I'm outsourcing my Dentist next week

[Trailrider1951]

That's right, they've just priced me out of the market. I fractured a molar last year while I was working for Target for $7.50 an hour with no benefits, and I could not afford to get it fixed. It is now starting to hurt like fire, and I need a crown and possibly a root canal treatment. Three years ago when I lived and worked in Houston, with dental insurance, I got a crown on a fractured molar for $750 out of pocket. Holy moly, that's a lot of money! And that's just for the crown, no root canal, and that's with insurance paying part of the price. Now I have a better paying job, but still no dental insurance, and I cannot afford to pay about $1500+ for my dental care. For ONE tooth. So, I've asked around to some of my friends about going south of the border to Mexico. I have several recommendations for dentists and I have made an appointment for next Monday to have my work done. The office is clean, the staff is educated (some in the US) and experienced, all water used is distilled water, and they have the latest equipment. The price? $180 for the root canal, $175 for the porcelain crown and $20 for the cleaning. That is affordable. Now, since I am in the Austin, Texas area, I will travel to McAllen and stay in a hotel there and walk across the border at Nuevo Progreso. I also have contacts for recommended dentist across from Arizona, New Mexico, and California. If you are interested, pm me and I will send you links for the information.
Also, you can get eyeglasses there for about $75, with the exam included in the price. OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS BROKEN FOLKS!!!!! :mad:

[wakeme2008]

1. This is nothing new while most ppl think of border towns are all about SEX

In the mid-80S I drove across from San Diego to Mexico and there were two main type of stores.. Dentist and Auto Body shops.....

[gulfcoastliberal]

12. Dontforget the pharmacias!

A senior citizens paradise with a cornucopia of pharmacopoeia.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

49. Yes, one of my late grandmother's friends spent every winter

near the southern tip of Texas, and reason number two (after "warmer weather") was "Proximity to low-cost drugs and dentists in Mexico."

[oldtime dfl_er]

2. Oy root canals....

Be careful my friend...and best of luck!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

78. Do you know about the hazards of root canals?

Seriously, anaerobic infections in the root tips because they are not properly sterilized.
I had two root canals after some cracked up mercury fillings made the teeth crack.
Then I had the root canal teeth pulled and all my mercury fillings removed and replaced with Cerex.

Check out:
www.iaomt.org

Google "Huggins protocol" and what kind of germs live in root tips. You will be horrified.

[Selatius]

3. This wouldn't be an issue if the US gov't instituted a health insurance program

Our health care system is a sick joke for the poor. Mexico--I believe--does have gov't run universal health insurance.

[Robbien]

5. They are looking into setting up a health insurance program

which will benefit the health insurance companies while hurting both the healthcare givers and the healthcare seekers.

We do not need a heath insurance program. We need a universal healthcare program.

[Selatius]

7. Sorry for the confusion, I should've simply written out single-payer universal health care

That's what I was talking about with respect to a national health insurance program. Then again, I think it's going to be a long time before such a system is implemented by the Dems, many of whom seem to be the middle-of-the-road types who shun socialism.

[raccoon]

33. I don't think so.

"Mexico--I believe--does have gov't run universal health insurance."

I visited Mexico in December and after 24 hours I thought, they make the US look like frigging Norway.

[lonestarnot]

4. Hoy boy... n yikes.

Hope he/she is a good dentist. I will keep you in my thoughts as I know all about those root canals, good ones and bad ones.

[Mika]

6. Good luck.

In the US, the average cost to keep the dental office open and running is over $500 an hour. Rent, staff salaries, employee benefit insurance, business insurance, certification continuing ed., equipment (VERY expensive), supplies, etc, etc.

A new trend: many dental labs are outsourcing the crown and bridgework, that they used to do, to China. For about $20-$30 per unit. The US based "lab", in turn, mark it up 400-500 percent. American certified dental techs will be a thing of the past in a few years if things continue.

[spooky3]

8. I am not questioning your numbers, but one component of the

cost is the dentist/oral surgeon's salary. And their salaries are generally very, very high. I have no problem with people profiting from their labor in a capitalist system. But dentists won't get much sympathy about their costs from me until their salaries are more equitable relative to everyone else's. I know that is not what you arguing--I am just adding onto your point.

