TY  - JOUR
TI  - Travelling for teeth: characteristics and perspectives of dental care tourism in Hungary
AB  - Background and aim Despite quite lively debates about dental care tourism, scientifi c studies into the size and the characteristics
of the phenomenon remain widely lacking. The present study is the fi rst to measure the phenomenon in one of
the most prominent destination countries, Hungary, with a particular focus on the Western Hungarian region and the capital
Budapest. Method A questionnaire has been sent to dentists in these regions. The response rate is 25.3% in Western
Hungary and 20.7% in Budapest. Results According to the survey, patients from neighbouring countries dominate dental
care tourism in the border regions of Western Hungary, while Budapest attracts more patients from countries further away.
In terms of motivation, dentists regard relative price levels but also service considerations as being of major importance for
patients coming to Hungary for dental care. Conclusion The study confi rms Hungary as a centre for dental care tourism,
attracting patients from bordering countries but also patients travelling longer distances. Price levels have been a major
factor making Hungary an international treatment destination. With price differences narrowing down, broader service
quality is increasingly emphasised as a selling strategy.
SP  - 425
EP  - 428
PY  - 2009-04-01
JO  - British Dental Journal
AU  - Österle, August 
AU  - Balázs, Péter 
AU  - Delgado Jiménez, José 
ER -