Save Thousands on Dental Care

January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.

Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.

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My dentist in North Carolina graduated at the top of her dental class from one of the best dental schools in the country, but when she took over a practice from a man who was retiring, she inherited old equipment. Still, her reasonable prices and excellent care were far more important to me than the latest gadgets.

When I moved to Mexico for four years, I knew not to worry about old equipment since I'd already learned that good dentistry depends not so much on the equipment as the practitioner, but I had many other concerns. Questions about Mexican dental schools, hygiene, and competence plagued me. Since I have cavity-prone teeth, I knew it wouldn't be long before I needed dental care, and I worried about placing myself in the care of one of these non-American dentists.

I needn't have worried. I've been a patient of Mexican dentists for the past ten years, and I have found them to be as good as, if not better, than my North Carolina dentist. The ones I selected have had advance training, much of it in the States, and all speak excellent English. And even though I know it doesn't matter that much, all of them have the latest equipment. Of course the best news is that, because they do not pay an exorbitant price for malpractice insurance and because costs are low overall in Mexico, they charge about 70% less than American dentists.

Hygiene concern is a non-issue. All Mexican dentists use purified water, wear masks and gloves, adhere to the same equipment sanitation practices as the United States, and provide an environment in which the Americans crowding their waiting rooms feel perfectly comfortable.

Routine dental care is extremely inexpensive because x-rays are usually free and cleaning is a nominal fee ranging from free to under $50. Here's a link to the fees charged by the Washington Dental Clinic in Tijuana, MX, just a half-hour drive from San Diego.
Clinics in other border towns have similar prices.

My friends and I have gone to dentists in Nogales, 67 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, and Tijuana, Mexico, and all of us have been delighted with the care we received and the charge for services. Between us, we've had countless root canals, crowns, plates, and cleanings. Everyone, including myself, has been very happy with the treatment we received.

There's a great deal of fear about Mexican violence right now, but, I assure you that you will not encounter any problems whatsoever in the border towns. Many of the clinics make getting there very easy. Some pay for your parking on the United States side of the border and reimburse you for taxi fare to the clinic (always within a mile or two) and back to the border.

Of course, if you do not live within driving distance of a border town, you may find it impractical to make the trip for routine care, but if you are considering major work and facing enormous outlays of money, it may be wiser and cheaper to fly to a border town.

For example, someone needing extensive work such as complete oral rehabilitation might be charged $20,000 in the US, but can have the work done in Tijuana for $5250 plus the flight and the cost of a hotel room for a few weeks. The total cost for dental care, flight and hotel room would probably not exceed $7000. That's a savings of $13000 and you get a vacation to boot!

You will, of course, consult with the dentist you've selected to get his recommendation about a hotel that's within close walking distance to his office, but just to give you an idea of the type of accommodation you can expect in Mexico, see the Hotel la Villa site where rooms are $42 a night. Dentists catering to American and European patients are accustomed to providing all the information and help you need to make sure your treatment visit is a pleasant one, so do not hesitate to ask for their advice.

And, of course, when choosing a Mexican dental clinic, you must do your homework. Use the Internet to help you find information, read the talk forums about people's experiences, and call the clinic itself (most have toll-free United States numbers) to ask about the education and background of its dentists. Deciding on a Mexican dentist does take a bit more work, but the financial rewards are definitely worth the effort.

Practicalities -

This broadcast by a San Diego news station discusses the advantages of Mexican dental and health care.

This article by Robert Yoshioka focuses on Mexican dental care.

The Adventure Continues: Dentistry in Tijuana-- Robert Yoshioka

In this election year, with over 40 million Americans without any health insurance, it is more important than ever to seek affordable and reliable alternatives to maintain our health to the best of our ability. Quality dental care ranks among the most needed, and least well-funded of health services, yet for many of us in California, a viable and easily accessible alternative is available in Mexico.