I know they have a lot of debt after graduating if they go to expensive private schools in expensive cities, but still...Dentists I have known have lived very, very well economically speaking.

http://www.ada.org/ada/prod/survey/faq.asp

[Mika]

16. Some make a LOT. Some don't.

After looking at the average incomes of DDSs :wow: - I feel like I have to raise my fees. ;)

Just kidding. I don't focus on income as the measure of the success of my practice. I focus on whether or not I am improving the patient's overall health. For some patients, it is achieved at a loss of profit to me. Of course, not all run their practices this way and the number of 'turning every procedure of your practice into a profit center' seminars is mind numbing - and somewhat disgusting IMO.

[Gormy Cuss]

56. I don't mind paying my current dentist 's fees.

He has multiple patients scheduled at once but his office is run very efficiently. It's rare that the patient experiences any unnecessary wait in the chair. He also explains treatment options carefully and doesn't push products like teeth whitening (he does offer it, however), and encourages patients to call his answering service should they experience discomfort outside of office hours.

The dentist that I had before this one was a "profit center" seminar graduate, and a crappy dentist to boot. There was never a visit without a procedure recommended, usually a crown. I have good teeth and gums based on the opinion of every other dentist that I've had in my life. Suddenly I needed a mouthful of porcelain? I don't think so. The dentist also had no answering service. One of his office staff would be on call to pick up messages from the office phone and would call back the next day, except on Sundays.

Here's the kicker. My out of pocket expenses with the good dentist are lower than they were at the crappy dentist.

[liberalhistorian]

58. I appreciate your attempts to be humane

and people-oriented in your work, and I'm sure most here would agree. I don't think too many people are really fully aware of just how much it costs to keep not just a dentist's office, but any medical office open for just one day. And medical personnel do, indeed, have the right to profit from their knowledge and skills, which they spent years of hard work and countless dollars (even if they went to a public university) to earn.

HOWEVER, they can't profit if people don't have the money to pay. And most people, even WITH insurance, are pretty hard-up for out-of-pocket costs. And a lot of medical office expenses are due solely to billing and insurance issues. That's why dentists and doctors should have no problem getting fully behind some type of guaranteed government health care, whether single-payer or another system. Their costs would go down, more people could pay, they'd have more guaranteed income, and no more haggling with multiple insurance companies and spending money on collection agencies to recover the co-pays and deductibles that people can't afford to pay.

I haven't been to a dentist in several years. I simply can't afford it. Even when I had dental insurance, it paid almost nothing, didn't even fully cover office visists. I make up for that by taking very good care of my teeth, brushing, flossing, etc., and haven't had any problems yet. But I'd be screwed now if I did, because I simply wouldn't have the money to deal with it.

Which brings me to something I've always wondered: why is dental insurance so much more expensive than other medical insurance, and why does it cover so little? Even the best dental insurance programs cover very little, really, much less than "regular" medical coverage. Why is that?

[drbtg1]

65. Your post exemplifies an important point

Yes, I'm a bit biased because of being a dentist. I do okay, not as well as Larry Rosenthal (www.baddentist.com), but okay. And I try to share it with my employees (nearly half of my expenses are payroll and they all have health insurance, premiums 100% paid by me).

But after reading post after post, and comparing that to some of my emergencies, I really feel the bigger problem is how incomes and benefits haven't kept up with the costs of society. With regard to dental insurance, most people get an annual benefit of about $1000-$1500. And that's been unchanged for about 35 years! 35 years ago, that would get a lot of treatment done. You could also get a nice house for $20,000 too. Costs have gone up over the years but the insurance companies think people can get by with the same 35 year old benefits.

Now some may say universal healthcare is the answer. Maybe, maybe not. I like some aspects of expanding Medicare for everybody and paying for it by increasing the Medicare deduction to about 4.5% (both sides). But here's the possible downside. An average crown may now go for $800-$1200. But if they pattern universal dental like medicaid in my state, well, the last time I checked, the state paid $225 for a crown. And that's all you could get, illegal to bill the patient for anything additional. Think about that. At first it may sound like a bargain, but it quickly turns into government Wal-Mart, folks. Extreme cost cutting would occur. (Remember what I said was most of my expenses. Well, I might not have any choice.)

