Sam Dental Blog (page 2)
We hope you enjoy this Mexico dentist blog. The Mexico dentist blog is dedicated to give testimonials of patients who have come to the dentist in Mexico, updates on the best dental care in Mexico, hotel information for your stay while at the dentist in Tijuana, places you can visit, and restaurants where you can eat near Sam Dental, your Mexico Dentist in Tijuana, (dentista en Tijuana).
Jan. 16, 2010
Cosmetic Crowns on your front teeth
There are different types of materials used to make crowns, each with its own benefits as well as limitations. When patients come into the clinic in need of crowns on their front teeth, we generally recommend porcelain/ceramic crowns, rather than standard PFM, (poercelain fused to metal). Although we can make the PFM crowns to look good, with no metal edge showing, the porcelain/ceramic crowns are very much superior.in their luminesance. They look totally naural, except that they are perfect in shape! There are different processes to make ceramic crowns. There is the Empress crowns and veneers, which are very beautiful. There is also the e.max crowns and veneers, which are also very pretty. Between the two, we prefer the e.max. Although the Empress perhaps holds a slight edge in better luminesance, it is very slight. However, the e.max are by far a much harder material, and are much more resistent to chipping. In fact, when it comes to veneers, it is hands down, e.max is the best. Lumineers is a name brand of veneer that is highly advertised, and is therefore much more expensive, (even in Mexico). But the e.max is much better than the Lumineers. Lumineers are very compareable to Empress in appearance, luminesance, and durability. The main ifference is that Lumineers cost $535 each, while we can do Empress for as low as $350. However, e.max costs the same as Empress, and is much more durable. e.max veneers and crowns cost $350 each, when getting 3 or more.
Dec. 24th, 2009
2010 promises to be a good year for Tijuana dentistry.
The economy seems to be picking up, and many people are starting to think about getting their smile fixed. Sam Dental offers several package deals, including airport pickup, and hotel accomodations. Check out the link above that says "Smile Makeovers". Although we can do veneers, the packages refer to the price of all porcelain, metal free crowns. The price of veneers and all porcelain crowns are the same, unless you decide you want the name brand Lumineers. The truth is, "Lumineers", are not the best veneers. The lab recommends the e.max veneers or crowns, because they are of a harder material, and more resistent to chipping. However, we recommend crowns over veneers, because veneers are subject to coming loose if you bite down wrong. In any case, there are some really good deals listed on the Smile Makeover page.
Nov. 11, 2009
Special deals are available, this is a good time for dental tourism.
Many people are looking for a great deal for cosmetic dentistry. Because of the economic conditions in the US, many folks have been looking to dental tourism as a way to get needed care at reasonable prices. Right now, the mexican clinics are also hurting, and if a person is ready to get some work done, they will find that the Mexican dentists are very open to negociate a very good price. Sam Dental currently is doing standard porcelain crowns for only $199 each. Compare that to the $700 to $850 that a US dental clinic would charge. The quality is great, and the price is right. Why wait any longer?
Nov. 8, 2009
Is a passport really needed?
For Americans who want to save money and go to a Mexico dentist, the question arises about whether a US Passport is really needed. In answer to that question, please understand the official policy, and the actual practice are often completely different. As of June 1, 2009, the US Customs Officials are supposed to require that all Americans, entering the US at a land crossing, present a US passport book, or passport card. However, the actual practice has not substantially changed from what it was prior to June 1, and if you simply have your State issued I.D., such as a drivers license and your birth certificate, you will be allowed to re-enter with no problems. When the government officials try to implement a new policy such as this, they cannot immediately put it into practice and halt US citizens from coming home. A State issued drivers license is still a legitimate and confirmable identification, and a birth certificate confirms US citizenship. With these, there is no legitimate reason for Customs to not allow you into the country. Imagine the newspaper headlines and subsequent scandal if a US citizen was denied re-entry, and something happened to them? The politicians and Customs officials know it would mean political suicide. Working with clinics in Tijuana, I can have seen every single week there are patients who cross the border with no passport, and they have never had any problems going home. There has to be literally hundreds of people every single day who cross the border with the same documents as before June 1, and that translates to several thousand very week. One US Customs official that I have known personally for several years confided to me that "there is no way that a US citizen will not be allowed into the country, and the worst case scenario, is that they will have to wait a little and be checked out a little more thoroughly to confirm their identity". A few days ago, when I crossed and presented my passport, the US Customs official actually thanked me for having it. I said, "I thought everyone is supposed to have one", just so I could see how he responded. He said, "That doesn't mean that they do, and it makes my job easier when you have it". I took that to imply that a large percentage of people don't have a passport, and that causes him the extra work of a few minutes of having to input their drivers license info into the data base to confirm their identity. When you multiple those few minutes by several hundred times a day, I can see his point. But the truth still remains, if you have dental, or medical needs, don't let the lack of a passport slow you down. If there is time to get one, great. But if not, don't even give it a second thought.
October 8, 2009
Why this is the best time to go to a Tijuana dentist in Mexico for dental work.
Everyone is going through tough times economically right now. We are all looking for ways to cut back. When it comes to dental care, we often put things off, but in reality, eventually things need to be taken care of. A lot of people have lost their dental insurance, or never had any. If you need dental work done, and have gone to get a check up anywhere in the USA, you probably were shocked at the prices they quoted. That is the main reason people go to a dentist in Mexico for dental care, they are hunting for a bargain.
