The Inside Scoop on Budapest Dental Tourism

Are you considering visiting Budapest for dental tourism? Budapest has become a major destination for tourists from around the globe due to its rich history, beautiful architecture, and cultural attractions. The city has also recently emerged as a top place for medical tourism.

In addition to offering quality healthcare services, the country has now started promoting itself as a premier destination for quality dental treatments. Patients are finding that they can receive high-quality care at affordable prices.

With dental tourism, you don’t have to worry about insurance or long waiting lists. You can simply book an appointment online and fly to Hungary for treatment. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s a relatively low-cost solution compared to Western European countries.

Read on to learn all you need to know about dental tourism in Hungary.

Why Come to Hungary for Dental Tourism?

If you're considering getting dental work done in Budapest, you are not alone. In fact, some jokingly call Budapest the Capital of Dental Tourism. Even after factoring in travel expenses, those traveling from a foreign country are able to save a significant amount of money when they pursue dental services in Hungary. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll get state-of-the-art treatments.

Patients come to Budapest in search of qualified dentists who can perform high-quality work at a fraction of the cost as in their home countries. Visitors can find a full offering of services, from quality implants, dentures, root canal treatments, cosmetic dentistry, and complex treatments, like restorative care.

The Quality of Dental Care in Hungary

One of the most common questions potential dental patients ask is "Is dental surgery in Hungary safe?". It's natural to need assurance for something as vulnerable as dental care.

Rest assured that in Budapest, you're in good hands.

Did you know that students come from all over the world to take advantage of Hungary's medical, dental, and veterinarian universities? According to Times Higher Education, Hungarian universities rank even within the top 300 in the world!

In order to receive training and qualifications for dentistry, Hungarian dentists must undergo undergraduate study, placement, and accredited ongoing education courses. For example, dentists who choose to specialize in implantology or orthodontics are required to complete a three-year specialist training program on top of their general studies. You can be confident that your dental health will be in competent hands.

Enjoy Great Savings

Dental work is not typically synonymous with affordability. When you make use of dental tourism in Hungary, however, you can save a significant amount of money without sacrificing quality. With its high standards of treatment and affordable prices, it's no wonder that Budapest is one of the top dental tourism destinations in Europe. Find a comparison of typical prices below (according to Dental Departures):

Single crown in the UK: £759 (Ireland: €900); in Hungary: £200/€225

Root canal build-up and crown in the UK: £1,452 (Ireland: €900); in Hungary: £392/€900

Dental implant and crown in the UK: £2,574 (Ireland: €3,021); in Hungary: £894/€1,043

Preparing for Your Departure

It's important to stay in close contact with your provider before departing to Hungary. The dental clinic or booking service will ask you to submit a panoramic X-ray so that the dentists can assess your condition from afar. Afterward, they can provide you with a treatment plan and a quote. With that new knowledge in hand, you're ready to book your travel and accommodation. The quote should include:

• the proposed treatment
• the number and length of treatments
• dental materials to be used
• costs of units
• guarantee conditions and terms of payment

We suggest bringing a folder that will be dedicated to holding all of your official documents and papers. For the sake of your future records, make sure to keep x-rays from both before and after the procedure.

Popular Dental Procedures

Due to the wide range of dental clinics in Budapest, patients can find almost any treatment they need. Overwhelmingly, the most popular treatments are dental implants, crowns, and veneers. Other commonly booked services are dental bridges, fillings, full-mouth restorations (with a sinus lift and bone grafting), and crowns (both zirconium and porcelain).

Many patients take advantage of the lower prices to save on cosmetic dental treatments. Crowns and veneers specifically are important components in complete smile makeovers. Many clinics offer a package for a "Hollywood Smile", whether it's achieved through E-Max porcelain veneers or an extensive teeth-whitening regimen.

Hungarian prices are approximately 40 – 60% lower than dental rates in Western Europe dental rates. Patients have the opportunity to save thousands of euros on dental work in Hungary.

How to Get to the Budapest for Your Treatment

The jewel of Central Europe, Hungary is bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. If you're traveling to Hungary for dental tourism, chances are you'll transit through Liszt Ferenc Airport. Fortunately, Budapest is connected to Europe by several budget airlines, meaning cheap flights are another thing you can save money on. The airport is approximately 40 minutes by car from the city center (without traffic).

Airport by Taxi

At Budahome, we offer discounted transportation to and from the airport for a fixed price of €30. You can arrange this with us when you book your accommodation.

Otherwise, the cost of a taxi fare from the airport to the city center is approximately 15,000HUF/€40 without traffic. You can order through a company such as Fő Taxi or use the Bolt app (Hungary's version of Uber). Make sure to only use legitimate taxi companies in order to avoid getting ripped off (they should have the starting and /km rates posted). There will be official booking stations at the arrivals portion of the airport.