Finally, a tale from the other side of the soap opera "As The Drill Turns" (since everybody else is telling their tales). Years ago, a spent a day a week working in a dangerous city working on Medicaid patients. Made no money but I slept better at night. Well, maybe not the night the practice was held up at gunpoint, but that's a different story. Anyway, one time I had a new patient come to me needing many fillings done ASAP. He was due for surgery out of state and needed the fillings done prior to surgery (I thought it was odd that the Medicaid patient was going out of state for the surgery, but I didn't ask). Pretty important, so I cleared out other patients' appointments to get him in. Angered a lot of other patients, but I felt that this was more important since this poor guy has surgery on the line. Took about three huge appointments (couldn't do all at once due to the amount of anesthetic needed). Well, at the last appointment, the Medicaid patient, the got-no-money-but-needed-surgery patient, showed up to the office in a really sweet Mercedes. The type you and I will never afford.

I thought I was really helping. Oh, well.

[tibbiit]

10. I hear you

I've seen the work. Its not bad, in fact I could easily sell it.
Im seriously afraid for my industry after 30 some years of creation of tiny sculptures... a true art form (sometimes:)
tib

[Horse with no Name]

14. I like my dentist but it irritates the fire out of me

he books 3-4 people for one spot. I know they figure in cancellations, but more than once he has numbed my mouth and got caught in another room and had to re-numb me when the anesthetic wore off.:mad:

[Mika]

19. That's just plain bad manners.

I'm a one-at-a-time practitioner.

BUT, last minute cancellations in this type of practice can result in thousands of dollars of loss to a practice.

[Horse with no Name]

22. With him doing that

It still takes 2-3 months to get an appointment and longer than that for a cleaning. I guess if he didn't overbook, you might as well just find another dentist.

[CrispyQ]

53. What a jerk. I don't care how good he is, I'd drop him. --nt

[raccoon]

35. Good for the dental labs outsourcing crown & bridgework,

that is, if they pass on the savings to the patient.

Fewer and fewer Americans have dental insurance. Looks like for that reason alone, some dentists' incomes may be declining.

[Mika]

44. Good for them? They are laying off most all of their employees.

Dental techs are in the lower-middle income bracket, and have spent years and lots of money on hi-end technical training and skills enhancements.

Now they are getting shit-canned from their 25,000-50,000 dollar jobs due to Chinese outsourcing. They are losing their insurance benefits also.

The labs that fired them make more money marking-up Chinese C&B, and many of their clients (dentists) have no idea that the C&Bs they receive are made in China. Patients have no idea either.

Do you think the Chinese dental labs have OSHA inspections? Insurance? Good worker safety standards? 40 hour works weeks? Most all American labs do.

This trend is part of the gutting of the American manufacturing sector and the killing off of a skilled profession. It is not good, IMO.

[raccoon]

45. Wooo, didn't realize that.

That they're being laid off.

[drbtg1]

60. There's also a quality issue

(I guess I should help cover Mika's back here.)

As Mika can surely attest to, I like having a trusted lab tech nearby to consult with. Maybe there's a materials issue, maybe it's a tricky shade on a front tooth, maybe it's a new product that some bought-and-paid continuing education guy is pushing but really doesn't hold up (Captek, Mika?).

But Mika, aren't all us dentists supposed to go get those $100,000 Cerec machines to put us more in debt and lay off more lab techs? (Oh, the things that go on behind the scenes!)

[Mika]

80. Some of my friends got the Sirona system and..

.. after one year they hardly even use them.

They figured out that it is more cost effective to pay a lab tech to do the C&B work and to do the patient to Dr work themselves. Besides.. most DDSs aren't good techs. (Although I do some of my own lab work, models, die trims, contact additions, glazing, etc. - I'm also a CDT).

[drbtg1]

85. I think there's one thing that sums up the Cerec system perfectly

Cerec is only sold to the very limited population that is dentists (and labs), not the general public, consequently there's inherently a very limited supply. Yet, despite all the hype and promises about Cerec, I can always find used ones on Ebay.

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. Not just to China. I watched a special where prisoners in North Carolina

were making dentures and such. Cheap prison labor courtesy of the Prison Industrial Complex.

[tibbiit]

47. Dental labs have almost nothing to do with

what dentists charge you.
DO you think the dentist will pass any savings on to the patient?
The cost of mfg the crown is minimal in what the dentist charges.
This is just one more example of us sending our lifeblood to another country.

tib

[Mika]

51. When one considers that..

.. the dentists's overhead is $500+ per hour, a $75 - $200 crown from a lab is a minimal fee.

