Dental Tourism Market by Service (Dental Implants, Orthodontics, Dental Cosmetics, and Others), Provider (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, and Others), and Regional Analysis (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031

Global Dental Tourism Market Analysis

The Global Dental Tourism Market Size was $6,159.7 million in 2021 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 13.9%, by generating a revenue of $21,544.1 million by 2031.

Global Dental Tourism Market Synopsis

Dental tourism means traveling abroad for affordable dental care, dental treatment, dental surgery, or dental procedures, which are generally expensive in one's own country. High insurance premiums, an increase in number of uninsured and underinsured people in developed countries, and a longer waiting period in the home country are some of the factors that bring patients to other countries. Furthermore, the high availability of better health care services at a low cost in developing countries, lower air fares, and the tourism aspect all contribute to the benefits of outbound dental tourism. These factors are anticipated to drive the dental tourism market expansion in upcoming years.

The dental tourism market growth is expected to be limited due to the difficulty of obtaining a visa to enter some countries, as well as the need to pay for travel, flight, and lodging expenses when obtaining for dental tourism, which could be quite expensive. Furthermore, as it is not their home region, it is difficult for the patient to return to the same clinic for regular checkups after treatment, which creates a market barrier.

The increase in prevalence of dental abnormalities and the global demand for cosmetic dentistry are the primary factors that drive the industry's growth. Long wait times for dental care in the home country, combined with lower treatment costs and superior services in other countries, are expected to drive industry growth during the forecast period. The industry has expanded as a result of promotional strategies such as the launch of web ads highlighting healthcare providers' affordable offerings. Adopting appealing medical-tourism packages that provide undivided attention to healthcare and reasonable lodging, recognizing both treatment and recreational options, piques consumer interest.

According to regional dental tourism market analysis, the Asia-Pacific dental tourism market size accounted for the highest market share in 2021 due to the thriving dental care markets in India, Thailand, and Malaysia. Treatment in countries such as India, Brazil, and Thailand costs one-third of what it does in the UK or the U.S. Medical tourism destinations offer affordable and easily accessible services such as medical, cosmetic, and dental surgeries at significantly lower costs.

Dental Tourism Overview

Dental Tourism means traveling abroad for affordable & accessible dental care, dental treatment, dental surgery, or dental procedures, which are generally high priced in one's own country. This trend has emerged due to high priced health care and long waiting lists in many western countries.

Dental tourism has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly among Europeans and Americans, and the main factor is the savings associated with lower costs for dental services such as root canals, veneers, fillings, crowns, dental bridges, dental implants, and orthodontic care in the destination countries.

COVID-19 Impact on Global Dental Tourism Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the dental tourism market, including popular dental tourism destinations such as India, China, and other emerging countries due to movement restrictions, supply chain disruption, and travel bans. Travel restrictions during the first two years of the pandemic harmed dental tourism in India. According to Fortis Healthcare's annual report, restrictions on global travel had a significant COVID-19 impact on dental tourism market in 2021, as the flow of visiting patients from various neighboring countries was halted.

Furthermore, according to a Business Standards article published in November 2022, dental tourism in India is expected to increase after being nearly nil during the two years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as international flights resumed in March-April 2022 and international travel returned to pre-COVID levels. To address the situation, various governments took steps to reintroduce dental tourism to the country. For example, in mid-June 2022, Mexico launched the #Come2MexicanCaribbean campaign, which offered travelers gifts and passes such as free hotel stays, discounted vehicle rentals, and discounts at tourist attractions. Thus, the dental tourism market trend is anticipated to recover from the effects of COVID-19 in the following years as the limitations and actions from the governments toward dental tourism were lifted.

Increased Dental Issues and Tooth Loss to Drive the Market Growth

Increase in dental problems and tooth loss are significant concerns for the elderly, which is also one of the key factors driving the dental tourism market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of oral disease has increased and it affects more than 3.5 billion people worldwide. The causes of tooth decay, untreated tooth decay, changing dietary habits, and excessive consumption of processed foods. Owing to rise in alcohol and cigarette use, as well as other harmful lifestyle choices, dental issues, and dental problems, the global demand for cosmetic dentistry, dental therapeutics products, and cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and polishing, has increased. In addition, affordability and accessibility of high-quality healthcare services and assistance from tourism departments and local governments are the key factors that drive the growth of the global dental tourism market. Moreover, availability of latest medical technologies in dental tourism hubs, throughout the world, is expected to fuel the dental tourism market growth.

To know more about global dental tourism market drivers, get in touch with our analysts here.

Pandemic Outbreak Resulted in Travel Restrictions that Hampered Market Growth

Dental tourism is entirely dependent on travel facilities from one country to the next. However, the occurrence of a pandemic or strict regulations imposed by governments to receive medical care abroad impeded market growth. According to the World Tourism Organization, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 73% decrease in tourists worldwide in 2020. As a result, the options of dental technologies/procedures for international travelers declined, which eventually impacted the industry, limiting market growth. Asia-Pacific was severely impacted by travel restrictions, resulting in an 84% decrease in tourists by 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the market, particularly during the first half of 2020. The imposition of travel restrictions and stringent regulations on medical tourism hampered the dental tourism market demand. As a result, such a factor is expected to impede market value during the forecast period and to take a longer time to return to pre-pandemic growth levels.

