Hello jimwest,
I locked your question this morning, before I went to work at a large
local hospital. Throughout the day I surveyed about a dozen co-workers
by asking ?Have you ever gone to a dentist in Tijuana, Mexico??
Although no one I spoke to had gone to a dentist themselves, everyone
said they knew of someone (friend or family member) who had gone to
one. Each told of a positive and money saving experience. This is all,
of course, anecdotal. When I did a search online however, most of what
I found was positive. In Tijuana, as in the US, one can find
excellent, professional dentists as well as sloppy dentists. By
sending an e-mail outlining your dental needs, you can get an online
?consult? and estimate from many Tijuana dentists. Since border towns
cater to US visitors, English is spoken by practically all Tijuana
dentists.
Even though Mexico requires that dentists have a license and be
re-certified every 5 years, enforcement of these requirements may not
be as strict as in the US. I?d suggest using the dentist your friend
used, or one of the dentists I have found that seem to have a good
recommendation.
?According to information provided by the American Dental Association,
requirements for a dental license in Mexico include five years of
post-high school education plus one year of community service.
Rodriguez said dentists must then pass an examination in order to
obtain a license to practice. Continuing-education credits are
required for re-certification every five years, he said.?
http://www.dentistasdemexico.com/indexfiles/newsstory.html
Per the World Health Organization ?there were, in 1999 - the last year
for which statistics were available - more than 83,000 dentists
practicing in Mexico, with 60,000 of those in private practice
throughout the country?
http://www.dentistasdemexico.com/indexfiles/newsstory.html
More than 3 million Californians travel to the Tijuana area each year
seeking affordable health care. (I live in Arizona, and I know that
huge numbers of Arizonians also go to Tijuana and Nogales for health
and dental care.) According to Hispanic Vista?s site ?Admittedly,
one-half of Tijuana's medical and dental professionals, hospitals,
clinics and pharmacies, are professional, ethical and competent. The
problem is that one-half are not. The other problem is price gouging
of Americans, regardless of competency and professionalism of the
health provider. The fact is that there is no oversight, regulatory
body protecting American patients? rights.?
http://www.hispanicvista.com/html3/072103sosio.htm
One dental patient?s account of dental care in Tijuana, published in
the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and posted on the Dental World Tijuana
site. "He said he has seen some good work from Mexico and said it was
OK to go there," Weinberg said.
http://www.dentalworldtijuana.com/newsstory.html
Dental World Tijuana
http://www.dentalworldtijuana.com/
Some of the negatives I came across, about Mexican dentistry:
Dental office conditions; ?Rustic? conditions, chipped paint, old
furniture, and outdated, by US standards, but functional dental
equipment.
No lead aprons for x-rays. Inquire when making an appointment if this
is important to you.
Fear of using Tijuana water for rinsing. Some people take bottled
water for rinsing.
Proper sterilization of dental instruments. This will be hard to
discern. Ask about their sterilization techniques.
No recourse. If something does go wrong, you will have little to no
recourse in Mexico.
Something else to consider is pain. If you think you?ll need pain
medication after your wisdom teeth extractions, plan on staying in
Mexico for a day or two. You won?t be able to take a controlled drug
(any narcotic pain medication) across the border into the US, and a US
pharmacy will not fill a prescription from Mexico.
If you can get them from your US dentist, take your x-rays with you.
If you are prone to infection, and are not opposed to taking
prophylactic antibiotics, I would recommend taking the antibiotics the
dentist may offer.
Will you be able to return to the Mexican dentist easily for
follow-ups? Stitch removal?
Positive Testimonials:
?A few months ago, Arthur Frommers Budget Travel magazine published an
article about how Americans could save thousands of dollars by using
dentists in the Caribbean and Latin America. Predictably, the next
issue contained a string of indignant letters of protest from U.S.
dentists. Foreign dentists aren't certified by U.S. boards, one
claimed. They don't have the latest technology, another said. They're
second-rate, insisted another.
Most people who have traveled abroad realize that much of these
protests are just scare tactics. Many foreign dentists are very
experienced and skillful, and clinics that cater to Americans are
usually very modern. But it's in the selfish interest of U.S. dentists
to foster doubts. After all, U.S. dentists aren't going to want people
who need $5,000 worth of dental work to know that they could get the
same work done for under $1,000 by just strolling across a bridge...?
Epinions
http://www.epinions.com/content_1196335236
This web site, by a happy Mexican dental patient, has a wealth of
useful information,including taking adequate time off for recuperation
and transportation tips, including this warning: ?Here is where one
caveat is in order. If you expect a medical facility to be in a nice
glass and concrete building with Muzak drifting from hidden speakers
and a statuesque receptionist, you're going to be in for a bit of a
shock. Dr. T's office was small, in a building that needed some
obvious repairs that were never going to happen. The trimwork was
uneven. And the receptionist doubled as his dental assistant, so she
sometimes had to leave my ongoing procedure to answer the p
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/12/20/121018/65hone.?
His ?Before? picture- and even he warns you, this is graphic!:
http://peachfront.diaryland.com/images/teethbefore.jpg
His ?After? picture:
http://peachfront.diaryland.com/images/teethafter.jpg
He states that if you write to him, localroger@hotmail.com , he will
tell you who this dentist is! (There *are* some bad experiences
recounted near the bottom of the page)
Even folks from Hawaii are flying to Mexican dentists!
http://starbulletin.com/97/05/02/business/story3.html
One Yahoo Groups user is happy with Dr. Javier Morales, who seems to
practice both in San Diego and Tijuana.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dentalcleanse/message/2647
This patient had a good dental experience, along with some adventures!