Airport by Private Transfer

You can conveniently book an AirBud private transfer online before you arrive. The shuttle is a door-to-door service, and transfers start from €6. You can even pre-schedule your transfer online.

Airport by Public Transportation

If you have a little more time and want the most cost-effective option, consider taking public transportation to the airport.

Bus 100E is a dedicated, direct bus that runs between the city center and the Budapest airport. A one-way ticket costs 1500 HUF/€3.75. Remember, you must buy the specific airport bus ticket to board--the standard BKK tickets/passes aren't valid.

The bus runs from Deák Ferenc tér in the city between 3:30 and 00:25 and from the airport between 4:10 and 1:05 past midnight. It stops at Astoria, Kalvin, and Deák Ferenc Square. It comes approximately every 15-30 minutes. The journey takes about 40 minutes without traffic.

During peak times, the bus fills up at the first station and won't stop at the others, so make sure to plan ahead for rush hour!

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Tourism in Budapest

Do the Dentists Speak English?

Dental tourism in Hungary is so popular that there are quite a few clinics that are specialized in the treatment of foreign patients. Navigate their sites and even schedule a consultation to put all of your questions to rest.

Here are a few of the top English-speaking dentists:

• Fine Care
• Dental Departures
• Rosental Dental and Implantology Center
• Madenta Dental Clinic
• Nador Dental

How Do I Choose a Clinic?

There are plenty of competent dental clinics in Budapest--all you need to do is choose one! But how?

Research, Research, Research!

Put your mind at ease by hearing from others who were in your exact position. Patient reviews from other dental tourists are invaluable to the research process and can give you affirming insight into who you trust with your dental health.

Book a Consultation

It may give you some extra peace of mind to speak with the dental team before you commit to them. When researching clinics, check for ones that offer free consultations. Since Budapest is quite an international city, you'll find that many of the clinics speak English and have English translations on their websites.

Use a Service

Maybe you're short on time to plan, or perhaps you just prefer a hands-off approach. In this case, enlisting a service could be a good option for you. They can take care of everything from airport transfers to booking accommodation to post-operative support, depending on the company.

What Additional Costs Should I Consider?

While you will save significantly on procedures, make sure to factor the additional costs of traveling into your budget. You will need to pay for flights, accommodation costs, and will likely need to take time off of work to recover after the procedure.

When booking accommodation in Budapest, it’s important that you book a comfortable place that will ease your recovery time. Booking a vacation rental home by Budahome will not only insure a quality stay at an affordable price but you’ll also be able to enjoy your stay in comfort.

The best way to reduce stress around your work is to plan, plan, plan.

How Can I Get Around Budapest?

Budapest has an extensive and straightforward public transportation system. Whether you're returning to your accommodation after your procedure or just doing a bit of sightseeing, you'll figure out the basics in no time!

You can travel around Budapest on its network of trams, buses, metros, and trolleys. Single tickets are 350 HUF/0,90 EUR, but a travelcard may be more cost-effective depending on how much you intend to explore the city. 24-hour/72-hour/1 week cards are available for 1650 HUF/4 EUR, 4150 HUF/10 EUR, 4950 HUF/12 EUR respectively.

You can buy tickets on the Budapest Go app or at any of the purple kiosks next to the transit stations. Visit BKK.hu for ticket and route planning info.

Pro tip: Hop on to Tram 2 for an easy sightseeing route! The tram travels parallel to the Danube and takes you past landmarks such as Parliament, Buda Castle, the Fisherman's Bastion, and more.

Should I Stay Longer & Visit Budapest?

Who says that you can't mix business with pleasure? With all you'll be saving on dental treatment costs, take a little extra time to enjoy Budapest! The Hungarian capital is a beautiful city and has many can't-miss tourist attractions.

Round out your holistic experience by relaxing in one of Budapest's natural thermal baths, such as Széchenyi, Gellért, or Rudás. Before or after your procedure, taste traditional Hungarian food such as gulyás (a paprika-based beef soup), lángos (fried bread with cheese toppings), or a kürtőskalács (a sweetbread chimney cake). Leave a few days around your dates of treatment so that you can experience at least a little of what Budapest has to offer.

Still at a loss for what to do? Some clinics/placement services have a list of suggestions ready for you! If sightseeing is high on your list, factor this extra service into your consideration when searching for the right dental clinic.

Conclusion

Traveling to Budapest for oral surgery is a way to save on dental expenses and pack in an adventure at the same time. Join the thousands of dental tourism patients who come to Hungary each year for affordable dentistry that allows you to avoid waiting lists and access prime dental care.

Follow this guide to dental tourism in Budapest and book your journey with complete confidence!