It is a form of medical tourism in which individuals travel to another destination to receive dental and oral healthcare while simultaneously enjoying tourism activities. The emergence and growth of dental tourism have been driven by rising healthcare costs in developed countries, limited insurance coverage, substantial differences in treatment costs between countries, increasing population mobility, and the expansion of international travel. Compared with many other forms of medical tourism, dental treatment generally involves outpatient procedures, shorter recovery periods, and greater opportunities for patients to participate in recreational activities during their stay. Consequently, dental tourism encompasses travel requiring at least one overnight stay for the purpose of receiving dental treatment while combining healthcare with tourism experiences. From a sectoral perspective, dental tourism refers to the network of public and private organisations that promote high-quality dental services together with travel opportunities to attract international patients.

Although the modern, organised framework of dental tourism emerged during the last quarter of the twentieth century, its origins can be traced to earlier forms of cross-border healthcare. During the 1990s, dental treatment abroad was largely limited to neighbouring countries, giving dental tourism a more regional character than other forms of medical tourism. Before the late 1990s, the principal centres for advanced dental care were located in the United States, Western Europe, and Singapore. However, rising treatment and insurance costs in the United States, together with long waiting lists in several Western European public healthcare systems, particularly in the United Kingdom, encouraged patients to seek more affordable alternatives abroad. As a result, by the early 2000s, Thailand and India had emerged as major global destinations for dental tourism. Subsequently, lower airfares, the widespread use of the internet, and technological advances in digital dentistry accelerated the transformation of dental tourism from a regional phenomenon into a global industry.

The literature generally classifies dental tourists into two principal groups according to their travel motivations. The first consists of conventional dental tourists whose primary purpose is to receive dental treatment abroad, either as the sole purpose of travel or as part of a holiday. The second comprises migrants and expatriates who receive dental treatment while visiting relatives or returning to their home countries. The most common treatments sought by dental tourists include routine procedures such as professional cleaning, tooth whitening, and simple restorations, while more specialised services include implant surgery, prosthetic rehabilitation, aesthetic dentistry, crowns, bridges, and veneers that require advanced clinical expertise and laboratory support.

The attractiveness of a destination for dental tourism depends on several factors, including treatment costs, quality of care, accessibility, transportation, digital communication, waiting times, insurance arrangements, opportunities to combine treatment with leisure activities, and the availability of specialised intermediary organisations. Competition within the global dental tourism market is primarily based on quality, affordability, and geographical proximity. Within Europe, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, and Italy have become important destinations because they offer high-quality dental care at costs lower than those in Western Europe. Hungary, in particular, has established itself as a major hub for patients from Germany and Austria owing to its well-developed academic and clinical dentistry infrastructure. In North America, Los Algodones ("Molar City") in Mexico has become internationally recognised for serving large numbers of patients from the United States and Canada, particularly for implant treatment. Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil have developed strong reputations in cosmetic dentistry, while Thailand and Malaysia combine modern dental facilities with tourism-oriented holiday packages for visitors from Australia and New Zealand. South Korea, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates are recognised for their advanced technological capabilities in dental care.

Within this highly competitive international market, Türkiye has emerged as one of the leading destinations for dental tourism. Antalya has become a preferred destination for European visitors seeking to combine high-quality dental treatment with holiday experiences through its internationally accredited clinics and hospitals. İstanbul has established itself as a major centre for complex oral surgery, full-mouth implant rehabilitation, and digital smile design, supported by its advanced healthcare infrastructure. İzmir and Muğla have likewise developed as important destinations by combining specialised dental services with the natural and cultural attractions of the Aegean region. In Türkiye, service quality and patient safety are supported through the Ministry of Health's Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate system and the licensing of authorised intermediary institutions.