It is the dental labs that outsource that make most of the profit from the endeavor.

--

You see all of the UPS ads don't you? They crow that they can streamline your offshore manufacturing. The dental lab profession is one that is getting hit. Hard.

Their slogan = "What can Brown do for you?" They can help you lose your job, that's what.

[drbtg1]

70. Hey Mika, how about those "dentist surcharges" too?

At least that's what I call them. Those extra costs when someone is figuring out what to charge you for something and then decides we're just a rich dentist (like some here) and decide to hike their fee.

The last time was when I had some serious HVAC work done at the office, which included changing two thermostats. Well, these rocket scientists put in two 5+2 programmable thermostats instead of 7 day thermostats. When I pointed out I don't have the same hours Mon-Fri every single day and if they could swap them out when they came back to the office (they had to fix something they put it anyway), they said it would cost $400 to change them. Screw that, I'll change it myself.

Anti-dentites may laugh, until they realize that dental surcharges eventually get passed on.

[Mika]

79. No shit!

I had a cooling fan go bad on my Air Techniques oil-less compressor.

Benco sent a repair guy who "diagnosed" my problem = 1 visit @ $80.
Then he came back with a new fan assembly (all I really needed was the fan, but they only replace the whole assembly) = another 80 bucks + $450 for the fan assembly.

I wanted to keep the old parts.. no problem. I looked at the old fan and got the manufacturer and part # from it. I called the fan manufacturer and got a price on the fan.. their charge for the fan.. 12 dollars. For the same fan Air Techniques charges (msrp) $450.

Looks like I'll have to pull some extra teeth just to pay Benco. ;)

[drbtg1]

84. I hear you. Schein tried to pull the same thing with me.

I had an autoclave explode. Threads on the handle failed. Looking at it, it obviously needed just a new handle. But Schein can't fix autoclaves on-site. It had to be shipped and then the assclowns at their repair facility claimed it needed about $1000 worth of repairs, but they'd be happy to give me a small credit toward the purchase of a new autoclave. I told them they can keep the autoclave and I was going elsewhere for a new autoclave. Fortunately, medical supply houses are more competitive and I found a Midmark for about $1500 less than Schein (plus a rebate).

I used to work for a guy (real asshole, like many of our fellow dentists) who figured out that the operatory lightbulb was exactly the same as one he could get at an auto supply store.

Really helps develop an "us vs. them" mentality.

[C_U_L8R]

9. And dental insurance is a joke

I burned through my insurance in one visit
(cracked molar just like you)
Some insurance !!!

[FormerDittoHead]

15. I would understand whitening, etc but come ON! Who the hell gets an extraction for FUN?

Like everyone else I had to kick in for getting a wisdom tooth removed, but come ON, what's the point of the co-pay / uninsured part? I mean if it's to prevent people from getting excessive / cosmetic work done, fine, but sometimes there's WORK to be done!

[Horse with no Name]

17. I have $120 left on mine

I blew it in one wad getting my bridge replaced.

[SAXMAR]

29. Does Canada offer cheaper dentistry?

Does Canada offer cheaper dentistry like they do in Mexico?

Is there a Mexican Dental Clinic that has a good record for removing mercury amalgam fillings at a reasonable price.?

[uppityperson]

82. Been to USA and Canada in last yr, going Mexico next

Root canal USA $1500, Canada $750 (after $40 travel and exchange rate)
Crown USA $1200, Canada $700.
Friend and family member visited a dentist in Mexico, were very pleased and costs were less than 1/2 Canadian. I'll let you know how it goes.

[porphyrian]

11. If you can't afford anything else, consider getting them to kill the nerve.

I had an old filling that got compromised and the tooth got infected, so I needed a root canal. I didn't have insurance either, so I had to beg and borrow to get it, and it still took months to get worked into their schedule. Anyway, the pain of the infected tooth was way more than any pain I had from the root canal itself or the healing after it, so don't fear getting it. It was some time later that I was talking to a friend of mine who said that they can go in and just kill the nerve for cheaper than the entire operation. In hindsight, especially given the wait, I wish I had done so. You might want to ask about it.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

20. I hear ya. I have been going to my dentist for 15 years - ever since

he set up practice in my hometown. Once upon a time I had decent dental insurance through the ex. No more, no coverage. I still went to him after the insurance lapsed for routine cleanings but it was a stretch to afford his $100.00 fee.

