Read Remo Reinhardt's journey in the Tages-Anzeiger: How he saved over 17,000 CHF on high-quality dental restoration at Diamant-Dent clinic in Hungary.
"I want my son to see me laugh - really laugh"
Dental Tourism: Remo Reinhardt (42) from Wauwil suffered from toothache for years. Now he is being treated in Hungary - in the hope of new teeth and a piece of quality of life.
Gabriele Hellwig
Whenever Remo Reinhardt ate something hard, he would flinch - a stinging pain shot into his gums. A carrot? Impossible. A piece of bread? Difficult. Meat? Unthinkable. "I couldn't eat many things anymore, only soft things," remembers the 42-year-old from Wauwil in the Canton of Lucerne.
Twelve teeth had been removed. The front teeth are still intact, and he also still has all his molars on the bottom right. "The rest is gone," he says matter-of-factly. The large gaps made chewing a torment - the gums lay unprotected, and every wrong bite hurt.
"You also don't like to laugh so much when you don't have nice teeth." The words sound quiet, almost incidental, yet they carry weight. "It gnawed at my self-confidence." Perhaps also because Reinhardt grew up in a children's home – a place where strength was often more important than smiling.
For three years, Remo Reinhardt, who today works as a warehouse clerk, saved up – a little bit every month. Now he is having his twelve missing teeth rebuilt in Hungary. "It costs 7,500 francs," he says, "including anesthesia and everything. In Switzerland, that would have been unthinkable for him. They wanted over 25,000 francs – it probably would have been even more in the end."
More and more are being treated abroad
Remo Reinhardt is not an isolated case. Dental tourism is a trend. Hungary in particular is considered a stronghold for affordable yet high-quality dentistry. Many travel there for crowns, bridges, or implants because the treatment costs are often only half as high as at home.
Exact data does not exist, but industry observers report a steadily growing number of Swiss people who seek treatment abroad.
Remo Reinhardt has been fighting for every single tooth since childhood. The trouble in his mouth began early in the children's home. "In the second or third grade, I already had ten cavities," he remembers. The problems didn't stop – they grew larger. "I kept having pain and visited various dentists in Switzerland," Reinhardt says.
Several root canals followed, which he remembers poorly. "It was very painful, and I developed a real fear of the dentist."
Financial worries added to the pain. As a trained cook, he never earned much. "I couldn't afford any major treatments." So appointments were postponed, procedures delayed – until eventually, he only had the bare essentials done. But the teeth continued to lose their grip. "Once, a tooth even broke off while I was biting into something," he says.
Three years ago, it became unbearable. In a clinic, Reinhardt had to have twelve teeth pulled at once under anesthesia. There wasn't much left to save. The pain was gone, but it was clear to him: it couldn't stay this way.
When he became a father for the first time 16 months ago, he didn't want to wait any longer. He wished for healthy, firm, and beautiful teeth – also for his son. "I want my child to see me laugh – really laugh," he says. Furthermore, he needs his strength for his family, not for toothaches. It was time to finally tackle the construction site in his mouth.
Remo Reinhardt saved for three years for the dental restoration in Hungary - in Switzerland, the treatment would have cost more than triple. Photo: Balz Murer
Weighing the advantages and risks
Reinhardt consulted several dentists in Switzerland and obtained various quotes. But it wasn't until he saw an advertisement for a Hungarian dental clinic on a bus that things started moving. He didn't want to rush anything and did exactly what the Foundation for Consumer Protection recommends: check carefully.
"Inform yourself, listen around in your circle of acquaintances, research the offers abroad on the internet," says Sarah Lengyel, Head of Health at the foundation. "Request a reference list and inquire with patients who have already been treated."
Obtaining offers in Switzerland and abroad, as well as factoring in potential follow-up treatments and complications, are also important. "Dental services are expensive in Switzerland," the foundation confirms.
Cheap offers in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and other, mostly Eastern European countries are therefore very tempting. Especially when ready-made arrangements including travel and stay are offered. "However, the advantages and disadvantages and, above all, the risks of a treatment carried out within a short period and potential later complications should not be ignored despite low rates," writes the Consumer Protection in its online guide.
Reinhardt informed and prepared himself well: "I also liked that you can stay overnight there for free," he recalls. He contacted the clinic and received advice. He also informed his Swiss dentist of the plans. She showed understanding for his decision to have the dental restoration done in Hungary for cost reasons – and still stands by his side today in an advisory capacity.
Everything is under one roof
In August of this year, Reinhardt set off – from Wauwil station to Vienna. "I was picked up from there for free," he says. The Hungarian clinic, Diamant-Dent, is located in Mosonmagyaróvár, near the Austrian border, about an hour's drive from Vienna.
Everything is under one roof: treatment rooms below, guest rooms above. Communication also worked without any problems – everyone spoke German. Reinhardt felt comfortable immediately. "Everything was explained to me exactly, different options were discussed. I had confidence immediately."
Actually, several implants were supposed to be placed right away. But the jaw had already deformed due to the long period of toothlessness. "Mr. Reinhardt's case is a very demanding one," says Daniella Görcsi, a dentist at Diamant-Dent.
Because the molars had been missing on both sides of the upper jaw for several years, the jawbone had gradually receded. Under such conditions, crowns cannot be placed in the upper jaw, Görcsi explains: "We first had to raise the bite to create space for new dentures again."
At the first appointment, the affected teeth in the lower right jaw were therefore treated – including root canal treatment and preparation for further reconstruction. An implant was also placed.
During the next visit in September, Reinhardt already received a crown. "One tooth is thus already finished," he says happily. With a provisional, removable prosthesis, he is now testing whether the jaw joints tolerate the new bite height well and if enough space remains for the final crowns later.
If everything goes according to plan, the clinic intends to start with the bone augmentation and implants in the side of the upper jaw in December. Görcsi explains the large price difference between Switzerland and Hungary with the different medical fees.
Otherwise, the quality is the same: "We use the same materials as German and Swiss dentists," she assures. "Dental materials are not produced in Hungary at all."
Demand a guarantee on the treatment
Nevertheless, it was important to Reinhardt to secure himself here as well. Keyword: guarantee. Sarah Lengyel from the Foundation for Consumer Protection also recommends this: "Demand a guarantee on the treatment," she says. For laboratory work (such as crowns or prostheses), this applies in EU countries for two years.
A guarantee is also promised at the Diamant-Dent clinic. "If there are problems after the return, we are reachable online at any time and will discuss the further procedure," assures dentist Görcsi.
"If everything goes well, I could get the new teeth in the spring or summer of 2026," says Reinhardt. You can hear that he has hope again.
This article originally appeared in the Tages-Anzeiger.
Author: Gabriele Hellwig Source: Tages-Anzeiger Website: https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/
