Should I Get My Teeth Fixed in Mexico?
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Is dental work in Mexico really that cheap?
Dental work is the United States is very expensive. So is the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs – but that’s another story worthy of an article or two!
A prime example of the high cost of dentistry in the U.S. became evident to me when I recently went to the dentist. I had a toothache which - because of my vast experience with such matters - I was 90 per cent certain would require a root canal. (Tooth pain, while pushing on the upper portion of the tooth, almost always means a root canal or extraction will be required.)
When I got to the dentist, they took an X-ray and the dentist examined my teeth for five to 10 minutes – and sure enough he told me I needed a root canal. Duh, I could have told him that! The dentist charged me $200 for this visit alone, and the subsequent root canal procedure, after multiple visits over a three-month period for an abscess that needed much treatment, cost another $1,500 or so. Ouch, that hurts like heck in the wallet!
Who can afford to pay so much for dental work – not me, that’s for sure! If you have dental insurance, you may be able to afford it; otherwise, pull out your credit card and swipe away (assuming you have one to swipe).
Next time, maybe I'll go to Mexico to have some of the aforementioned work done. Perhaps I'll become a so-called dental tourist, and perhaps you should too. Perhaps.
Internet Web sites advertise savings from 60 to 75 per cent when you get dental work in Mexico, and the payment chart I’ve included in this article seems to indicate that this is indeed the case. Check it out, and you may be amazed.
These sites offer numerous testimonials from people who have saved thousands of dollars by having their dental work done in Mexico, particularly Tijuana, which has numerous places where one can get this work done. The cynic in me keeps me from believing testimonials, but if even half of them are true, the savings could be significant indeed.
For example, this fellow named Malcolm, who went to a Tijuana dentist, got 27 porcelain crowns, two root canals and four wisdom teeth extractions, which cost him under $7,000. This is truly an astonishingly low amount of money for so much restorative work. Supposedly Malcolm had gotten a quote for the same treatment in the U.S. that would have cost him $40,000. I can certainly believe the latter part of this tale!
But what if something goes wrong at one of these south-of-the-border dental joints?
Getting cheap porcelain crowns and getting ones that last a long time without chipping or fracturing and needing to be replaced is another matter. Making such ceramic crowns, which have to be baked, takes a great deal of skill. Therefore, if the workers in the dental laboratory who made Malcolm’s crowns didn’t do a good job, Malcolm could, quite frankly, end up with a mouthful of crap. For the most part, be very careful when getting crowns and implants, because they’re so easy to screw up if the dentist and/or lab people don’t know what the hell they’re doing!
Many of these Mexican dentists advertise that their work is guaranteed, that is, they’ll fix whatever they screw up for free. Again, the skeptic in me says, Oh yeah, prove it? Unfortunately, the experience with every dentist will be different, and you’ll just have to wait until you get into such a situation before you can find out what your options are. Remember, all of this will take place in a foreign country, which many people consider part of the third world!
Also keep in mind that drug cartels operate throughout Mexico. There is a particularly violent and murderous one in Juarez. So wherever you go in Mexico, be careful! (And wear a flak jacket? You tell me.) For more info about that, please click on this link.
Anyway, I read some testimonials regarding dental work in Mexico. Some people think they spent their money wisely while others didn’t. Moreover, American dentists have a particular point of view and it’s generally not favorable, and Mexican dentists have theirs as well, of course. So do some research and make up your own mind. (Click on the link below so you can view some of those testimonials.)
Also keep in mind that if you don’t live close to Mexico, you’ll have to pay for travel, hotels, meals and other expenses. By the time you pay for all of those extras you might not save much money. I live in Sacramento, California, so it wouldn’t make much sense for me to go to Mexico unless I need lots of work done. And if the work turned out to be shoddy, I’d have to go all the way back and haggle with the dentist, and taking dentists to small claims court in Mexico may be impractical if not impossible.
Whatever you decide, good luck on your quest for cheap, if not cheaper, dental work.
P.S. If you’ve had some dental work in Mexico, please leave a comment regarding your experience, because I’m sure everyone would love to hear from you.
