Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

Rolly

Jan 13, 2004, 9:54 AM

Post #1 of 9 (843 views)

Shortcut

The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

I just got back from the dentist -- one of life's less pleasant chores. No appointment, no waiting.

I have had a toothache for the past three months, so now that the house building is done, I had it pulled. Uneventful. Cost $150 pesos (about US$14). I asked about a pair of bridges -- upper and lower -- $1500 pesos. Not bad. The dentist is a young guy, very nice. He said to come back in 2 weeks to start the bridge work. I sort of have to do it because I have almost no back teeth now. The tooth I lost today was my last chewing tooth. Now I guess it will be just soup and ice cream with a Tequila chaser. Smile

I had heard that dental work in Mexico is a good bit less expensive than up North. Nevertheless, I was a bit surprised at just how low it can be.

What has been your experience?

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Carol Schmidt

Jan 14, 2004, 7:43 AM

Post #2 of 9 (775 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

Eeek, you brought up a horrible topic. I've been putting off going to a dentist for three years now. I've been asking around in San Miguel and keep getting the name of one woman who cleans teeth so thoroughly you hurt, and she charges almost as much as in the US, but everyone thinks she is absolutely the best. So I'm going to make an appointment. Soon. I promise.

Otherwise,I've found every single medical procedure done in Mexico to be far, far cheaper than in the States, and I've had a bundle both places. I just had a minor surgery to remove a small benign tumor that had formed around a suture knot that irritated my gut, and the costs were, in approximate US: surgeon, $130, biopsy, $55, three hours in the ER with breakfast afterward, $18, and surgical materials and anesthesia bringing the total up to a grand total of $230. My co-pay for my HMO for something similar in Phoenix would have been at least $800, which is what I actually paid for removal of a small benign tumor awhile back. And the doctors in Phoenix say I've been getting exactly the right kinds of care and tests in Mexico as they would have recommended.

When it came time to the huge life-threatening surgery I did go back to the States and my HMO picked up almost all of the $100,000 costs.

I could not have afforded even a much less cost in Mexico and the small hospital here would not have had the expertise and even the back up blood supply to save my life.

But I wouldn't hesitate to go to a recommended dentist in Mexico.

Carol Schmidt

Judy in Ags

Jan 14, 2004, 6:16 PM

Post #3 of 9 (735 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

Our experience with the dentist here in Aguascalientes has been about as pleasant as it can get. Our dentist does an excellent job and his prices are far more reasonable than in the U.S. Besides all that he's really a neat, pleasant guy.

SteveInPVR

Jan 14, 2004, 8:48 PM

Post #4 of 9 (715 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Judy in Ags] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

My experience with my dentist in Puerto Vallarta has been great. She's a graduate of UDG, speaks English, and the prices are really inexensive. One thing though, always get a quote before they start the work so there is no misunderstanding when it's time to pay up.

Steve
Steve

PeggyS

Jan 15, 2004, 1:26 AM

Post #5 of 9 (705 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

As Carol says............
Anyway, after choosing an excellent dentist in Ajijic, one whom my husband thinks is wonderful and with whom he has had great success, I went in because there was decay in one of the teeth under my expensive decades-old (U.S.) bridge.
After the bridge was removed (pulled off), I was prone in the chair, eyes wide, while the promised hour and a half of drilling and cleaning the tooth took place.
The adorable new young receptionist came in and draped herself over the machinery by my right knee and the two never stopped chatting. My Spanish is good enough to know that the dentist was not instructing her as he went along. (Sometimes there are Guad advanced students there learning). I would have given my eye teeth, and then even my soul, to be able to breathe, to be able to get someone's attention, to get out of that chair. While struggling to get a breath, all I could think of was the dental torture chambers of the holocaust, and I promised myself that if I ever got out of there alive, I would never go back again.
The bridge does ride up and down now, and everything gets trapped underneath............but do you think I would ever tell my husband this? Am I crazy? It hurts a bit too..........but that receptionist really was cute.

Judy in Ags

Jan 15, 2004, 6:34 AM

Post #6 of 9 (692 views)

Shortcut

Re: [PeggyS] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

Peggy,

Now that you mention it, I do remember being irritated with a similar, but not as extensive experience. Our dentist's "apprentice/secretary" came in and then yakked for a long time--not about dental stuff. My concern was that he would be distracted and not concentrating on me. Also, one day he had his small child playing there at this feet while working on me. I had the same concern--concentrate on ME. My husband says I should have told him that I was not comfortable with that situation. Maybe in the future I'll get up my courage and do that because he does excellent work.

juan david

Jan 16, 2004, 3:35 PM

Post #7 of 9 (629 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

My wife just went through a fairly extensive proceedure involving a bridge replacement, an extraction, four new crowns and removal of a cyst and bone implant to fill up the whole created by the cyst. Elapsed time of three weeks and total cost of $1600. Our dentist in Ajijic practiced in Kansas, then did his dental surgery residency in Houston. Also has his own lab. He did all the proceedures.

Back in the great white north this would have involved three specialists(all with children in private schools) and would have dragged out for 2-3 months. We think the bill would have been $7-8 grand. Being of Scottish descent I am particularly pleased, although I occasionally worry about those little bairns in their private schools having to make their Air Jordans last an extra month.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

TomG

Jan 18, 2004, 9:00 AM

Post #8 of 9 (552 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

Yesterday I posted complete details on a negative dental experience (it was just a simple cleaning) that happened to me here in Oaxaca one month ago but it disappeared.

tom

(This post was edited by TomG on Jan 18, 2004, 10:53 AM)

julietl

Jan 19, 2004, 3:15 PM

Post #9 of 9 (486 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] The dentist

Can't Post | Private Reply

I practically live at the dentist office, and have for most of my life.

I have found a great doctor here in DF at Clinicas Lomas Altas. I was actually just there this morning! He is fixing all of the work from my dentist in Chicago who swore that his work would last 10 - 15 years. (He said this 2 years ago, and most of the onlays are cracked already). So, I am having all the work redone here in Mexico, for about 45-55% of the cost in the US.

The problem is insurance. I have insurance through my work, but it seems that preventitive medicine is not in the Mexican insurance industry's lexicon. So, from what I understand, I have to have a huge bloody emergency before they will cover any dental claims.

This morning my dentist was looking in my mouth, shaking his head, "tsk-tsk"ing and saying "everyone thinks that the dentists in the USA are so great, but take your mouth for example.........."

Swell.

Well, I don't know if dentists are better here than in the US, but I do know they are cheaper. I'll let you know in 2 years!
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________