Thread: Throngs of uninsured US patients seek dental care in Mexico

Throngs of uninsured US patients seek dental care in Mexico
Oct 5, 2007

EL PASO, United States (AFP) — With aching teeth and a need to cut expenses, throngs of Americans are marching into neighboring Mexico for dental care, and saving hundreds to thousands of dollars in the bargain.

"Save up to 75 percent on complete oral rehabilitation," says one of the publicity fliers distributed in this border city located across the Rio Grande from Mexico's Ciudad Juarez.

Mexican dentists working on the other side of the border provide help to hundreds of Americans, who cross the border every day with the purpose of getting rid of their toothaches.

About 20,000 people legally cross the border on foot in this city in southwestern Texas, according to the Border Patrol.

They say that drug trafficking is "the cancer of the region," and many doubt the effectiveness of a border fence designed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.

But none of the local statistics show the number of white US retirees, as well as of the young people, who every day stand in line near San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso in order to go to Ciudad Juarez to see a dentist.

"We come for them every day," said Gilberto, one of the van drivers for the Washington Dental Clinic. "We offer free roundtrips from here to the clinic and back."

His license plate showed registration in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where Ciudad Juarez is located.

"I don't know yet but it might be another (root) canal," said Ursula Taylor, a 70-year-old German national, whose husband works at Fort Bliss, a nearby US Army base and who does not have dental insurance.

"I went two days ago with a lot of pain ... For this treatment, they charge me 300 dollars (210 euros), and here the same treatment is around 1,000 dollars."

Taylor is boarding the van at the last stop before the border, after Gilberto had already picked up the patients at airports, hotels and private homes.

The Mexican driver makes this trip six times a day, each time bringing with him between four and 10 patients.

Most retirees come from either Texas or New Mexico, both southern border states, said Jose, a attendant at a parking lot, where dental patients leave their cars before heading to Mexico.

"But others come from far away," he pointed out.

Taylor shows a promotional flier from her dental office that underscores the difference in prices existing in the two countries.

"Complete Oral Rehabilitation (28 porcelain caps). USA Price -- 12,500 dollars to 15,000 dollars. Our Price -- 4,500 dollars," said an ad in The El Paso Times, the main local newspaper.

"The attention is good, they do a good job, they always have someone who speaks English," said Jim Cleveland, a 60-year-old retiree, who worked for a military base in New Mexico.

Last week, he traveled for the sixth time 145 kilometers (90 miles) from his home to El Paso to go over to Mexico to get crowns for himself and fillings for his wife's cavities.

Some people make appointments with Mexican doctors while others just show up, said Elisa Prado, a Mexican-American of 71 years, who headed south of the border to see a dentist, flanked by her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.

Some people also use the trip to buy medicine.

"To replace these teeth, I'll need an antibiotic, and I'll buy it there, and they give you a prescription," said Cleveland. "But for some medicines and antibiotics you don't need to have an American prescription."

The trip across the border is legal, and people who use vans to go on a medical trip to Ciudad Juarez include even an employee of El Paso's economic development corporation.

"It is possible that people even go to Ciudad Juarez for surgery or to have a laser eye operation," he said.

"Now there are some things that could sound ironic: while Mexican patients try to come here, cross the border looking for advanced medical treatment for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, obesity and diabetes and liver disease, a lot of American citizens cross the border every single day, in groups, to get in Mexico basic medical care like dentists or even, in recent years, laser eye surgery," said Manuel de la Rosa, vice dean at the School of Medicine at the Texas Tech University in El Paso.

According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, health insurance costs on average in the United States 12,106 dollars a year for a family of four.

Part of that amount is being paid by the beneficiary, said the study, pointing out that about 47 million people in the country of more than 300 million have no health insurance whatsoever.

"I'm covered for medical but not for dental," said Cleveland. "To get a dental insurance service, I have to pay more."

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ghB ... l3TyZo0Thw

This is truly sickening.

Aliens crossing our borders don't PAY for medical services, they steal it from taxpayers.

American taxpayers going to dentists in Mexico PAY for the work done.

Medical care is cheaper in Mexico, but the Mexicans who steal into the US, DONT want to pay, they want US to pay!

This country is so screwed up, a complete overhaul is needed. ALL incumbents should be voted out of office ASAP!

Feed this to jorge, he should choke on it! Our amnesty-beggin' bad dream senate should also have to feast on this!

I can't imagine would would trust Mexican Dentist and doctors. They arrested a few practicing here in Atlanta....they were practicing without a license, or medical school.

It's not just the uninsured that go to Mexico for dental work. Many from my area go because it's still cheaper, even if you have insurance. We are being screwed over by American dentist. Most of their dentist are American trained and they do beautiful work. It's ridiculous that a set of false teeth can cost $15,000.00 in the states but they can.

Everyone I know who has gone to Mexico for dental work has come back with dentures.

Originally Posted by cayla99

Everyone I know who has gone to Mexico for dental work has come back with dentures.

Sorry. I'm not laughing at the poor people who got the dentures. I am laughing at the stupidness at their decision to go to Mexico to have dental work done! A MEXICAN DENTIST.
Many universities and dental schools accross the nation have FREE DENTAL services right here in America. You just need to "qualify". My father worked for a free dental clinic in Maine, and all his patients were very poor people who couldn't afford dental work. All the dentists and staff volunteered their time, and the equipment and supplies were free.

Although many friends have suggested that I, with MY bad teeth and NO dental insurance, go to MEXICO for dental care, something inside me ALWAYS HOLDS me BACK!

Originally Posted by joazinha

Although many friends have suggested that I, with MY bad teeth and NO dental insurance, go to MEXICO for dental care, something inside me ALWAYS HOLDS me BACK!

To me, this is insanely dangerous. You have nooooo idea what the requirements are to work as a dentist or hygienist in Mexico. You also have no idea if the office staff is trained in the proper sterilization techniques for dental equiptment or even has the appropriate autoclaves to do so. When you undergo dental procedures, both your saliva and blood may come in contact with instruments, you could easily be exposed to a disease if they are not correctly cleaned. This is way too risky. We need to stop paying for illegal's health care and set up free or reduced price dental clinics for Americans.

Originally Posted by butterbean

Originally Posted by cayla99

Everyone I know who has gone to Mexico for dental work has come back with dentures.

Sorry. I'm not laughing at the poor people who got the dentures. I am laughing at the stupidness at their decision to go to Mexico to have dental work done! A MEXICAN DENTIST.
Many universities and dental schools accross the nation have FREE DENTAL services right here in America. You just need to "qualify". My father worked for a free dental clinic in Maine, and all his patients were very poor people who couldn't afford dental work. All the dentists and staff volunteered their time, and the equipment and supplies were free.

Best dental work I ever had I got for next to nothing at Creighton Dental School in Omaha.

the majority of the people getting the free dental care are people who are in this country illegally. I've seen this with my own eyes.

Originally Posted by butterbean

Originally Posted by cayla99

Everyone I know who has gone to Mexico for dental work has come back with dentures.

Sorry. I'm not laughing at the poor people who got the dentures. I am laughing at the stupidness at their decision to go to Mexico to have dental work done! A MEXICAN DENTIST.
Many universities and dental schools accross the nation have FREE DENTAL services right here in America. You just need to "qualify". My father worked for a free dental clinic in Maine, and all his patients were very poor people who couldn't afford dental work. All the dentists and staff volunteered their time, and the equipment and supplies were free.