The Sun

Cheaper for Brits to fix teeth in Hungary

DESPERATE Brits are flying to HUNGARY to get their teeth fixed - and still saving on what it would cost for private treatment here.

Many who jump on a plane to Budapest - with tickets as low as £17 one way - find dental care is thousands cheaper.

They rent a hotel for £30 a night, enjoy a holiday and STILL benefit.

The shortage of dentists was revealed in our story yesterday of how 300 people queued around the block at Scarborough , North Yorks , to register with a new NHS practice.

Bridgework taken privately in Britain can cost £7,000 - but dentist Attila Knott charges just £1,110 in Hungary .

He has linked up with an agent in the UK who sends British patients to him for treatment.

Mr Knott says more than 70 per cent of his patients are foreign - including around 300 Brits a year.

He says that even for more minor work, such as crowns, it is cheaper for Britons to go to Budapest .

Root implants are £580 in Hungary compared with about £2,000 here.

Mr Knott says: "The British started coming to me sporadically about three years ago and I realised there was a demand.

"Then I established a dental agent, Dr Ian Domville, in Cardiff . Now I have five to six British patients a week, plus many others from other countries." Mr Knott says that even though his prices are cheaper, he still uses the best materials.

"The work is not of lower quality but it’s cheaper as I’m making less profit than a good British dentist.

"I charge £180 for a crown and the quality is the same as an English private crown costing £500 to £600.

"Many British people cannot afford these high prices but are reluctant to go to an NHS dentist as they are worried about the quality of work."

British trippers stay at the four-star Hotel Amadeus in Budapest , paying 40 euro (£27) a room per night.

If a treatment goes wrong the clinic pays for a patient to go back to Hungary .

Mr Knott says: "Patients from Britain are coming over for big restoration work. We make less profit than British dentists."

His website has examples of satisfied British patients pictured after their dental work. An entry from John Merrick, who had crown and bridgework, says: "I was very impressed with the professionalism and courtesy of staff. I would not hesitate to recommend your services."

Andrew Jeffrey, a decorator, is having ongoing repairs after having 17 teeth out. His local dentist estimated up to £15,000 for the bridgework or £30,000 for implants, compared with £6,000 to £7,000 in Hungary .

Mr Jeffrey says: "One good thing is you are with other toothless people there. We all went round the city with no teeth and had a good time."

A London solicitor travelled to Budapest with his wife, had dental work and still saved between £10,000 and £20,000 compared to the cost of treatment in the UK .

In 1948, when the NHS was set up, dental services were free.

In 1988 the current fee per item of treatment was introduced. Check-ups had remained free - but this was abolished a year later.

Above our chart shows how dental costs vary across the country.

Health minister Rosie Winterton admitted yesterday: "Even though we are training more dentists, there is still a shortage in the NHS.