Dental patients looking to escape the problems with NHS dentistry and have treatment carried out abroad will benefit from New European Union legislation, a health expert has claimed.
Speaking to the Times newspaper, EU health commissioner Androula Vassiliou said that British consumers may soon be able to visit another European country for dental treatment and then claim the cost of the treatment from the NHS .
Although prices quoted for treatment abroad are frequently cheaper than private treatment in Britain, the latest move is set to make dental tourism an even more inexpensive option.
However, cosmetic dentistry procedures such as tooth whitening will not be covered under the new legislation.
"Patients will be able to receive treatment in any member state, which will be reimbursed at home up to the level of the same or similar treatment in their health system," explained Ms Vassiliou.
A recent report by the NHS Information Centre worryingly revealed that access to NHS dentistry throughout the country remains poor, with the number of people being treated by NHS dentists dropping by 1.1 million between 2006/07 and 2007/08.