Adios!
Check out the testimonials at this site:
Look at this site's impressive graphics and videos:
Here's the link to another story about dentistry:
- What Can I Do about My Bad Teeth?
My grandfather was mostly toothless by the time he was 50. That's the way it was in the early decades of the 1900s. Back then, at least for people in the lower or middle class, to be old was to be...
And another link:
- A Short Painful History of Dentistry
Judging from what archaeologists have learned from examining the bones and teeth of long-dead humans, people have been bothered by dental problems for thousands of years. Simply put, many of these...
And still another one . . .
- What Can the Poor Do about Dental Care?
Since I've been writing articles about dental care, I've wondered what people do when they need dental care yet have no money, dental insurance or credit cards. If you're in such an impoverished...
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Thanks for sharing. The trade off is still questionable, especially because I don't own a "flak jacket." :) I will say, however, and along the same lines of getting medical support outside the US, that getting prescription medication from Canada is much cheaper when compared to prices in the US as just as good, regardless of what the media reports (which likely represents biased advertisements paid by big pharmaceutical companies).
Thanks for the enlightening comment, Diana. I'm sure many people would like to go to this dentist you found in Los Algadones. That's cheap work you got done! But will it last? Later!
I just got back from my second trip to Los Algadones which is just across the mexico border near Yuma. The place is full of hundreds of dentists in a 4-5 square block radius. I researched a dentist that I found good reviews on and was very impressed. Her office was nicer than any I had been to in the US...she had more advanced equipment than I had been around as well. They all spoke english and she had been trained in the US...actually lived there as well. All the office water was triple filtered and all their equipment was sanitary...covered with plastic and they used new tools on me that had been sanitized and sealed in bags. I had a root canal for $375 and a Crown for $200. We will be going back in a few weeks for more work. We have found that it's best to stay in an cheap hotel in Yuma (use Priceline and bid about $40 to see what you can get) then drive down to the border and park on the American side and walk over. Our car was safe in the secure fenced parking lot for $5 a day. We felt very safe on the streets of Los Algadones...mostly Americans down there. Lots of mexican merchants selling typical things too. We had an early morning apointment and there was no line going to mexico...however there was a long line coming back. The fastest way is NOT to wait in line, but to stand on the street corner by customs and hail a bicycle carriage for $5 a person. They can cut into traffic and take you tight to the border...save you about an hour of your time and you sit down while waiting in the cart instead of standing! I am planning on having this dentist do a full restoration of my mouth because her work is incredible and the price is right. I highly recommend Mexico if you do your research.
Thanks for the comment, Terese. You're right; one must always be leary of the tap water throughout Latin America. Later!
While I agree that dental costs are outragous here (In westetern Washington State many dentists are no longer even taking many insurances, if you have it - which I no longer do!)I have to wonder about how the water in Mexico would effect American patients.
It may sound silly, and I'm sure they try to use sterilized water in the office, but my daughter recently visited Mexico and while she was careful not to drink the wateer, she somehow, through showering or something, was the only member of her visiting party to come down with "Montezuma's Revenge." She recovered,but was mainly disapponted that she was sick throughout her trip.
I need quite a bit of dental work and while traveling from the Northwest to Mexico would be spendy, it would be less than spending a lot of money (my husband and I are retired) for U.S. dentists to demand thousands of dollars from us.
Thanks for the comment, PaulStaley1. I'm glad you added that cheap - or at least "cheaper" - dental care is available in Colombia as well. However, that's not the safest place to travel either, is it? Later!
I do it all the time---real cheap in Mexico but the technology is from the 80s at most of the real cheap places---Colombia is a great option as well---medical tourism--it is less expensive even after the ticket--
Thanks for the interesting comment, Dick. It appears there are some very good, inexpensive dentists in Mexico and other foreign countries. Anyway, I can't believe American dentists charge $500 for a nightguard, which is little more than a sports mouthpiece, which you can buy for - one dollar! Later!
