As the chance of finding an NHS dentist diminishes, more and more people are booking cheap flights to Hungary or Poland to get implants, fillings and teeth-whitening done for a fraction of the price of private fees in the UK.

Recent figures from RevaHealth, a medical tourism search engine, show that last year, 45,000 people from the UK travelled overseas for dental treatment, up from 30,000 in 2006. VitalEurope, a Hungarian dental clinic, claims that 95% of its patients are from the UK, and that it is currently treating 200 Brits each month. Meanwhile, figures from healthplan provider HSA show that one-in-five people in the UK are avoiding a trip to the dentist because of worries about the cost.

"Over the past year or two, the dental tourism market from the UK has exploded," says Thomas Antalffy, managing partner at VitalEurope. "These individuals are choosing to travel to countries such as Hungary for the cost savings, which can be considerable. There's also a huge demand for cosmetic treatment which isn't available through the NHS, and which can be extremely expensive if done privately in the UK."

The figures are certainly persuasive: according to VitalEurope, more than a quarter of its patients spend more than £5,000 on treatment, with average savings of 50% on the equivalent treatment in the UK, while findings from consumer body Which? show that a dental implant and crown that costs £2,200 in the UK could cost just £750 in either Poland or Hungary.

Anne Traynor, who is 55 and from Bexleyheath, has made five trips to Budapest for dental treatment and saved herself thousands of pounds. Traynor wanted dental treatment for the two gaps in her lower teeth caused by an accident, and met the dentist who would be treating her at a clinic in London for an initial consultation. "What swung the decision for me was meeting the dentist. I've had problems with both private and NHS treatment in the past, but he put me completely at ease."

Traynor made her first trip to Budapest less than a fortnight later. "I flew to Hungary with my husband, and was met at the airport by a VitalEurope representative," she says. "When I arrived at the clinic I was greeted by the same dentist I had met in the UK, and was very impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and the fact all the staff spoke English."

Her treatment included bridgework on her bottom teeth and implants for her top teeth - she paid £1,365 against a typical price in the UK of £8,710. "The treatment I received in Budapest was absolutely wonderful."

Since then, Traynor has made four more trips to rectify a problem with the colouring of her teeth. "I'd previously had private treatment in the UK - six crowns at a cost of £500 each - but these were a different colour," she says. "My Hungarian dentist told me the material used in the UK had not been of the right standard. He ended up replacing all the top crowns for free."

While there are some hefty savings to be made on your dental treatment by heading overseas, you do need to do your research. "The vast majority of people who opt for dental treatment abroad will be absolutely fine, but there can be repercussions when things go wrong," warns Joanna Pearl from Which? "Patients may, for example, have to contend with a different legal system."

She adds: "Consider whether you will be adequately prepared before you go, and what you will do when you come home in terms of follow-up care. Also find out if the work is guaranteed - and exactly what any guarantees and contracts mean."

You should also be aware that not all dentists overseas are as highly trained as those in the UK. "Individuals should recognise that by visiting a UK dentist, they can guarantee they are seen by a qualified and registered dentist," says Caroline Lakeman from HSA. "All qualified dentists must be registered with the General Dental Council before practising in the UK, and this can help protect the patient."

The British Dental Health Foundation also urges caution. "So-called 'dental holidays' are presented as a cheap and hassle-free alternative to getting treatment in this country," says Leigh Greenwood of the foundation. "But patients should not really be making the journey if the cost of treatment is all they can afford, as if things go wrong, the cost of putting things right can be prohibitive."

She says it is a "big concern" that UK patients are so willing to travel abroad for dental treatment. "Ask yourself what you will do when something goes wrong," she adds. "Are you willing to fly back? What are your legal rights as a foreign patient? Are you prepared to go through the courts, and do you have the money required to correct the treatment in this country?"

So there are plenty of things to think about before you decide to go abroad for dentistry treatment. But with care, it can save you thousands of pounds - and give you something to smile about.