dental crown?

[pinkytoe]

DH has to get yet another one though admittedly it has been several years since the last. I am guessing we will have to part with around $700 even after insurance pays. There goes our February getaway. I always feel like this must be a money maker for dentists. Any advice to save $$?

[rodeosweetheart]

DH has to get yet another one though admittedly it has been several years since the last. I am guessing we will have to part with around $700 even after insurance pays. There goes our February getaway. I always feel like this must be a money maker for dentists. Any advice to save $$?

No advice, but I just had one done, and after insurance, my part was $585, which included $28 for oxygen they give me.

I need implants, and am thinking of going to Cancun and getting all of it done at once. Have already paid him two thousand for extraction and bonegraft, and now looking at 2000 for implant screw, then 1200 for another crown.

Mexico will do the implant screw and crown for 1200. Problem is I need 3, and if i go withthe local guy, that is 12,000 dollars.

Can you take your getaway in Mexico? I think a crown was something like $350 there?

[Yarrow]

DH has to get yet another one though admittedly it has been several years since the last. I am guessing we will have to part with around $700 even after insurance pays. There goes our February getaway. I always feel like this must be a money maker for dentists. Any advice to save $$?


Well, if the original crown lasted for years than it would be worth paying for another one in my opinion.... Teeth are pretty darn important! Of course, the dentist is making some money for their expertise, and so is the company that makes the crown....and they should. I mean, consider the alternative!! I don't understand when people want to cheap out on their own teeth or other health needs, but will spend money otherwise on lame things. I'm not directing this comment towards you, pinkytoe, but I see many around here with missing teeth sporting expensive clothes, tattoos, and driving fancy cars. If I were them I would have spent the money on dental care!

[Simpler at Fifty]

+1000

[pinkytoe]

I'm just griping:) We have just had quite a few high dollar expenses lately - they seem to come all at once. I do wonder though why it can be done for so much less in Mexico.

[Yarrow]

I'm just griping:) We have just had quite a few high dollar expenses lately - they seem to come all at once. I do wonder though why it can be done for so much less in Mexico.

Well, I don't know where you live but I would need a plane ticket, hotel stay, and rental car once I got there, to go to the Mexico dentist. That's not cheaper! ;) And the crime in Mexico would keep me away too. I didn't feel safe at all the last time I was there....

Also, the Mexico crown might be of cheaper quality and not last as long, and who knows really how good the Mexico dentist is???? I would rather stick with my own dentist of many years that I trust - who does quality work, is gentle, and keeps me pain free as much as possible.... Some things are worth paying for in my book. :)

[Sad Eyed Lady]

There used to be a posted here, and I am sorry that I can't remember who it was, but she (I think) went to Mexico for all her dental work and was very happy with it. I think maybe she lived in the southwest so not a big travel expense maybe. Does this ring a bell to anyone else?

[rodeosweetheart]

There used to be a posted here, and I am sorry that I can't remember who it was, but she (I think) went to Mexico for all her dental work and was very happy with it. I think maybe she lived in the southwest so not a big travel expense maybe. Does this ring a bell to anyone else?

I think it was LooseChickens. I think mabye Rob (Gimmethesimplelife) has also gone to Mexico for dental work?

[Teacher Terry]

It really depends what part of the country you live in. When I lived in a fairly large city in kansas it was so cheap to get dental work done. Now on the West Coast it costs a fortune & unfortunately I have always had bad teeth. Crowns here cost $1000. I think both dentists and vets here probably make the most $.

[jp1]

My. Understanding is that there are lots of American dentists who go there to work and. Can. Charge much less because overhead is so much less. The quality of dentistry is the same.

[RosieTR]

My dentist group wanted to do a crown and I procrastinated it since we hadn't signed up for an FSA. So, we signed up and lo and behold, now they have something called an "inlay" that costs half as much and is half the number of visits (because you don't have to fool around with a temporary crown). So you might look for that-but knowing next to nothing about dentistry I don't know if yours would work. In my case, I have old silver fillings from when I was a kid that are now having some decay around them and can't just be redone with the amount of tooth that would be left. As for "screwing around with your health" um, some dentists DO sort of oversell things like crowns and such because they are money makers. Some doctors oversell MRIs and CT scans because they are money makers. Some mechanics oversell radiator flushes because they are money makers. If there's an economic incentive to get a customer to get a service, only a longer-term honest professional will not try this. This is why getting a second opinion for a pricey procedure that is often over-prescribed is a good idea.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Well, I don't know where you live but I would need a plane ticket, hotel stay, and rental car once I got there, to go to the Mexico dentist. That's not cheaper! ;) And the crime in Mexico would keep me away too. I didn't feel safe at all the last time I was there....