My American Home Denitist who... I think is very good.....wanted $4100 for a "Metal" bridge and $2400 for two crowns
For a total of $6500..I am retired...no insurance......Outrageous!! that half of a NEW CAR!!!!
I contacted a Dental Online Service who prescreens only the BEST Dentists in other Counties arranges everything with a 100% garrantee
I got a the more expensive than "metal" Zirconium Bridge and crowns for a total of $2400
still alot but reasionable
I even got an teeth saving "NightGuard"" mouthpiece made which my home dentist wanted $500 for...for only $60 for the same thing!!!
I went to Cancun for to have the work done by a Mexican Profesor of Dentistry and Oral Surgen ...who was great..devevoted the entire time to me...not hopping around room to room with other patents like most American dentists..big CLEAN Office...
he does implants too...
they even picked me up at the airport and picked me up at the hotel for my appointments in a Cad
For major work I no longer pay for my Dentists Fancy Fish Tank... latest "Toys" and HIS Trip to Cancun
and saved $$$
I had also had a great Vacation! And excellent dental care.....its NOT rocket science!
I vacation in Texas and people say that alot of the mexican dentists went to school in the u.s.
Thanks for the comment, Matt. I've suspected that the dental work in Mexico may be substandard. What a person would need to do is find one of the best Mexican dentists and then proceed with caution. Later!
Im an american dentist in Texas who is constantly fixing problems with work in Mexico. You people are so ignorant. What degree do you have to Believe me, you get what you pay for. Going cheap on medical care will eventually cost you dearly. Why not buy everything over there?
Thanks for the comment, Don Bobbitt. Going to Mexico to get dental work definitely seems like a good option. Unfortunately, I live too far away for this strategy to work for me. Later!
I am an RFer,and was just in Arizona in November. My wife and I needed some dental work, so we talked to some of our full-time fellow campers, and they recommended going over to Yuma and crossing the border there for good dental work.
So, we did, and what an experience. there were over 200 dentists and 7 major drug stores in a 8 by 4 block area, just as we crossed over. The majority (80%+) of the people there were American and Canadian, looking for the same service as us. Long story short, we both got our teeth cleaned, and she had 5 cavities repaired, and I had four. All for a total cost of $195. The work was good, and we are still happy with everything. So, relatively speaking, is the dental industry a rip-off in the states? Well ........ Yeah! To some degree, in my perspecrive.
I also advocate the practice of dental tourism.
Wow, good info. Get some British people over here to read it!
Wow this amaze me for Mexico is really an affordable to fix my teeth done. Thank you Mexico Traveler for this kind of input and well informed detailed about the cost and comparison of US against MEXICO price.
its very safe i have done mayor sugerys in mexico. Doctors and dentists are very good there
i found a great high quality clinic in romania, i had 4 implants, and 10 ceramic crowns all for 3000 usd
i am very satisfied from the results and highly recommand it to everyone, specially people like me who does not have insurance. u can find details on the link :
www.drpaune.weebly.com
Stephanie, you certainly saved lots of money getting all those root canals, crowns and bridges for only 6K! I'm astonished. In the U.S. that much work would have cost around $30,000. Well, this is a testimonial I'm sure many people will find enlightening! Thank you very much for taking the time to leave this long comment. Hasta luego!
Although the problems with drug cartels might discourage people from going to the larger Mexican border towns, some of the small towns seem quiet and safe. We went to Los Algodones last winter not too far from Yuma. My husband and I got major dental work done after corresponding with someone who recommended the Bernal Dental Clinic. I had 6 root canals, 17 crowns and 3 bridges for around $6000. My husband also had major work. It's been a year and all is very well.
There are many good dentists in Algodones. Every office has English speaking staff and most of the dentists speak English. While the offices are not fancy, they are clean and have modern equipment. For those concerned about problem work, we happened to be in our dental office when a couple of people came back with loose crowns or other problems. They were fixed free of charge that day.
By the way, our dentists were certified members of both the Mexican government and the U.S. Dental Association (don't remember the official name). They went to school in Mexico, but also trained in the U.S.
