Mexico Retirement Information Center

Hi Folks,  It’s been a long hot summer, and I had a knee replacement!  And I’m doing great!  I did have it done in the States.  Medicare, you know

I’ve had so many questions about dental service in Mexico, so here’s a rather long diary of Dick’s and my latest adventures.  Rose was the last emailer I received a query from - so, I start with…   

…Dear Rose, I knew I had all the info – so, here’s a whole lot of it - hopefully will make you feel more comfortable about going to Mexico  JThis is the original email I sent to our sons of our adventures - think everything is in it:

         “Hi Boys,  About two weeks ago, I had my front tooth (which had already been root-canaled and capped years ago) break right off - post and all - I was guilty of eating a peanut-butter on white bread sandwich (something I allow myself about once every 3 years)… so apparently, it was just the tooth’s time.

            So…made an appointment with - not the pink dentist - thought I’d try the more expensive one in Mexico, just to see how they were…Rubio and his clinica.  So, down we went - and of course, not like the $1,000-plus prices in the states, the tooth could be recapped for $350.  (Pink dentist is around $160).

            On that trip, the dentist at that clinic prepped the tooth, and sent me home with a temporary tooth and an appointment.  (I have been very happy with work by the pink dentist, but, on some of the last caps they put on, I wasn’t too happy - so thought since it’s the front tooth, we’d “bite the bullet” (Vera (my Czech daughter-in-law) - that means we’d pay the extra, though it would hurt)  so….home we went.

            Then, the very next day –  “s” happens - my top-right-bridge - involving 5 teeth - lost about an inch of the porcelain - ergo - I had a gapping black hole in my mouth it looked like … more “s”…

            So…another call to Rubio - they would look at that.  

            Back to Algodones, Mexico - My 5-tooth lower bridge was being supported by only three teeth - which is excellent - but when they took the bridge off, the middle tooth had so much decay that it would no longer support the bridge…no problem - transplants are available at $1600 each, plus by this time, the teeth involved would have to be recapped @ $450 each - so, for only around $5000, I’d be fixed (great price when compared to what I’d have to pay in the States.

            So…..lots of work done that day - and temporaries put on so I looked okay, the big black gap was gone - but I would have to wait even for the extraction of the decayed tooth, because, now, Rubio was going on a three-week vacation (He’s making money hand-over-fist - really a nice, brilliant Mexican!  We like him fine - but we like saving money better). 

            They also gave me another option that would be no transplants, and fix up the uppers for a total of $1650 - and it would be okay - oh, that also involved a removable partial - on top - didn’t sound too good to me - I have a removable partial on the bottom – each side - and it’s okay, but a bother.

            And so - back home again, to ponder the choices we had.

            Then, the day before this last appointment, (Rubio had returned) we were water-walking in a nearby pool and the topic of dentists came up.  One gal gave me the name of another dentist - cheaper than Rubio, she thought.  Dick and I figured we’d head to Mexico early Wednesday, check with this other dentist and see what he had to offer.

            That was two days ago -
            So, we went to Mexico again - thank goodness it’s no further!  And we found the dentist Marlene had told us about - they gave me a thorough exam and they turned out to be actually a tad HIGHER than Rubio – Ugg!

            We wondered around and stopped in several dentists just asking the prices of a cap - Varies from $100 up…  Somehow, we found one who was very interested - we just sort of hit it off – Gator Dentist Group -  and they said there were other solutions - so, an exam, some suggestions - they say the bridge can be supported without a transplant - sounding interesting and it just would involve nine caps, including the bridge all tied together - for $1350!  Now it’s sounding like a bargain.

            Dad went up to Rubio’s - told them I wouldn’t be there – canceled my appointment - and the (Gator) dentists sat me in their chair and started.   It took basically all day - and by the time they took impressions, (they do their own work - have their own lab) it was getting late.

            They told Dick and me to come back at 8 p.m., and my teeth would be ready to place in my mouth.  Dad and I both smiled and said - yea – 8p.m. Mexican time – and we were right about that.

