Mainland China has long been the place to find great bargains for Hong Kongers, and just across the border in Shenzhen offers affordable weekend dining, shopping and fun. Interestingly, more and more Hong Kongers are heading north for an unlikely destination: the dentist's chair.
While unthinkable just a decade or two ago, today more and more Hong Kong residents are being attracted to Shenzhen by significantly lower prices, shorter waiting times and improved quality of cross-border dental care.
This is a natural progression: with limited employer-sponsored dental insurance in Hong Kong, the cost of going to the dentist for regular check-ups can be worrying and, when it comes to serious procedures, downright scary.
The price difference is stark: A recent Post report said that in Hong Kong, a woman could expect to pay between HK$8,000 and HK$10,000 (US$1,000-1,300) to have a rotten wisdom tooth removed, with a wait time of two to three weeks.
The equivalent cost at a dental clinic recommended by a friend in Shenzhen was about HK$1,100, including the extraction, check-up, X-rays and anti-inflammatory medication.
A few years ago, facilities on the mainland were inadequate, but today dental clinics are modern facilities with the latest equipment.
Dentists are increasingly well trained and are more likely to boast qualifications similar to those in Hong Kong.
Affordable prices and a strong dollar mean many people feel the long journey to the clinic is worth the trouble.
The owner of a dental clinic in Shenzhen reported that 10,000 Hong Kong residents visit his clinic and 12 other dental clinics every month, half of the monthly patient volume.
It is true that dental clinics in Hong Kong offer quality services, are nearby, use the highest quality dental materials and, moreover, if any disputes arise regarding the quality of treatment, they can be litigated in the Hong Kong courts.
Still, the appeal is understandable for Hong Kong's elderly who live on tight budgets and pensions, and given recent high inflation rates, the trend of traveling for dental care is likely to continue for the time being.
