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Mexico Dental Visit

2 comments

Posted by Jonathan on Dec 5, 2011 in Mexico, Retirement, Travel | 2 comments

The night we “officially” relocated to San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico my wife lost a pretty major filling and needed to find a dentist. She wasn’t in any sort of pain and it wasn’t an emergency but it was something that need to be taken care of and of course we didn’t want to wait too long to address it.

It was around 7PM I asked a friend of mine if he knew of any local dentists that could see us on short notice and he recommended Doctor Mario Flores at Dental San Cristóbal. He told us his office is near our home at Kukurutz right on the Andador (main walking area) and we should go see him. I said thanks and we will get up and go in the morning. He told us we could go right then; he has his office hours in the evening. So we left and after a ten minute walk we found the office exactly as he told us – directly across from Anabananna – and went inside.

The waiting area was a bit aged but clean and serviceable. We talked to the receptionist and she asked us if it was an emergency. My wife explained that it wasn’t but she would like to take care of it soon. She gave her an appointment for 7 PM the next night and we left to go out and enjoy a crisp cool night in San Cristobal.

The next night we arrived about ten minutes early and after a short wait she was shown into the office. Dr. Flores was a personable man who spoke good English and asked what the problem was. My wife explained what had happened with the filling and after a quick examination Dr. Flores told her he could fix it right away and gave her the cost up front: 500 pesos (about $37 USD).

My wife said the office was clean, seemed to have all the latest equipment and after 15 minutes or so she had a new filling. Dr. Flores also politely scolded her for brushing too hard and suggested she go out and get a new tooth brush with softer bristles. We paid. We left. We went to a nearby pharmacy and got a new [child’s extra soft with a panda on it] tooth brush. Start to finish about 45 minutes and $37 plus a new tooth brush.

Now I don’t know what the same thing would have cost in the United States but I am sure the cost would have been substantially more. I am also pretty sure it would have been a bit tough to get a next day appointment as a new patient with a new dentist. I am also pretty sure the odds would be slim for getting a 7PM appointment. Once again we have had another no muss on fuss experience with the Mexican medical establishment and it has been nothing but positive for us.

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  • http://www.visitlatam.com/ Clara

    That’s great that you went to such a good dentist in Mexico. It’s nice that healthcare can be so much less expensive outside of the US!

  • Puravida0217

    Listen – I am “CLEARLY” all about the mexican dentist. You could even day committed to getting all my future dental work done in Mexico. I have had literally thousands & thousands american cost dental work completed in Mazatlan where my dentist is…. for only hundreds. Crowns, Implant replacement, basic cleaning and maintenance. I was really afraid when i lost my big corporate job in America & the puffy medical insurance with it….I can say i actually stressed for the better part of the year. THEN… after making new friends in Mexico, going to their recommended Dr’s & Dentists…. I see that I have nothing to worry about. The health care providers in my experience, thus far, in Mexico have been absolutely perfect with NO complaint. nThe last run of dental work I had done require replacing components of a dental implant that went south on me. The american dentist were quoting 6-7,000 american dollars. I got ALL the work done – clear to a perfect finish for just under a thousand. When the oral surgeon found out I was taking the public bus back to my hotel… he called out to his receptionist to cancel his next two appointments. He drove me to the pharmacy for my medication, then drove me to my hotel. THEN…. paid a house call two days later to check on the swelling and stitches. nAnd I will only make mention… of the blood work, mammo & annual that ALL cost less than 250$ INCLUDING an after visit to the Dr. Again to have him review my blood work up because it was all in Spanish and my Spanish is not so good YET ! nnSo my testament is…… Mexico offers no risk on my part thus far for receiving medical care. In fact it offers me a great relief and comfort knowing I can get this great care by really, really nice people. nnBlessings everyone – Karen