Destinations: Mexico, Costa Rica
Estimated savings: $300 to $1,100 per tooth
Most patients want to stick to noninvasive work.
"We see a lot of patients who want cosmetic dental work, like implants and crowns, because those procedures have a very high success rate," says Patrick Marsek, managing director of the medical tourism firm, MedRetreat based in Vernon Hills, Ill.
Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit medical research center in Ohio, reports that dental crowns can range from $500 to $1,100 per tooth, depending on your geography and materials used, while porcelain veneers range from $500 to $2,000. Crowns run from $200 to $600 per tooth in South America, while veneers cost $300 to $900.
"It's not enough savings to justify the trip unless you're having work that would have cost $6,000 in the U.S.," says Marsek. "With the price of flight and hotel, $6,000 would be the financial breakeven point."