Dental treatment in Romania: what UK patients should know before seeing a dentist in Bucharest

Does the NHS pay for private dental treatment abroad?

In short, no. If you live in the UK and pay a private clinic in Romania, the NHS does not reimburse the cost. Before Brexit, the EU Directive route (Directive 2011/24/EU) let patients claim back part of the cost of planned treatment in another EEA country, including private care. That route has ended for UK residents: new treatment is no longer reimbursed through it.

The route that remains, the S2 Planned Treatment Scheme, needs prior approval, applies only to treatment the NHS would routinely provide, and covers state healthcare providers only. It does not cover private treatment.

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is for state healthcare that becomes medically necessary during your stay and cannot wait until you are home. It does not cover planned treatment or care in a private clinic, and it is not a substitute for travel insurance. Most travel policies exclude planned treatment abroad, so tell your insurer what you intend to do and check whether you need specialist cover.

Choosing a dentist in Romania: questions to ask any clinic abroad

The General Dental Council advises speaking to your own dentist first: they know your dental history and will need to know your plans in case of later complications. Then ask any clinic you are considering, in Romania or elsewhere, direct questions, and expect clear answers in writing. The NHS lists a hard sell, missing information and pressure to decide quickly as warning signs.

• Who will carry out each stage of the treatment, and what are their qualifications?
• Is the dentist registered with the national regulator? In Romania this is the Colegiul Medicilor Stomatologi din România (CMSR) — ask for the registration details and check them.
• Is the plan written, itemised and based on an examination and a CT scan, not on photographs alone?
• What does the price include — provisional teeth, the definitive restoration, check-ups — and what would cost extra?
• What warranty applies, what conditions come with it, such as regular check-ups, and how does it work if you live in another country?
• If something goes wrong, who pays for the extra travel and the remedial work, and how do you make a complaint?
• Who can you contact once you are back home?

Start with a remote second opinion and your records

You do not need to travel to find out whether treatment abroad makes sense for you. If you already have a plan from a UK dentist or a quote from another clinic, you can send it to us through our second opinion page. A doctor from our team reads the documents and we call you within two working days to explain your clinical situation and the options that exist. Some things cannot be judged from images — how mobile a tooth is, the condition of the gums, the bite — and if a consultation is needed, we tell you why. Often the conclusion is that the plan you already have is appropriate.

The same documents are the ones to bring to a first visit:

• Your treatment plan or cost estimate, if you have one
• A recent panoramic X-ray (OPG) and any CT or CBCT scan, as files or on a disc
• Photographs of your teeth
• Your medical history, the medicines you take and any allergies
• Notes from your UK dentist about previous treatment

How many trips do dental implants in Romania usually need?

It depends on your bone, and we do not commit to a timeframe before we have seen a CBCT scan. Every implant case is planned on CBCT, and the scan can change the plan — for example when bone grafting or a sinus lift is needed first. Treat the timelines below as typical, not as promises.

• First visit: consultation, X-rays and CBCT, then a written treatment plan.
• Single implants: the definitive crown is fitted after the implant has integrated with the bone, usually within 3 to 6 months, so plan for two trips.
• All-on-4 and All-on-6: when the implants are stable enough at placement, many patients receive a provisional fixed restoration within a few days of the procedure (All-on-4 and Fast & Fixed protocols). The definitive restoration follows after osseointegration, usually within 3 to 6 months — at least two stays.
• Sinus lift: when the implant cannot be placed in the same session, healing usually takes 4 to 9 months before the implant is loaded, which can add a trip.
• EMAX veneers: assessment and a mock-up come first; after preparation, provisional veneers are fitted, and one or two weeks usually pass between stages, depending on the laboratory. Plan one longer stay or two shorter trips.
• Decay or gum disease found at the first visit is treated first, and that can change the schedule.

