-- Check with the appropriate government agency in the destination country about its national dentistry guidelines.

-- Find out what recourse is available if something goes wrong.

-- At the dental office, look for infection-control procedures, including instrument sterilization and use of protective gloves, mask and eyewear.

-- A traveler's guide to dental care is available through the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures at www.osap.org.

Source: American Dental Association.

Why is dental cheaper in Mexico? - lower operating costs, dentists are not required have malpractice insurance, dentists are less advanced and use less expensive technology and infection control procedures.

Dental treatment performed abroad although less expensive, also carries an increased number of associated complications and risks.

Travel, Dental Care and Dental Tourism

There is a growing phenomena called "Dental Tourism" in which people travel to a destination that offers less expensive dental care. The decision to visit another country for dental care should go beyond simply comparing prices or even evaluating the dentists' expertise. Countries differ in their standards for infection control and safety. The use of fresh gloves, sterile instruments and safe water are not standard practice in all countries. Without these precautions, patients could be infected with diseases such as hepatitis B.

Before considering such trips, it is important to be prepared by using information such as that contained in OSAP's Traveler's Guide. Additional information may be obtained at www.ada.org, www.iamat.org and www.adse.co.uk.

Go to Mexico's largest dental directory at dentistasdemexico.com and search for a dentist, all dentists are fully licensed and governed by the country of Mexico

• My wife has experienced in our opinion, the worst dentist ever and he is in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico... His name is Dr. Victor M. Silva. He put in an implant in her upper jaw and two days later she had a very bad infection. Upon Dr. Silva looking at it, he just stated that it was too small of an implant and grabbed it with his finger and just pulled it out ... He did not even offer her any antibiotics until I insisted on them... His practice is a one room office/examining room that is not sanitary and usually he is there by himself without an assistant.

After removing the implant, he told her to come back in two months and he would put in another one that was longer. When my wife returned, to his office, he then told her that there was not enough bone and that she should come back in one year, At this point (4 trips later from Tucson to Nogales)we did not want to deal with him anymore and asked for our money back, he straight out refused to refund the money that we had given him as a down payment for the service. I would strongly suggest that this dentist be avoided at all if looking for a good dentist in Nogales. REMEMBER, his name is Dr. Victor M. Silva. He will take your money and give you the run around.

• I went to a dentist in Naco 9 years ago and please don't make the mistake I did.

I was 25 at the time and had great teeth but I hadn't been to the dentist for 2 years for financial reasons. I was living in Bisbee at the time and heard dentists were cheaper in Mexico. The dentist told me I had 9 cavities-- which should have tipped me off right there-- 5 on my lower teeth and 4 up top. I only had only two tiny cavities previously, but I thought, was afraid that I had "neglected my teeth". He drilled and filled the lower teeth, one side at a time on 2 separate visits (if I remember correctly) and told me to come back for the top teeth. It was incredibly painful whereas I usually have a high pain tolerance. I think on some level my body knew it was wrong and was trying to tell me. He charged me $50 per filling. They were enormous fillings and I could see the metal shifting around my mouth, or my chemistry reacting to it or something because months later dark lines were settling around the base of my teeth. I did not return for the top teeth.

About six months later, I went to a free dental clinic in the town where I now live (U.S.) thinking that i would need to get the cavities up top filled. The dentist there told me that I didn't have 4 cavities that needed to be filled, only ONE "weak spot" (which to this day has not required a filling). He said the dentist in Mexico must have been following a very old dental philosophy. Nowadays dentists fill very minimally if at all. It looked like he had carved out all the valleys, any area potentially vulnerable and filled, over what were probably "weak spots" or tiny cavities at best.

I had the fillings replaced with composite a few years later just to have all the metal out of my mouth. The receptionist (U.S.) on the phone had quoted me about $60 per filling (I swear I was specific). I was surprised, but really happy it would be so affordable, so when I came out of the dental chair after the procedure and they told me I had a $3,000 bill, I nearly passed out.

It's not over either. The fillings were so big that the integrity of the teeth under them has been compromised and 2 or more of my teeth have fractures in them now. Those cracks don't heal, they only eventually go all the way down to the nerve. That means I will need crowns, and maybe root canals, and maybe to have the teeth completely extracted and a bridge put on. I got the news it's time for the first crown today, because the tooth actually has two cracks and has started causing some pain. $1,150.

