New guidance for dental tourism

New guidance and advice for people considering dental treatment abroad has been issued by the General Dental Council (GDC).

The UK dental regulator has released a checklist for 'dental tourists' in association with the oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF).

"We think it's important for dental patients - wherever they receive their treatment - to know the questions to ask to ensure they receive the best possible treatment and care, and where they can go if something goes wrong," explained GDC chief executive and registrar Duncan Rudkin.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, noted: "The National Dental Survey 2008 found that 16 per cent of people would be willing to travel abroad for dental treatment and the figure was even higher among the 18 to 30 age group - suggesting the trend will continue."

"Styles and standards of dentistry can vary a great deal from one country to another and, if things do go wrong, patients could still be left facing some difficult and potentially expensive decisions.

"However by researching their chosen practitioner and asking the right questions they can reduce the chances of encountering potentially avoidable problems further down the line," he continued.

The GDC and the BDHF recommend that people not be afraid to ask searching questions regarding prospective dental treatment.

Suggested questions include asking about the qualifications of dental practitioners, rates of success, regulation by professional bodies and after care.

You can download the dental treatment abroad guidance from the GDC website.