Tourists who come to Costa Rica seeking affordable dental procedures are getting younger and more attuned to the idea of going abroad for treatment, and this is a trend that can be expected to expand this decade.

As the North American members of the Millennial Generation join the workforce and the enterprise world, the dental industry is rushing to understand these young adults for the purpose of providing them with adequate treatment. In a 2013 research study authored by Joel Diringer, JD, MPH, Kathy Phipps, MPH, DrPH and Becca Carsel, MA for the American Dental Association, the following generational traits were explained:

Gen X’ers (born 1965-1980) and the Millennials (born 1981-2000) will have reduced dental disease and less need for restorative dental care. They are also more technologically savvy and are more likely to seek lower costs for care. They will have high rates of dental coverage than the older population, primarily due to employer-supplied insurance.

In the statement above, there are three salient points that dental practices such as the Flikier Institute of Oral Rehabilitation in Costa Rica are paying close attention to. The Flikier Institute is one of various dental clinics in Costa Rica that cater to dental tourists, particularly from North America.

With regard to technology and affordability, the Flikier Institute is already well-positioned to attract Millennials; the next logical step would be to make the clinic attractive to North American employers that offer dental insurance to their workers.

The rise of dental tourism in the 21st century has not gone unnoticed by insurance providers. A 2014 article by Renee-Marie Stephano, J.D., posted by HealthLawGurus.com, explained how a 59-year-old construction manager from Northern California was sent to France by his employer and insurer for rotator cuff surgery, which cost $12K less than it would have in the United States.

For dental clinics that cater to dental tourists in Costa Rica, their next logical business move would be to establish partnerships with North American employers and insurers, which are already seeing the benefits of sending insured employees abroad for procedures. If anything, Millennials are more attuned to travel and new experiences; they don’t have as many reservations as their elders about having procedures performed outside of their countries.