Dental Work in Mexico??
Aug 30th, 2005, 07:35 PM
#21
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People who live on the border often "go across" to have their dental work done, but they have the advantage of being close if complications develop. I would not recommend traveling to Mexico for major dental work.
Also, Hofstra - please note that dental care through the VA is extremely limited, usually available to only a minority of patients, even among those who get their medical care though VA.
Also, Hofstra - please note that dental care through the VA is extremely limited, usually available to only a minority of patients, even among those who get their medical care though VA.
Aug 30th, 2005, 08:01 PM
#22
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In cnetral Europe, Austrians frequently cross over to Hungary to get their dental work done.
In Asia, Bangkok, Thailand has been a place where people go for excellent medical and dental care.
I once had a tooth filled in Singapore and was very happy with the work - and the price!
Shop around! And be very, very careful - as the others have forewarned! Good luck!
In Asia, Bangkok, Thailand has been a place where people go for excellent medical and dental care.
I once had a tooth filled in Singapore and was very happy with the work - and the price!
Shop around! And be very, very careful - as the others have forewarned! Good luck!
Aug 30th, 2005, 09:49 PM
#24
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A vacation with dental work? Isn't that an oxymoron?. I would never consider going abroad for surgery simply for financial reasons, but would regard this similar to the major expense of a car purchase or new roof. I would get a second opinion and estimate, bite the bullet, and put vacation plans on hold until financial circumstances permitted.
Aug 30th, 2005, 10:07 PM
#25
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Don't do it!!! It's not worth losing your life when an unqualified person claiming to be a dentist does your dental work.
A much better bet is to go to a good dental school such as USC and get the work done there. I have lots of friends who have had work done there, the price was right and the dental work was great.
A much better bet is to go to a good dental school such as USC and get the work done there. I have lots of friends who have had work done there, the price was right and the dental work was great.
Aug 31st, 2005, 01:53 PM
#27
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try this website and take a look at their dentistry forum:
http://www.plasticsurgeryjourneys.com/
http://www.plasticsurgeryjourneys.com/
Aug 31st, 2005, 03:02 PM
#29
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I reviewed medical records for the past 32 years for a major insurance company. I saw numerous people coming from overseas with infectious diseases, due to inferior sanitary conditions in other countries. You risk HIV, hepatitis B and C infections by having medical procedures in anything but first world countries. Mexico is not a first world country. In addition, dental procedures make one prone to bacterial endocarditis/strep infections that can exacerbate or cause heart infections and heart disease. The more information out there on the causality between inflammation and cardiac disease would make me think twice about where I had any procedure. Sterile surgical technique with appropriate and effective antibiotics are critical. Unfortunately, thought the prices in the US are high, medical training is the best in the world (thus all the foreigners attending US medical schools.)
That being said, I would definitely get another dental opinion. I had a total tooth implant with surgery prior to the implant to clean out an infected apicolectomy site, including the surgical bill and the replacement tooth custom made to match my other teeth for under $ 2,000. This was a front tooth with the cosmetic result critical. The oral surgeon was fantastic and gave me 6 months to pay his bill, as well as the cosmetic dentist, since none of this was covered by my dental insurance. Payment plans are the norm for major dental procedures. However, I question a $ 17,000 dental bill. They can replace your entire mouth for that!
That being said, I would definitely get another dental opinion. I had a total tooth implant with surgery prior to the implant to clean out an infected apicolectomy site, including the surgical bill and the replacement tooth custom made to match my other teeth for under $ 2,000. This was a front tooth with the cosmetic result critical. The oral surgeon was fantastic and gave me 6 months to pay his bill, as well as the cosmetic dentist, since none of this was covered by my dental insurance. Payment plans are the norm for major dental procedures. However, I question a $ 17,000 dental bill. They can replace your entire mouth for that!
Aug 31st, 2005, 05:35 PM
#32
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I would probably pull my own teeth out, first.
Have you ever been to Mexico? If you were assiduous enough or lucky enough to find a really wonderful dentist with all the latest equipment--i.e. a dentist for the very wealthy--- he/she would probably charge quite a bit, too.
Have you ever been to Mexico? If you were assiduous enough or lucky enough to find a really wonderful dentist with all the latest equipment--i.e. a dentist for the very wealthy--- he/she would probably charge quite a bit, too.
Sep 1st, 2005, 06:09 PM
#34
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M: Can you prove it? This is from the Dept. of HHS website re: the Mexican border region. Oh, I suppose the data could relate to the horrible conditions we have here in Texas versus Mexico...Granted there are many more diseases than mentioned here, but it is at least consistent. I don't eat food from street vendors in Mexico either, and I don't think traveler's diarrhea is less prevelent in Mexico than the US. Not easy to mine much comparative hard data doing a search on this. I'm sure matters are highly regional...probably lower in San Miguel.
