The Internet Applauds This TikToker From Atlanta For Making A Last-Minute Trip To Turkey Just To Avoid Paying $3099 For A Root Canal Fix
Anyone who has experience with the healthcare system in the United States (and plenty of people who don’t have experience with it) knows that going to the doctor can be expensive. Going to the dentist, in particular, is notoriously costly because it’s not typically covered under a regular health insurance plan. So after one TikToker, Delia O’Malley, was quoted over $3000 for a root canal in the United States, she came up with the brilliant idea of going to Turkey to get it done there instead. Below, you can read Delia’s full story, as well as an interview with Josef Woodman, CEO of Patients Beyond Borders, and maybe you’ll be inspired to consider taking a holiday the next time you’re quoted with an exorbitant medical bill. And if you’re looking for another Bored Panda story about the American healthcare system after reading this piece, we’ve got another for you right here.
More info: TikTok
After this TikToker was quoted over $3000 for a root canal in the United States, she decided to book a trip to Turkey and get it done there instead
Delia’s entire trip, including her dental bills, came out to less than the root canal would have cost in the US
Image credits: asdeliadoes
You can hear Delia tell the full story here
@asdeliadoes My dentist wanted $3099 for a root canal so I booked a week in Turkey to get it done here! Came to less than $1200. So I get a root canal and a holiday now 😂🇹🇷❤️ #turkey #lastminutetrip #manifestation #dental #kusidasi #graitude ♬ original sound – Delia O’Malley
While Delia’s trip was a creative solution for her medical needs, she’s not the only one who has had to think outside the box for treatment. In fact, “dental tourism” is a real phenomenon among people trying to avoid paying extremely high dental prices. According to Forbes, in 2020 approximately 290,000 Americans traveled abroad for dental and medical procedures. Mexico is one popular destination, due to proximity and the price of treatment. For example, root canals in Mexico cost 80% less than they do in the US. However, Americans aren’t the only ones seeking treatment abroad. Sometimes even Britons and Irish people take short trips to Eastern Europe or India for affordable procedures. Other common countries to visit for dental work include Thailand, Turkey, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Spain.
Although medical tourism is gaining popularity, it can still be overwhelming to navigate alone. Luckily, there are now organizations like Patients Beyond Borders to help travelers get the best care possible around the globe. We reached out to the CEO of Patients Beyond Borders, Josef Woodman, to hear why dental tourism is on the rise. “Dental consumers now recognize that proper dental care is vital to overall health. Yet in most countries, including the US, dental care remains largely elective, uninsured, and unaffordable. For example, it’s not uncommon for a full set of implants, or a full mouth restoration to run upwards of $40k in the US or Canada, impossibly expensive for so many,” Josef told Bored Panda. “Over the past 10 years, the rise of high-quality dental care in destinations such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Turkey, Thailand, etc, have created opportunities for dental patients to save as much as 70% on complex treatments.”
In terms of how his company can help, Josef told us, “Patients Beyond Borders is a consultancy and does not refer patients to clinics or hospitals. However, we enjoy a long, trusted relationship with Dental Departures, which has booked more than 130,000 patients in some 40 destinations worldwide, making the organization the largest online dental travel agency. We confidently refer patients to this organization.” Lastly, Josef added that, “In this era of fake news, I encourage patients to do their homework, vet clinics carefully and don’t price shop for the lowest cost. It’s not worth getting that extra 5%. The very best clinics in top destinations will save patients enough money to put a big smile on their newly repaired faces.” If you’re interested in more information about Patients Beyond Borders or want to check out Josef’s book, you can do so here.
While it’s ridiculous that those living in the US can’t afford the treatment they need close to home, it’s great to know that there are resources available elsewhere. I’m so glad Delia had a great trip, but I hope the next time she goes abroad she can just take a vacation, without needing to squeeze in a visit to the dentist. We’d love to hear your thoughts on dental tourism in the comments down below. Have you ever traveled abroad for medical care, or does your country provide affordable treatment?
