I outsoursed my dentist this week...UPDATE

[Trailrider1951]

Yes, I did it. My sister and I drove to McAllen, Texas (from the Austin area) last Sunday and I saw my Mexican dentist on Monday. My appointment was for 11:30am and I was there at 11:15. It was standing room only in the small reception room, and everyone there was an english-speaking American of 50+ age. I was called back to the examination room after waiting about 20 minutes, and met my dentist. He spoke perfect english with a slight spanish accent (just like back home in Texas), and the examination room and equipment was state of the art. He examined my tooth, and told me what to expect, and as I have had crowns before, it was pretty much the same as back in Texas. After he had prepped my molar for the crown, he told me that he had gotten all the decay, and that I did not need a root canal. The tooth was filled by his assistant while he made my temporary crown, which fit perfectly. The only real difference I saw between the care I received in Nuevo Progreso and Houston, Texas was when I paid the bill. Since I paid with a credit card, a 5% surcharge was added, making the grand total $184.00 for the prep and crown. Compare that to my Houston dentist who charged me $750 (after my dental insurance paid part!!) for the SAME thing. After the novacaine wore off, I did have some pain, which was to be expected. It was kept at bay with ibuprophen and margaritas, which you can buy anywhere there. Nuevo Progreso has many street vendors selling everything from silver jewelry to nopalitos (edible cactus), and my sister and I had an enjoyable time shopping the next day. The only bad part was that I misplaced my camera, and it is now long gone.... ;'( I'll go back in two weeks to get my permanent crown, and I will definately go back for any other work I might need, as will my sister and other family members.

If you want more information, here is a link: www.shop-progreso.com

edited to fix link

[lonestarnot]

1. Nice!

I am tired of sponsoring dentist's vacations. How was the pain level?

[Trailrider1951]

3. Well, it was uncomfortable, but tolerable

After all, the tooth and surrounding gum tissue were traumatized by the prep with the drill, but a couple of ibuprophen tabs and three margaritas kept the pain to a tolerable level. By the next day, Tuesday, it felt much better, and I needed fewer margaritas, but I drank them anyway! :9

I might also mention that the dentist down in Mexico are not licensed for administering gas, so they do not use it. If you need extensive work, they will sedate you however.

[lonestarnot]

5. Sounds reasonable in all directions!

:toast:

[Quakerfriend]

2. Very nice! We have crossed the border for medical

care as well. The idea that 'their' standards of care are somehow sub standard compared to those of doctors in the US is just nonsense. In fact, I trust them MORE- for eye care, dental care and for plastic surgery, as well.

My sisters both had lasix done in Mexico. And, I went there for my cancer care nearly nine years ago.

My mother-in-law just returned from a hospital in Mexico several weeks ago. She is receiving treatment for a benign brain tumor. She was thrilled with her care there.

We'll see how it goes.;-)

[lister666]

4. Perhaps you'd consider....

...going to the "student clinic" at a nearby dental school.You get outstanding care that's constantly supervised by practicing dentists.I've had crowns,inlays,gum surgery as well as routine cleanings done in such a clinic and,over the last 10 years,haven't paid more than $200 for all that care.And most of that sum paid was for the gold that was used in my care.


The only important drawback is that students tend to take longer to complete a particular task than does a practicing dentist.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi lister666!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[drbtg1]

6. "The tooth was filled by his assistant"?

What do you mean by that? On the surface, it sounds like something that would be illegal in the States.

[Buddyblazon]

7. Well...

the last two times I've gone to the dentist here in the states...the dentist drilled out the decay...the assistants filled the holes.

And I still payed an arm and a leg.

I'm far from the border so I don't have much of a choice.

[drbtg1]

10. Still sounds illegal, even where you are.

Maybe you have really, REALLY lenient laws where you are, but I've never known of an assistant that could fill legally. An expanded duty dental assistant can take radiographs and makes temporary crowns, but not fill.

It sounds like a dental mill. Did the dentist come back in after the assistant's fill to check your bite (occlusion)? If not and just relied on the assistant to check your bite, that's illegal too.

I'm sorry you paid an arm and a leg (I discussed that in the last thread on this topic, which, the last time I checked, went unchallenged). In any event, I'd bet your assistant gets paid much better than the Mexican assistant, even adjusted for the relative standard of living.

[raccoon]

8. Glad things went well. Thanks for the update. nt

[Horse with no Name]

9. Did you happen to visit Arturo's when you were there?

That was always one of my favorites. Last time we went (it has been several years ago) there were 6 of us and we ate a great meal, threw back some marguerita's and the bill was less than $25.

[Gruenemann]

11. ONE thing has always made me leery of this...

I used to live on the border and knew tons of people who went across for dental work. I never did for one reason--I was worried about the x-ray procedures. Do they use proper shielding and lead draping to keep from zapping body parts other than the teeth? I don't think they regulate x-rays there; there are all kinds of dusty shops with "Rayos X" signs out front. Apparently you can just walk in and have any kind of x-ray done you want.

That said, I'm glad to hear of your experience. I just got ripped off by a dentist here, even with insurance. I think a cruise down to Progreso will be just what the doctor ordered for any future dental care.