Don't Let the Three Stooges Tinker with your Teeth in Mexico!

Here's how to avoid scary dentists in Mexico.

You would know the Three Stooges, who wouldn't recognize them anywhere?

Would you allow the 3 Stooges to tinker with your teeth?  May seem be funny but in reality any Mexican general dentist untrained in advanced dental procedures can say "I specialize" in this or that and can twiddle with your teeth. And many trusting patients allow them to do just that.

Dental tourists patients from the USA and Canada need to be aware that things are not always the same in Mexico as back home. When you cross the border - truth in advertising rules go right out the window.

Here is the most problematic of all the issues regarding Mexican dental tourism. This practice of general dentists attempting advanced dentistry on unsuspecting patients is a violation of dental health consumer protection laws in most developed countries - but legal in Mexico. Read that again. 

The term "specialist dentist" in Mexico means nothing.  Board certified dentist means everything. Even the guys selling tacos on the corner and the girls in the cantina can (and do) call themselves specialists.

Be aware that general dentists in Mexico without any training in advanced dentistry can call themselves specialists in implants or cosmetic dentistry.  If you aren't into rolling dice, find a Board Certified Dentist. Then relax, have a margarita and everything will be fine.

To be board certified, the dentist has to graduate from 4 years of basic dental college, then attend another 2-6 years of specialist college. Then if the new dental specialist is really top drawer, they will study for the Board Exams - written, lab and oral exams given by a panel of experts in their chosen specialty.

Selecting a Board Certified Mexico Dentist Association member dentist is your best guarantee that the work will be done safely, and to professional standards. Board Certified Dentists in Mexico are trained and accredited in all the American and Mexican recognized dental specialties. General dentists and many so-called "especialistas" in Mexico are often not formally trained or certified in any specialties. Only cleaning, drilling and pulling teeth.

Avoid dentists in white jackets bearing cheap dental implants from China. 

With a board certified dentist in Mexico you don't get fake specialists or general dentists learning advanced dentistry (like dental implants) at your expense. And no pretenders such as lab techs, dental school drop-outs or unlicensed illegal alien dentists from Central America or the US (really). Border town clinics are infamous for these nefarious types.

These suspect dentists in border towns prey on budget conscious foreign patients  mostly from the US Southwest and Mid-West. The Mexican health authorities to their credit close their clinics down from time to time but they pop back up again. Desperate and trusting foreign patients are easy money.

Many foreign patients have unwittingly spent many 1,000's of dollars on implants and makeovers by a general dentist or other character as described above only to have the work redone at a later date due to infections, misalignment, poor quality implants and other problems. 

Board Certified dentists in Mexico typically cost the same as general dentists.

Why?  Because of all the competition from the general dentists in Mexico who have no business doing specialist work. But that's good for you the consumer.  It brings prices down for certified dentists!

Unless your dentist in Mexico is fully accredited by a specialist college certified for the procedures you need, you don't know what you kind of work you will end up with. 

And to have the work redone will be costly and certainly not painless. US and certified dentists in Mexico can share with you stories of cases where  they have repeated the work done by general dentists who were in over their heads in complicated dentistry they were not trained for.

The challenge for the dental tourism patient is to find a great Board Certified Dentist.

 About 5% of dentists in Mexico are certified for specialties having graduated from a specialist college according to the Mexican Dental Association. But they are not Board Certified. If you want the very best, top-of-the- class dentist, find one who has passed their Board Exams. Board Certified Dentists are less than 1% of the dentists in Mexico.

Board Certified Mexico Dental Association dentists are the very best of certified dentists in Mexico. Membership is restricted to senior dentists who become members by invitation. 

They are present or former residents or directors of specialist associations, dental specialist college instructors, award winners, hospital maxillo-facial or oral surgery department heads.  Most have 20-30 years of experience. They are at the top of their game.

The Association has member dentists in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Cancun, Guadalajara, Los Algodones, Mazatlan, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Tijuana and other popular dental travel destinations in Mexico.

For Free estimates and referrals visit: The Board Certified Mexico Dental Association 

 tags: best Puerto Vallarta dentist, best Tijuana dentist, board certified mexico dentist, cabo cosmetic dentist, cabo dental vacation, cabo dentist, certified dentist, certified dentists in mexico, certified dentists internationale, certified dentists mexico, cosmetic dental makeover, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentist mexico, cosmetic dentistry, cost of mini implants mexico, david de los angeles, david mandich, dental implant, dentist in mexico, board certified mexico dental association,