Baby Boomers and Seniors can save big money going abroad for dental work - but they have to do their homework first.
Bangkok and Manila dentists are popular dental tourism destinations
Baby Boomers, +55, seniors - that ever growing segment of the US population are now going offshore in droves seeking affordable dentistry in Mexico and Asia. They are hoping to find good quality dental care away from home and are usually happy with their results - but not always.
Many are lured into clinics owned and operated by general dentists who in many developing nations such as Mexico - are permitted to learn advanced dental procedures at the patient’s expense.
You can save up to 75% on your dental work offshore.
It's easy to save $10,000 to $30,000us on a full-mouth oral restoration in a Mexico or Manila dental clinic.
And it's easy to lose that much if you chance on a general dentist to do your dental work instead of board certified dentist who has the years of additional formal training in specialist school necessary for the advanced dental procedures involved.
Most US dental tourist patients drive across the border to Tijuana, Los Algodones or other Mexican border towns. If one is having a root canal or crown and you live within a couple hours drive of the border, this makes sense.
However, if you are planning on a larger treatment requiring a couple or visits to the clinic and a week or more stay - you would be wise to consider taking a dental vacation to a first-class Mexican resort town such as Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta or Cancun.
Some go further to Costa Rica or Brazil but the additional airfare can negate one’s savings on dentistry unless you are having a very large treatment. Also consider visiting a Manila or Bangkok dentist. Prices in Asia are 20-30% than in Mexico.
Manila dentists speak perfect English as American English is the national language in the Philippines. The travel experience for those who haven’t visited Asia is priceless.
San Diego is one of America’s favorite vacation spots and is just across the border from Tijuana. You stay and play in San Diego while you have your dental work 15 minutes down the highway in Tijuana.
Puerto Vallarta dentists are especially popular with seniors as PV is less touristy, much more traditional and tranquil than its sister tourist hot spots Cabo and Cancun.
Bangkok Thailand offers one multi-story dental hospitals with a veritable buffet of amenities including kids playrooms, internet cafes, restaurants and lodging. Bangkok and Manila dentists have been popular with Europeans, Brits and Aussies for decades.
Manila dentists have become more popular than Thai dentists most recently due to increased promotion of Philippine tourism by the government highlighted by their catchy slogan - "It's More Fun in the Philippines," and an equal lack of promotion by the Thai government which declared martial law in June 2014 after 2 years of political instability.
Americans especially feel at home in the Philippines and the country is the most Americanized country outside of the US. Filipinos love Americans and all things American from it’s movies to it’s sports celebs.
Turkey has become popular with senior dental tourists arriving from Western Europe as it offers prices that are far lower than most countries in the European developed nations and features a unique history and culture for one to experience.
However Turkey is now becoming a less-than-desirable tourist destination due to the growing conflict in nearby Syria and Iraq.
Dental tourists like any other tourists need to be aware of the ever changing political climates in other nations when traveling abroad.
Many if not most senior dental patients are retired or semi-retired and watch their dental care expenditures carefully.
Price is not everything when it comes to choosing the right dentist. In developed nations, one can safely assume that consumer protection laws prevent general dentists from attempting to make crowns, do root canals, dental makeovers and dental implants.
But this assumption falls apart when you visit a developing nation for your dentistry.
Don’t assume your Mexican dentist from Whateva Dentist.com is trained for your procedures. Dentistry is less regulated in Mexico and there's a lot of pretenders calling themselves "especialistas" there.
Seniors can save tremendously on dentistry in Mexico and in other developing nations, but be sure that the dentist chosen is not just a general dentist offering you the deal of a lifetime.
General dentists in the West AND developing nations are trained in dental college for basic dentistry - pulling teeth, cleanings, drilling and filling.
Dental implants? That's oral surgery and requires 4 more years of dental specialist school to be properly trained and certified.
Dental implants? That's oral surgery and requires 4 more years of dental specialist school to be properly trained and certified.
However, one doesn’t have to be certified to perform dental implants or root canals in Mexico.. Read on to get the real story.
In the US should a general dentist attempt a root canal or dental implant, the dentist could lose his license (or go to jail). If a general dentist in Mexico attempts your root canal or implants (may God protect you) it’s ok for them to try as far as the health authorities in Mexico are concerned.
Bottom line - If you need serious dental work - Be safe and sure of what you are paying for and see a Board Certified Dentist in Mexico.
Certified dentists often cost the same as general dentists in developing nations.
You will find that certified dentists in Mexico and other developing nations often cost the same or sometimes even less than the less-skilled general dentist who often advertise the most.
Careful.. Most dental tourism websites don’t vet their listed dentists.
Most dental tourism websites and dental travel agencies do not have the time or resources to properly vet dentists and you can be assured, they take fees from whichever dentists want to pay to be listed on their site. Even the general dentists posing as "implant especialistas".
One way you can be sure you will be treated by the best of the best on your dental vacation in Mexico is to use the services of the Board Certified Dental Association.
Below is a list of some safe English language sites that list only board certified dentists:
About Mexican Dentists.com
Royal Hong Kong Dental Association
Board Certified Asia Dental Association
Board Certified Mexico Dental Association.
Dental Tourism News Co
Royal Hong Kong Dental Association
Board Certified Asia Dental Association
Board Certified Mexico Dental Association.
Dental Tourism News Co
By Michael Fairlane
Travel Writer, Napa Calif.
Travel Writer, Napa Calif.
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful information. It looks like so beautiful places to visit one day. Have a fantastic rest of your day and keep up the great posts.
ReplyDeleteDentist Philadelphia
Thank you for such an informative post. It is so important to crosscheck whether the dentists treating you are experienced and certified. We also have our clinic in Los Algodones Mexico called Simply Dental. You can visit our for any inquiries you have.
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