The Growth of Medical Tourism Combines Health Innovation with Global Mobility.

Abstract

Objectives: The study investigates the expanding field of dental tourism within the broader context of medical tourism, exploring the factors that drive its growth, its economic implications, and the satisfaction of patients who seek dental care abroad. Methods: Employing the PRISMA systematic review method, the authors searched academic databases for articles published from 2015 to 2024, using keywords related to dental and medical tourism. The search yielded numerous articles, from which eight were selected based on relevance and quality criteria. Results: The review found that dental tourism is propelled by the search for affordable yet quality dental care, with patients from developed countries increasingly traveling to developing nations for treatments. Key factors include the high cost of local healthcare, long wait times, and the allure of better value. The internet and low-cost air travel are instrumental in enabling this trend. Patients report high satisfaction, with quality of care, accessibility, and the attractiveness of the destination being key determinants. Conclusions: The study concludes that dental tourism is a burgeoning sector within medical tourism, offering substantial economic advantages to host countries. It underscores the importance of maintaining high standards of care and patient satisfaction, while also recognizing the ethical and legal challenges that must be addressed to ensure the responsible development of dental tourism.