. Check if there is anything you are not sure about and get someone else to read over the email for you. One of the points that potential patients should realise is that they won't be charged if:

- you change your mind once you arrive.
- you have a pre existing dental condition that causes the treatment to be cancelled.
- you can't get all the procedures you have decided for.

We pride ourselves on our unbeatable follow-up care and will stand by all our patients during the guarantee period after the treatment has been carried out, and do whatever is necessary to make it right in the unlikely case that a problem should occur.

The bottom line is to choose a clinic that you trust and feel most comfortable with. As a paying customer, it is the patient's right to ask as much as they want to establish whether or not to go ahead with a procedure.

Be sure to address ALL of your questions and concerns beforehand with us, and get a firm estimate of costs and scheduling in your mind before you book.

The ideal length of stay will ensure that there are no complications and that the patient can come back home safely and without surprises. We encourage all our clients to stay overnight so that we can make a double check on the dental work done before you leave the following day.

Remember it is perfectly natural to have some anxiety before a major dentistry procedure whether you are having it done in the UK, or abroad, but doing so in a foreign country will raise concerns about safety so ensure you do your research, ask questions and then ask some more until you feel confident that you are in good hands with us. If you are happy with the answers given, feel comfortable about having the procedure done in Piestany Dental Clinic and you know exactly what is involved in the cost and feel confident about the Dr. Marek Salka's abilities then you have probably found the right provider for your procedure.

But if you have any doubts at all at this stage, please voice them with Daniel or Ludmila.

- Go for dentistry based only on pictures, call from a salesperson or simple email correspondence;

- Choose a country based solely on its tourist merits;

- Go ahead with a procedure if you're not fully comfortable or happy with what's happening, or with the dentist who is going to do the procedure.

Remember that you are entitled to change your mind at any time, even five minutes before the treatment begins.

After the initial enquiry phone call or email has been made, and an initial treatment plan and quote for treatment has been received, the next step is to book a flight and forward it to our clinic along with your choice of accommodation.
If you have them available, digital photos and x-rays can be sent to us via email for pre-consultation by Dr. Marek Salka.

You don't need a visa, but you will need some kind of identification document valid for travelling within the European Union. Don't forget to take the contact details of someone in the UK who can be contacted in case of emergency.

It's a good idea to purchase some local currency after you arrive and take either traveller cheques or credit cards which can be used to withdraw money from local ATMs.

Email Daniel or Ludmila a day or two before your journey to find out what clothing will be appropriate and make a list of some of the tourist attractions you might want to visit.

While it is proved from our outstanding track record that all dental or cosmetic dentistry procedures will go to plan; even with a non-invasive procedure such as veneers it is wise to exercise some caution. Plan properly for the recovery period and anticipate any possible complications. Allow some flexibility to your schedule - just in case. Know what to expect - ask us at the clinic for detailed instructions and to explain what is normal and what is not for the days following the dental treatment.

In the unlikely case that infections or other problems do occur once back in the UK you should get in touch with Piestany Dental Clinic, and follow our instructions right away. If you are really worried you should see a local dentist.

If you are however unhappy with your dental treatment, please talk to Dr. Marek Salka immediately to seek a resolution.

This guide to dental treatment abroad has been written by Daniel Shaw.
Daniel Shaw is the joint owner and manager of Piestany Dental Clinic in Slovakia and also the webmaster for the dental holiday website.

For more information about Dental Treatment Abroad visit www.dentalholiday.co.uk or call: +421 915 892 218

Email: office@dentalholiday.co.uk
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