I live in the New York area. And I have dental issues.
I’m going to need extensive work. It’s not going to be pleasant, and it’s not going to be cheap.
I’m considering going abroad to get the work done to keep my costs down, but I don’t know which dentist I should go to. Is there anyone on this board who’s gone abroad–to Mexico or elsewhere–for dental work? If so, I’d love to get your recommendations for dentists, especially for endodontists, periodontists, and implant specialists.
The term for this is “medical and dental” tourism and several countries have thriving industries based on it. The type you are probably looking for are American trained dentists that speak English very well and cater to foreign clients and use the same parts that American dentists do. They aren’t the same ones that the locals use and you can indeed save a lot of money doing it that way even with travel included.
I can’t recommend a specific dentist but there are agencies that specialize in dental tourism and can match you to one for not much money. The countries easiest to get to that have such services are Mexico and Costa Rica (I would pick Costa Rica). Among the cheapest are dental tourism clinics in India but that is a long way away.
Google “dental tourism” + the country(s) that you are willing to travel to and you will see lots of options. Here is just one example but there are many others.
Thanks, Shagnasty.
I’ve already googled “medical and dental tourism.” I’m aware that towns like Algodones, in Mexico, specialize in dental work for visitors from the US and Canada.
I’m also aware that there are agencies who can arrange medical and dental trips from the US to Mexico and Costa Rica (and probably to other countries. I know a lot of Peace Corps volunteers get their medical work done in Lima, for example.)
What I’m looking for is a personal recommendation, from someone who’s actually had work done by a particular dentist who they’d recommend.
Poland, Poland, Poland.
Tens of thousands of English people in particular (and other Europeans as well, depending on their specific country’s healthcare system) come to Poland each year for the EXTREMELY affordable dental care, as well as the extremely affordable cost-of-living in general (in your case, hotel or other accomodations will be the vast bulk of your expense)
If you want I can give you details of my personal experience, but I am sure that even with flights over, a stay in a 4 star hotel in the heart of Krakow and food & drinks out each night of your stay you would still be way ahead of the game if your costs in the USA would be over somewhere around the $5,000 point.
A crown for a broken tooth that I am sure would have run me over $2500 in Salt Lake City cost me about $300 U$D, the work done by a dentist who spoke excellent Engligh, (he lived in upstate N.Y. for a year and loved telling me about his time in the US) and the quality of care was actually better than any American dentist I have ever had…
Seriously, do yourself a favor and look into it. I say that as someone with absolutely ZERO to gain, I am just that impressed with how things went for me.
I tried to edit this but wasn’t able to…
I did the math in my head and my cost was actually $400, not $300, although my dentist and his wife (she is also a dentist, they share a practice) did invite me to their home for a BBQ, so there’s that.
Seriously, I don’t know the specifics of your dental needs (until I broke my tooth 2 weeks before moving to Europe I hadn’t needed any dental work since I was a teenager nearly 30 years ago, aside from the the occasional cleaning), but the outstanding care I recieved at the unbelievably low price I paid makes me want to encourage anyone else needing dental work done to consider Poland.
Krakow is truly one of the world’s great “Undiscovered” cities (at least compared to places like Vienna, Budapest, Prague, etc.) and you won’t believe how far a dollar goes around here, and not just for dental care. To came here, have your teeth taken cxare of and get the chance to see an amazing city at the same time, all while actually saving money is something you ought to seriously consider.
Why should “tourism” have anything to do with it?
My mother’s regular dentist is in Tijuana–like a 30-minute drive from downtown San Diego. That’s not much further than many people drive for a “local” dentist. (You can walk across, too, and then take Uber, to avoid the wait crossing back.) I’ll PM the name and contact info.
A good dentist in Mexico needn’t be U.S. trained. Mexico has fine dental schools. In fact, one is accredited by the CA Board of Dentistry.