By now you have probably heard of one of your family members, friends or work colleagues talk about having dental work completed in a foreign jurisdiction in what is sometimes referred to as “dental tourism”.  If you are wondering whether you should forego your usual visit with your Calgary dentist in favour of having dental work completed in a foreign jurisdiction while on a sunny vacation, you should first consider the following.

One of the most significant benefits of seeing a dentist in Calgary is that all dentists and their professional activities in Calgary (Alberta) are regulated by the Alberta Dental Association & College.  This means that, when you visit a dentist in Calgary, you can be assured that:

• they have the proper education and has passed the board examination to become a licensed member of the Alberta Dental Association & College
• they are accountable to both you and the Alberta Dental Association & College
• your dentistry is delivered in a safe and effective manner
• they are following the standards and guidelines set by the Alberta Dental Association & College
• they are committed to fulfilling their bi-annual continuing education requirements
• they have malpractice insurance
• if you have an issue that cannot be resolved between yourself and your Calgary dentist, you can ask the Alberta Dental Association & College for assistance in resolving the matter

With respect to the standards and guidelines set by the Alberta Dental Association & College, these standards and guidelines govern a wide range of topics that keep you safe and ensure that quality dentistry is provided by your Calgary dentist.  Some of these standards and guidelines include the following:

• infection prevention and control protocols
• maintenance and inspection of x-rays
• patient record keeping
• informed consent protocols
• limitations on scope of practice
• continuing education protocols
• advertising standards

If you are considering booking a “dental vacation”, one of the first things you should consider and fully inform yourself about is what standards does the particular jurisdiction have with respect to both licensing dentists and regulating their practices.  You should also consider such issues as: 

• What will you do if you require follow-up treatment after returning home?
• What if there are dental complications after you return home?
• What will happen if you feel you should have a refund of all of a part of your money?

Although there is no doubt that there is quality dentistry in foreign jurisdictions, before making the decision to have treatment done outside of North America, our Calgary dentist strongly encourages you to do your own research about both the dentist and the jurisdiction’s dental association. 

For more information about dental tourism, see our recent blog on this topic.

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