Dental Tourism: Understanding Foreign Patients’ Decisions to Undergo Aligner Treatment in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35790/eg.v14i1.62020Abstract
Abstract: Dental tourism is an expanding sector of medical tourism, where patients travel internationally for dental care that is either more affordable or offers higher quality than in their home countries. This study aimed to investigate the push and pull factors that influence foreign patients' decisions to seek dental treatments in Indonesia, particularly Bali, as a prime dental tourism destination. Dental tourism encompasses not only general dental care such as cleaning, fillings, and check-ups but also specialized treatments, including cosmetic dentistry (e.g., veneers, teeth whitening), dental implants, full-mouth rehabilitation, and orthodontic procedures, often involving advanced diagnostic tools and equipment such as digital imaging, CAD/CAM technology, and laser dentistry. Push factors include dissatisfaction with local dental services, high treatment costs, and long wait times in patients' home countries. In contrast, pull factors include Indonesia’s affordable pricing, advanced dental technologies, high-quality care, and the opportunity to combine dental treatment with a vacation experience. The study adopted a systematic literature review (SLR) approach, synthesizing findings from various sources to explore the potential of Indonesia as a leading destination for dental tourism. Interviews with foreign patients revealed high levels of satisfaction, with many appreciating the convenience of receiving both general and specialized dental care while also enjoying their holiday. In conclusion, dental tourism in Indonesia presents a significant opportunity for growth, particularly in destinations like Bali that combine quality dental care with rich cultural experiences. Moreover, the research emphasizes the importance of targeted marketing, regulatory improvements, and investments in advanced technologies to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness in the global dental tourism market. By addressing these factors, Indonesia can position itself as an attractive and sustainable destination for international dental patients.
Keywords: dental tourism; push and pull factors; foreign patients; health tourism
References
Felkai PP, Nakdimon I, Felkai T, Levin L, Zadik Y. Dental tourism and the risk of barotrauma and barodontalgia. Br Dent J. 2023;234:115–7. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:256277425
Leung SY, Ku HB. Cross-border healthcare-seeking and utilization behaviours among ethnic minorities: exploring the nexus of the perceived better option and public health concerns. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1497. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:270255920
Felgner S, Handrock J-F, Schroll CC, Schütte F, Henschke C. Decision-making regarding dental treatments – What factors matter from patients’ perspective and does Covid-19 influence patients’ behavior? A systematic review. 2023. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3372636/v1
Zelenika JL, Banjak L, Vodanovic M. The effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on dental tourism in Croatia. Tourism. 2023;71(2):411-7. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:258598251
Mumtaz N, Saqulain G. Reviving medical tourism in Pakistan - A narrative review. Pakistan J Med Sci. 2024;40:2720–5. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:274200402
Shahid M, Tadakamadla SK, Kroon J, Peres MA. Do dental anxiety and satisfaction with dental professionals modify the association between affordability and dental service use? A population-based longitudinal study of Australian adults. J Public Health Dent. 2024;84:136-46 Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:268536175
Abideen MZU, Bushara NAA, Baig MN, Siddiqui YD, Ejaz I, Tareen J, et al. Shining a spotlight on stigma: exploring its impact on oral health-seeking behaviours through the lenses of patients and caregivers. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e63025. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:270724527
Cajiao X. Colombia and medical tourism. Voices Bioeth. 2023;9 Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/ CorpusID:266082023
Giannake G, Economou A, Metaxas T, Geitona M. Medical tourism in the region of Thessaly, Greece: opinions and perspectives from healthcare providers. Sustainability. 2023;15(10):7864. Available from: https: //api.semanticscholar.org/ CorpusID:258654906
John HA, Reche A, Paul P. Overcoming barriers to dental care in India by the use of mobile dental vans. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e47786. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:264565830
O'Brien KJ, Forde VM, Mulrooney MA, Purcell EC, Flaherty GT. Global status of oral health provision: identifying the root of the problem. Public Heal Challenges. 2022;1(1):1-5. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar. org/CorpusID:247834351
