Traveling to Clearwater for Dental Work: A Patient's Guide

Every month, we welcome patients who have flown in from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and beyond to have work done in our Clearwater office. Many treat the trip like a wellness retreat — dental work in the morning, Clearwater Beach in the afternoon.

If you are considering making the trip, here is how to plan it.

Why travel for dental work in the first place

The short version: there are fewer than 100 AACD Accredited Fellows in the world, and they are not evenly distributed. Many cities do not have one. Many states do not have one.

For patients who want cosmetic and restorative dentistry at the highest level — and are willing to trade a short flight for a dentist whose skill is verifiable and peer-reviewed — it often makes sense to travel. Our office is one of only two in the world with two AACD Accredited Fellows.

Getting to Clearwater

Three airports serve the area, within a 90-minute radius:

Tampa International (TPA) — ~20 minutes to our office. The preferred arrival airport. Nonstops from most major US cities and several international hubs (London, Frankfurt, Toronto, Cancún, Panama City).

St. Pete–Clearwater International (PIE) — ~15 minutes to our office. Smaller, faster, lower traffic. Served by Allegiant and a handful of seasonal carriers.

Orlando International (MCO) — ~90 minutes to our office. Useful for international arrivals and when TPA lacks a direct from your city. The drive from MCO is a straight shot down I-4 / Veterans Expressway.

Where to stay

Most of our out-of-town patients stay on Clearwater Beach — a short, scenic drive from our office and one of the most-loved beaches in the country. A few favorites:

• Sandpearl Resort — AAA Four-Diamond oceanfront, for patients who want to make the visit feel like a getaway.
• Opal Sands Resort — all-suite, direct Gulf views.
• Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach — full-service, spa on-site, loyalty-friendly.
• Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach — family-friendly with pool complex.
• Hilton Clearwater Beach — reliable beachfront Hilton, points-program friendly.

For patients who want something quieter, the Fenway Hotel in historic Dunedin is a boutique option about 15 minutes from our office.

Our front-desk team can make reservations at any of these properties on your behalf — just mention it when you schedule.

How we schedule out-of-town patients

The key is sequencing. For complex cosmetic or reconstructive cases, we combine multiple procedures into 1–3 efficient trips rather than stretching them across many small visits.

A typical out-of-town treatment plan for a full smile design:

• Visit 1 (half day, or 1–2 day trip): Consultation, photos, digital impressions, diagnostic wax-up planning.
• Visit 2 (3–5 days): Preparation appointment + provisional (temporary) restorations. You live with the provisionals for 2–3 weeks to evaluate the look and feel.
• Visit 3 (2–3 days): Final restorations placed, final photos, follow-up.

For single-case work (a veneer, a crown, an implant), we can often condense treatment into one or two trips.

What to do between appointments

Clearwater Beach has been named the #1 beach in America by TripAdvisor travelers multiple years running. But there's far more than just the beach:

• Honeymoon Island State Park & Caladesi Island — wild-feeling barrier islands, 15 min away.
• Downtown Dunedin — walkable historic downtown with craft breweries and excellent restaurants.
• Pier 60 Sunset Festival — nightly at Clearwater Beach.
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium — home of Winter the Dolphin.
• Tarpon Springs — historic Greek sponge-diving village, 30 min north.
• Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg — 25 min south.
• Walt Disney World — 90 min for patients bringing family.

Practical travel notes

• Health insurance and dental insurance vary in what they cover for out-of-network care. We file claims on your behalf but recommend confirming benefits in advance for anything substantial.
• Prescription-strength numbing and post-procedure discomfort is unusual for most cosmetic work, but we send post-op instructions (and our cell numbers) before any major case.
• Flying immediately after surgery — for implants and extractions specifically, we recommend staying one additional night after the procedure rather than flying same-day.
• Weather — December through April is our peak season. Summer is beautiful but hot, and late summer carries hurricane risk (typically Aug–Oct). We adjust scheduling around storms as needed.

Ready to plan your visit?

Tell us where you're traveling from and what you're considering. We'll map out a recommended visit structure, typical timeline, and travel logistics tailored to your case. Start the conversation here.