Private dentistry costs in some countries have caused many patients searching for dentists to travel abroad, from Thailand to Panama, an act known as dental tourism. According to the 2007 International Passenger Survey 100,000 UK residents traveled abroad for healthcare, the majority for dental and cosmetic treatment.

Though expats living in Europe needn't travel far for a reliable dentist at an affordable price. As an expat dentist for almost five years, and member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Thomas Tsang has seen his fair share of expats and "dental tourists" in the Netherlands -- a country with one of the lowest dental price ceilings in the EU. Still, finding a dentist that suits an expat’s expectations takes a bit of shopping around; here are some helpful tips on how to pick a pro in your country of residence:

Look at where the dentist received training

Each country sets a certain standard that dentists are required to meet, yet requirements fluctuate from place to place. Although dental qualifications in EU countries are required to reach a minimum approved by their government, the General Dental Council (GDC) in the UK agrees that researching health regulations and professional dental bodies in your country abroad will help you reach educated decisions.

“When I’m looking for a dentist I look for diplomas, certificates and continued education courses,” says Tsang, who spent five years at Berkeley, two years at Harvard and four years at Baylor College of Dentistry. Websites like healthregulation.org generate lists of regulatory body websites per country where users can check on dental qualifications and other healthcare-related fields.

 
Find a familiar environment

SafeDentistry recommends visiting websites, researching online and looking for complaint forums or reviews boards to help pinpoint a suitable dentist when abroad.

“When I’m looking for a dentist I like to feel more comfortable,” says Tsang. From hospitals with paintings to doctors with bookshelves, those extra added touches go a long way. Additionally, find a dentist fluent in your language – Tsang says no patient should struggle to be understood with dentists who claim to be English-speaking.

"As much as dentists say they practice the same industry, at the end of the day you want to go to places where everyone understands you."

"Be careful of dentists who promise immediately that everything is going to be fine or that it’s not going to hurt. I like to give people worst-case scenarios because they should know,” says Tsang. One warning sign of inexperience is a dentist who doesn’t listen. Whether it’s a patient’s request for anesthetics or patient’s concern for procedure, an honest discussion leads to a better understand of both the patient and the dentist.

Some questions to consider (provided by GDC):

- Who will be carrying out my treatment and what qualifications do they have?
- Will the dental team speak English? If not, will you provide a translator on the day of the procedure?
- Do you have any references or testimonials from previous patients?
- How many times have you carried out the procedure I am having? What are the rates of success, complication, re-admission and infection?
- Are you regulated by a professional body and do you have to be registered with them?
- Is the work guaranteed for a certain period of time?
- What aftercare do you provide?
- If there are complications and I need further treatment, is this included in the initial cost?
- Do you have a complaints system in place? Can I see a copy of it?
- Who can I contact for advice after the treatment?

Editor / Expatica

Information from this article is from aacd.com, HealthRegulation.org, General Dental Council in the UK, SafeDentistry.co.uk,  Association for Dental Education in Europe, and the Council of European Dentists. Dr. Tsang is an expat dentist at AmsterdamDental.com.