More and more Norwegians are rebelling against jaw-droppingly high dental fees in their home country, and hopping on a plane to Budapest or other cities in countries like Poland or even Sweden where the quality of dental care is high and prices relatively low. Some dentists in the Hungarian capital now cater almost exclusively to Norwegian patients.
Around 60,000 Norwegians travel abroad for dental work every year, reports newspaper Aftenposten. It’s been a marked trend amongst more elderly customers for a while, who can often need extensive dental work but can’t afford it at home.
But now increasing numbers of younger customers, who often need just minor work, are also taking the “tooth journeys.” The dental trips can easily be combined with a bit of sightseeing and shopping, becoming mini holidays.
The secretary general of the Norwegian Dentist Association (Den Norske Tannlegeforening or DNF) told Aftenposten that they would of course prefer it if these patients visited Norwegian dentists instead. High costs make it unlikely Norwegian dentists will be lowering their fees, although some entrepreneurial dentists are setting up cooperatives in lower-rent neighbourhoods that cater to immigrants.
newsinenglish.no staff
