Dental Tourism Market Size, Share and Trends 2024 to 2034

Dental Tourism Market Size and Forecast 2024 to 2034

The global dental tourism market size is worth around USD 13.35 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach around USD 97.93 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 22.05% from 2024 to 2034. The demand for dental tourism is rising due to the expansion of the dental infrastructure in developing countries, which provides treatments at lower costs. This is attracting significant consumers from all around the world.

Dental Tourism Market Key Takeaways

• Asia Pacific dominated the global market with the largest market share of 47% in 2023.
• Europe is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.
• By service, the dental implants segment contributed the highest market share of 38% in 2023.
• By service, the dental cosmetics is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.
• By provider, the dental clinics segment captured the biggest market share of 49% in 2023.
• By provider, the hospitals segment is anticipated to grow at a notable CAGR during the forecast period.

How does AI help in the dental tourism market?

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) has been playing a critical role in the dental tourism business. AI is highly capable of analyzing huge datasets that can turn out customized dental tourism plans according to the patient/customer needs. This includes various preferences like dental needs, destinations, accommodations, transportation, and many more. The dental tourism market is growing rapidly due to the increasing adoption of AI tools which enable virtual consultation services before the treatments. Additionally, software systems like CAD and CAM play a vital role in improving imaging accuracy. The rising use of AI in the administrative department is expected to boost the workflow without the need for additional human labor.

Asia Pacific Dental Tourism Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2034

The Asia Pacific dental tourism market size is evaluated at USD 6.27 billion in 2024 and is projected to be worth around USD 46.52 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 22.17% from 2024 to 2034.

Asia Pacific dominated the global dental tourism market by contributing to the largest revenue share in 2023. The dominance of the region is attributed to the rising focus on healthcare infrastructure in countries like India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Additionally, these countries are providing visa-free entry for some of the developed countries, which is leading to the adoption of these services. Additionally, many factors, like improvements in the educational sector, are producing several skilled professionals that are gaining significant popularity from other nations. The increasing regulatory support from organizations in these regions is anticipated to create several business opportunities in the upcoming years. The rising global connectivity to these regions is also anticipated to boost the tourism sector.

Europe is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. The growth of the region is anticipated due to the rising influence of the French healthcare system as an alternative to the US healthcare system. The longer waiting period for treatment in countries like Canada is leading to the adoption of dental care services in these regions. The region also stands out for a popular tourism sector, which can drive significant growth in these regions. The growing demand for dental cosmetics is anticipated to drive the growth of the region in the upcoming years.

Market Overview

Dental tourism refers to medical practices where individuals travel to another country to seek dental care services. The dental tourism market deals with various tasks that focus on providing high-quality treatment to individuals at lower costs. It includes a range of treatments like cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, orthodontic treatments, and others. The business is expanding rapidly due to the increasing number of service and travel agencies that include these services in their packages. The growth has also been contributing to the demand in the hospitality sector, increasing opportunities for hotels and transportation services. These factors are driving attention towards the improvement of these facilities.

Dental Tourism Market Growth Factors

• The rising use of social media is playing an impactful role in spreading awareness regarding the benefits of dental tourism which contributes towards the market growth.
• Companies are providing dental tourism packages, which also include several additional benefits of vacation that attract more individuals, contributing towards the growth of the dental tourism market.
• The adoption of customized packages for various target populations is rising due to the increasing collaboration between the companies.
• The rising adoption of telemedicine is playing a critical role in providing pre and post-treatment services to patients that increase consumer engagement and help in market expansion.

Top 3 Dental Tourism Destinations for the Americans

According to Forbes, Mexico, Thailand, and Hungary are the three popular dental tourism destinations for Americans where they can cut their dental care costs.

Key Points

• Mexico – Towns like Los Algodones are popular destinations for dental services as they can help save up to 50-60% of costs compared to the United States. Additionally, the visitor visa allows US citizens to stay up to 180 days.
• Thailand - The country is a popular destination for dental tourism due to the affordable offerings in Bangkok. Treatments like porcelain fillings cost around $600 versus $1,150 in the U.S. The region is also one of the hotspots for tourism due to its multiple offerings and affordability.
• Hungary - The place is also known as the dental capital of Europe due to the presence of highly skilled professionals. The historic architecture in the country is one of the major attractions that U.S. citizens are keen to explore.

Market Scope

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Higher healthcare costs in developed regions

Higher healthcare costs, especially in dental care services, are major factors that have led to the adoption of dental tourism activities. Major reasons can relate to the higher currency rate in the region, which raises the overall costs in the healthcare sector. The limited coverage of insurance also plays a vital role in the adoption of these services. The dental tourism market is gaining popularity due to treatments at lower costs, which can provide vacations in these countries. Dental packages are becoming more affordable and can match the cost of dental services in developed countries.

Improvements in global connectivity

The global expansion of the airlines has played a major role in increasing demand for dental services due to several reasons. The dental tourism market has been able to register significant demand due to the increasing affordability of air travel, which attracts more individuals to adopt these services. The increasing partnerships between the governments have enabled direct flights to locations, which are minimalizing the traveling efforts for consumers, especially adults. Additionally, many countries are providing visa-free travel to boost their economy through the tourism sector, which provides many growth opportunities in the market. For instance, Americans can travel to some Asian countries like South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and others.

