When an American citizen has a toothache and cannot afford traditional dentists, crossing the border is an option. Our neighboring country, Mexico, offers less expensive prescription drugs and other medical services, including dentistry. Many US residents could not afford certain types of health care without this less expensive option. But is it a good idea? There are pros and cons to leaving the country for dental work.
Some of the positives include:
Less expensive: If a person does not have a significant balance in their bank account or insurance coverage, American dental work may be out of their price range. A crown, which can cost up to $ 4,000 in the states, can cost less than $ 1,000 across the border. That is a huge savings!
Same Day Service – Mexican clinics can usually see patients right away. Labs are faster to make crowns and other items than labs in our country. In the United States, the wait for a porcelain crown can be a couple of weeks, but Mexican crowns can be ready the next day.
Holidays at the same time: many oral health practices in our sister country are located near the beach. What better place to wait for your appointment time? Some patients combine a beachfront vacation while also achieving their oral health goals. With all the money saved on the least expensive services, why not?
Technology and training have improved: Initially, the medical and dental communities across borders were substantially inferior to the rigid standards set in the states. This has been changing over time and practices in foreign countries have improved a lot, especially in major cities.
Some of the negatives include:
Drug trafficking criminals: Unfortunately, drug trafficking has reached an all-time high, causing more crime to occur. Some innocent bystanders have been caught in the crossfire of these nasty criminal activities.
Not all professionals are well qualified – a citizen must thoroughly verify their prospective dental health care workers. This is true in all countries, but the US has strict regulatory practices that promote a broader range of safety standards and high-quality, trained professionals.
Away if something goes wrong: The unfortunate side of traveling to a far away place to perform any kind of medical service is the fact that it IS far away. If something goes wrong while you are outside your home country, your own documents will not be available. If something goes wrong after you return home, it is a long way to go to fix the problem. A poorly fitting crown or a faulty root canal can become a serious problem that will need to be taken care of by a local doctor. Trying to save money can sometimes cost a lot more in the long run.
Are dentists in Tijuana or Chihuahua a good idea? This is an individual decision that each person must make for themselves. It would be a good idea to weigh the pros and cons, as well as talk to friends and family who have traveled for medical care.