All-on-4 dental implants: what makes up the full cost

All-on-4 replaces a whole arch with a fixed restoration on four implants: two straight at the front and two tilted at the back, to avoid areas with no bone. All-on-6 uses six implants for a better distribution of forces. The number comes from the CBCT measurements, not from a choice made in advance. A fixed restoration is screwed onto the implants and removed only by a dentist; an overdenture that clips onto implants is a different, removable solution.

When you look at full mouth dental implants cost, compare what each quote contains. In the All-on packages listed on this page, the price covers the implants, the multi-unit abutments and a provisional bridge; the definitive restoration is a separate item, priced by its material — composite, zirconia or layered ceramic on a titanium or cobalt-chrome framework. Bone grafting, a sinus lift, extractions, flights and accommodation are also separate. Two quotes can only be compared for the same final result.

What can go wrong with dental implants abroad and other treatment

Treatment abroad puts distance between you and the team that treated you. The British Dental Association has raised concerns about complications after dental tourism and about continuity of care, and the points below are worth weighing before you book.

• Problems that appear after you are home — pain, infection, a loose or broken restoration — are first seen by a dentist in the UK, not by the clinic that did the work.
• An implant may fail to integrate, and grafting and sinus lifts carry their own risks, such as perforation of the sinus membrane or post-operative sinusitis.
• Crowns and veneers placed on teeth with untreated gum disease, decay or night-time grinding tend to fail; these should be treated first, even if that means an extra visit.
• Some work cannot be undone: tooth reduction for veneers or crowns is permanent, so it should never be rushed to fit a flight.
• Complaints and claims go through the system of the country where you were treated. The NHS is not liable for negligence or failure of treatment abroad.

Aftercare when you are back in the UK

Before you leave, ask for your records in writing: the X-rays and scans, the treatment notes, and the system, model and size of each implant and its components. A dentist at home needs these details to maintain or repair the work, because implant parts are specific to each system.

Stay registered with a dentist in the UK and tell them about your treatment. If you have a complication, an NHS dentist will assess and stabilise it, but NHS England's policy is that self-funded work the NHS would not routinely provide, such as implants, will not usually be replaced or completed. Maintenance of implants usually means a private dentist at home or return visits to the clinic that placed them.

We recommend a hygiene appointment every 3 to 4 months for patients with implants, and a fixed All-on restoration is removed for cleaning during check-ups. Decide who will do this before you commit.

Language, paying in lei and practical details

Our team speaks English, French and Romanian. Smile by Ada is at Str. Justinian nr. 1, Sector 2, Bucharest, and is open Monday to Friday, 09:00–20:00; the clinic is closed at weekends, so plan your travel days around that.

Prices are set and paid in Romanian lei (RON); the euro amounts on our pages are approximations. We accept card, cash and bank transfer. If you pay by card, your card issuer converts the amount into pounds at its own rate and may add a foreign transaction fee, so check with your bank before you travel.

The NHS advises staying long enough to recover before flying home and budgeting for exchange-rate movements, a longer stay and possible return trips. It does not reimburse travel or accommodation.

All-on-4 dental implants prices and other treatments

Current prices from the clinic's catalogue, shown in lei with an approximate euro equivalent. They are indicative: your written plan, based on an examination and a CBCT scan, sets out exactly which items apply to you. The All-on packages shown include a provisional bridge; the definitive restoration is listed separately.

Fees are charged in Romanian lei (RON). Euro amounts are approximate, at today's National Bank of Romania rate.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• NHS — Going abroad for medical treatment
• NHS — The Planned Treatment (S2 funding) route
• NHS — The EU Directive route
• NHS — Treatment abroad checklist
• NHS — The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
• GOV.UK — Romania travel advice: health
• NHS England — Clinical policy for self-funded dental treatment requiring NHS intervention
• General Dental Council — Going abroad for dental treatment
• British Dental Association — Dental tourism: patients need to know the risks
• Directive 2011/24/EU on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare (EUR-Lex)
• Colegiul Medicilor Stomatologi din România (CMSR) — the dental regulator in Romania

Rules checked on 28 September 2026. They can change — confirm your cover with your insurer and the NHS before you travel.