Anyone have experience with Dental Tourism...particularly in Mexico?

[LJC1861]

I need extensive dental work......more than I want to admit. I was quoted anywhere between $12,500 and $15,000, depending on the dentist, to have all the work done. Needless to say, even with insurance and supplemental insurance this is virtually impossible for me to achieve. Financing it is out of the question, and saving will take forever and......

I have done some research, and there are lots of companies that specialize in "Dental Tourism" and one of the locations is Mexico...in many different locations. Many of the dentists are American, who choose to practice in Mexico. Most of them take American insurance. The best part about it, I could have all the work done for a fraction of the cost, including airfare and accomodations.

Has anyone ever done this, or known anyone who has? If so, what were your experiences and can you share?

Thanks in advance.

Linda

 

[1957]

I just watched a program yesterday (can't remember the channel) about hundreds of Americans flocking to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, just for general health care and maintenance. I was half asleep, so didn't catch the gist, but apparently, it's very popular these days. Millions of Americans don't have US health insurance because they can't afford it. Also dental care. I'll admit that I have purchased my Synthroid and Premarin in Mexico for a fraction of what I'd have to pay for the exact same thing from Roche Laboratories in California. The meds were all from Roche...in English. Same meds, confirmed by my US Dr. Before you get political, do a Google search on the countries who have the highest longevity rate. Iceland (do you even know where it is?) beats the US by a lot! The US - sadly - is towards the bottom of the list. No wonder people leave the US to get affordable medical/dental care! Many US-trained physicians choose to practice in foreign countries to avoid the massive malpractice liability insurance payments they have to pay here in the US. Just telling it like it is.

 

[portocall]

Not with dental tourism per say, however, due to my job, I had two impacted wisdom teeth removed with no anesthesia in Aruba in 1997. Traumatic doesn't even begin to describe the experience. I only say this because now, with the sole exception of teeth cleaning, I will only go to the dentist if they will knock me out during the procedure. When I tell the dentists why I am shaking like a leaf, they all remind me that many countries don't use anesthesia. Not trying to scare you, but that is one question I would demand answers to before going. I was treated for illness in Mexico and I can tell you that the care was fine and not unlike what I experience in the U.S.

 

[bumbershoot]

My mail carrier had a month long vacation, and he went to India to visit his wife's family AND have some extensive dental work done. Said the dentists there are excellent and charge much less than he would have been charged here.

Dental insurance is such a slight help when you have lots to be done, almost doesn't seem worth it, really.

Anyway, that's not Mexico, but it's something!


Oh, do you have a dental college nearby? Here there's the Univ of WA dental college, and depending on what's going on with your mouth, dental colleges often have a need for things for their clinicians to do. It's all supervised (my friend's SIL went through their program to become a dentist and my friend went to her), etc, and it can be a mere fraction of the cost. So make sure you don't have a dental college nearby, before going to Mexico or India!



portocall, my husband had a similar experience. Here in the States. Dentist refused to believe him that the shot hadn't work.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I can tell you that both of my parents have lived near Puerto Vallarta for over 12 years. They have had various medical and dental issues over the years and have, overall received excellent care. Mom had one bad experience--but she had a few worse experiences in the USA so I think that is just how it goes sometimes.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[LJC1861]

Thanks everyone! This is the kind of information I am looking for as I wrestle with this situation/decision.

I am going to continue with my research and I will check into dental colleges. That just may be an option, as I am sure one of the schools in the Raleigh Durham area has a dental school.

Linda

 

[snapppyd]

Have you researched teaching hospitals here in the United States? I heard somewhere that you can get excellent care, under strict supervision, by a dental student. I would think New York would be a good place to try.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I think I'd go the medical tourism route before dental school - although def. check into it.

Just fair warning that some dental schools limit patients to those under a certain income level and that it's only about half what you'd pay under a qualified dentist. Also, you may be put on a waiting list of people who wish to use a student dentist.

Now that you've said that, I'm actually thinking of taking a week off work this summer and driving to Mexico for dental work. . .

 

[mom2rb]

My grandfather and his wife went to Mexico for dental work. I don't know what they paid, but it was much less than here.

 

[TheGoofster]

I live in Mexico City, Mexico. Last year I had to have my front 6 teeth pulled out and have crowns put in (actually I already had crowns on 3 of them which were put on about 15 years ago in the states, but they also needed to be replaced). It was about a 6 week processes (pulling the teeth, time to heal, crowns put in, return check up, etc...) Altogether it cost us about 2000 dollars (out of pocket, since our stateside insurance wouldn't pay for it). I've had them in now for about 11 months, and haven't had a single problem. The procedure was about the same as it was in the states. Our dentists actually goes to the states at least once a year for the latest training.

About a month after I had mine done, my wife's aunt came down to visit us. While here she happened to mention that she wanted to get pretty much the same thing done that I had done (I think she only needed 4 teeth pulled and capped), but she couldn't do it, because it was going to cost her over 12,000 dollars. When we told her what I did, and showed her my teeth, she decided to give my dentist a visit, just to find out more. She ended up having all of her work done here. She had to come back only 1 extra time (the dentist was able to do more with her in a shorter time). Even with the cost of the flights, it still ended up saving her over 10,000 dollars.

So, yes, there are some really good dentists here who can do excellent work. On the other hand, there are some really bad dentists here that I would avoid at all costs. If you decide to go that route, just make sure that you are able to learn as much as possible about the dentist. If they get training in the states, they will be more than willing to let you know that.


Good luck in your decision.