The vulnerability of UK dentistry to dental tourists and dental tourism: A growing trend in dental health tourism reflects growing pressures on dental services and risks to the NHS.

This article explores the impact of dental tourism on UK dentistry and the National Health Service (NHS). It acknowledges concerns about foreign nationals accessing free NHS care and British residents seeking medical treatment abroad. The article highlights the lack of data on the scale and cost of health tourism to the NHS and emphasizes the potential risks to patients and the healthcare system due to lower standards of care overseas. It also discusses the challenges faced by regulators in monitoring and enforcing standards for dental providers operating outside the UK. The article calls for better legislation, enforcement, and research to address the vulnerability of UK dentistry to dental tourists. [Extracted from the article]