I tried medical tourism in Turkey; Saved $ 700 on dental work, surgery

When I reserved a girls’ trip In Datça, in Türkiye, I imagined snorkeling in the Aegean Sea, walking in the old Greek ruins, climbing on limestone cliffs and eating a lot of Baklava.

I did all these things – but I also found myself in an unforeseen trip to the dentist who turned out to be an incredible value.

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

My friends and I spent a month living in a charming apartment with a pâté of the Mediterranean houses in the city of Datça, Turkey.

The four of us divided costs for the 30 -day trip, so I only paid $ 700 for our rental car and our accommodation. My transatlantic plane ticket was $ 1,000, and I spent less in food than I would have at home in California.

However, the greatest economy in all my trip came in an unexpected form: medical tourism.

The medical tourism industry in Türkiye has experienced rapid growth in recent years.

Many of the most popular offers are aesthetic surgeries such as hair implants, plastic surgery and dental implants and facets, called “turkey teeth”. Clinics specializing in larger cities as Istanbul Even contacting tourists specifically reserving trips with medical care in mind.

Although we have not traveled here for this purpose, my friends and I were curious about local offers. So we stopped the dentist at the corner of our apartment.

Related stories

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

I was impressed by dental care in Datça – and that did not take away from our holidays

When my friends and I entered the office at 3 p.m. Friday, the dentist offered us free checks on site. The installation was clean and modern, and our appointments were quick.

I obtained a panoramic x -ray ($ 15), and the doctor determined that one of my wisdom teeth has been affected and should be deleted soon. The staff said they could integrate me for cleaning ($ 49) and minor surgery to eliminate wisdom tooth ($ 110) on Monday.

I was a little nervous about undergo surgery in a foreign countryBut I was reassured by the medical references of my surgeon, the professional atmosphere at the office and the criticism of Google positive.

I took them in the offer, and three days later, my teeth were clean and my tooth of wisdom had disappeared. In total, I only paid $ 183 for an examination, radiography, cleaning and dental extraction with local anesthesia.

The dentists were professional and kind, and the experience was more personal than medical visits to the house.

When my friend told a dentist how difficult it was for us to receive dental care in the United States, she gave us her personal WhatsApp number with instructions to send her a message if we never had tooth-related questions.

As it was so easy to make appointments, our dental care did not harm our vacation at all. I missed a few days of snorkeling after my operation, but the savings were worth it.

My dental work would have cost much more at home in the United States

Obtaining surgeries and medical procedures abroad is not without risks, and it is important to search for suppliers and clinics before making appointments.

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

Each service I got was much cheaper and easier to book than what I am used to going home to California. In my hometown, I often had trouble getting an appointment with a dentist who accepted my insurance. Sometimes I expected months for an exam.

Finally, I started to pay for her pocket so that I can get appointments more easily, but my bills would be so high that I rarely go to the dentist.

A new patient meeting similar to the one I had in Türkiye can cost more than $ 400 at my local dentist in California. A panoramic radiography costs around $ 165, and the elimination of wisdom can cost between $ 200 and $ 400 per tooth – and this price does not include general anesthesia.

By doing my dental work in Türkiye, I saved about $ 700, which is more or less as much as I spent throughout my trip for a month.

Although I am not Given any big aesthetic change, I will plan my future international trips with medical tourism in mind Until health care becomes more affordable in the United States.