Right now is an exceptional time to go to a Tijuana dentist in Mexico for dental care. . Since the economy has slowed here, there are fewer people going to the dentist in Mexico, just as here. That has caused even more competition in Mexico for the fewer amount of patients crossing the border. Most Mexican dentist clinics will have their prices posted on their web site; however, as with everything in Mexico, there is always room for negotiation. You can always ask for their best price or a discount. If it is for minor things, they may not budge too much, but if it is for major work, they will most likely come up with a better price. So, for that tooth you need to have crowned, and the US dentist told you would cost $1000, you can probably get it done, with everything, for under $250 in Mexico. The Mexican dentists are hurting too, and they would rather make less profit, and at least keep busy make something.
Just keep in mind one thing, and that is, don’ jump at the lowest price. Keep in mind that some Mexican dentists might not be as honest as they should, and tell you that you need things that you don’t. Both integrity and skill level are important. It is always a good idea to ask for references, and then check them out. One clue to consider is, you can often tell by the quality of their web site, what kind of pride they take in their work.
The Tijuana dentist, (dentista en Tijuana), clinic I have found in Mexico that has met all my expectations is Sam Dental in Tijuana. These dentists in Tijuana are very professional and do an excellent job. Also, I have found that not only did they have good prices, but that they were willing to work with me and gave a discount on the work they did.
Sept. 20, 2009
Testimony of a Patient at Sam Dental in Tijuana
I used to live in Paraguay, South America for 7 years. That opened the door to me as far as learning the Spanish language and becoming acquainted with Latin culture and customs. For the past 18 years I have been a frequent traveler to Mexico. There are a lot of things that I enjoy about Latin America. The food,…. (well I love that a little too much, and it seems that I am always going on a diet), the closeness of family ties, the friendliness of your neighbors, the climate, and especially the low cost of living. In fact, we plan to retire in Baja California in a few years.
There is one thing in particular that I have always enjoyed, and that is the low cost of dental care in Mexico. I guess I could never get used to the idea of spending up to $1800 to get a root canal and a crown in the USA. Especially since I have had the same procedure done for under $450 in Mexico. The work done in my mouth in Mexico has actually been superior to the work done in the USA. I have had 3 different crowns done in Colorado that went bad and fell out in less than 2 years. I have also had crowns put in by Mexican dentists that have endured for 14 years without ever needing replacement.
I wanted to write this article to encourage whoever is interested in having dental work in Mexico. You don’t need to be afraid, and you certainly will save a lot of money. If you need a contact, I have found someone who is great. They have been so helpful to me. I actually live in Orlando, Florida right now, and still find it well worth my while to take yearly trips to Tijuana, Mexico for both my dental procedures as well as medical procedures. My contact is Gracy Loaiza, who owns the Sam Dental Tijuana dentist clinic in Mexico. She has helped me book my hotel, and even had me picked up at the border the first time I went down. I found that they have the best prices, use the best materials, and have excellent dentists. They even speak enough English as to make any American feel very comfortable. Also, as I alluded to earlier, I have had to have several medical procedures done on the same trips when I went down for dental work, and Gracy even hooked me up with the appropriate specialists and booked me appointments with them. (Which is something that did not benefit her at all. She just did it to help me out.)
I enjoy researching things on the internet before I do anything, and Sam Dental Tijuana has a web site that can answer most of your questions, including how much do they generally charge for different procedures. I wish you luck as you make plans to get your teeth fixed at a great savings.
Sept. 8, 2009
Root Canal at Sam Dental Tijuana
In the past, teeth with diseased nerves have been removed from the mouth. However, through a root canal, most of the diseased tooth can be salvaged. In most cases, the root canal procedure is a simple treatment that involves little to no patient discomfort.
Within the walls of each tooth, a strand of dental pulp – the substance that supplies the tooth with nerves, nutrients, connective tissue and blood vessels – laces downward into the root. If the dental pulp becomes diseased, the pulp dies, cutting off the nutrients and nerve signals which the tooth needs to be healthy. If the diseased pulp is left in the tooth, the tooth will become infected, forcing it to need extraction.
Root canals allow the dentist in Mexico to remove the pulp, clean the canal and seal the tooth, effectively protecting and saving the tooth. After an opening is created through the crown of the tooth into the dental pulp chamber, the pulp is removed. The canal is cleaned out, and the pulp chamber is permanently filled. The dentist will proceed by putting in a temporary filling. Afterwards, the temporary filling will be replaced with a permanent filling or a crown, depending on the location of the tooth within the mouth.
September 7, 2009
Porcelain Crowns at Sam Dental Tijuana, your Tijuana dentist.
Depending on the type of treatment you have received for your dental problem, it might be necessary to:
Have your tooth restored to its original size and shape
Supply additional physical support for the treated tooth
Get a complete "makeover" on the affected tooth
For cases like these, porcelain crowns are the most logical option. While inlays and outlays cover the chewing surface of the tooth and fillings fill in the empty interior space of the tooth, crowns completely cover every visible part of the tooth - which is why they are sometimes referred to as "caps." A part of your tooth remains but is essentially "rebuilt" to resemble the tooth at its exterior best.
While porcelain crowns certainly can improve the look of a tooth or multiple teeth, it is recommended only in conjunction with prior repair of the tooth - not simply for cosmetic purposes. The average cost at a USA dentist office for standard porcelain over metal crowns is $800-$1000. But at Sam Dental in Tijuana we charge $225. This is a great place to get cosmetic dentistry in Mexico.
