A poll released by Gallup on May 18 says up to 29 percent of U.S. residents would consider traveling abroad for medical procedures.

Americans Consider Crossing Borders for Medical Care

Domestic healthcare costs are expected to increase to an estimated 21 percent of gross domestic product by 2010.

Gallup did not ask specifically about dental care or destinations. The poll indicated that U.S. residents on the east and west coasts are more accepting of the possibility of medical travel than those in the midwest or south.

Costa Rica surgeons and dentists pioneered medical and dental tourism beginning in the late 1970s and the country remains a prime destination for medical, dental and cosmetic surgery patients from the U.S. Prisma Dental has been serving patients from the U.S. for two generations.