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August 2006
Article in the Ryanair Magazine
A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH
Michael Burger
Dental work generally costs a small fortune, but it depends on where it is done. Poland, for example, is currently evolving into a mecca for dental tourists.
Lovesickness, they say, is worse than toothache. Those afflicted may take a different view, but it is a fact that while sorrow caused by lost or unrequited love soon passes by, perhaps even to make way for new love, toothache is more likely to intensify than to ease, and – worse still – it threatens to leave an incredibly expensive gap. The trouble continues with the frustrating job of trying to book an emergency appointment with your dentist. And by the time you’ve had a glimpse of the estimated cost, you’re probably wishing you were lovesick instead. If only you had the choice. Be that as it may. Two judgements of the European Court of Justice (C-120/95, C-158/96) grant every EU citizen the right to receive treatment in all EU Member States – and that can mean up to 70% savings on your dental bills. While Hungary and Mallorca used to be the main destinations for people choosing to combine business with… er… displeasure, it is now Poland that has become the new mecca of dental tourism. Particularly Scandinavians, Brits and Germans have discovered the advantages. Being very new, Polish dental clinics have state-of-the-art equipment. Panel patients are treated like private patients and are able to watch what is going on in their oral cavities on special monitors. A stress-free and relaxed atmosphere is achieved in cooperation with health spas, sports and hotel facilities that give dental treatment the feel of a short holiday. Dental clinics in Poland undoubtedly offer top-class expertise in all areas of dentistry: dental treatment and dental prostheses such as implants, dentures, bridges, crowns, porcelain veneers, cosmetic dentistry and bleaching.
The affordable prices do not come at the cost of quality, Marcin Gaborski, director of a HAHS Dental Clinic in Szczecin, hastens to add: “We use high-quality materials from Germany, the US, Switzerland and Scandinavia. For our Polish patients we are a luxury clinic. Due to the low labour costs, rents and taxes, our laboratory costs are clearly lower than in Western and Northern Europe.” A simple bridge over a missing molar tooth costs around 310 euros in Poland and 700 euros in Western Europe. A tooth implant, otherwise costing around 1,600 euros can be had for 800 euros in Szczecin. And what’s more, considerably longer guarantee periods are granted on dental services than elsewhere, in some cases up to five years, including travel and hotel expenses for after-treatment. It’s easy to get an appointment, too; book either by telephone or e-mail. Staff always speak English or German, usually also Danish, Swedish and French. Where necessary, clinics work on Sundays too. Hotel reservations and a shuttle service are arranged for you. Even during longer treatments, the staff take good care of their patients. Besides guided tours of the city and trips, dental holiday packages include sailing cruises on the Baltic Sea and opportunities to play golf or tennis or even go sailing on a yacht. The concept of linking money-saving health care with leisure breaks is continually being extended. The range of services now includes individual travel packages, ranging from weekend trips to the development of health care and cost schemes and family holidays featuring childcare and comprehensive dental treatment. You can also go out and discover that the seaport of Szczecin is a city of art and culture and ideal for inexpensive shopping without bothersome laws restricting the hours of trading. Polish specialities, clothing, jewellery, hairdressers, restaurants, philharmonic orchestras or jazz cafés – everything is very low-priced. And at night, we recommend paying a visit to the hottest club in the city: the CanCan emanates an air of high-class glamour and chic. If you are more into harder rhythms, you will feel at home at the Rocker Club next door, or how about some Polish hip-hop in the City Hall? And perhaps you can try out your new smile…
RYANAIR MAGAZINE 2006, issue 10 |