"Hepatitis A is two to three times more prevalent along the border than in the United States as a whole. Tuberculosis, a growing threat in the U.S., appears along the border at twice the national average."
"The incidence of several types of communicable diseases is very high in border areas. The areas show high incidences of water borne diseases, such as shigellosis. The rates of hepatitis A infection, tuberculosis, and measles are also very high when compared to the general U.S. population. The incidence of AIDS is particularly high in San Diego."
"Hepatitis A is two to three times more prevalent along the border than in the United States as a whole. Tuberculosis, a growing threat in the U.S., appears along the border at twice the national average."
"The incidence of several types of communicable diseases is very high in border areas. The areas show high incidences of water borne diseases, such as shigellosis. The rates of hepatitis A infection, tuberculosis, and measles are also very high when compared to the general U.S. population. The incidence of AIDS is particularly high in San Diego."
Sep 2nd, 2005, 06:04 AM
#35
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"...reputable dentist in Mexico..." isn't that an oxymoron ? For $17k I'm pretty sure you can have a whole new set of teeth made. What in the world is being done that costs that much (their share after insurance) anyway. Sounds like some major surgery going on as well. I'll stick w/Binthair on this. Of course mikemo has provided a plethora of references & documention to refute this. mikemo, how about trying to exercise just a tiny bit of common sense in this case ??
Sep 8th, 2005, 04:44 PM
#37
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I know 2 people who have had work in Mexico and lived to tell about it. The first was my father who needed a full set of dentures and found someone by referral in Tijuana who did a great job at about 1/3 of the price here.
The other is a waitress at our local diner who went to Algodones to have a root canal performed. She said her dentist down there was trained in the US, speaks perfect English and did a great job for a 1/3 of the cost.
Like "desertduds" said in his/her post, Algodones is a little town just with dentists and eye docs. That's it. Now I'm not suggesting that you should run right over, but maybe a litlle more research might help you to decide one way or the other if this is a viable option for you.
Shorebrau is absolutely right saying:
"In addition, dental procedures make one prone to bacterial endocarditis/strep infections that can exacerbate or cause heart infections and heart disease."
If I were you, I'd ask the name of Shorebraus oral surgeon. He/she sounds like a person who doesn't gouge (no pun intended) his/her patients.
As a side note, my sister in law had one of her babies in Guatemala (they were living there) to the tune of $174. Total. They both turned out just fine.
The other is a waitress at our local diner who went to Algodones to have a root canal performed. She said her dentist down there was trained in the US, speaks perfect English and did a great job for a 1/3 of the cost.
Like "desertduds" said in his/her post, Algodones is a little town just with dentists and eye docs. That's it. Now I'm not suggesting that you should run right over, but maybe a litlle more research might help you to decide one way or the other if this is a viable option for you.
Shorebrau is absolutely right saying:
"In addition, dental procedures make one prone to bacterial endocarditis/strep infections that can exacerbate or cause heart infections and heart disease."
If I were you, I'd ask the name of Shorebraus oral surgeon. He/she sounds like a person who doesn't gouge (no pun intended) his/her patients.
As a side note, my sister in law had one of her babies in Guatemala (they were living there) to the tune of $174. Total. They both turned out just fine.
Sep 8th, 2005, 05:35 PM
#39
Just a thought re infections: even here in our antiseptic dental offices, I have to take a honker horse pill dose of antibiotics before any dental work. What's to prevent someone having dental work done in Mexico from taking a similar preventative dose if endocarditis or strep is a worry?
Sep 12th, 2005, 07:45 AM
#40
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Why travel for medical tourism when you can go to Asia where prices tend to be up to 10 times less? There was a CBS 60 min show two Sundays ago which featured medical fascilities in Thailand that are world calss, provide immensely personal service, with a lot of nurses tending patients. The hospitals look like 5 start shopping malls instead of the traditional hospital setting with familiar odor and sickly visitors. You should start by checking the CBS 60 min broadcast. Both Thailand and India are the best. The meidcal services also include paid vacation in a resort the hospital owns or is affiliated with.
Definitely I would visit Thailand, or India. I would not be surprised if the dental service you are looking for will cost you $5000. An American man did a hip replacement the the Thai hospital. It only cost him about $10 grand, about $120 grand less than that of American.
More and more Americans are outsourcing their medical services to Thailand and India because it is a lot cheaper there. Canadians as well as doing much of their medical services that is not covered under the national health plan in Thailand and India.
Good luck.
Definitely I would visit Thailand, or India. I would not be surprised if the dental service you are looking for will cost you $5000. An American man did a hip replacement the the Thai hospital. It only cost him about $10 grand, about $120 grand less than that of American.
More and more Americans are outsourcing their medical services to Thailand and India because it is a lot cheaper there. Canadians as well as doing much of their medical services that is not covered under the national health plan in Thailand and India.
Good luck.
