BajaNomad

Need recomendation for dentist who does implants

Santiago - 3-9-2016 at 03:49 PM

I have a friend who has just transitioned into Medicare with no dental; split a molar and it is not savable, costs $5K in Norcal for an implant, about $3.5K for a bridge. Poor guy is fit to be tied as he is on a very small pension.
Two questions:
1. Any idea of the costs for this work of work SOB?
2. Any recommendations. The guy is very suspect of Mexico, but the costs just might get him there.

Donkey Shame.

RenoJoe - 3-9-2016 at 11:32 PM

Check out Algodones. Many qualified dentists. I've been going there for 3 years now. Best work I've ever had since I was born. Bridges $1500 crowns $400. Less pain I've ever had in my life. Better Quality then I've had in the U.S.

Pescador - 3-10-2016 at 08:51 AM

Algodones is a great option, but also Washington Dental Group in Tijuana does a fantastic job. You can find both on the web.

cocomo - 3-10-2016 at 09:19 AM

I just made an appointment for Monday at Washington Dental in Tijuana for an implant. Not only did they save me 2 trips (3 instead of 5), but they took the cost down from $6,400 to $1800. Now to see the work.... I'll let you know what I think if you want to U2U me after Tuesday.

AKgringo - 3-10-2016 at 09:32 AM

If your friend is not comfortable with traveling in Mexico, I think Algodones is his best bet. He can camp or get a room in or near Yuma, park on the US side of the border and walk to his dentist.

I would not want to try and get a completed implant and bridge in one trip. The jaw bone and gum tissue should have time to adjust to the implant before the finished product is installed.

I know that people go across for day trips without a passport (or card) but I would not want to do that.

Since I enjoy traveling in Mexico, I can count on having a nice vacation, paid for with the savings on my dental work.

I had five porcelain crowns done fifteen years ago in Puerto Penasco. Ten years ago, I replaced an old crown and had some other routine procedure done while I was visiting Melaque, north of Manzanillo. I have been going to La Paz for more work, (including two implants) and have no regrets.

None of the Mexican dental procedures has failed, or caused me any problems!

If your friend is interested, he should become a Nomad, and post his questions and concerns here! Maybe finding someone heading that way will get him thinking about a mini convoy. I STRONGLY recommend getting the work done somewhere before it becomes critical!

Tijuana dentists

AKgringo - 3-10-2016 at 10:44 AM

I am sure there are some great dentist in TJ, and that is where I might go If I lived in San Diego.

From where I am staying in Northern CA, I would drive hours out of my way to avoid driving through L,A,. San Diego, and Tijuana!

Yuma and Algodones are small enough to avoid having to self medicate to deal with it. I loved spending time in Puerto Penasco between visits to the dentist, but that was fifteen years ago, and I hear that it is a whole different place now!


Edit; Santiago, check your U2U

[Edited on 3-10-2016 by AKgringo]

bajaguy - 3-10-2016 at 11:15 PM

Dr Miguel Angel Ortiz, Ensenada. My wife is getting an implant from. Highly recommended. Also owns Madera 5

EnsenadaDr - 3-11-2016 at 12:04 AM

Less than $1500 an implant including crown at Dr. Luz

She is an expert oral surgeon and can take teeth out without you even kn realizing it

http://www.healthcare.com/profile/luz-marina-ramirez-matthew...


Santiago - 3-11-2016 at 07:24 AM

Thanks everyone, especially AK for the offers via U2U. He has contacted a local church whose members are largely from the expat eastern European countries where they routinely take a large tour bus from NorCal to TJ for dental work. Apparently they do this 4 or 5 times a year and often need two buses. I had no idea. Literally medical tourism.

BG: Madera 5 is a new winery, right?

[Edited on 3-11-2016 by Santiago]

bajalinda - 3-11-2016 at 07:37 AM

AKgringo - would be interested to know who you went to in La Paz for implants.

SFandH - 3-11-2016 at 08:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Santiago  
Thanks everyone, especially AK for the offers via U2U. He has contacted a local church whose members are largely from the expat eastern European countries where they routinely take a large tour bus from NorCal to TJ for dental work. I had no idea. Apparently they do this 4 or 5 times a year and often need two buses. I had no idea. Literally medical tourism.

BG: Madera 5 is a new winery, right?


Speaking of medical tourism:

Developers plan one-stop medical facility in Tijuana convenient to Americans

http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-ti...