I am not the kind of person that has awful things like this happen a lot. I have just been had this very unfortunate experience with dentistry, and it's not over yet, and it's very expensive. I think there surely must be many reputable dentists in Mexico, and occasions when getting a procedure done there is more affordable. But please be careful and trust your gut. I was nearly shaking when I drove to those appointments in Naco, but my foolish reasoning mind did not listen to my body. I had great teeth.

• HOW DO YOU FIND A GOOD DDS IN MEXICO? GOOD QUESTION - I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY, HOWEVER THE ONE I FOUND BEWARE!!!! IT WAS WASHINGTON DENTAL CLINIC. BEFORE ANY TREATMENT YOU TALK TO A CLOSER {YOU KNOW LIKE BUYING A USED CAR} YOU NEED TO PAY BEFORE ANY TREATMENT. THE TREATMENT I RECEIVED WAS FROM THE STONE AGE. THE SHOTS WERE NOT IN THE LEAST gentle - picture this I wore a hair piece and within the first five minutes it was on the floor the dentist (so called) kicked it to the side with his worn out cowboy boots. I WANTED TO STOP HIM BUT HE SUPPOSEDLY KNEW NO ENGLISH AND KEPT GOING MY TREATMENT WAS TO EXTRACT ONE FRONT TOOTH AND REPLACE IT WITH A PARTIAL I WAITED FOR THE PARTIAL FOR HOURS AND WHEN IT WAS DONE IT LOOK ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. I COMPLAINED AND WAS TOLD TOO BAD THAT THEY LOOKED GOOD TO THEM I HAD ALREADY PAID (WITH CREDIT CARD) WHEN I RETURNED TO STATES I PUT A STOP ON THE PAYMENT. AFTER A BIG HASSLE MY CARD RULED FOR THEM THE CHARGE WAS 2700-5000. I'M OUT THE CASH BACK IN THE STATES, I HAD TO HAVE A ROOT CANAL ON ONE OF MY TEETH THAT THEY RUINED AND A NEW PARTIAL FOR ANOTHER 3,000. YOU DO THE MATH. JUST BE REALLY CAREFUL NO CLINICS THEY ARE SO MUCH WORSE THEN CLINICS HERE!!

• This is in regards to the Fierro Clinic in Palomas, MX. Beware, the good Dr. Fierro has much more competition from other very good dentists in the town like Dr. Lam and others, therefore he is not backing up the work done in his clinic and not willing to "make good" on bad work. He has overextended himself by beginning to build a hotel next door to his clinic and therefore the clinic's practice is compromised! I will not go into any details because I believe that the clinic has some very good doctors, specially the specialists, and the clinic still has a chance to live up to its reputation if Dr. Fierro maintains the standards that people coming from the U.S. side expect.

• Dr. Carolina Borjon AKA Dr. Borjon Acevedo Carolina did a hack job on my teeth. I would never recommend anyone to ever visit her or any other practicing Dentist in Mexico. The price quoted to me over the phone was much lower than what it was at the time of payment. I went in to receive 3 crowns and I ended up with 3 large boulders in my mouth. The pain is intolerable and I am out 600$, now I have to pay another 2100$ here in California just to repair the mistakes she made. So much for a guarantee, she will not even return my phone calls. I just came back from a local dentist office and he was horrified to see the work that was done on me, he compared it to a mad doctors science experiment. PLEASE DON"T EVER VISIT ALGODONES MEXICO FOR DENTAL CARE< & JUST TO BE SAFE FOR NOT ANY TYPE OF HEALTH CARE. Please spread the word so that no one else will make the same mistake as I did, many elderly were at her office and I hope that she did not take them for a ride like she did me.

Dental care abroad

If you go abroad for dental care:

-- Check with the appropriate government agency in the destination country about its national dentistry guidelines.

-- Find out what recourse is available if something goes wrong.

-- At the dental office, look for infection-control procedures, including instrument sterilization and use of protective gloves, mask and eyewear.

-- A traveler's guide to dental care is available through the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures at www.osap.org.

Source: American Dental Association.

Why is dental cheaper in Mexico? - lower operating costs, dentists are not required have malpractice insurance, dentists are less advanced and use less expensive technology and infection control procedures.

