[duffertom]

Has anybody had any experience with Rio Grande dental in Mexico? They used to advertise in the Daily Sun. There is a big cost savings in going to El Paso, Texas, where they pick you up,and take you to their clinic in Mexico.
I got a quote from them for a 4 unit porcelain bridge, including an extraction of one tooth, of $1025. About 75% less than I was quoted at a local dentist.

[Trish Crocker]

Please tell me you are kidding.

[NotGolfer]

If this is true...my bet is that they have curtailed it due to the border violence and danger for Americans.

[Figmo Bohica]

DufferTom, having just spent the last 15 years living on the Border, prior to moving to TV, Mexico was once a point of travel for lots of things, visitors, meds, a good meal, cheap booze, etc. Five years ago we stop going to Mexico, Ciudad de Juarez, across from El Paso because of the violence. Also stopped going to Agua Prieta and Palomas, a little dusty cross border town close to where we lived. Anyone thinking of going to Mexico these days really need to catch up on the news and see what is happening there. Don't go, is saving 75% worth your life. Take it from someone who moved away from the Border, its not a nice place to be anymore.

[jackz]

Agree with Figmo re: dangers of Mexico.

See attached link. I did not realize how big an industry Medical Tourism has become.

PlacidWay | Medical Tourism | Health Travel | Surgery Abroad | Health & Wellness Centers

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Figmo Bohica

DufferTom, having just spent the last 15 years living on the Border, prior to moving to TV, Mexico was once a point of travel for lots of things, visitors, meds, a good meal, cheap booze, etc. Five years ago we stop going to Mexico, Ciudad de Juarez, across from El Paso because of the violence. Also stopped going to Agua Prieta and Palomas, a little dusty cross border town close to where we lived. Anyone thinking of going to Mexico these days really need to catch up on the news and see what is happening there. Don't go, is saving 75% worth your life. Take it from someone who moved away from the Border, its not a nice place to be anymore.

I lived in New Mexico for many years. I used to go down to Tilley's in Palomas to buy liquor while in college at UNM, have a Zombie at Pete's and then recross the border returning back through Deming. NB. A while back I revisted Palomas while hunting Javalina in SW NM. The Federales had put Pete in prison for drug traffic related issues. I also used to fish out of Zihuatenejo(sp?), Puerta Vallarta, Manzanito and Los Cabos, motorhome with my family down through Agua Prieta and Hermosillo to Kino Bay and Guaymas, drive around the Yucatan (never after dark) - BUT NO MORE!!!

Two of the people who work for me in NM recently went to one of the Juarez clinics for dentures. The van picked them up in El Paso, took them to the clinic where the work was done, both rapidly and well, and returned them back to EP. They experienced no problem. The clinic is set up for an American clientel and the staff speak English well

My gardener in California who is a naturalized US citizen with family in Mexico gets all his dental work done in the U.S. He does not trust Mexican dentists.

[NotGolfer]

Can't remember the name of the Mexican border town to AZ. About 12 years ago, while visiting friends in Green Valley we motored down there, parked our car on the U.S. side and walked in to purchase some antibiotics at a pharmacy as one of us was ill. It was easy back then. I have relatives who live in AZ who used to go over the border to buy the RX's that are so expensive on the U.S. side. I'd venture to say NOONE does this anymore due to the violence! The town whose name I can't remember (senior moment here) was in the news alot due to folks being murdered etc.

I have a friend up north, whose company sends him to their facility in Mexico on a regular basis. I believe they have insurance in the event something happens to him. I know his wife worries every time he has to travel there. It's not a border town neither, but in the interior somewhere. I don't know how the expats are faring down there with the thoughts that bandits could come at anytime. I wouldn't go anymore---it used to be one of our favorite countries to vacation in!!

[duffertom]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

If this is true...my bet is that they have curtailed it due to the border violence and danger for Americans.

They say they pick you up in there van and take you there and back to your hotel

[duffertom]

Originally Posted by Trish Crocker

Please tell me you are kidding.

About the price? Not kidding.

[Figmo Bohica]

NotGolfer, is the town that you are thinking of Nogalas? Its just south of Tucson.

[sueandskip]

Originally Posted by duffertom

They say they pick you up in there van and take you there and back to your hotel

I won't tell you not to go because it seems you have made up your mind , but this is true....They have several vans that run to America to different points for pickup and delivery....They will stop by your hotel then to another until full, then back again...GOOD LUCK and please post on your return !

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by duffertom

Has anybody had any experience with Rio Grande dental in Mexico? They used to advertise in the Daily Sun. There is a big cost savings in going to El Paso, Texas, where they pick you up,and take you to their clinic in Mexico.
I got a quote from them for a 4 unit porcelain bridge, including an extraction of one tooth, of $1025. About 75% less than I was quoted at a local dentist.

I bet the dentist got his training via mail order. You cannot be serious!

[Trish Crocker]

Originally Posted by duffertom

About the price? Not kidding.

No...not about the price..about the fact that you would entrust your healthcare to someone that has credentials that cannot be verified, who's office is in an area that may or may not have the standards that we require here and who is basically unaccountable for any malpractice. You are allowing someone to provide invasive procedures on you and you don't even know if they are required to sterilize their instrumentation.....all to save a few bucks??? Unbelievable.

[manaboutown]

The qualifications of the dentists that run the clinics for American clientel can easily be checked out. The people I know who have been to a clinic in Ciudad Juarez are quite pleased with the results. The problem is about 60,000 people, many in the state of Chihuahua in which Juarez is located, have been killed during Presidente Calderon's term in office. Some more bodies have just been uncovered near Juarez and the discovery is in the news at present.

[Trish Crocker]

You may be 100% correct about their qualifications...I just worry because there is no recourse. We have patients from European countries that go 'home' to have their dental work done for a lower price...then end up having it re-done because of the quality of the work. No, I don't think we have the only good dentists/physicians in the world, I just think we should think of more than our pocketbooks when choosing our health care.