I tried medical tourism in Turkey. Saved $ 700 for dental work, surgery

When I made a reservation dude For Turkey’s Datça, I envisioned with a snorkel in the Aegean, walking through ancient Greek ruins, climbing on limestone rocks and eating many baklava.

I did all these things – but I found myself on an unplanned trip to the dentist who proved to be incredible value.

During the trip, we decided to stop from a local dentist office

My friends and I spent a month living in a charming apartment a square from the Mediterranean in Datça, Turkey.

The four of us split some expenses for the 30 -day trip, so I paid only $ 700 for the car and the accommodation. My transatlantic airline ticket was $ 1,000, and I went less to eat than I would have at home in California.

However, the greatest savings of my entire trip came in an unexpected form: medical tourism.

THE Medical Tourism Industry in Turkey He has seen rapid growth in recent years.

Many of the most popular offers are cosmetic surgeries such as hair implants, plastic surgery and dental implants and veneers, known as “Turkey’s teeth”. Specialized clinics in larger cities such as Constantinople Even it specifically serves tourists who book medical travel.

Although we didn’t travel here for this purpose, my friends and I were curious about local offers. So we stopped from the dentist around the corner from our apartment.

I was impressed by dental care at Datça – and didn’t get out of our holidays at all

When my friends and I went to the office at 3 pm On Friday, the dentist offered us free checks on the spot. The installation felt clean and modern and our appointments were fast.

I got a panoramic x -ray ($ 15) and the doctor found that one of my wisdom teeth was influenced and should have been removed soon. Staff said they could fit me for cleaning ($ 49) and a small surgery to remove the wisdom tooth ($ 110) on Monday.

I was a little nervous to take surgery in a foreign countryBut I was reassured by my surgeon’s medical credentials, the professional atmosphere in the office and the positive revisions Google.

I took them to offer and three days later, my teeth felt clear and my wisdom tooth left. Overall, I paid only $ 183 for control, radiography, cleaning and tooth extraction with local anesthesia.

The dentists were professionals and polite and the experience felt more personal than home medical visits.

When my friend told a dentist how difficult it is for us to get dental care in the US, he gave us her personal Whatsapp number with instructions to send her if we ever had teeth -related questions.

Since it was so easy to plan an appointment, our dental care did not reduce our vacation at all. I lost a few days with a snorkel after surgery, but the savings were worth it.

My dental work will cost a lot more back home in the US

Taking surgeries and medical procedures abroad is not risks and it is important to investigate providers and clinics prior to booking.

However, I had such a positive experience in this local clinic that I would like to return to Turkey for other services.

Every service I got was much cheaper and easier to book than I am used to returning home to California. In my hometown, I often fought to get an appointment with a dentist who received my safety. Sometimes, I would wait months for checking.

Eventually, I started paying out of my pocket so I could make an appointment more easily, but my bills would be so tall that I would rarely go to the dentist.

An appointment of a newborn patient similar to what I had in Turkey can cost over $ 400 to my local dentist in California. A panoramic x-ray goes for about $ 165 and the removal of wisdom-dossiers can cost between $ 200 and $ 400 per tooth-and this price does not include general anesthesia.

With my dental work in Turkey, I saved about $ 700, which is about as I spent all my journey.

Although I am not In view of any major aesthetic changes, I will plan my future international trips with medical tourism in mind until healthcare becomes more accessible to the US.