Dental treatment performed abroad although less expensive, also carries an increased number of associated complications and risks.

Dental implants Mexico are today's best alternative to natural teeth. They can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.

An implant is, essentially, a sophisticated titanium screw which is placed into the jaw bone to replace the root of a lost natural tooth. The implant fuses with the jawline to form a secure foundation for tooth replacement. The end result... replacement teeth that look, feel and function just like natural teeth. The embarrassment , irritation and self-consciousness often experienced by people who have missing teeth, those who wear dentures or who have suffered through older methods of tooth replacement are overcome with the confidence of permanently anchored dental implants.

Dental implants are now recognized as routine treatment for a full range of problems from replacing a single tooth, to full oral rehabilitation, or simply for reliable denture retention.

The fees that I see are only $100-$300 more in McAllen, Brownsville, or Harlingen for an oral surgeon to place the implant. The cost of the crown or denture on top of it is only slightly higher, too. What you must realize is the post-op care and guarantee that goes along with the cheaper price. What if you get a bleeding problem after the surgery? What if your are left permanently numb in your chin after the surgery? What if you get a serious, life-threatening infection in your neck and chest after the implant is placed? What if the implant fails after 2 or 3 months? Would you rather have a US trained dentist, or Mexico trained? What if you get Hepatitis, TB, or AIDS from the procedure? I am a retired dental assistant from south Texas and I have seen it all. Be Careful!

Dental care abroad

If you go abroad for dental care:

-- Check with the appropriate government agency in the destination country about its national dentistry guidelines.

-- Find out what recourse is available if something goes wrong.

-- At the dental office, look for infection-control procedures, including instrument sterilization and use of protective gloves, mask and eyewear.

Source: American Dental Association.

Why is dental cheaper in Mexico? - lower operating costs, dentists are not required have malpractice insurance, dentists are less advanced and use less expensive technology and infection control procedures.

Dental treatment performed abroad although less expensive, also carries an increased number of associated complications and risks.

Travel, Dental Care and Dental Tourism

There is a growing phenomena called "Dental Tourism" in which people travel to a destination that offers less expensive dental care. The decision to visit another country for dental care should go beyond simply comparing prices or even evaluating the dentists' expertise. Countries differ in their standards for infection control and safety. The use of fresh gloves, sterile instruments and safe water are not standard practice in all countries. Without these precautions, patients could be infected with diseases such as hepatitis B.

Before considering such trips, it is important to be prepared by using information such as that contained in OSAP's Traveler's Guide.

What can anxious patients can do to prepare themselves for dental treatment?

• If one has had a negative dental experience in the past, especially in the distant past, be aware much has changed in the dentistry in a short time. The dentists are using more modern equipment, better materials and up to date methods to insure better comfort.
• Inform them of your fears. Don't expect them to know your fears by mental telepathy. Most dentists try to be kind, caring and gentle, but I assure you they will try even harder if they are aware of your fears.
• Patients should never self medicate prior to dental treatment without informing their dentist. It could pose a danger if the dentist administers anesthesia or other medications.
• Think positively! Once a patient convinces themselves that treatments is necessary, and the dental problem will only worsen if gone untreated and may required more difficult procedures whish could cost more.
• The patients must remember that the dentist is their partner in achieving good oral health. Never consider your dentist an adversary, but rather a friend.

Visiting the dentist could care your finances.

The people that have an extensive treatment plan are usually the ones that haven't visited a dentist in years.

For some one that needs more difficult procedures visited their dentist for regular check ups and cleanings, could care their finances, most dental problems can be quite inexpensive if diagnosed early.

What's a cavity and how to prevent them

A cavity develops when a tooth decays or break down. A cavity is a hole that can grow bigger and deeper over time. Cavities are also called dental caries, and if you have a cavity. Its important to be repaired.

If you don't go to the dentist the acids can continue to make they way through the enamel, and the inside parts of your tooth can begin to decay.

Though cavities can be repaired, try to avoid them by taking care of your teeth, here's how:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after each time you eat or at least twice a day. Bedtime is an important time to brush
• Brush up and down in a circular motion
• Gently brush your gums as well to keep them healthy
• Floss your teeth once a day fore more plaque and food that's stuck between your teeth.
• Limit sweets and sugary drinks like a soda

Out of personal experience it cost me about $2000.

