Why do some Austrians go to Hungary for their braces?

We keep hearing about people who prefer to travel to Hungary for their dental treatment, and we'd like to shed some transparent light on this topic on this page, because we're sure that many people don't know exactly what it involves.

The cost of braces

Dental treatment is undeniably cheaper in Hungary, right?

Wrong. People keep talking about prices that are 20%, 40% or even 60% lower, but of course you have to compare like with like. Since Hungary joined the EU in 2004, prices have risen sharply, and the low prices have only survived in people's memories.

Which type of phone user are you?

Two hands holding old keypad mobile phones against colourful backgrounds

Two modern smartphones with a stylus on a light blue background

Which type of braces wearer are you?

Close-up of fixed braces with blue brackets

Clear aligner held between two fingers against a blue background

We asked several providers in Hungary and, indeed:

Treatment with visible metal brackets does generally seem to be cheaper in Hungary than in Austria.
Treatment with invisible Invisalign aligners, however, was more expensive.

Of course, only you can decide how much your appearance, your health and your teeth are worth to you compared with, say, your smartphone.

Travel time

Depending on traffic, the drive to Budapest takes about two and a half hours, so 5 hours there and back for 500 kilometres.

Travel time per appointment	5 hours
Distance per appointment	500 kilometres
Travel costs per appointment	€52.50

Braces treatment requires a consultation, several check-up appointments and an appointment to remove the braces. If you drive an economical car with an average motorway consumption of 7 litres and petrol at €1.50, your trip will involve the following:

ø Number of appointments	6
Total travel time	30 hours
Total distance	3,000 kilometres
Total travel costs	€315

Map section showing the driving route from Vienna to Budapest

On top of the lost days of annual leave that most people accept for their treatment in Hungary, the travel costs add up. If you drive a bigger car and petrol prices are higher, the costs can even more than double.

If a refinement of your braces treatment is needed, the average number of appointments rises to 10, and two weeks of holiday are gone.

You'll find the SayCheeese practice – invisible braces from Vienna – on Herrengasse in the heart of Vienna, easy to reach by car and by public transport. We estimate that 80% of Viennese people need less than 20 minutes to get to us, and for many, the trip can easily be combined with other appointments in the city centre.

Communication

Doctor in a white coat shrugging, at a loss

How well do you speak Hungarian?

Probably not at all, because Hungarian is taught in very few schools, and, unlike most European languages, it isn't part of the Indo-European language family, so in particular it isn't related to German. You can't guess the meaning the way German speakers can with English words such as "book" or "doctor", which they easily recognise as "Buch" and "Doktor". In Hungarian, these examples are "könyv" and "orvos".

Some dentists in Hungary do speak German because of "dental tourism", but how good their German is – especially if something doesn't go to plan – is questionable. Asking for the bill in a foreign language is quickly learnt, but for a proper conversation, for example about medical or aesthetic problems or what you have in mind, it simply isn't enough.

Quality & hygiene

In Austria, all dentists are subject to strict controls by the Austrian Dental Chamber. These controls ensure a uniform minimum standard throughout Austria that all patients can rely on.

Dentists who fail these controls face fines in the five- to six-figure range, up to and including a ban from practising.

In the event of treatment errors or other problems between patient and dentist, there is a free arbitration board at the Vienna Dental Chamber.

There are no comparable bodies in Hungary, so as a patient you have to carry out the quality checks yourself or simply trust blindly.

SayCheeese lettering with a tick seal above two women from the team

Liability

Nervous woman biting her nails against a pink background

What happens if the treatment in Hungary goes wrong and the patient is writhing in pain?

Austria's consumer protection body quotes in an article: “Austrian dentists,” explained Dr. Günther Knogler, press spokesman for Austria's dentists, “are obliged to relieve the pain – regardless of whether the patient was previously treated in Hungary or in Austria.” But not all of them stick to this: some limit their help (“only if there is a risk to life”) and send these patients in pain back to their dentist in Hungary.

In Austria, dentists are of course liable for their patients, and if something goes wrong, help is guaranteed not only by professional ethics but also by law.

In disputes or complaints where the place of jurisdiction is Hungary, you can expect astronomical costs that very few people can afford to risk.

Don't roam, buy close to home

If, in future, we order everything from Amazon, China or Hungary, we can't complain when our town centres die out, unemployment and taxes rise and pensions fall.

When it comes to modern treatment with invisible aligners, Western countries are years ahead of Eastern countries technologically. So while there's certainly some truth in the fairy tale of cheap braces from Hungary as far as metal brackets are concerned, if you want safe, modern treatment and factor in all the additional costs, you're not only playing "Pannonian roulette" with your health, but also paying a lot of extra time and money on top.

At SayCheeese, the invisible aligners from Vienna, you can rely on the following when it comes to costs:

Invisible aligners from the market leader
Total price from €1,580 to €2,980, depending on complexity
Fee-free instalment plan with 0% interest
Flexible terms of 12 to 36 months
Initial consultation and all check-up appointments included
Support from a personally responsible dentist
No additional costs, and refinement included for a perfect result

At SayCheeese, we combine medical expertise, personal care & constant availability with fair flat-rate treatment fees and a straightforward interest-free instalment plan. We guide you honestly and thoughtfully to the smile you've always wanted, and we keep our promises.