If a holiday can fix a beautiful and healthy smile on one’s face and that too at rates unheard of abroad, who wouldn’t want to holiday in Kerala - the most sought - after medical tourism destination.

Dental treatment has become one of the reasons why hordes of foreigners are arriving here. Since a dental care plan can easily fit into travel itinerary, more and more patients opt for Kerala to fix their dentures, whiten their teeth, remove bad breath or beautify their smile.

The trend began a couple of years back. Dr. Rajkrishnan’s clinic was one of the first to receive patients from abroad. Dentists now make sure that their centers have state-of-the-art equipment, qualified personnel and international standards to woo patients from other countries. Add to this the charm of hills, backwaters, beaches, Kathakali and cuisine. This is why Kerala emerges as the favorite dental tourist destination which guarantees a complete smile makeover.

The less expensive tag is the USP for Kerala’s dental tourism package as patients can avail quality treatment at rates 10 times lower than that of western countries. Since dental care is not reimbursed by the National Health Scheme of some countries, the expensive treatment becomes unreachable by many. With low rates and the travel package as bonus, Kerala has easily become the centre for people with aching, teeth and imperfect smiles.

“We have many patients from European countries, Singapore and Malaysia. That is why we decided to expand our services and tie up with quality tour operators to offer both general and specialized treatment,” says Dr. Thomas Kuriakose who is all set to open Dr. Toms Cochin International Dental Centre at Marine Drive on Wednesday. This clinic is marketed as a dental tourist destination offering world class treatment at affordable prices. “Tour operators should feel confident about joining hands with us. For that, we need to ensure the quality of care and service” says Dr. Thomas.

Since hygiene and quality care top the priority list of foreign patients, doctors make sure that their centers follow international standards-from floorings to equipment.

The standards stipulated by the World Health Association are followed in these clinks.

Many centers have applied for accreditation from the National Accreditation Council.