A Dublin travel agency has started offering dental tours to Hungary for Irish patients seeking dental care at a fraction of the fees charged by dentists here.
Dublin's Killiney Travel Centre will send its first clients to Dr Mohos's dental surgery in Budapest next week.
They will get major dental work done at "greatly reduced" prices, according to travel agent Mr Richard Cullen. "Prices are one quarter or one third of the price of treatment here," he said.
The initiative came about because Dr Mohos's wife Margaret is from Cork. The clinic had success with a similar promotion in Switzerland.
While PRSI or medical cards cover the cost of certain treatments in this State, other major cosmetic work is not covered. "Obviously people would not be travelling all that way for just a filling. The real savings are made with the major dental work," she said.
Ms Mohos said the most common inquiry from Irish people was for implants. They cost anything from €3,000 upwards here, but €950 in Budapest. Crowns cost €350 there, compared with about €1,000 here. Flights and a week in a hotel costs about €600.
The clinic has its own lab and boasts of being Hungary's only ISO-certified practice. The dental work is guaranteed for anything from one to five years. Mr Cullen said he only knew of one case in Switzerland where complications arose. In that case, the clinic paid the cost of the flights and accommodation when remedial work was carried out.
If the dental tours are successful, Killiney Travel may organise plastic surgery and eye surgery tours. The medical complex where the clinic is based has plastic surgery and eye-laser clinics.
The Irish Dental Association has advised patients to think carefully about travelling abroad for treatment.
Mr Donal Atkins, IDA general secretary, said patients were free to attend any dentist, but the IDA encouraged patients to attend their local family dentist, where they could examine issues such as hygiene, cross-infection and emergency services.