Here are answers and opinions from FAQ Farmers:

• I would say it is probably about 2000 dollars. Or more possibly. And just a side note, it won't be too much more to have the 4th one taken out at the same time, if you have it. And it will be much better for you in the long run.

• It could be a lot less than that if you had the right plan and I am not talking insurance. I am talking a discount card that cost less than insurance and save you more money than no insurance at all.

• My doctor charged 460 per tooth for extraction and 260 for IV sedation.

• Having four wisdom teeth pulled will cost 2133.00 at the place I am having it done. I will also have general anesthesia.

• I got my wisdom teeth pulled in Brazil while I was there as it was much cheaper. I paid $600 for pulling my four wisdom teeth.

• To have all four of mine, plus IV sedation, and gas, it was $1100CA. It would have been $50 cheaper if I had it done in a hospital, but being in a hospital would mean total sedation and I'd loose all my piercings. Price really depends on experience and qualifications.

• I just got all 4 of my wisdom teeth yesterday. I have absolutely no pain at all. I am taking penicillin and ibuprofen, but I have not experienced pain yet. To take out all four of my wisdom teeth, it cost $295 for all 4 because we have insurance. It's a good thing we have insurance or else it would of cost over $1200. (Don't listen to what your friends say, because it does not hurt. For best results, be put to sleep because you do not feel a thing).
• I didn't pay a thing to have mine out, I've looked after the computers for my dentist for years. You don't need any sort of general sedation, only local. I just had to find my "happy place" while they were being pulled, it only took a few minutes each. Believe it or not but in my experience it hurts more while having a filling.
• My girlfriend just got 2 (bottom) wisdom teeth pulled today, in Medellin Colombia. It cost 300,000 COP (about $125). She had the top 2 pulled a few months back, and it was cheaper (they came out easy). For about $400 round trip from Miami, $200 to have teeth pulled, you still have quite a bit left over for a vacation, hotels, etc. to enjoy another country.
• I would recommend carefully considering the need for sedation, which our Marin, California dentist was trying to "sell" us at around $500! My kid had three teeth that were not impacted and one that was slightly. We refused the sell job on the sedation and my son said the procedure was nothing to worry about. It took 20 minutes and we saved a lot. I'm also pretty sure that sedation is not covered by many insurance companies. It is probably because it is not necessary. Let's face it, if you have impacted teeth and are going to be sitting there with your mouth open for an hour or more, then maybe sedation is the way to go. If not, don't be sold on something that is not necessary. I was shocked at the line of BS we were given to try and get us to go for the $500 pop. Unethical in my opinion.

my son needs his out. for 4 teeth $1900.00

i just got all 4 of mine taken out today with IV total sedation. it cost me 424.60 but i think insurance took care of most of the price

• According to Salary List, the average is about $106K, ranging from $800-$40K also.

• According to the American Dental Association, the average general dentist made 185,000 in 2004, the average dental specialist made 315,000. The average hygienist made 62000 in 2004. So in reality dentist make about 3 times what hygienists make. [I am a practicing dentist with 20 years experience. These numbers are the most accurate that I have seen posted]

• Dentists make about twice that of a dental hygienist. I am going to college right now for dental hygiene in mass and i know i can expect to leave school with a starting salary of about 30-35 an hour. that averages out to be 63,700 a year. So dentists average about 130,000 dollars a year or even more. It depends what type of dentistry they are involved in. Also, some get compensated through commission.

• I am a practicing dentist. I made $410,000 last year and will improve on that slightly this year. I do some pro bono work, but not as much as I could. That will increase as my net worth does. My salary is certainly on the higher end of the bell curve. I have an associate dentist working for me and he is just finishing his first year in practice. He'll make approximately $145,000 this year. So, experience and stage of practice makes a big difference. The more indispensable you are, the more you're worth to society (pro sports, Hollywood, etc. being exceptions to that rule obviously).

• 130,000 +/-

• Whoever is asking this question is definitely on the right track. My wife is a dental assistant and I have been around many of her employers over the years and they all have one thing in common, their filthy rich. Dentistry is a very good field to go into and you are guaranteed much, much, money. It does take 8 years of college though, so get started now.

• For many dentists in private practice, it's between $70,000 and $120,000 per year, take home. Note that managed care is not cutting into dentist's salaries as quickly as it is in other professions, like doctors.

