FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

What is Root Canal Therapy?

RCT is a method of saving a tooth by cleaning out a damaged nerve and filling in the resulting chamber.

What is Gum (Periodontal) Disease?

Periodontal disease is the deterioration of the supporting structures of the teeth.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are titanium screws or cages that are surgically placed in the bone of the mouth to which a tooth, bridge, or denture can attach to make a stable restoration.

Why should I Replace a Missing Tooth?

The empty space in your mouth starts to cause many problems including decay and periodontal disease, an unbalanced bite, and stress on the remaining teeth.

What if I have Headaches, Migraines, TMJ Pain?

TMJ/TMD, Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction -has many signs and symptoms. Some of which you would not think are dental related.

Why do I need a Crown (Cap)?

A crown is needed on a tooth when the tooth is weakened by either decay, a fracture or a very large restoration.

I don't like my Smile is there anything I can do?

Besides Braces, there are three common procedures available; bonding, bleaching, and veneering.

Why does the Floss shred and get caught in my teeth?

Floss can shred if the contact between the teeth is tight or there is a rough or broken surface between the teeth.

How can I avoid getting Cavities?

The best way to avoid cavities is by eating right, brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste, flossing daily and visiting your dentist every six months. Children and some adults can benefit by having Sealants placed.

At what age should I start taking my Child to the dentist (and other child dental related questions)?

The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry recomends that your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday.

What should I do if my Child's Tooth is Knocked Out (or other dental emergencies)?

Place the tooth in cool milk or if the child is old enough, under the child's tongue. Be real careful not to swallow the tooth and get to the dentist within 30 minutes so it can be reimplanted.

I've got these lacy-white streaks, white patches, and ulcerations in my mouth, what can they be?

It is possible that you have a condition called Lichen Planus. It has an unkown cause but can be an allergic reaction. Have you changed your toothpaste brand, medications, etc? Also, it may be aggrevated by stress! Check out this wonderful area on LP, with info and live chats.

When do those Baby and Permanent teeth erupt and how are my teeth are numbered?

Teeth erupt at different times in all individuals . Your child's tooth should erupt eventually unless your dentist tells you that there is no replacement permanent tooth.

 

 

Questions You May Have About Our Dental Office

Q. Why are your prices so low?

A. Our prices are low because of several factors.

1. A dentist’s education costs less in Mexico than in the United States or Canada.

2. Rents are lower in Mexico

3. Cost of living in Mexico is low.

4. Overhead costs are low

5. Most supplies cost less in Mexico. The exact same medication, by brand names like Pfizer, Glaxo, Bayer, Merck, Smith Kline, and others, sells for up to 90% less than US prices, due to trade agreements between various countries.

6. Taxes are low.

7. Little or no professional association fees.

8. Dental lab fees are low.

 Q. Aren’t you taking advantage or exploiting Mexican Dentists?

A. If you look at the following information, you will see that we are actually helping Mexican dentists tremendously.

The ratio of dentist/population in the US is 1:1937. The ratio in Mexico is 1:1251.(Source: http://www.dentalarticles.com/associations/mexico.htm There is no regulation as to how many dentists are admitted to dental schools, if you have the money, you can be a dentist. This has resulted in more dentists per capita than the US.

The average per capita income in Mexico is $6230/year. Compare that to $37,610/year for the US. (Source: http://www.finfacts.com/biz10/globalworldincomepercapita.htm)

There are more dentists in Mexico competing for less money, so this has resulted in dentists dropping their prices, or having a huge decrease in business.

Also, with less income, many dentists cannot attend continuing education courses or afford new high-tech equipment, so many may lag behind the rest of the world in using new technology in their practice.

We screen our dentists to be hungry for new knowledge, to have excellent attention to detail, and great communication skills.

Our prices are a bit higher than the average Mexico dentist, but in exchange you get more value, as our dentists attend continuing education courses several times a year, and our offices have modern equipment.

We help our dentists by giving them a full schedule, and their income is actually much higher than the average Mexico dentist.

Learn more about our Mexican dental staff.

Q. How is the cleanliness of your office?

A. We use an autoclave to clean all of our dental equipment, and sterilizing cleaners on all surfaces. An autoclave is a sterilizer that uses steam and pressure to completely kill all possible contaminates, and is the accepted standard of sterilization in dental offices in the US, Canada and other countries. They are quite expensive to buy and operate, and not every dentist in Mexico has one, or uses it professionally.

 

Germs and pathogens are invisible to the naked eye, and what looks like a clean office may be very dangerous. We keep the cleanliness and sterility of our office up to US and Canadian standards. Click here to learn more about our Mexican dental clinic facility.

Q. What kind of guarantee do I have when I get my dental work done in your office?

A. Ask any dentist in the US or Canada for a guarantee for their work, and you will always get the same answer: There is no guarantee.

Dentists (and other medical professionials) are discouraged from guaranteeing their work, as dentistry is not an exact science. The human body is infinitely complex, and nothing is certain.

The best any dentist can do is to offer the best service he can, keeping your budget in mind. US and Canadian dentists are very rushed, and are only human.

If you get estimates from various dentists, you will find that their treatment recommendations will vary widely.

Some will give you a quick look, and recommend the smallest amount of treatment possible. Some will recommend thousands of dollars worth of work. Both have a valid point.

The ones that do minimal work, can see problems with your dental work on the horizon, but will watch that tooth until you break it, and you will get a crown at any cost because you will want to save the tooth.

The ones who will want to do lots of work, can see that sooner or later, you will have problems. They will do the maximum amount of work possible, so that your teeth will last the rest of your life. They would rather do them all in one shot, and believe it will be more convenient for you and them. It is up to you to make the decision that suits you best.

We do offer this guarantee, however, as an extra service to our customers... If you have any trouble with our dental work, and you return to Mazatlan, we will repair it for free within 2 years. Any minor adjustments that you may need upon returning to your country, we will pay for, up to $100 US. Just send us the bill from your regular dentist, and we will reimburse you.

Q. Do you provide airfare and hotels? Can we book the entire visit through your service?

A. At this time, we do not provide any direct travel related services. We recommend that you book your trip through your travel agent or check out our special offers and travel pages.

 Q. What is the training and experience of your dentists?

A. To be a dentist in Mexico requires a 4-5 year university study, and one year of community service. Their education is similar to the US and Canada, and they even use some of the same textbooks in English.

They are required to pass their final exam, and pass a test to get their license from the Health Department. If any dentist is found guilty of malpractice, he loses his license for life. Learn more about our dental staff.

Q. How much time will I need to schedule for my dental work?

A. In most cases, 1 to 2 weeks. We are very careful about the fit and finish of your dental work, and this requires some time to get it right.

Dental implants are done in 2 stages, the implant is placed on the first visit, and a temporary tooth will be placed on the implant.

You will require a second visit in 2 to 4 months after your gums heal fully. On the second visit, the implant will be adjusted if necessary, and a permanent crown will be placed on the implant.

Q. Does your office provide cosmetic dentistry?

A. Yes, our office provides cosmetic dentistry, we can give you a Hollywood smile, for less!

 People all over the world are realizing that a brilliant smile, nice straight, white teeth, is one of their best assets. You will feel better about yourself, and you will think to yourself, "Why didn't I get a smile makeover sooner?"

There are many options to improve your smile, including porcelain veneers, bleaching, closing gaps between teeth, and we can certainly provide you with the best options to give you a beautiful smile.