EU law makes dental tourism easier

New European Union legislation should make it easier for British consumers to avoid the difficulties with finding an NHS dentist and seek private dentistry abroad instead, it has been claimed.

According to EU health commissioner Androula Vassiliou, British consumers may soon be able to visit another European country for dental treatment and then claim the cost of the treatment from the NHS.

Dentistry abroad is already frequently cheaper than private treatment in the UK, but the latest move is set to make it even more inexpensive, although it will not cover cosmetic dentistry such as tooth whitening.

Ms Androula Vassiliou said: "Patients will be able to receive treatment in any member state, which will be reimbursed at home up to the level of the same or similar treatment in their health system," the Sunday Times reports.

A recent report by the NHS Information Centre found that the number of people being treated by NHS dentists fell by 1.1 million between 2006/07 and 2007/08.

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Treatment Abroad: 27/08/2008

 

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