Throngs of uninsured US patients seek dental care in Mexico

[rodeodance]

Source: ap



Throngs of uninsured US patients seek dental care in Mexico

by Paula Bustamante 1 hour, 13 minutes ago

EL PASO, United States (AFP) - With aching teeth and a need to cut expenses, throngs of Americans are marching into neighboring Mexico for dental care, and saving hundreds to thousands of dollars in the bargain.
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Mexican dentists working on the other side of the border provide help to hundreds of Americans, who cross the border every day with the purpose of getting rid of their toothaches.
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"To replace these teeth, I'll need an antibiotic, and I'll buy it there, and they give you a prescription," said Cleveland. "But for some medicines and antibiotics you don't need to have an American prescription."
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"Now there are some things that could sound ironic: while Mexican patients try to come here, cross the border looking for advanced medical treatment for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, obesity and diabetes and liver disease, a lot of American citizens cross the border every single day, in groups, to get in Mexico basic medical care like dentists or even, in recent years, laser eye surgery," said Manuel de la Rosa, vice dean at the School of Medicine at the Texas Tech University in El Paso

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071005/lf_afp/usmexicohealthimmigrationdentists_071005162851;_ylt=AgXXp1fq_8W7J5KZBFkcKwOs0NUE

[Warpy]

1. People here in NM get their six month checkups

in Juarez, where both sides of Avenida Benito Juarez are lined with signs for "Dentista" and "Farmacia." Even with the high cost of gas, it's still a good deal for most of us.

[blonndee]

9. Absolutely that's true. My aunt and uncle and their kids have all their dental work done in Mexico.

And my brother actually went there for Lasix surgery. I wouldn't have done it but he found a great doctor and paid about 1/3 what he would have in the U.S. Down here in SE NM, it's very common indeed when it comes to dental and vision care, and even plastic surgery.

[Warpy]

12. I've worked with Mexican medical people on both sides of the border

Their system is very, very different in focus, but their professionals are knowledgeable and competent.

[cosmicdot]

2. 7 years ago, the Surgeon General's report on Oral Health ...

"While 44 million Americans lack medical insurance, about 108 million lack dental insurance."

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/oralhealth/

Who decided not to include dental care (and vision care) as part of Medicare?

[MissWaverly]

3. dental insurance???

I have comprehensive dental, when I broke my tooth last winter and had root canal w/o the nerve taken out, it cost me as much
as when I had no insurance, $500.00, my carrier paid under $300.00

[slackmaster]

4. That's nothing new

People around here have been doing that as long as I can remember.

A friend of mine bought a wife in China a few years ago. Her teeth were a mess from years of poor dental care. Six trips to a Mexican dentist put her in pretty good shape at a fraction of what any US dentist would have charged.

[redwitch]

5. he bought his wife?????

sheesh.

[slackmaster]

13. That's how things are done, at least in some segments of society over there

It's a different world.

[Clovis Sangrail]

21. I know somebody that bought a wife from Russia

don't know that I'd call him a friend anymore... that had a serious impact on how I looked at him.

[redwitch]

22. I should think so.

Good for you! I always thought the buying and selling of people was a bad idea, ya know. I swear the human race moves backward most of the time.

[Clovis Sangrail]

23. it wasn't actually an outright purchase

it was going to one of these "find a wife" tours, where they line up interviews between poor russian women and wealthy american men.

After this 1 week "tour" he brought a woman back on a marriage visa.
She got citizenship and a better life (I suppose) and he got a live in prostitute.
(nice enough lady, but I don't really know a more apt term)

I expect them to get divorced shortly after her citizenship is no longer dependent on the marriage.

:eyes:
Sometimes people you know do things that really surprise you.

[icymist]

6. 'Bought' a wife in China?

Your friend 'bought' his wife? Or do you mean 'brought' his wife (from China)?

[slackmaster]

11. You read it correctly, and that is not a typo

I think he paid her father about $10,000.

[Flabbergasted]

7. That's an astonishing irony.

[slackmaster]

14. I don't see any irony in it at all

It is indicative of the overall inefficiency of our system. Also everything in general is cheaper in Mexico, but it's not in any way the result of some wonderful national health care system.

I never had an option to buy dental insurance until the early 1980s. Dental procedures were always paid for in cash at the time of services, and the amounts charged were a lot less relative to other things than they are now.

[Flabbergasted]

15. The image of 1000's of Americans fleeing to Mexico to get their teeth pulled.

I just see that as a ironic.

[slackmaster]

16. Not just pulled - Cleaned, filled, capped, crowned, root canals, dentures

The whole nine yards.

Dentistry is not high-tech. It hasn't changed much in a century. It requires training and dexterity.

That people would go to Mexico to save money is no stranger than going there to buy liquor or fill your tank with diesel fuel.

[lovuian]

8. You will see more and more of this

You can have a vacation plus get your teeth fixed for the price here

Its the prices ridiculous

[tanyev]

10. I wonder how many of the Minutemen go to Mexico to get their tooth taken care of.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. I had an accident and broke some of my teeth.

If I could have taken off work I could have vacationed in Mexico for 3 weeks and had my teeth repaired for what it cost me here. As it is I'll be paying for the repairs for quite some time.

[UTUSN]

18. Heck!1 *I* need this dental work done, what do you call it? My mother died waiting for CLINTON care

[dflprincess]

19. Even if you have dental insurance, the annual cap on it hasn't been raised since the late 60s

(according to my periodontist). Most people's dental tops out at $1,000 or $1,500 annually (and those amounts went a lot further in 1969). I work with a guy whose dad lives in Texas and goes to Mexico for some of his dental work. Even with insurance, it's still cheaper to get a crown done there than to pay the 50% out of pocket he'd have to pay here.

[UTUSN]

20. NO border wall !!1 ------------ THINK about it

http://notexasborderwall.com/