Many viewers agreed that the American healthcare system is flawed
But some argued that the bill is reasonable for everything Delia needed done
So others called out the US for brainwashing people into believing exorbitant dental bills are normal
Well done for her. I´m a Canadian raised in Guatemala and once I went back to canada for 10 years and it was clear I had better teeth than most people I met. Not just better looking but healthy too. So now when my friends come visit me to Guatemala they usually get their teeth done in the mean time. Some have returned just for the dental work. We have amazing dentists here and even the expensive ones are way cheaper than in Canada, and they mostly studied in the states and trained there, so this tottaly makes sence for me.
Dentist in Palo Alto wanted $7000 for one single tooth implant. I flew to Dominican Republic 3x and my total cost for entire upper implant, hotel, and flights for me and my wife total = $9000.
My teeth really need to be worked on because Adderall makes your mouth crazy dry, essentially giving a huge change of severe tooth decay; I also grind the hell out of them when asleep. My dentist said it'd be over 7k WITH insurance, 10k w/o. I plan to go to Canada if they'll treat Americans, since I'd be in a foreign country. Our healthcare system is a joke.
Dental care costs are not cheap here in Canada at all. Our healthcare system does not include dental. That is a totally separate cost, so if you don't have private insurance coverage for dental through work/union, you are paying ridiculous amounts for even basic dental. I'm planning to go to Panama for dental work. Way cheaper and I have a reliable contact there to navigate the language barrier for appointments.
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I had a dentist tell me my out of pocket for a crown would be about $4000. I went to a better dentist and my out of pocket was about $200. They also wanted $6000 for my wife’s bridge work that cost about $800. Some dental clinics are straight-up scams.
I definitely spent 6 entire months in Mexico to get treatment for a TBI and to get affordable transgender services. I had to wait six months to see a neurologist in the US, and I saw one same day in Merida. Medications that cost me around 650 per month in the States plus 200 every three months for appointments not covered under my insurance for transgender services cost me 90 over the counter in meds, no appointments required. I stayed in Mexico for a full six months because once I got there I realized I could actually afford to support my family of three on my disability payments comfortably, and I wanted to wait around in case I needed follow up care. I spent less money on living for six months than I would have spent on medication in that same time in the States.
Europeans also go to Turkey, but only for things that are not covert in countries healthplan, like fake breasts, all kind of inplants, liposuction. Americans should do this way more. Other countries have excellent healthcare when you know where to look. Avoid cowboys.
I got a root canal a few years ago and it was about $700 (in NYC)
I paid $300 for my husband's, and that was with the gas, in Mississippi
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Friends in Arizona have been going to Mexico for years for dental work. I need dental work, and I'm seriously considering a trip out of the US.
If you get arrested you can have your tooth pulled in county jail for $10! You only get one tiny shot of novocaine. But I had all my wisdom teeth pulled for less than $50! & the food they feed you is basically baby food anyway ... so being on a no chew diet wasn't hard. Only getting Motrin 2x a day sucked. But better than spending the $6000+ to have it done. With insurance mind you. No I didn't not purposely get arrested to have this done. I was stupid & did something else & took advantage of my situation.
Both my husband and I have had dental work in Mexico, and my mother in law in Arizona gets ALL of her dental work done there. I saw a great dentist in Puerto Morelos, Mexico 7 years ago for a root canal, a filling, and two crowns on my broken incisors. He was great. I'd recently had a steroid injection for back pain, and he answered my questions about that over email, and worked me into his very busy schedule during the Christmas holiday week. He has an endodontist and oral surgeon that work with him, and the endodontist performed my root canal, a new experience for me. He did my initial exam, cleaning, and xrays HIMSELF, as well as the filling and attaching my gorgeous crowns. I am hoping to go back to him for a four post partial denture implant to replace my missing lower molars. I'm missing 12 +teeth because pulling them was what I could afford. I didn't think losing them was a big deal coming out one by one, but now I would love to eat a steak!
69.87 on the NHS... just saying ... American health system is broken
How much usually having a baby costs in the US? If RCT costs more than USD 3000 then a baby must cost a fortune!
It depends on your insurance. Having a baby in California cost me $250, while my best friend paid $2500 with the same insurance company at the same hospital. We work for different companies and my employer-provided insurance was better than hers.
Load More Replies...
@that nerd Zoe, trust me, I did that constantly, especially bc Adderall gives you serious cotton mouth. And I did brush my teeth 3 times daily which eroded some of the enamel since they were already brittle to begin with.
