Medical costs in the United States are a hotly debated topic. However, no matter where your personal convictions on the subject lie, there is no denying that getting sick can be very expensive. Dental work can be expensive, too, which has led to a rise in medical tourism, or dental tourism, when people travel to foreign countries specifically for dental work, and it is far more common than most people think.
Where do people go?
For medical tourism in general, there are different countries around that world that will cater to specific needs, but when it comes to teeth Mexico is king. There are several reasons for this.
- Mexico is close – People who are looking for a bargain on their dental work are always happy that cheap flights or even buses are available.
- It’s been done before – Every year about half a million Americans get dental work done abroad, with about 40% of those patients traveling out of the country specifically to receive cheap dental work. There are even entire border towns in Mexico that specialize in dental work and cater to foreign customers.
- It is far cheaper abroad – Dental work abroad can cost 1/10 of the price it costs in the United States. For Mexico in particular, dental schooling is different. There are a number of factors ranging from schooling, to government aid, to cheap real estate that make practicing cheaper, which means they are able to charge less for procedures.
What are the downsides?
The obvious next question is, “if the work is so cheap is it safe?” Well, yes and no. If you do an internet search for dental tourism you are overwhelmed with stories of positive experiences and the popular border town dental offices have hundreds of reviews. It is a system that has clearly worked for a number of people, however, there are some issues.
Dental offices in Mexico are not required to carry the same malpractice insurance that American dental offices are required to carry. This means that if you dentistry goes badly, you are most likely out of luck. It would be tough to prosecute a case in a foreign country, and even if you won there is no guarantee that the dental office would be able to pay because of the insurance issues. So there is a certain level of inherent risk if you seek dental work in Mexico.
The take-away
While on the surface a vacation to Mexico where you can go scuba-diving one day and get necessary dental work done the next sounds like a pretty good deal to some people, but you should be extremely cautious before venturing down. Many of the offices near the border pack their schedules which gives their dentists very little time to rest. To compound the problem, almost all dental tourists have major issues, which take a lot of time and effort to correct. So there is a good chance the dentist you see will be tired and rushing. If you ask me, do everything you can to avoid having to travel to another country for dental work.
Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you. Check out our Twitter, Facebook page, and website.
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