Fast forward a few years of never owing him a penny for nothing. (He has never even sent me a damn bill. Always paid in full at time of service.) Have a problem with a tooth that years ago had a pin put in it to save it. This tooth has now developed problems and a significant amount of pain due to the age of the pin, etc. This dentist now wants $1,500 to fix the problem - which I don't have. So he kindly offered to "allow" me to pay him $100.00 a month (a real squeeze for me) in advance until I have the $1,500.00 "saved" up with him and then he'll do the work.

He actually said the pain should be an incentive to "get busy" and pay the money so he could fix the tooth. Don't ya just love healthcare in America?

PS - I'm looking for a new dentist. I will not go back to that guy. I just wish that Mexicon was an option for me.

[porphyrian]

23. Yeah, that's pretty sick. See if you can get someone to kill the nerve for you.

It kills the tooth, so it'll become brittle and you have to be careful with what you bite on, but that's true with most crowns as well. Good luck, at any rate.

[Horse with no Name]

13. Well the good news is

that when I lived in Mercedes, a lot of people I worked with went to Progreso for dental work and I never heard a bad story.
The problem you are going to have is getting that pain prescription filled. If you fill it on that side of the border, they will confiscate it if they find it. Generally you aren't going to find a pharmacy over here to fill an out-of-country prescription.
If you have access to a physician here, it might make it easier if he will write a script for you.
Good luck.

[gulfcoastliberal]

28. Not sure if true

I brought back PLENTY of pharmaceuticals; I believe you may have either a 30 or 90 day supply of meds, can't remember. Otherwise the seniors wouldn't have their discount drugs if they all got confiscated. If you have a Mexican RX for pain meds, ask if the dentist also dispenses the medicine, if not, ask him which pharmacia in the area to use. You can even get oxycontin. Not that I'd ever do anything like that. lol

[Horse with no Name]

34. The last time I went

and it has been a few years, I had some prescription bottles in my purse from a Doctor in Texas.
It was on a Saturday and they thought that I took the bottles over to refill them.
They were ready to confiscate until the contacted the Doctor that prescribed them.
I used to live 7 miles from the Mexican border and crossed over pretty frequently. I came to the conclusion after having stuff confiscated that they can pretty much decide to take anything they want to. Are you going to argue with the Mexican border guards?:shrug:

[gulfcoastliberal]

77. Of course we're powerless vs customs/ICE

But I just stuffed my pockets full, flashed my CA DL, said "American" and got waved right through every expedition. I totally see how they can and would try to take legal prescriptions - asshole power trippers.

[itsmesgd]

18. My FREE Dental Plan:

I chew on the other side of my mouth.

[fed-up]

26. that's my current plan also after quote of $7K for dentures 2 years ago,

but two days ago I bit down hard on some nuts on the wrong side and now have agonizing pain. I have learned that soy sauce increases the pain 10 fold.

Maybe in a few years I can get to Austin (as my brother just moved there) to get over the border for reasonably priced dental care.

In the meantime Californians that want to work towards affordable Healthcare should go to
http://onecarenow.org/index.html


edited to correct early morning spelling/grammar errors

[Le Taz Hot]

31. I did the same thing for years,

then my other side started giving way. I had a VERY small window of time in which I had dental insurance so instead of having $25,000+ work on my teeth, not to mention YEARS of agonizing pain . . . I told them to pull the suckers and got dentures. My part was $2500 and I found a dentist who would let me make payments. I know it's not PC to say but guess what? It's the best decision I ever made. For the first time in my life, my friggin' teeth don't hurt!

[fed-up]

21. cost of dentures/yanking existing teeth? how far from Austin-McAllen? n/t

[Horse with no Name]

24. Well actually Reynosa is across the McAllen border

I am not fond of Reynosa, but people go there as well.
Progreso is across the Mercedes border. It is about 320 miles from Austin to Mercedes...subtract about 30 miles if you go to McAllen.