We have to pay for dental treatment in the UK too but it is banded. Band 1: £23.80 Covers an examination, diagnosis and advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, a scale and polish, and planning for further treatment. Band 2: £65.20 Covers all treatment included in Band 1, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and removing teeth (extractions). Band 3: £282.80 Covers all treatment included in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges. If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra. Children, pregnant women, people on benefits (financial assistance), students and pensioners do not have to pay anything at all
Root canals are WAY too expensive, but $3,000? I can't imagine it. $1,200 in what's probably the 3rd most expensive place in America.
Could have gone to Tijuana...fly to San Diego. Drive across border and come back. Have a great dentist in TJ...my last root canal was $350...yes that is correct. Many, many people in S Calif come down for the weekend in San Diego and go to the dentist.. and with their kids too. They cater to American clients. All the last and newest equipment and procedures, very clean and professional..highly recommend!
Wtf I paid around $40 for a root canal in february in Argentina. Why the f**k $3k
Prices are very good in Turkey. Here is a site i found! https://medicistanbul.net/about-us/prices/
I was just looking on Trivago because I was curious. You can get a room in Istanbul for around $15 a night, for just the most basic room.
Load More Replies...
It is more complicated.... The average overhead for a modern dental practice in US/ Can can easily top 70% of revenue.
No, she went to Turkey for dental work that her US dentist wanted $3100 for. She paid less than $1200 in Turkey for the same procedure AND 7-day vacation AND the round-trip airfare. She saved almost $2k by going to Turkey.
Load More Replies...
Well done but in a way possibly unnecessary. I've learned 2nd opinions are important. I knew, for example, a 'family' dentist who seemingly always had an extreme- surgery will be required manner towards all his clients that I knew. The last time I ever visited him, he had just screwed up a basic visit with me, cut into a nerve, screwed up the gap in the teeth and then told me it was not him but me and I needed a root canal. Went to a different dentist and 3 minutes of care solved his "root canal" problem- no surgery was ever needed at all!!! He was a gold-digger! Fabulous and quite happy with my new dentist ever since.
Well done for her. I´m a Canadian raised in Guatemala and once I went back to canada for 10 years and it was clear I had better teeth than most people I met. Not just better looking but healthy too. So now when my friends come visit me to Guatemala they usually get their teeth done in the mean time. Some have returned just for the dental work. We have amazing dentists here and even the expensive ones are way cheaper than in Canada, and they mostly studied in the states and trained there, so this tottaly makes sence for me.
Dentist in Palo Alto wanted $7000 for one single tooth implant. I flew to Dominican Republic 3x and my total cost for entire upper implant, hotel, and flights for me and my wife total = $9000.
My teeth really need to be worked on because Adderall makes your mouth crazy dry, essentially giving a huge change of severe tooth decay; I also grind the hell out of them when asleep. My dentist said it'd be over 7k WITH insurance, 10k w/o. I plan to go to Canada if they'll treat Americans, since I'd be in a foreign country. Our healthcare system is a joke.
Dental care costs are not cheap here in Canada at all. Our healthcare system does not include dental. That is a totally separate cost, so if you don't have private insurance coverage for dental through work/union, you are paying ridiculous amounts for even basic dental. I'm planning to go to Panama for dental work. Way cheaper and I have a reliable contact there to navigate the language barrier for appointments.
Load More Replies... I had a dentist tell me my out of pocket for a crown would be about $4000. I went to a better dentist and my out of pocket was about $200. They also wanted $6000 for my wife’s bridge work that cost about $800. Some dental clinics are straight-up scams.
I definitely spent 6 entire months in Mexico to get treatment for a TBI and to get affordable transgender services. I had to wait six months to see a neurologist in the US, and I saw one same day in Merida. Medications that cost me around 650 per month in the States plus 200 every three months for appointments not covered under my insurance for transgender services cost me 90 over the counter in meds, no appointments required. I stayed in Mexico for a full six months because once I got there I realized I could actually afford to support my family of three on my disability payments comfortably, and I wanted to wait around in case I needed follow up care. I spent less money on living for six months than I would have spent on medication in that same time in the States.
