Dentistry is among the popular forms of treatment sought by Britons in India and other places offering cut-price treatment, such as Hungary, Thailand and South Africa.

However, in recent months, several of them complained of complications on return. It is estimated that nearly 40,000 Britons go abroad for dental treatment every year.

"Some standards abroad are unacceptable. I had to pick up the pieces after one patient had quite disastrous treatment to replace crowns in Goa," Anthony Halperin, a dental surgeon and chairman of the Patients Association, told reporters.

The British Dental Health Foundation urged people not to travel abroad for dental treatment after a report by consumer advice group, which, found that almost one in five medical tourists suffered problems after treatment.

A report revealed that more than a quarter of patients travelling abroad for medical treatment did not feel they received the follow up care they needed, while a further 18 per cent reported complications.

The survey follows a recent warning against dental tourism by the foundation after a number of callers to its free Dental Helpline service reported that they did not know how to resolve problems that followed dental treatment undertaken outside the UK.

Dr Carter, chief executive of the Foundation, said "it is a big concern that UK patients are so willing to travel abroad for dental treatment without being fully aware of the risks." So called "dental holidays" are presented as a cheap and hassle free alternative to getting treatment in this country but we know from calls to our Dental Helpline that if things do go wrong then the patients is left facing all sorts of questions; am I willing to fly back? What are my legal rights as a foreign patient? Am I prepared to go through the courts? Do I have the money required to correct the treatment in this country?, he said.