Mall-based dental clinic eyes local, foreign clients

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s positioning as the country’s top wellness destination has prompted a group of dentists to invest on providing high-tech dental clinic inside the Ayala Center Cebu shopping mall to give easy access to both local and foreign patients.

DentaLand has opened its doors recently, providing Cebu with wide options of wellness facilities, noting the strong popularity of dental services being availed of by foreign visitors, including the balikbayans.

Dentaland Inc. was established by nine dentist friends who are all graduates of the Cebu Doctors University (CDU).

The clinic, located at the lower ground-floor of the Ayala Center Cebu hopes to take the lead in putting Cebu as premier dental service provider for growing health and wellness consumers around the world.

With an initial investment of P4.5 million, the company’s incorporators hope to expand their services by opening more branches in the future, considering that awareness in dental care among Filipinos are now improving.

DentaLand Inc. president Mark Acorin said that based on the industry players’ observation, patients seeking dental services has grown in significant number among local patients, while foreign visitors are also availing of this service because of the cheaper rates offered here.

Compared to other countries, dental care is priced much higher, the reason why foreigners including balikbayans opt to have their dental care needs in the Philippines.

Quality of service is no longer an issue, Acorin said as Filipino dentists are now actively updating themselves in applying the modern technology in dental care.

In Cebu, the health and wellness packages, which is considered as a major attraction for the medical tourism sector, has identified vanity and dental care, as top services availed of by balikbayans, as well as growing number of foreigners visiting Cebu.

Earlier, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines president Julian Payne, urged the health and wellness provider in the Philippines, specifically the Filipino Dentists to set a standard rates for dental services, that would that is uniform regardless the nationality and social status of their clients. — Ehda M. Dagooc

Dental service for instance, costs 10 times more in Canada, compared to the rates offered here. This has attracted more Canadian nationals to have their dental care requirement in other countries, specifically in the Philippines.

On the other hand, the Cebu Dental Association earlier announced that it has already established its owned regulated fees depending on the services availed of by a patient.

According to Acorin, DentaLand will partner with tourism stakeholders, specifically hotels, and travel operators to include the clinic’s services in their travel itinerary packages. (FREEMAN)