[izzie]

25. Like when I grew up in the 30's and 40's. The rich could go to dentist

I know in my school only 3 of us went to a dentist as a reg. thing and we got cat call about it. Which did not help as dentist were not as good then as now.It was a bad day when you had to go to a dentist. I find this interesting. We had a women dentist in that day and age. My last dentist retired at about 40. I have had to put off cleaning once every 9 months and not every 6 months as I can not pay the bill. I have not asked my children if they are going, as I took care of their teeth for years and I do not want to know what they are doing about it now.

[Cobalt Violet]

27. How much for dental implants?

I got some missing in the back because I just couldn't afford the price to keep them.

[raccoon]

38. I'd like to know that too.

Had one implant in the US. Cost me mucho dinero (of course) but I've been real happy with it.

[Cobalt Violet]

41. I live in Massachusetts.

I thinking from the sounds of it I could down there and get major reconstruction, and pay less than the price of one root canal and crown up here.

[Mugu]

71. The cost for implants in my neck of the woods is $1200-1500 each.

That’s just for the implant, the crown runs $1000-1500 extra. Add to that the cost of extraction, x-rays, and cleaning and you’re looking at $3000-3500 and 6 months between implant and crown for one tooth. I’m currently going through this but with the added twist of braces to straighten the teeth on either side of the missing tooth, so add another $1600 and 10-12 months.

I’d be interested to know why the Mexican dentist can charge less. OK wages are lower, but what about other things like mal-practice insurance? Do they have a defibrillator in the office in case something goes wrong? If you feel that the dentist made an error due to negligence, do you have any recourse?

Regards, Mugu

[TlalocW]

30. Just for fun, buy a pinata while in Mexico and try to bring it back

The border guards will rip it apart looking for drugs. It makes them feel useful.

TlalocW

[raccoon]

32. Good for you! I've considered doing that and I live in SC. nt

[SAXMAR]

36. Canadian Dentistry? Mexican Mercury Amalgam Removal?

Does Canada offer cheap dentistry options?

Does anyone know of a Mexican clinic that does Mercury Amalgam removal?

Sorry for the double posting. I will remove one.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

81. Check out this website--person in Tijuana

http://www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com/index.html

Quote:

I'm from Oregon, but I recently moved to San Diego. I was poisoned by my amalgam dental fillings since age four. At age thirty-seven, my doctor and dentist saved my life. They are the silver ones. They contain 50% mercury which has been proven to leak out, poisoning your body, sometimes in subtle ways. Exposure from fillings lowers the immune system rendering you much less capable of fighting whatever diseases or conditions you, as an individual, are suseptible to. Please read below about the most toxic (non-radioactive) substance on the planet, along with my personal story.
I now take people to my Biologic Dentist in Tijuana Mexico, where it is profoundly less expensive than Biological Dentists in the U.S. They have all been very pleased with the outcome; I have even taken my own parents! I just want people to get well or prevent them from becoming ill, later. I can provide you with all the details you need to make the trip down here. Best of all, the work can be done in one day with IV conscious sedation if that is your preference.


If you or your friends or family are experiencing any health problems (the most noticeable are stomach problems and/or acid reflux disease, weight gain, anxiety, difficulty controlling emotions such as anger, MS, fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, arthritis and memory problems and/or confusion) or have any silver fillings you need replaced, or root canals or cavitations you need cleaned, Contact me for an estimate.


I am dedicating my life to taking people to my dentist to get their amalgams (mercury fillings) out as well as root canals removed, crowns replaced, health-robbing bacteria cleaned from cavitations (holes in your jawbone caused from root canals and/or teeth pulled by a regular dentist), and other dental services. I do this because I truly believe in my Dentist. He is a dedicated professional and a humanitarian, keeping his prices low so that people can afford to get well. And, best of all, the work is guaranteed. His office is very pleasant and above all he wants his patients to be happy and healthy! For a list of prices, see: Price List And Chelation Information

[quiet.american]

37. My dentist gave me a proposal that says I need $15,000 worth of work.

At $200 for one filling, no wonder.

[raccoon]

43. Sounds like he has a kid starting to college soon or he needs a new car.

Of course, you know him and I don't. But I'd wonder about that much bucks.

[mnhtnbb]

39. Expats living in Belize routinely go to Chetumal, Mexico for dental

and medical care. When we went on a relocation tour through Belize two years ago, part of the tour included all of us going on a bus to see the medical clinic (hospital) in Mexico where our American tour leaders have personally had
excellent experience--including major surgery.