            As the border closes at 10 p.m., we warned them, I must be out of the chair at 9:30 p.m. - we were both thinking of your experience RCP2! (Richard the second did get caught in Mexico after the border closed once – may tell you all about that some day – he’s pretty ingenious J)   But the Gator dentists assured us – we would be fine.

            Dad and I went back to the states, and planned to be at their office at 8 p.m.  (This is in one of those little cobbled-stone - no vehicles - areas.)

            We ate, then took a nap in the parking lot of Cracker Barrel and headed back south of the border.

            We were there at 7:55 p.m.  At least lots of lights were left on at the dentist’s office, but no one in site.  Eventually, after much pounding on the door, the lab-assistant (no speak English) came to the door - at 8:15 p.m., I finally managed to slip a note under the door so the assistant could give to the doctors when they showed up, telling them that we would be back in the morning to get the teeth placed.  But, the assistant kept trying to contact the dentists on three different cell phones that were on the desk - shuffling papers around, looking desperate - because these two apparent Americans wanted something he didn’t understand.

            At about  8:25 p.m. - by this time Dad was fuming and I kept saying - you know it’s Mexico - they will show up - finally down the street came a big SUV and the two doctor’s rushed out of it - they had been at a restaurant enjoying music (which we could hear as we had been standing on the sidewalk) and they forgot the time - so Mexican!!!

            So, no problem - neither of them had had a drink - I checked that out with my super sniffer. And in we went, the teeth were “almost ready” - at 9:45 we said - no more “almost” - take us to the border - we’ll be back in the morning when they have time to fit them correctly.  By this time, we have a full-complement of office staff - the gal at the desk - one who was English speaking - the lab assistant, the two doctors, another guy - don’t know what he was doing - and Dick and me.  So, the gal at the desk took us to the border in a golf cart (these are getting popular down there, as the town grows) and we got across with 4 minutes to spare )  And an appointment to come back in the morning.

            Which we did - and the teeth were ready- and look good - just hope it works.  By this time, after so much pleasure about how beautiful the teeth look, etc, we - the doc and I started talking - well - trying to - about what could be done to my bottom teeth - I do hate the partial…and so, they figured out the options that could be done there.

            The most amazing solution was to tie 14 crowns together and that would support several added “floating crowns” in the rear of each side of my mouth.

            Now, I haven’t had teeth (other than that darn bridge) in the back of my mouth for years! So this was sounding pretty great - The cost - an additional $2100.  Darn, Dick, we shouldn’t have paid for that cruise!!!!!   But, after much thinking, and by about 12 noon, and some bargaining of course - and bargaining is not something you usually do with a dentist - We arrived at $1800, and they would start right away - and…oh dear - we would come back later in the day - this time around 6 p.m., and they would be ready to place the bottom teeth……at least that gives us 4 hours leeway!

            Okay - let’s do it.  Oh - by the way- Happy Birthday Day, Barb! …and happy anniversary, Christmas, etc., etc…

            So, all my – my only about two years old - caps were removed - sidebar - Richard, Steve, Chris - you probably don’t remember, but most of my teeth problems started when Chris as about four years old and he and I were swimming at JoAnn’s - next door to us on Tremont.  I was acting silly and started swimming like Aquaman - he was on t.v. then - Chris though it was funny - not a good idea to swim with your arms straight down at your side and your head leading the way - I smashed into the bottom of the pool and came up minus my four front teeth….they broke off - luckily not into the root - and since then, it’s been dentist, dentist, dentist…

            Anyway - So, the caps came off and things were prepared and I was sent off with a bottom mouth full of temporaries - to spend several hours up north again and come back at 6 p.m. - when the teeth would be ready

            Dad and I went back to the States and ate at a buffet - I had no problem chewing, suprisingly.  Then, we still had time, so we decided instead of fretting, we’d just go to a casino - luckily we almost came out even there - we had never signed up for their “club” - so they gave us $15 to play with.  We did.  We both at least got relaxed a bit.