( If it were me, I would have taken the antibiotic offered)
http://www.imagegypsy.com/auclark.htm
An unhappy patient:
A Yahoo Groups user cautions:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dentalcleanse/message/352
(However this group also had some positive remarks, again about Dr.
Javier Morales, D.D.S., Tijuana, B.C., Mexico Phone 883242 or
883248)
Some dentists in Tijuana, Mexico (In no particular order)
Dr. Javier Morales, D.D.S.
Tijuana, B.C., Mexico
Phone 883242 or 883248
Dr. Morales virtues are described on this personal site, as well as
some of the Yahoo Groups above.
http://bikerchick.freehomepage.com/
Dr. Morales? clinic appears to be clean and orderly, even if some of
the equipment seems a bit dated!
http://bikerchick.freehomepage.com/photo.html
Dr.Oscar Torres Pastrana y Associates
Ignacio Comonfort #9317 Suite F, Zona Río, Tijuana, B.C.
Tel.634-08-35 From U.S.A. (01152-664)634-08-35 e-mail:
oscartorres@hotmail.com
http://www.sdro.com/pacdental/
This personal site recommends Dr. Archiega.
Benjamin Archiega, D.D.S.
Phone from US: 011-52-66-82-94-64 e-mail implanto@infosel.net.mx.
Edificio Cazzar (Cazzar Building), Paseo Centenario de Tijuana
10310-302, Tijuana, B.C.
Scroll down near the bottom of the page:
?I learned the hard way that you might not find the street on the map as it
goes by the also of simply Paseo de Tijuana. In U.S. lingo, it's 10310
Paseo Centenario de Tijuana, Rm. 302.?
http://www.mizar5.com/fountain.htm
This dental clinic, Dental Care Tijuana, 1412 Clemente Orozco St., Suite 1
Zona Rio, Tijuana, B.C. 22320, offers a lifetime guarantee on their work.
From USA 01152664 6342898 FAX: 01152664 6342898
Toll Free 1888 7810333
Email to: penudent@telnor.net
http://www.soloenlinea.com/dental/dental.htm
Ezekiel N. Lagos, Has a US mailing address P.O. Box 210513,
Chula Vista, CA. 91921-0513 Toll free phone number: 1-877-356-0056
e-mail: drlagos@biologicaldent.com
http://www.biologicaldent.com/center_for_biological_dentistry/about_us.html
A whole page of testimonials from satisfied patients:
http://www.biologicaldent.com/center_for_biological_dentistry/our_patients.html
Dr Ada Garcia is recommended by the writer of this site
http://www.whale.to/cancer/breast1.html
These two dentists are on ?The Professional List?, assembled by Dr.
Clark Research Association:
Dr. Juan Carlos Hernandez, DDS
Tijuana, Mexico
P 01152-6646-963716
"I am a dentist practicing with a license since 1987. Since 1989 I
started to practice holistic dentistry at Dr. Donsbach clinic in
Rosarito, Mexico. I was also working with Dr. Morales for six years.
Since 1990 until now I am the head doctor at the American Metabolic
Hospital. I have been working with Dr. Clark directly since 1995 or
`96.
I trained and introduced Dr. Benjamin Arechiga to practice the
techniques of Dr. Clark. Lately, I have been attending Dr. Clark`s
patients by the referrals of Dagmar Ward.
My new location at the Allen Lloyd Building is located just across the
border on the Mexican side."
http://www.drclark.net/info/professionals.htm#NADentists
Take this Dr. Max Corona testimonial with a grain of salt; it?s a page
on Dr. Max?s site!
http://maxdds.htmlplanet.com/this_is_not_a_cute_testimonial.htm Write
to the testimonial author: taumas@cornwallgb.com
Dr. Max Corona?s site
http://maxdds.htmlplanet.com
AMERICAN BIO-DENTAL CENTER
Blvd. Agua Caliente # 4558 suite. CC1B
Tijuana B.C. México
P 01152-6646-86 11 58
F 01152-6646-86 62 95
"We have been working for several years with the main Cancer treatment
clinics in the area, attending cancer patients, with the strict
protocols involved."
http://www.drclark.net/info/professionals.htm#NADentists
A dental directory for Tijuana
http://www.dentistasdetijuana.com/
General Dentistry
http://www.dentistasdetijuana.com/generaldentist.html
Ave. Revolucion #1129 Second Floor Suite 203, between 5th St. & 6th St.
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Tel: 685-1083 email: smile@drwbartell.com
From U.S.A. Dial: 011-52-664-685-1083
http://www.drwbartell.com/
This dental clinic seems to specialize in cosmetic dentistry, but an
inquiry by phone may find that all kinds of work is done.
Dr.Erich A. Wolley, 539 Telegraph Canyon Rd. # 257
Chula Vista Ca. 91910 Appoinments (619) 628-1161
(619) 420-3844 voice / fax (619) 628-1161 or (66)34-66-00
Tijuana Location: Calle Jose Ma. Velazco # 2627 suite 202, Zona del
Rio Tijuana B.C MEXICO CALL DIRECT 01152 (66) 34-6600 voice / fax
(66) 34-2595
http://www.tijuana-net.com/wolley/index.html
Dr. Hernandez was recommended in this Yahoo Groups:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dentalcleanse/message/2372
There you go jimwest, I hope this helps you make your decision. As you
can see, the favorable outweighs the unfavorable when it comes to
Mexican dentistry. Be cautious, and discuss any concerns with the
dentist. I got the impression that patient-dentist dialogue is common
and easier in Mexico, allowing you to work *with* the dentist, and not
just be worked upon. This should increase the odds of satisfaction
with your dental work.
If any part of my answer is unclear, or if I have duplicated any
information you already have, please request an Answer Clarification,
before rating. This will allow me to assist you further, if possible.
Regards,
crabcakes-ga
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