Approximately 4% of US adults — or 9.6 million people — say they have traveled outside the US for dental care, according to findings from the annual State of Oral Health Equity in America survey by CareQuest Institute
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Dental tourism is the most prevalent form of medical tourism among US residents. Common reasons for seeking dental care abroad include lack of dental insurance and lower cost of dental services than in the US. Additional findings include:
- When asked to identify the primary reason they sought dental care outside the US, more than half (58%) of respondents cite costs.
- Adults identifying their race/ethnicity as Asian/Pacific Islander (9.4%) or Hispanic (8.5%) report traveling for dental care in greater percentages than adults identifying as white (2.2%).
- Adults who reached their maximum dental benefit in the past year report traveling for dental care at a higher rate (7.6%) than adults who did not reach their maximum dental benefit in the past year (2.7%).
While dental tourism may offer financial benefits, it also carries potential risks such as differences in safety standards and challenges in follow-up care. Improving the accessibility and affordability of dental care within the US is vital to reduce the need for individuals to leave the country to address their dental needs.
You may also be interested in:
- Oral Health in America: Who Gets Left Behind?, findings from the State of Oral Health Equity in America survey reveal both progress and gaps in access to dental care.
- Maxed Out: The Reality of Reaching Dental Insurance Limits, a report finding that 32 million US adults’ dental care needs will exceed their dental plan’s maximum benefit.
- The Dental Home Is Where Good Oral Health Starts, a report analyzing who is more likely to have a dental home and what are the benefits to oral health outcomes.