If you've done your homework, you're just as likely to have a good result
with your care in Mexico as you would here.

Yes, the U.S. system is broken. John Edwards was the first candidate to come out with a detailed health care plan--last week--and all anybody could talk about was the bloggers he'd hired who use four letter words and are critical of some of the teachings of the Catholic Church.

We get what we deserve in this country.

Good luck to you.

[Clark2008]

63. Yeah - but his plan only involved the insurance companies

It was pretty pathetic, actually.

[Trailrider1951]

40. Wow looks like I hit a nerve!

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I think that this is my only way to save my tooth. Yeah, I could get it pulled for a small fee, but then I would be looking at bridge work, and that isn't cheap either. At least here in the good old usa......
As far as pain meds are concerned, right now I'm eating Advil like it was candy. If that won't be strong enough after the root canal procedure, then I'll pick up something stronger OTC at one of the fine farmacias in Progreso. And I'll bring it back across the border....I don't think they'll strip-search this old grandma. And I hear the margaritas are cheap!

Anyway, McAllen is about 340 miles from the Austin area. My sister and I will drive down to the Valley on Sunday, stay at the La Copa Hotel in McAllen, drive to the crossing about ten miles away, and walk across the border at Progreso. My appointment is at 11:30 on Monday. That is when I will get the crown prep, the root canal if needed and the temp crown put in. As we are planning to return to the Austin area on Wednesday evening, I hope they can put in the permanent crown on Wednesday morning. If not, then I will return the following week for the finishing treatment. Anyway, it just pisses me off to no end that I make decent money and STILL cannot afford the care I need! America has become a country for the rich people, and the rest of us can just curl up and die!!! If you want more information, visit www.shop-progreso.com

[fed-up]

50. try gargling w/saltwater-I do it 2x-4 hrs-may help kill bacteria and ease pain a bit nt

[skyblue]

42. What Do You Need Teeth For?

:shrug:

[AnnInLa]

46. I'm interested

I have many friends who get their dental and other med work done in MX, with good results....depending on where they go. Please send me your links....thanks!

[The_Casual_Observer]

48. Dentists have become very high end rich people in this country.

It's absolutely crazy.

[Mika]

52. Not really true.

From post #8
http://www.ada.org/ada/prod/survey/faq.asp

--

Very high end rich people in this country make multi millions per year. Dentists don't come close to that. Especially GDs.

[Strelnikov_]

57. So, are you going to be able to get your office rate down to $100/hr

to compete with the 'Mexico' price?

Or do US Dentists simply start to leave the business?

How do dentists, doctors, engineers, factory workers and on and on compete with countries with much lower wages and, even more importantly, business costs. Sure, there are inflated wages. But one persons inflated wage is another's opportunity cost. Is a corporate lawyer or MBA worth more to society than a dentist/doctor?

The root of the OP's problem, not being able to afford domestic medical services, lies with the growing income disparity in this country IMHO. The cost of goods, services and real estate seems to peg to what the top 20% can afford, leaving everyone else (far) behind.

I do know that single payer insurance is not the only part of the answer. Look at the rates being thrown around for relatively simple procedures. Look at what you paid in taxes last year. Look at the Federal budget deficit. Look at the current account deficit. The money is not there if we simply overlay universal insurance onto the current rate structure, such as Medicare for all.


The current economic dynamic is not sustainable. Something has to give. The only question for me is when.

[slackmaster]

54. Yes, it's very broken for people who fall between fully employed and destitute

The "working poor".

[progressivebydesign]

55. We have private dental insurance and it's all quite affordable.

We were priced out of the dental insurance market thru the employer, so I found a great plan thru Blue Shield. The premiums are really inexpensive, AND you can go to a very nice dental clinic for very low co-pays. My daughter got braces thru them, we paid half of the regular price and only 15 bux a co-pay for visits. MOst of our copays, even for having a few of her teeth out, were like 30 to 75 bux. If you're willing to pay a premium monthly, and if you are willing to use the clinic or dentist they contract with, you can pay a fraction AND not have that lingering doubt of going into another country for care.

I'm just concerned about you.. if you're having something like a root canal, which is invasive and has infection risks, what will happen if there is a problem afterwards. It's not as if you can just drive 10 minutes to the dentist, or have them call in a prescription for you. Can you carry drugs prescribed in Mexico over the border? Cuz they'll give you anti-biotics if you have any type of dental surgery. WIll you feel well enough to "walk" back across the border? Then drive all the way home?