We'll be going back this winter for our annual check-ups.
In addition to Mexicao the other major destination for dental makeovers, dentures implants and immediate dental implants in Thailand. For more info and procedure prices see http://smileplanners.com/
I believe it is cheaper, but do those dentists know what they're doing, or it's a gamble?
Even insurance only pays for so much, perhaps $1,500 per year. Thanks for the comment. later!
My nephew lives in San Diego and he goes into Tijuana for all of his work and he swears by it. My daughter is flying out tonight from East Bay. She needs 2 crowns and not sure of whatelse. She will go across with her cousin. My neice is there and they will be driving back together. She had some kind of oral surgery and it only cost her $250. She said it was kind of a hole-in-the-wall place, but because of her proceedure going well, we are sending my daughter. Its the best way to go if you have no insurance.
I went Revolution Dental Care in Tijuana, MX.
and loved the work I got. revolutiondental.com see for your self...
This says something about the ridiculous costs of medical and dental care in the U.S. Very interesting Hub and I would not hesitate to go to Mexico if I needed expensive work done.
Interesting! I live 4 hours away from Mexico. Not knowing Spanish or having any connections in that country keeps me from trying it, but I think about it. Dental service is way too expensive here indeed.
Mexico for your teeth, Brazil for your facelift - Happy days! You can look great for half the price (with a bit of luck as well!) :)
I live in Mexico and always get my teeth taken care of here. I would say the dentist offices aren't as 'flashy' as in the states but the work I've needed doing has been great. It's about 40 bucks for a good cleaning - how does that compare to the US?
Thanks for the comment, Loveofnight. I've also spent a bundle on my teeth. It's beginning to appear that getting one's teeth fixed in Mexico is a very good bargain.
And thank you, MexicoTraveler, for your major insight into getting one's teeth fixed in Mexico. If you want to give an endorsement for Sam Dental in TJ it's okay with me. Later!
I have gone to Mexico for over 25 years to get my teeth taken care of. I have some mexican crowns that are over 20 years old, and still in fine shape. I have also had work done in the US that lasted just a couple of years. I used to live in Denver, CO and had established myself with a dentist in Chihuahua, South of Juarez. Because of a move we made to Florida, it became easier to fly to San Diego than to El Paso, and having to take a bus to Chihuahua, so I looked for a new dentist in Tijuana, I actually found the dentist that you have listed on the price list you posted. all I can say is that the dentists at Sam dental in Tijuana did an excellent job on both my wife as well as myself. I have been going to Sam Dental for two years now and between my wife and I have had 14 crowns made. Several for cosmetic reasons. I recommend them to everyone. Here is a link to their website: http://www.goodsamdental.org
this is something that i've never considered although i have invested a lot of money in my teeth. considering the fact that i do need more work i might try and see if it is cost effective....thx 4 the info
I agree. If you live too far away, the cost of travel would make the work prohibitively expensive. However, anybody with a mouthful of trouble should give it great consideration. Thanks for the comment. Later!
Maybe from the US & Canada it could be worth it, but traveling from somewhere like the UK is far too expensive and time consuming in my opinion. Just not worth it!
Thanks very much for the relevant comment, Immartin! I'm glad your cousin has had very good experience getting his dental work in Mexico. If many others have equal success, I'm sure folks will dash down to ol' Me-hee-co and save thousands. Dentists here in the U.S. charge way too much, and something ought to be done about it. Later!
Great hub, Kosmo. My teeth tingle just thinking about it. Dental work is expensive in Canada, too, though not quite as costly as here. However, in response to your comment travel costs may eat up the difference -- I disagree. Travel to Mexico is now so cheap, even from Canada (under $500) and accomodations would hardly make up the cost difference. And you'd get a vacation, too. My cousin has all his dental work done in Mexico, and he's very satisfied. So it must be worth it, if he travels from Canada to Mexico just to see the dentist.
Kosmo Hub Author 5 weeks ago
Thanks for the comment, Midnightbliss. Life is full of trade-offs, you simply have to pick what's best for you. Later!