By the Board Certified Mexico Dentist Association
Dental procedures and terminology can often be confusing to the patient – especially so
when advertising agencies, foreign languages and consumer protection laws in
different countries are involved. The biggest challenge when going abroad remains finding the right dentist for your specific needs.
Certified Dentists vs. General Dentists - Dental tourists from developed countries need to be aware that things are not always the same as back home when considering treatments by a dentist in Mexico or elsewhere offshore. General dentists with only basic dental education are permitted in many developing countries to attempt advanced dental procedures without proper training or credentialing.
This practice is a clear violation of consumer protection laws in most developed countries - but legal in many (including Mexico) developing nations.
Thus in Mexico a general dentist may call him or herself a specialist in implants, or endodontics without having graduated from a dental specialist college. To be Board Certified, they have to pass another battery of tests after specialist college graduation. Board tests are written, lab and oral exams given by a panel of specialists in their chosen field.
This practice is a clear violation of consumer protection laws in most developed countries - but legal in many (including Mexico) developing nations.
Thus in Mexico a general dentist may call him or herself a specialist in implants, or endodontics without having graduated from a dental specialist college. To be Board Certified, they have to pass another battery of tests after specialist college graduation. Board tests are written, lab and oral exams given by a panel of specialists in their chosen field.