Also, the Mexico crown might be of cheaper quality and not last as long, and who knows really how good the Mexico dentist is???? I would rather stick with my own dentist of many years that I trust - who does quality work, is gentle, and keeps me pain free as much as possible.... Some things are worth paying for in my book. :)I have had nothing but success in having my dental work done in Mexico - perhaps after my posts about Mexico this is not surprising. Were it not for Mexico I would not have been able to address the amount of dental work I needed done and my teeth would have continued to deteriorate. I will recommend one place to you - Los Algodones - seven miles away from Yuma, Arizona. If you don't want to stay overnight in Mexico - which I have done and if you are not looking for trouble, you won't find it - you can stay in Yuma, AZ, quite inexpensively and just cross the border every day until your work is done. Here's a website if you are open to exploring - www.losalgodones.com. On this site, I can recommend Sani Dental - very good work, very cost effective, wonderful overall. I can also recommend the Purple Pharmacy on this website and if you ever find yourself uninsured and desperate with a medical condition, I can recommend the Hospital Almater in Mexicali and two doctors who work there that I have dealt with. Rob

PS Forgot to add I can recommend Gala Optical for glasses - their $99 special for two pair of bifocals with free vision exam is a great deal and they have good frames to offer as part of this special. I don't have experience with him, but I have heard good things about Dr. Flores the dermatologist, and I have also heard good things about two hearing aid centers in Los Algodones. And to give you an idea of prices - crowns $140, root canals $150, bridges $800, cleanings $30 - though I have seem them on special for $15 in the off season. You are not going to find these prices in the US I'm afraid.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I think it was LooseChickens. I think mabye Rob (Gimmethesimplelife) has also gone to Mexico for dental work?Indeed I have and am grateful to Mexico every time I look in a mirror as I could not have had this work done in the US - it's priced out of reach in America I'm afraid. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

No advice, but I just had one done, and after insurance, my part was $585, which included $28 for oxygen they give me.

I need implants, and am thinking of going to Cancun and getting all of it done at once. Have already paid him two thousand for extraction and bonegraft, and now looking at 2000 for implant screw, then 1200 for another crown.

Mexico will do the implant screw and crown for 1200. Problem is I need 3, and if i go withthe local guy, that is 12,000 dollars.

Can you take your getaway in Mexico? I think a crown was something like $350 there?I pay $140 for crowns in Los Algodones. Implants can be had for $750 there. My vote...go go go go go to Mexico and run like the wind to these saner prices. This is your life energy we are talking about - don't let America take too much of it from you by charging these outrageous prices! Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

My. Understanding is that there are lots of American dentists who go there to work and. Can. Charge much less because overhead is so much less. The quality of dentistry is the same.Dead on. Exactly. Work I have had done in Nogales back in 2007 is still looking great and doing fine and I have had no problems with more recent work. DISCLAIMER though - I have switched to having dental work done in Los Algodones instead of Nogales. Though it's been very quiet for some time now, Nogales has had some scary cartel killings and gore in it's past where Algondones has not. Mexicali has also been spared this, too, and also has good dentists and doctors/hospitals to offer at huge savings with many of the doctors and dentists having gone to school in the US. Also - you are right - there are actually American dentists setting up shop in safer parts of Mexico as overall, they are subjected to fewer hassles there and can expect cash payments without having to deal with insurance companies/malpractice insurance/overheated salaries for hygienists. Rob

[zeaxmays]

i think my crown was around 700 something, then i only paid a hundred or so after insurance.

since it was a molar i got a gold one instead of porcelain.

if i had one in front id get that other material that looks toothlike but isnt fragile like porcelain.

[George_H]

DH has to get yet another one though admittedly it has been several years since the last. I am guessing we will have to part with around $700 even after insurance pays. There goes our February getaway. I always feel like this must be a money maker for dentists. Any advice to save $$?


Sorry about your getaway. My dentist told me that every Thursday they and other dentists get together to talk about how to optimize their patient care. I think they get together to talk about optimizing their businesses. Ever notice how most dentists take Thursdays off?
My sister goes regularly to a dental school to get her teeth work done. She says it's cheaper, they're more conscientious and do a better job. I don't know.