            Then, back south - we were there at 5:30 p.m.  The dentists were actually there!!!! And the teeth WERE almost ready!  After just a while, they were glued in - by this time, I had shared my website with them, www.retireinluxury.com, and we checked over their website and we were all getting to be pretty good buddies

            So, by George!  Around 7, they drove us again to the border (it’s only about 3 blocks) and we easily made it back across - me with a pretty sore mouth.

            A three-hour drive and we were home - exhaused!  Oh - the one night we did spend in Yuma - we have before, stayed at a Comfort Inn, about $90, and a Super 8, about $70 and both very nice, and a Days Inn (free breakfast) for $60.  This time, we had been talking with an older lady and her husband last time we were down, at the dentist’s office and they said they had stayed in the Motel 6 for $40 - and it was clean!  So, we tried the Motel 6 - there are two Motel 6’s in Yuma, just blocks from each other - one was $50, the other, the one we stayed in was, tax included, $42.  And the bath, especially, was spotless…no breakfast - just coffee - and it’s right behind the - think it was the Denny’s.

            So - that’s what we’ve done for the past few days - it’s soooo good to get home - now, I just hope all these teeth work out okay – they sure are purdy!  …. we’ll see. Hope everything is going great with all of you.   Have oodles to do to catch up - Love you all…Mom”

            “Shoot - just scanned this quickly and don’t think directions are there - so - here they are:

            If you are heading west to Yuma - you will be on Interstate 8. You will pass a large dome house on your right.  Keep going into Yuma - you will see in front of you, big water towers on a hill - painted in desert colors.

            At that exit, which is 16th Street Exit, get off - that’s the perfect place to gas up, and go potty (Cracker Barrel - always clean).

            Then, get back on the road, and get back on I-8 West.

            Go about 10 more miles, and you will see an exit for Andrade/Algodones (Highway 186) (sign will say Mexico).

            Head toward Algodones.  Just a short distance - and  on your right, you will see a large fenced area with a parking sign -  run by the Indians, it will cost you $5 to park there for the day (they just raised the price from $3 - darn) but park there. (Don’t miss the turn into the parking lot, and we never park along the road – it’s worth $5).

            Just follow the rest of the people, down the little set of steps, walk another 75 feet and you will enter Mexico.

            Walk 75 more feet, you’re on “2nd” street.

            Keep walking down 2nd street to “A” Avenue.

            Make a left on “A” Avenue.       

            Walk to the end of the street, and it sort of ends, but you will take the large cobble stone walkway/street to your right.

            Gator Dentist is about half way down, on your right.

Dr. Miguel Angel Fuentes Hermandez.  www.gatordentalgroup.com    USA number:  1-928-377-4562     Mexico number:  011 52 658 517 3457”

UPDATE  05-2008

            So, on our cruise in October, the first night at dinner, while eating custard, of all things, the porcelain chipped off one of my new bottom teeth.  From then on, it just kept chipping off until I had only a black piece of metal for one tooth.  Either it wasn’t fit quite right, or, possibly there was a flaw in the porcelain??  I don’t know – it upset me.  But, Dr. Fuentes at the Gator Group, had guaranteed his work – we’ll see what that means.

            Now, the cruise was clear back in October of 2007.  The tooth didn’t show that much and Dick and I just were too busy to head to Mexico.  But, I did call and tell them my tooth broke and I would be down to have it fixed when we had time.

            So, finally, a couple of weeks ago, I gave Gator Dentist a call and told them I was ready to head down – so, we got an apt for the 22nd, at 11.

            Digress……We had almost gotten to Mexico, and I realized I didn’t have my passport with me.  Dick had his…but – oh dear – what to do???  So, at the border, we found a “trailer” where you can get questions answered… In we went and I explained I had no passport, but we had a dental apt., so what would happen if we went into Mexico and I tried to get back to the States without my passport?  They said they could detain me until they had proof I was born in the States…unless I got a really nice guy who would let me pass.

            Dick and I stood outside the trailer and hemmed and hawed for a while and then I said – “what the heck – let’s try it”.  So, for the rest of the day, I worried.

            I figured the dentist may just put a new cap on top of the metal and that would be that.  But, Doc looked at my tooth and said, “we replace”.