It totally blows that we are all being priced out of health insurance and dental care. We had to forgo the employer insurance because it would be 750 a month for two of us, and instead have to pay 227 month for private health insurance (not the dental insurance which is 47 a month for 2 of us).

[OnionPatch]

59. My sister just paid $900 for a root canal...without a crown!

The crown will be around $700 more. She has no dental insurance. Her health care doesn't cover it. (As if the health of your teeth are not a part of your overall health. :mad: ) She can't afford this and has been putting it off and suffering with the pain until she was able to use her income tax return. The system is broken.

[spoony]

74. Wow! It sounds like dentists' pricing

really varies. I had a root canal last week on a canine and that plus a composite filling on it only cost about 400. I don't know if the particular teeth have different prices, or if it's the doctors?

[Trailrider1951]

75. The cost does vary with the type of tooth

a canine only has one root, a molar may have three or four. Google "root canal procedure", there is some useful info out there. But still, if I could afford the treatment to save my tooth here, I would do it here. I'm only going out of the country because it is the only way for me to get it done unless I win the lottery.

[spoony]

76. I wish you well

That was my first root canal and it was uncomfortable enough, I can only imagine doing it to four roots at once! My best to you :)

[Trailrider1951]

62. Ok, one more post on this subject for those who are interested

I'm going to Dr. Ricardo Carreon in Nuevo Progreso.

www.drcarreondds.com

www.shop-progreso.com

Also, more info on other dentists here:

http://escapees.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/607601661/m/130101868

I will post the results of my adventure late next week.

[Cobalt Violet]

72. Good luck.

Let us know.

[The Cleaner]

64. I agree. My experience:

A few years ago I had a root canal and a crown. They did a "deep gum cleaning" which cost $800 - just for the cleaning itself. I doubt that was necessary in my case as my gums weren't that bad and it had only been 1-1/2 years since I'd had a cleaning due to unemployment. In fact while the dentist himself said my gums looked fine and were better than his, the hygenist thought otherwise and did the deep cleaning...go figure! I always try to take good care of my teeth though.

Anyway long story short, with cleaning, root canal, crown - $3000. I was shocked! And immediately sympathized with those who continue on without health insurance.

I found you have to be careful with dentists here in Texas (Dallas anyway). Dallas has one of the largest dental schools, Baylor, and dentists here are literally on every street corner. The one dentist where I got the crown seemed like a testing-ground for brand new dental techs which I found disconcerting.

Anyway wow, what a price difference between here and Mexico. Yep, our healthcare system is out of control, FOR SURE.

[C_U_L8R]

66. Drill em. Fill em. Bill em.

With a motto like that is it no wonder
things are out of control.

[PCIntern]

67. I'm a dentist as well...

and this thread is congruent with all the other dental threads we've had in the past. I wish you all luck in your endeavors, both domestic and alternative.

[sandnsea]

68. Wish I could do that

Too far away for me. I'll just have to wait until they all fall out and then buy dentures. My aunt used to get her dental work done in Mexico, she lived in New Mexico. She was always happy with it. Good luck to you. It's great that you have that option.

[Red State Rebel]

69. I Had Bariatric Surgery in Mexico Last Year

The surgeon was wonderful, the hospital was beautiful and I had excellent care. I'd go again in a minute!! In the states it would have cost at least $30-$55,000 - my cost there was $11,000.

Good luck!

[NNN0LHI]

73. I would say cheap dentistry ranks right up there with discount bungee jumping

Might seem like a good idea at the time but later on who knows?

For the record I am not in the dentistry profession.

Don

[WindRavenX]

83. you don't think people have a need for access to affordable dentistry?

:shrug:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

86. My cousin had to go to Mexico for his heart condition

He had no insurance and he was informed that an EKG and other tests that he needed in the U.S. was going to cost in the thousands upon thousands. He went to Mexico to a highly recommended heart specialist who was educated in Europe. The entire bill including a battery of tests was about $350. And the medication prescribed by the Doctor was pretty cheap, too. My cousin has gone back every few months for medication and monitoring and it's still very reasonable in cost. That was about four years ago and my cousin is doing a lot better now.