-- 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
From other contributors: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 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.
You can try www.clinicanuevoser.com. They are a great rehab center in Tijuana Mexico.
Hope a good psychic lawyer finds you and offers to help.
By asking the health ministry
I can't recommend a dentist in that area but have been using a dentist in Progreso for a couple of years and am quite happy with the care I have recieved.....and any US dentist is going to kick a fit when you say mexico....the US dentists are losing billions of dollars because of the cheaper prices in Mexico. All of my bad dental experiences have been in the US...not in Mexico. The only thing I will say about using a Mexican Dentist is to get your price agreed upon first
There are many honest dentists. You can find a good dentist by talking with friends and relatives about their experiences.
It depends where you study in mexico. Try Mexico city in one of the good universities.
There are several great dentists in Boston. A search engine can be used to find the nearest dentist in your area.
== == * Stay away from Tijuana because you could be handling more trouble (like infection) than you anticipated. They are not known to be all that hygienic there. Your best bet is to phone "Dental Surgeons" and find a dentist that will do this and even some dentists will perform this in a hospital. If you just have a few fillings to have done and have a great fear of dentists (you are among thousands) then find a good dentist and they'll take their time with you until you are calmer. Also they may ask you to see your doctor to get a mild sedative (lots of people do this.) If you have major work to be done on your teeth please seek out a good dental surgeon in the States or Canada. Don't run the risk of poor dentistry and lot of infections. #2 answ: Walk into any dentists office with cash hanging out of your pockets and they'll put you to sleep everytime. Seriously though, you pull out a San Diego phone book and get your teeth taken care of in the states.
Can't speak for everyone but I found a great dentist Dr. Irma Gavaldon, she is and an american licensed dentist down is Cancun. Couldn't be happier for anyone going down there for work I would find her and go with her only( unless you know another good dentist) her website is dentalworkmexico.com
The best way to find a dentist is to ask people who are patients of that dentist. Ask all your friends, co-workers, neighbors if they have a dentist that they highly recommend.
Delta Dentist is a family dentist that helps you find a good dentist for you and your family. They help you with your specific and affordable needs. You can contact them at 1(877)5801042.
Try the yellow pages�under D�they'll all be a local dentist. "There are plenty of internet resources out there, some specifically themed to help you find a local dentist."