            Then, they said “Barbie” was here yesterday and was coming back…  what???  Yes, I’m here, I thought, but I wasn’t here yesterday…  oh dear this translation is getting me confused….  Oh – finally – the “other Barbie” – a friend, Barbie with her husband Al, had started getting pretty teeth yesterday and they would be back today too, and we’d probably be running into them!

            So, he’s going to replace my whole bottom plate…great.  I didn’t ask how much.  But, asked if they had time to clean Dick’s teeth – sure they did – took him right in and they found 5 fillings they felt should be replaced – metal ones – with porcelain.  They did all that for $200.  A bit more than I thought it should be – but, I know – in the States, it would be a really big bill!

            So, they were finally ready for me.

            Sidebar – While Dick was back getting fixed, I visited with Rich Hanson, of Kingman.  A retiree, who had recently lost his wife.  I liked him – he wasn’t in Mexico just because their services are cheap – they are good.  He was thrifty all his life, and now he’s proud to still be thrifty (Actually, he’s QUITE wealthy).  And he’s there getting his teeth taken care of!  Smart Guy!

            And in comes Barbie and Al!  She would get her new teeth today!  But she was already really happy, with just the temporaries!  While Rich went back in the dentist chair again, the receptionist gave us all free Margarita coupons and walked us over to the bar and said just wait there, she would come after us when they were ready for us (can you imagine this happening in the States???

            So, in about 45 minutes – I’m back in the dentist chair – it took forever to get the bottom teeth removed.  They had to be cut off and finally they let loose.  They were in really well L   then, impressions, cleaning, more impressions, etc……then, temps were on and it was time to leave – for the night.

            “The other Barbie” was ready to go in the chair and get her permanents glued in!

            Oh geez, now, we have to try to get across the border.  Remember Richard’s tale?  We were hoping to find that hole in the fence J  But, I just walked into customs, said I totally forgot my passport somehow, even though I knew better – he asked what we had done in Mexico – I showed him my mouth – he said “Don’t let it happen again” , and I promised I wouldn’t – and thank goodness, I was back in the States.

            Dick and I decided we wouldn’t take the chance again and that meant we needed to drive back home, get my passport and then head back to Mexico.  I think the first time in history, it actually rained all the way from Algodones to home!   And to make things even more interesting, the arm that holds the wiper blade broke, about 15 miles outside of Yuma.  Now, just figure how many auto repair places are between Algodones and Gila Bend – with wipers – that would be open…  not a single one.  Dick finally pulled over, and luckily I had dental floss and somehow he tied everything together so we could intermittently run the wipers…only had to retie one more time.  What a night!!!  We were absolutely exhausted when we pulled into our driveway!

            We grabbed the passports, got bathed and dove into bed.  Up in the morn and head back to Algodones…with passports.

            Appointment was at 11.  Before we headed into Mexico again, we got a room at the Hampton – we were just too tired to drive back again even if everything did get done.  We got in the dentist early.  We visited with other North Americans, waited and finally had more impressions taken, and not a lot more, and walked around a little and made arrangements to come back to the dentist for a 4 p.m. appointment the next day and everything would be done.

            Okay – a good dinner again – at the Golden Corral, a good night’s sleep, a good free breakfast at Hampton, relax and finally we head back to Mexico for my teeth.

            Good thing we got there a bit early – one more impression.     Out on the streets for another Margarita, and finally, back to the dentist for my teeth.  I have to say, my mouth is still just a bit sore – I had sooo many shots of novacaine – I don’t like any pain.  And I  had my mouth open for so long, even my jaws hurt.  But, it’s getting much better…and the teeth are great.  NO CHARGE.

            When we got home, I told Dick I didn’t want to go anyplace for a month…but…geez – today a couple of motels in Laughlin sent us some free night certificates…

J Mom”

            P.S.  “The Other Barbie” got 27 crowns for a cost of $3500.  That included an extraction and some other work done on her teeth, in preparation for her “new teeth”.

Dick Parks got 5 porcelain fillings and a cleaning for $200.  May 22, 2008.

Barbie Parks got her bottom plate replaced totally for 0.