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 -