Pescador - 3-11-2016 at 08:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajalinda  
AKgringo - would be interested to know who you went to in La Paz for implants.


I had three implants done with Dr. Talamantes (senior) and the work was fantastic. Highly recommend.

AKgringo - 3-11-2016 at 09:24 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajalinda  
AKgringo - would be interested to know who you went to in La Paz for implants.


Bajalinda; You can check out this thread that went around a couple of months ago.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=81476&got...

bajalinda - 3-11-2016 at 09:35 AM

Thanks Pescador and AKgringo!

bajaguy - 3-17-2016 at 11:48 AM

No, been there for a long time. The name Madera 5 (5 wood) came from the five partners who like to play golf.

In El Sauzal, on the right side of Hwy 3 about 1/2 mile or less from when you turn off of Hwy 1 .....just past where the concrete median starts
Quote: Originally posted by Santiago  

BG: Madera 5 is a new winery, right?

[Edited on 3-11-2016 by Santiago]

BigBearRider - 3-17-2016 at 11:57 AM

Show him this article about dental tourism in Mexico:

https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajafever/los_algod...

AKgringo - 3-17-2016 at 12:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Show him this article about dental tourism in Mexico:

https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajafever/los_algod...



That is an interesting link, but it lacks a timeline. I wonder how current the prices mentioned are?

I have some more non-urgent dental work that I would like to get done soon, but a drive to La Paz would leave me short on time for exploring in central Baja.

BigBearRider - 3-17-2016 at 01:11 PM

The article was posted this week. Maybe even today.

woody with a view - 3-17-2016 at 04:53 PM

Does anyone have information on a dentist in Tijuana region who would take Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance?

SFandH - 3-17-2016 at 05:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Does anyone have information on a dentist in Tijuana region who would take Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance?


maybe here:

http://www.dentaltijuana.com/dental_insurance.htm

Santiago - 3-17-2016 at 07:57 PM

A question came up about a "sinus lift" as apparently the root it is very close to the sinuses. Anyone deal with this in Baja?
great responses so far.

bajaguy - 3-17-2016 at 08:11 PM

yup....Dr Ortiz. Was going to do one on my wife, however the bone building procedure with her platelets eliminated the need.
Quote: Originally posted by Santiago  
A question came up about a "sinus lift" as apparently the root it is very close to the sinuses. Anyone deal with this in Baja?
great responses so far.

Alm - 4-21-2016 at 12:41 AM

A bit late to the table, but... - Santiago, if your friend can do crown bridge in Ca for $3,500, he should really consider this.

An implant bridge of 3 units (anchored on 2 implants), with bone augmentation will cost from $3K in Mexico. Plus, few trips. Higher-priced specialists like Dr Ortiz will charge around $6-7K for that. At least, this is what he told me, so I opted for a crown bridge - this still cost me over 2K, including root canals. And - no, my insurance didn't cover anything because it was not an "urgent treatment to alleviate pain".

Single implants are cheaper.

Santiago - 4-21-2016 at 06:11 AM

He ended up staying in Nor Cal at $5,000. Reason was that it would have taken multiple trips:

1. remove the tooth, install a temp cap.
2. 2 weeks later have the stiches taken out holding the temp cap.
3. 1 month later have the temp cap removed.
4. 3 months later, after complete healing of the bone, have the implant drilled and installed, doing the sinus lift at this time.
5. 3 months after that have the crown put in.

a single implant, not a double. He found a couple of friends :cool: who helped him out. We told him he better live for another 10 years or we will be p*ssed.

Those dentists that advertise "Implants and crowns in one day" are flat out lying. Root canal and crown, yes,if they have the special machine in the lab and they can make the crown onsite. Anyway, that is what he learned. Anyone get an implant in one day in Mexico?

Alm - 4-21-2016 at 10:50 AM

Glad it worked for him.
Now, at THAT cost I would probably splurge on a few trips and did a single implant for $1.5-2K. $800 implant quoted in that article - sure, sure.... Does this include the crown, i.e. lab work? 70/30 chance that it doesn't. Bone augmentation/sinus lift, root canal - neither.

One day implant is not a lie, but for most people it just doesn't happen. If you don't need bone augmentation AND the lab can cobble the crown up in the same day, - then yes, can be done. But it's better/safer to do the crown several months later after the implant has healed and can be subjected to biting forces.