Europeans also go to Turkey, but only for things that are not covert in countries healthplan, like fake breasts, all kind of inplants, liposuction. Americans should do this way more. Other countries have excellent healthcare when you know where to look. Avoid cowboys.
I got a root canal a few years ago and it was about $700 (in NYC)
I paid $300 for my husband's, and that was with the gas, in Mississippi
Load More Replies... Friends in Arizona have been going to Mexico for years for dental work. I need dental work, and I'm seriously considering a trip out of the US.
If you get arrested you can have your tooth pulled in county jail for $10! You only get one tiny shot of novocaine. But I had all my wisdom teeth pulled for less than $50! & the food they feed you is basically baby food anyway ... so being on a no chew diet wasn't hard. Only getting Motrin 2x a day sucked. But better than spending the $6000+ to have it done. With insurance mind you. No I didn't not purposely get arrested to have this done. I was stupid & did something else & took advantage of my situation.
Both my husband and I have had dental work in Mexico, and my mother in law in Arizona gets ALL of her dental work done there. I saw a great dentist in Puerto Morelos, Mexico 7 years ago for a root canal, a filling, and two crowns on my broken incisors. He was great. I'd recently had a steroid injection for back pain, and he answered my questions about that over email, and worked me into his very busy schedule during the Christmas holiday week. He has an endodontist and oral surgeon that work with him, and the endodontist performed my root canal, a new experience for me. He did my initial exam, cleaning, and xrays HIMSELF, as well as the filling and attaching my gorgeous crowns. I am hoping to go back to him for a four post partial denture implant to replace my missing lower molars. I'm missing 12 +teeth because pulling them was what I could afford. I didn't think losing them was a big deal coming out one by one, but now I would love to eat a steak!
69.87 on the NHS... just saying ... American health system is broken
How much usually having a baby costs in the US? If RCT costs more than USD 3000 then a baby must cost a fortune!
It depends on your insurance. Having a baby in California cost me $250, while my best friend paid $2500 with the same insurance company at the same hospital. We work for different companies and my employer-provided insurance was better than hers.
Load More Replies... @that nerd Zoe, trust me, I did that constantly, especially bc Adderall gives you serious cotton mouth. And I did brush my teeth 3 times daily which eroded some of the enamel since they were already brittle to begin with.
We have to pay for dental treatment in the UK too but it is banded. Band 1: £23.80 Covers an examination, diagnosis and advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, a scale and polish, and planning for further treatment. Band 2: £65.20 Covers all treatment included in Band 1, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and removing teeth (extractions). Band 3: £282.80 Covers all treatment included in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges. If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra. Children, pregnant women, people on benefits (financial assistance), students and pensioners do not have to pay anything at all
Root canals are WAY too expensive, but $3,000? I can't imagine it. $1,200 in what's probably the 3rd most expensive place in America.
Could have gone to Tijuana...fly to San Diego. Drive across border and come back. Have a great dentist in TJ...my last root canal was $350...yes that is correct. Many, many people in S Calif come down for the weekend in San Diego and go to the dentist.. and with their kids too. They cater to American clients. All the last and newest equipment and procedures, very clean and professional..highly recommend!
Wtf I paid around $40 for a root canal in february in Argentina. Why the f**k $3k
Prices are very good in Turkey. Here is a site i found! https://medicistanbul.net/about-us/prices/
I was just looking on Trivago because I was curious. You can get a room in Istanbul for around $15 a night, for just the most basic room.
Load More Replies... It is more complicated.... The average overhead for a modern dental practice in US/ Can can easily top 70% of revenue.
No, she went to Turkey for dental work that her US dentist wanted $3100 for. She paid less than $1200 in Turkey for the same procedure AND 7-day vacation AND the round-trip airfare. She saved almost $2k by going to Turkey.
Load More Replies... Well done but in a way possibly unnecessary. I've learned 2nd opinions are important. I knew, for example, a 'family' dentist who seemingly always had an extreme- surgery will be required manner towards all his clients that I knew. The last time I ever visited him, he had just screwed up a basic visit with me, cut into a nerve, screwed up the gap in the teeth and then told me it was not him but me and I needed a root canal. Went to a different dentist and 3 minutes of care solved his "root canal" problem- no surgery was ever needed at all!!! He was a gold-digger! Fabulous and quite happy with my new dentist ever since.
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