Inbound Medical Travel Expansion Increased Dental Tourism Market Potential

The world has got closer to implementing improved medical facilities for value-based care as a result of growth in technical developments in the medical sector, including those related to dental equipment, surgical techniques, wearables, and connected healthcare. Telemedicine, telehealth, and information & communication technology have made it possible for patients to consult doctors, schedule appointments, and receive high-quality care from anywhere in the world. This has caused the rate of inbound tourism to increase in emerging nations such as Thailand and India. For instance, Thailand has been placed fifth in the world for inbound medical tourism by the Global Travel and Tourism Council, behind the U.S. France, Turkey, and Belgium. As a result, the need for affordable healthcare and the availability of cutting-edge medical infrastructure can be attributed to the growth of the global market.

To know more about global dental tourism market opportunities, get in touch with our analysts here.

Global Dental Tourism Market, by Service

By service, the market has been divided into dental implants, orthodontics, dental cosmetics, and others. Among these, the dental implants sub-segment accounted for the highest market share in 2021 whereas the dental cosmetics sub-segment is estimated to show the fastest growth during the forecast period.

Global Dental Tourism Market Share, by Service, 2021

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The dental implants gas sub-segment accounted a dominant dental tourism market share in 2021. The increase in prevalence of dental injuries as a result of car accidents and sports injuries supports the need for dental implants. According to the American Academy for Implant Dentistry, over 15 million people in the U.S. receive crown and bridge replacements for missing teeth each year, demonstrating the need for dental implants. Dental implants are long-term replacements that are described as a restorative treatment that protects and supports natural bone while also acting as a secure foundation for a prosthesis.

The dental cosmetics sub-segment is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. The rise in prevalence of dental disorders such as periodontal disease, tooth decay, gum disease, dental crack, and dental cavities, as well as the rise in the geriatric population, which is more prone to tooth-related problems, are some of the factors the drive the growth of the dental cosmetics in dental tourism market. Furthermore, technological advancements in cosmetic dentistry, such as the availability of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) systems that extensively use 3-dimensional technology to improve the design and creation of dental restorations contribute to the market's growth.

Global Dental Tourism Market, by Provider

By providers, the market is divided into hospitals, dental clinics, and others. Among these, the dental clinics sub-segment accounted for highest revenue share in 2021.

Global Dental Tourism Market Size, by Provider, 2021

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The dental clinics sub-segment accounted a dominant dental tourism market share in 2021. The segment is expected to witness a lucrative growth rate during the forecast period. Dental practices are growing all around the world. The number of independent dentistry clinics is expected to increase in the years to come. This is due to the increased competition among providers and the demand for cost-effective treatments. The regulatory scenario for dental clinics is stringent, especially in regions, such as North America. However, healthcare systems around the world believe the risk of infection in clinics is low, and in some cases, infections are not detected due to unsafe practices. Some systems advise patients to be tested for conditions such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. These factors are anticipated to boost the growth of dental clinics sub-segment during the analysis timeframe.

Global Dental Tourism Market, by Region

The dental tourism market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Global Dental Tourism Market Size & Forecast, by Region, 2021-2031 ($ Million)

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The Market for Dental Tourism in Asia-Pacific to be the Most Dominant

The Asia-Pacific dental tourism market accounted a dominant market share in 2021. This dominance is due to the availability of dentists with rich experience, superior infrastructure for dental treatment. Regional government authority permissions for foreign patients in-take at medical institutions, the dental solid treatment markets in India, Thailand, and Malaysia. India frequently visiting medical tourists for cost-effective treatment plans in hospital chains and multiple specialty clinics, and low cost and low language barrier are all driving the growth. Furthermore, countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea are expected to gain traction during the forecast period due to an increase in cosmetic procedures performed in the country. Furthermore, high number of patients travel to Asian countries for medical treatment due to the availability of lower-cost facilities. Moreover, countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea are expected to gain traction during the forecast period owing to the increased patients for cosmetic procedures in the country.

Competitive Scenario in the Global Dental Tourism Market

Investment and agreement are common strategies followed by major market players. For instance, on 13th August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Portugal announced the launch of its travel insurance scheme for international tourists, which includes medical, surgical, hospital, and pharmaceutical expenses, in order to revitalize the tourism sector and ensure tourists' safety. The growth in number of inbound tourists has a positive impact on market growth.

Source: Research Dive Analysis

Some of the leading dental tourism market players are Franco-Vietnamese Hospital, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Fortis Healthcare, Clove Dental, Medlife Group, Raffles Medical Group, Oris Dental Centre, Dubai Dental Hospital, Imperial Dental Specialist Center, Liberty Dental Clinic, ThantakIt International Dental Center, and ARC Dental Clinic.