Restraint

Regulatory challenges

Dental care services are gaining significant popularity, but there are still some factors that can potentially hamper the market growth. Each country and government has its accreditation systems, which can restrict patients to healthcare in other countries. The dental tourism market is witnessing growth in certain regions, but the growth of the market is also dependent on other regions that still lack the ability to maintain regulatory standards. For example, the lack of hygiene in the protocols can impact the growth as they do not meet the consumer satisfaction levels.

Opportunities

Rising focus on quality care and accreditation

The rising focus on improvements in the dental care industry is leading to several technological advancements with the support of organizations like CGR, JCI, ISO, and others. The rising focus is attracting several investments to improve these services that can gain the trust of consumers. The dental tourism market is anticipated to grow more efficiently after developments in monitoring and diagnostic standards. Additionally, the rising dental tourism is leading to many partnerships that can improve the quality of care for the patients in the region. The adoption of technologies like AI-based diagnostics is expected to gain significant popularity in the upcoming years.

Reduction in waiting periods

Dental care services have witnessed rapid demand, especially in developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. The demand is leading to more waiting periods for non-urgent dental care services. This is leading to the rising popularity of the dental tourism market due to the increasing healthcare infrastructure in developing countries. The rising growth of dental tourism is leading to the need for more healthcare professionals, which is providing significant business opportunities and employment in these regions. Additionally, governments are taking initiatives to improve the tourism sector, which is anticipated to bring more business to these regions.

Service Insights

The dental implants segment marked its dominance by contributing the highest revenue share in 2023. These services include the surgical insertion of artificial titanium tooth roots into the jawbone as a replacement for the damaged teeth. The dental tourism market has witnessed significant demand due to the rising demand for dental implants, as they provide the perfect solution for tooth loss. Additionally, the rising geriatric population contributes to the growth of the segment due to the rising need for dental implants. Additionally, the increasing collaborations between insurance companies and dental clinics are playing a vital role in promoting dental implants in other countries.

The dental cosmetics segment is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. These services include enhancement of the teeth to make it look more aesthetic. The rise of social media has played a critical role in the growth of the dental tourism market. The rising disposable income in developed countries is also influencing people to adopt these services as they increase the expenditure on personal care. These services are becoming rapidly popular among the young population and are anticipated to grow more efficiently in the upcoming years. Dental tourism services are increasing their expenditure, and they can adopt these services to match the global demand in the coming years.

Provider Insights

The dental clinics segment marked its dominance by contributing to the largest revenue share in 2023. The dominance of the segment is attributed to the well-established infrastructure, which has advanced facilities for dental care services. The dental tourism market is growing efficiently due to the rising investments that aim to adopt the latest technologies in dental services. Additionally, dental clinics have dental experts who provide these services at a lower cost. These providers are focused on providing dental care-centric care, which has helped to mark dominance in the past decades. Additionally, medical students pursuing dental studies are most likely to set up clinics, which can boost market demand in the coming years.

The hospital segment is anticipated to grow at a notable CAGR during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. The dental tourism market is growing efficiently as hospitals are adopting specialized dental services. The presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure in these settings is playing a vital role in contributing to market growth. Hospitals usually encounter patients with various diseases who can undergo dental checkups. These factors are gaining the attention of the population situated in the developed countries.

Dental Tourism Market Companies

• Franco-Vietnamese Hospital
• Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.
• Fortis Healthcare
• Clove Dental
• Imperial Dental Specialist Center
• Liberty Dental Clinic
• ThantakIt International Dental Center
• ARC Dental Clinic
• Medlife Group
• Raffles Medical Group
• Oris Dental Centre
• Dubai Dental Hospital

Recent Announcements by Industry Leaders

• The significance of oral health on general health is becoming more widely recognized in the post-pandemic world, according to Sameer Merchant, CEO of Illusion Aligners & Illusion Oral Lab. Patients are swarming to India for dental care now that the travel restrictions have been lifted. With cutting-edge equipment and technology, our country provides dental care that is on par with worldwide standards at a fraction of the price, with minimal waiting time and paperwork like insurance. He continues by saying that some common procedures that dental tourists choose include bone grafting for implants, dental crowns, metal-free dental prostheses such as zirconia crowns and bridges, dentures, dental fillings, oral implants, oral restoration, and teeth whitening.

Recent Developments

• In August 2024, the Rajasthan government plans a policy, "Heal in Rajasthan," to promote medical tourism by leveraging its robust healthcare infrastructure, including 35 medical colleges and 16 dental colleges, aiming to boost both healthcare services and tourism.
• In November 2023, Global Dental Services, the parent company of Clove Dental, secured a $50 million strategic equity investment from Qatar Investment Authority to expand its dental clinic network and oral care products in India.

Segments covered in the report 

By Service

• Dental Implants
• Orthodontics
• Dental Cosmetics
• Others

By Providers

• Hospitals
• Dental Clinics
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa