Traveling for dental implants—also known as medical tourism or dental tourism—has exploded in popularity. Ads for “affordable dental implants abroad” in places like Tijuana, Cancun, Istanbul, or Bangkok can make it feel like you’d be crazy not to hop on a plane.
But there’s something those travel ads rarely mention: the price you see is almost never the price you pay.
The real cost shows up in the second trip… the third trip… the unexpected repairs… the time off work… and the stress of having a surgery in a country where you may not fully understand the language, the regulations, or the follow-up system.
This guide breaks down some of the most common places people travel for full mouth dental implants—and why thousands of people who almost flew overseas instead chose a one-time trip to a Nuvia Dental Implant Center in the U.S. to get permanent teeth in about 24 hours.
Before you risk your time, money, or health on multiple international trips, take the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate for permanent teeth in 24 hours.
1. Turkey — Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir
Turkey is a global hotspot for medical tourism. Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir all feature modern clinics and appealing package deals.
But those deals often require travelers to stay a week or more, return months later for permanent teeth, and navigate follow-up care from far away.
When you factor in:
- hotel stays
- flights
- food
- lost work days
- potential return trips
And while Turkey is a beautiful place to visit, full mouth dental implants are a surgical procedure that typically involves several steps (especially with traditional methods). If anything feels off after you return home, getting back to the same team who did the procedure could mean more last-minute travel and more uncertainty.
When you add the cost of flights, hotels, time away from home, and potential return visits, the “low price” can rise quickly.
2. Mexico — Los Algodones, Tijuana, Cancun, Guadalajara, Playa del Carmen
Mexico is another major hub for dental tourism, especially for U.S. residents who want short travel times. Cities like Los Algodones (“Molar City”), Tijuana, Cancun, Guadalajara, and Playa del Carmen attract thousands of dental travelers each year.
People often go after a quick google search for “dental implants in Tijuana” because prices appear lower. But it’s important to consider the full cost of treatment—not just the advertising.
Many full mouth implant procedures require:
- Additional scans
- Lab work
- Temporary teeth
- Long healing times
- Adjustments and remakes
- Follow-up care
Those stages often involve multiple visits. This means more border crossings, more hotels, and more time off work—adding hidden expenses patients didn’t plan for.
You also may encounter differences in regulations, materials, anesthesia protocols, and recovery expectations. None of these are “bad”; they’re simply different, and differences matter when you’re trusting someone with a life-changing surgical procedure.
3. Hungary — Budapest
Hungary—especially Budapest—has built an international reputation as a “dental hub” for Europeans. Many travelers are drawn by the historic architecture, warm culture, and the fact that dentistry is a major part of the country’s tourism economy. That means there are many clinics to choose from… and that’s actually where things can get complicated.
More options don’t always mean more clarity. In Budapest, clinics range from small boutique offices to large multi-floor dental tourism centers. Each may use different materials, different timelines, and different approaches to full mouth reconstruction. For someone trying to compare treatments from thousands of miles away, knowing which process is right for your mouth can feel almost impossible.
There’s also the emotional side travelers rarely talk about: recovering from surgery in a place where you don’t know the area, don’t know the emergency system, and don’t know where to turn if something doesn’t feel right. Many people enjoy visiting Budapest as a tourist — but recovering from major surgery is very different from sightseeing.
This is one reason patients who begin their search in Hungary often choose a U.S. solution instead: they want clarity, predictability, and the comfort of being treated in a place where follow-up support is familiar and easy to access.
4. Thailand — Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai
Thailand is well-known for its beautiful scenery and warm hospitality, which makes it a popular destination for medical tourism.
But full mouth dental implants don’t fit the usual “vacation-plus-treatment” pattern many travelers expect. These procedures involve oral surgery, and combining them with long flights, jet lag, and climate changes can make recovery feel tougher than planned.
Another challenge is the time zone difference. When you return home and have a question, discomfort, or concern, getting real-time support from a clinic 12–15 hours ahead can be difficult.
Many travelers end up seeking help from local providers who weren’t part of the original treatment.
The Hidden Costs of Traveling for Dental Implants
To re-cap, many people start looking at dental tourism because they want to save money—but traveling for dental implants often adds costs like:
- Flights, hotels, rental cars, and meals
- Time off work for each trip
- Additional charges for scans, upgrades, and adjustments
- Multiple follow-up visits for healing, bite checks, or remakes
- Possible emergency visits if something feels “off” once you return home
And because every country has different standards, materials, regulations, and languages, it may be harder to get quick support if something unexpected happens.
A Safe, Fast Option in the U.S.: Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours
This is where many patients discover that not only can full mouth dental implants be affordable in the U.S, it’s also possible for patients to get their permanent teeth just 24 hours after the procedure.
It is extremely common that implant centers use traditional methods—both in the U.S. and abroad. The problem with this is that traditional methods typically give patients temporary plastic dentures and ask them to wait months before receiving their final teeth.
Nuvia does not use that decades-old method.
Instead, patients receive:
- A 3-provider team (oral & maxillofacial surgeon, restorative doctor, CRNA)
- Safe, in-house anesthesia
- A fully digital, precision-planned surgery
- Custom zirconia teeth delivered in about 24 hours
At Nuvia it’s one procedure and permanent teeth the next day.
For patients who aren’t near a Nuvia center, traveling within the U.S. often makes much more sense than traveling abroad—because they only have to make one trip to get their permanent teeth. No back-and-forth for months.
And with financing options, many people discover full mouth dental implants at Nuvia are far more affordable than they expected—without leaving the country or taking repeated trips.
Because everything—from the surgical team to the anesthesia to the custom lab work—is done under one roof, patients get a predictable, safe, and fast experience without hidden surprises.
Is It Worth Travelling to Another Country For Dental Implants?
Turkey, Mexico, Hungary, and Thailand are common places people travel for dental implants. They can be beautiful destinations and offer appealing prices. But the hidden costs, multiple trips, and unpredictability often outweigh the savings.
If you want to find out whether full mouth dental implants could work for you, take the 60-second quiz below to see if you may be eligible.
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