Limo L, Nicholson K, Stranges S, Gomaa NA. Suboptimal oral health, multimorbidity, and access to dental care. JDR Clin Transl Res. 2023;9:13S--22S. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:266363078
Batakis D, Sidiropoulos S, Emmanouil-Kalos A, Fouskas T, Zopounidis C, Vozikis A. Medical Tourism in the region of Crete, Greece: Perspectives from healthcare providers, hotel managers, and medical tourists. Sustainability. 2023;15(24):16822. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:266294254
Ness AT, Sihuay-Torres K, Singhal S. A perspective: challenges and opportunities of a novel national dental benefit. Front Oral Heal. 2023;4:1207581. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:258718724
Kim J-E, Kim S, Kim D. Comparison of oral health status, oral hygiene management behaviours and satisfaction of patients with fixed orthodontic appliance and clear aligner: a quasi‐experimental design. Int J Dent Hyg. 2024;22(4):939–48. Doi: 10.1111/idh.12813
Yu X, Li G, Gao J, Wang Q, Huang L, Pan X, Ding J. Invisible' orthodontics by polymeric 'clear' aligners molded on 3D-printed personalized dental models. Regen Biomater. 2022;9(1):rbac007. Doi: 10.1093/rb/rbac007
Ismail S, Ismail MI, Mohd Hidzir PA, Ismail S. WAQF and tourism industry sustainability: post-pandemic COVID-19. Inf Manag Bus Rev. 2023;15(3(1):429-40. Doi: 10.22610/imbr.v15i3(I).3553
Dwi Rahayu KM, Eka Mahadewi NM, Susianti W. Push and pull factors of foreign tourists in choosing Tirta Empul Spiritual Tourism Attraction, Gianyar Regency, Bali. J Kepariwisataan. 2024; 23(2):14-26. Doi: 10.52352/jpar.v23i2.1543
Syaiful H, Hendratono T, Ihalauw JJOI. The influence of push and pull factor motivation on foreign tourists revisit intention in religious tourism. ICGTSAVE. 2024;1(2):38-51. Doi: https://doi.org/10.62951/icgtsave.v1i2.27
Samaddar K, Mondal S. AR and VR-based travel: a responsible practice towards sustainable tourism. Int J Tour Cities. 2023;10(1):105-28. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-05-2022-0135
Brescia V, Cavarra F, Campra M, Boffano P, Rocchetti V. Bibliometric analysis and trends related to dental tourism: qualitative, social, economic and ethical implications. Heal Serv Manag Res. 2025:9514848251314111. Doi: 10.1177/09514848251314111
Mucaj O. Exploring medical and dental tourism: opportunities, challenges, and global impact on healthcare. Int J Adv Multidiscip Res Stud. 2024;4(6):873–5. Doi: https://doi.org/10.62225/2583049X.2024.4.6.3525
Mansueto RR, Sarmiento CA, Pelegrin MAL. Exploring push and pull factors in tourism: understanding foreign visitors’ motivations in Siquijor island. J Tour Hosp Stud. 2024;2(2):1–18. Doi: 10.32996/jths.2024.2.2.1
Sukma A. Medical tourism in central Java: Influences of image and promotion. Tour Hosp Res. 2024; Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584241311283
Dwiastuti SAP, Ratih IADK. Dental tourism as a health tourism business opportunity in Bali. Int J Allied Med Sci Clin Res. 2024;12(3):405–10. Available from: https://ijamscr.com/ijamscr/article/view/1492
Chang Y, Ayob N. Medical tourism travel motivations: the push and pull driving forces. Int J Acad Res Bus Soc Sci. 2024;14(11). Doi:10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i11/23404
Banerjee I, Robinson J, Dev K, Singh AP. Medical tourism: Medical dream or nightmare? J Adv Intern Med. 2024;13(1):36–8. Doi: 10.3126/jaim.v13i1.68496
Wang T-L, Azizurrohman M, Angga Pramuja R. Attracting tourists to Indonesia: how SEZs and visa-free policies influence international arrivals. J Policy Res Tour Leis Events. 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/ 19407963.2024.2432634
Bentley L. Medical Tourism Management. RADINKA J Heal Sci. 2024;2(1):162–8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.56778/rjhs.v2i1.250
Singh B, Kaunert C, Riswandi BA, Arora MK, Lal SS. Chapter 9 Medical Tourism and Health Gateways in International Health Market Places: Stimulating Sustainability and Technological Advancements. Available from: https://www.irma-international.org/viewtitle/354871/?isxn=9798369359761
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ni Luh Gede A. A. Prastiwi, Eddy S. Gorda, I Nengah Wirsa, Ni Nyoman S. Wisudawati
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
COPYRIGHT
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors hold their copyright and grant this journal the privilege of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that permits others to impart the work with an acknowledgment of the work's origin and initial publication by this journal.
Authors can enter into separate or additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (for example, post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its underlying publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (for example, in institutional repositories or on their website) as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of the published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