• I have been practicing family and cosmetic dentistry for five year and netted $960,000 last year. This year I will easy make over a million. However, I work very hard, have a large and talented staff and am very talented. Very few can accomplish this income.

• Ask someone at the reference desk of your local public library for the Occupational Outlook Handbook. It lists all kinds of information you would need to know,(including the salary) of just about any occupation you can think of.

• I have a friend who is a dentist and has been asking me to consider taking that route as well. He says pay ranges are around 120k-160k.

• It really depends on experience and where you are going to be practicing.... it could ran from $70,00-120,000.

• Dentists can make well over 400,000 a year, depends on what procedures they do.

• To answer the original question dentists generally start around 135K and can work their way up to around 450K in private practice. That being said some teach or do research and earn less, while others join large group practices or specialize and earn more.

• It also depends on where the dentist has his or her practice. A dentist in Utah (which is saturated with dentists) will make significantly less than a dentist in another state. A dentist in Alaska will make significantly more than anywhere else, in general.

• The average Australian dentist earns $90,000 per year. Give or take some for location, competition and experience. It depends on a lot of factors. Where you practice: in a big city, or in a rural area. Which State you practice in: Utah is flooded with dentists, so Dentists there do not make nearly as much as Dentists in most other states. However, Dentists in Alaska can make over a million dollars per year. How many other Dentists are in the area: the more Dentists, the less patients. How long you've been building clientele: Dentists are like hair dressers. It can take years to build up clients. Whether you own your own practice, are an Associate Dentist, or work for a big company that owns practices around the country (in any of these cases, the more experience you have, the more you will make). Dentists can choose how many days they work, and if they work more they will make more.

• Usually, Dentists don't make as much just out of school (unless they are taking over their fathers practice or something). It can take years, but you can make anywhere from 80,000 (if you are a military dentist) to 200,000 (or more) within a few years of working. Specialists make a lot more (but they have more schooling) And as I mentioned earlier, Dentists in Alaska make a LOT of money. My husband is a Dental Student, and so we know a LOT about this.

Answer: It's OK to ask, but don't be surprised if you get turned down. It may have nothing to do with you as a person. Many dentists have personal rules against dating patients. It can tend to blur the lines of the patient/doctor relationship, and that can get messy with ethical, clinical, and legal problems.

On the other hand, go ahead and ask, and take whatever answer is given. If you don't ask, you never give him/her a chance to say yes.

Dental care abroad

If you go abroad for dental care:

-- Check with the appropriate government agency in the destination country about its national dentistry guidelines.

-- Find out what recourse is available if something goes wrong.

-- At the dental office, look for infection-control procedures, including instrument sterilization and use of protective gloves, mask and eyewear.

-- A traveler's guide to dental care is available through the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures at www.osap.org.

Source: American Dental Association.

Why is dental cheaper in Mexico? - lower operating costs, dentists are not required have malpractice insurance, dentists are less advanced and use less expensive technology and infection control procedures.

Dental treatment performed abroad although less expensive, also carries an increased number of associated complications and risks.

An implant is, essentially, a sophisticated titanium screw which is placed into the jaw bone to replace the root of a lost natural tooth. The implant fuses with the jawline to form a secure foundation for tooth replacement. The end result... replacement teeth that look, feel and function just like natural teeth. The embarrassment , irritation and self-consciousness often experienced by people who have missing teeth, those who wear dentures or who have suffered through older methods of tooth replacement are overcome with the confidence of permanently anchored dental implants.

Dental implants are now recognized as routine treatment for a full range of problems from replacing a single tooth, to full oral rehabilitation, or simply for reliable denture retention.

The fees that I see are only $100-$300 more in McAllen, Brownsville, or Harlingen for an oral surgeon to place the implant. The cost of the crown or denture on top of it is only slightly highter, too. What you must realize is the post-op care and guarantee that goes along with the cheaper price. What if you get a bleeding problem after the surgery? What if your are left permanently numb in your chin after the surgery? What if you get a serious, life-threatening infection in your neck and chest after the implant is placed? What if the implant fails after 2 or 3 months? Would you rather have a US trained dentist, or Mexico trained? What if you get Hepatitis, TB, or AIDS from the procedure? I am a retired dental assistant from south Texas and I have seen it all. Be Careful!