Investigation of factors influencing patients’ preferences for traveling to Türkiye for dental tourism: The case of a private hospital

Aim: This study aimed to investigate why dental tourists choose Türkiye for their dental clinic visits; specifically looking at a private hospital in Istanbul. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a face-to-face survey method conducted through an interpreter with foreign patients who applied to the dental clinic of a private hospital in Istanbul (n = 52) between March 24; 2023; and February 29; 2024. The questionnaire comprised 29 inquiries aimed at collecting the participants’ demographic characteristics; elucidating their motivations for selecting Türkiye as a destination for dental care; and describing their experiences throughout the treatment process. The inquiries were presented in single-choice and multiple-choice formats. Results: Approximately 94% of dental tourists chose Türkiye for its price advantage; 86% for shorter treatment times; 82% for trust in the dentist; 78% for easy appointment scheduling; 60% for advanced technology; and 52% for low travel costs. African patients cited high costs; poor technology; appointment challenges; inadequate education; and hygiene issues as reasons for not seeking treatment in their home countries. Furthermore; European visitors cited high prices and difficulty obtaining appointments as their primary concerns; while all Middle Eastern respondents reported that obtaining an appointment was difficult. Although 77.4% of dental tourists accessed this hospital through an agency; 53.8% communicated with previous visitors to Türkiye; and 84.6% conducted research via social media. Conclusions: Within its limitations; the study concluded that affordable treatment costs; confidence in the experience of dental professionals; short treatment durations; and overall accessibility were the primary factors influencing patients’ decision to choose Türkiye for dental tourism. The reasons African patients did not seek dental care in their home country included inadequate training of dentists; unavailability of specific treatments; and poor hygiene. Travel agencies; word of mouth; and social media influenced dental tourists’ decision-making processes.