Dental treatment in Mexico for US and Canadian patients

For many people in San Diego, Phoenix or El Paso, a dentist in Mexico is closer than a specialist in their own state. For people in Toronto, Calgary or Chicago it is a flight of a few hours. The US CDC lists dental care among the most common reasons people travel for treatment. This guide is about the practical side: how the visits are usually spread out, how you get there and back, what to ask before you agree to anything, and who looks after your teeth once you are home.

How the visits are usually spread out

The number of trips depends on what you need.

Fillings, root canal treatment, crowns and veneers can often be finished in one trip of several days, because the dentist needs a few visits to prepare the teeth, take scans or impressions and fit the final work. Ask the clinic how many days to plan for and whether the crowns are made on site or sent to a dental laboratory.

Implants usually mean two trips. An implant is a small post, usually titanium, placed in the jawbone to act as the root of a missing tooth. On the first trip the dentist places the implant, and sometimes removes damaged teeth or adds bone graft material where the bone is thin. Then the implant needs time to bond with the bone, which dentists usually describe in months rather than weeks. You go home and wear a temporary tooth or denture in the meantime. On the second trip the dentist attaches the connecting piece (the abutment) and fits the final crown or bridge. Your dentist decides when the implant is ready, and that timing should be in your written plan.

Full arch work, where a whole set of upper or lower teeth is fixed to several implants, follows a similar pattern, with temporary teeth first and the final teeth later.

Crossing by land or flying

If you live near the border, you may drive or walk across to a border city for treatment. Coming back into the United States by land, US Customs and Border Protection accepts a US passport, a passport card, an enhanced driver's licence or a trusted traveller card such as SENTRI or NEXUS for US citizens aged 16 and over. The passport card works for land and sea crossings only, not for flights.

If you fly, you need your passport. The Government of Canada's travel advice says Canadians do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to 180 days. It says air travellers complete a digital migration form on arrival, and that people entering by land complete a paper form unless they stay less than 72 hours in the northern border zone. Rules change, so check the official sites before each trip, and remember that you will make the crossing twice for implants.

Think about how you will feel on the way home. After extractions or implant surgery your face may be swollen and sore for a few days. Long queues at a land crossing or a late flight are easier with someone beside you.

Questions to ask the clinic

Ask these before you pay a deposit, and ask for the answers in writing:

• Who will treat you, and what are their qualifications? Canada's travel advice suggests confirming that providers are authorised by Mexican health authorities, asking to see their credentials, and getting a written agreement describing the treatment.
• Which implant system and parts will they use? A dentist at home needs the brand and model to repair or replace parts later. Ask for it on your records.
• What scans will they take, such as a CT scan (a 3D X-ray of the jaw), and is it included?
• How do they sterilise instruments? The CDC points travellers to a guide on safe dental care abroad from the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP).
• How many days are needed on each trip, and how many months between trips?
• What happens if an implant does not bond, or a crown breaks? Is there a written warranty, and does it cover the work only if you return to the clinic?
• Can they send your X-rays, scans and treatment notes in English or French?

Why quotes differ

Two quotes for the same mouth can look far apart. Often they are describing different things. One may be per implant, with the crown extra. Another may include the abutment, the crown and the temporary tooth. Some include bone grafts and extractions, others list them separately. Crown materials differ too, from metal based crowns covered in porcelain to all ceramic or zirconia crowns, and the price follows. Full arch quotes vary in how many implants they use and whether the first set of temporary teeth is included.

Line the quotes up item by item before you compare totals. Add the cost of two trips, hotel nights and time off work. If you want quotes from clinics in more than one country, MediCurage can collect them for your case so you can see them side by side, then arrange your travel, stay and a coordinator for the country you pick.

Follow up with a dentist at home

The CDC advises making sure you can get follow up care at home before you travel, and warns that follow up can be costly and may not be covered by insurance. Talk to a dentist near you first. Some dentists are reluctant to take on work started elsewhere, so it helps to know in advance who will see you for cleanings, a loose crown or a sore gum.

Bring home your scans, X-rays, a treatment summary and the implant details. Keep them together with your other dental records.

If you notice swelling that gets worse, fever, pus or pain that is growing rather than settling, see a dentist or doctor near you without waiting for your next trip. Infection after dental work needs prompt treatment, wherever the work was done.