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POSTED UNDER Dental Crown REVIEWS

I Avoided Needing Dentures Thanks to German Arzate & Staff!! - Mexico, MX

ORIGINAL POST

My experience was beyond belief! Two years ago and...

vestelene
WORTH IT$9,000

My experience was beyond belief! Two years ago and no problems. I had two cracked molars and cried getting estimates in the U.S. just to fix them. I researched it, emailed & spoke w/ Dr. Arzate after sending x rays. I flew down alone and met w/ them for the estimate. Since I borrowed money anyway, I opted for a whole mouth makeover. I ended up w/ many root canals, each tooth crowned, several implants and much more work done than we thought I'd need - ALL WITHOUT EXTRA COSTS! 

I am an older woman who traveled and stayed alone there 8 days and always felt safe. The dental clinic also helped me feel confident and secure. I can't say enough good things, I'm not wealthy or even close (I work in a grocery store), but I'd rather have my beautiful functioning teeth than anything else, and these folks made it affordable. You won't regret going to these fine people! The only problem you may encounter is feeling comfortable filling the prescriptions for antibiotics and pain (at a fair price get generics) - I recommend you go to the far end of the Mall to the small drug store, I found them very helpful. Oh, and I do NOT even speak Spanish, didn't need to! Also, the pathetic part-time insurance I have paid for a small part and would have been liable for each crown but apparently Dr. German used the best material, not normal in the U.S., and they only would have covered the cheap stuff. Hmmm. Go for the Best, you deserve it!!

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Replies (24)

March 26, 2013

It is great to hear  you had such a good experience! You mentioned "Dr. German used the best material". Do you mind me asking what material that was, and what material your insurance was willing to cover in the U.S.?

March 26, 2013
I'll look it up tomorrow and get back to you soon. It was a couple years ago & I just got home from work. Print out what exactly your insurance covers - they were quite specific on mine - but it was for the cheapest material possible that they'd cover. And remember not to let your insurance company run you around, demand a manager (& keep good notes) and know that if your policy does not state clearly that the work has to be done in the U.S., then it doesn't. They ran me around but Dr. German & staff sent all the documentation (licenses, etc.) & I got what I could. It isn't hard to get what you deserve, you just have to be nicely persistent. It says you are "community manager" next to your name. What does that mean?
March 26, 2013

It means I work for RealSelf helping the community members navigate the site and get the information they need. I would love it if you would fill me in on specifically what material was used for your crowns when you can. :)

March 26, 2013
It appears that the insurance only paid for "composite resin crown". I had not checked on that before going & may have taken it into consideration, though their coverage amount wasn't enough not to get the better option myself. I had porcelain crowns. Dr. German does not itemize the bill, or rather, I didn't get an itemized bill, I think because he gives you a figure and then does whatever is necessary, regardless of how much more work you get. The estimate I have from the dentist here in the U.S. (that I got the complete set of xrays that I sent out for estimates) was $2950 for each porcelain crown, not counting each and every nitpicked charge he'd add for each root canal, necessary post, cleaning, rubber gloves, etc. I have 28 teeth, right? That would be $84,000 just for the crowns alone!! I guess he needs a new boat or something. Oh, and I didn't mention that when working on me, Dr. German said I had a "gummy smile" and he could fix that if I wanted, to which I said, "you're the pro, do whatever you think is good." WOW! A little added gum surgery, too. WOW! Now that I'm writing about it, I should send them some flowers or candy or something.
March 26, 2013

Hmm, it seems the dentist you went to for the quote was really high priced. I went to a dentist who is definitely among the costlier dentists in the Seattle area and I only paid $1,536 for my crown, so not sure how your estimate was coming in at almost double. Regardless, I'm glad you were pleased and hope you get many, many years of happiness from your new smile.

March 26, 2013
March 26, 2013
It's too bad I can't get a job as a researcher of some kind, because I did an incredible job researching this dental event of mine.
March 27, 2013
I'm sorry my original quote was so high. I did get 28 teeth done and feel I saved a bundle.
April 4, 2013
Good question to ask Megan..The best stuff can mean plastics or resin material in some dentists opinion. Porcelain without metal is the best way to go as it is more compatible to the natural tooth enamel. Metal also does not allow light to pass through the tooth, thus giving it a dull appearance. Most if not all labs in Mexico use PFM materials which is simply porcelain fused to metal. What type of metals? Junk metal is most typical and is the cheapest. Metals fused to crowns consist of tin and nickel which cause allergic reactions most commonly felt as gum irritation and redness! Buyer beware...Dr Tad S. Lovan dds
April 4, 2013
My 100% porcelain crowns are under $1200 in South Bend, IN...and we never bill out for things like rubber gloves! By the way, lasers are the best for gummy smiles and the heal time is 75% quicker with no infection! Tad Lovan
April 5, 2013
June 16, 2017
I need 3 crowns with root canals and dental bonding on front teeth . How much would this cost here? The crowns are on my back upper and lower jaw? The very last smile tooth in the back? Im looking to travel for a better price. Beacause a dentist here in the states actually ripped me off messed up my front tooth when all i needed was some bonding but she filed off my intire tooth charged me thousands off dollars for a crown i couldnt afford when my tooth was only slitely chipped. Then told me the tooth next to it needed the filling changed when i didnt even go for that tooth and then she even messed that tooth up and made it darker then all my teeth. I use to have a beautiful smile til i went to a dentist here in florida who not only wanted to take all my money but also wanted to give me an ugly smile. So im actually planning to go to another country to have them fix what this dentist here did on purpose to my naturally beautiful smile
June 16, 2017
Alot of times it matters the person you have working on your teeth . This woman had all the expensive and cool gear here in America and still on PERPOSE messed up my teeth more then befor i ever sat in her chair. And oh she knew whst sge was doing i heard them all sneakering about it while the work was being done and as i walked out the door. Resherch
April 4, 2013
Wow! You should have had a 2nd opinion before doing all the "extra" dentistry. You also want to get digital x- rays(90% radiation free) as they are more accurate because they are detailed to the point that you understand where the infection is..not just a dark fuzzy spot...Hope you didn't get crowns fused to metal (pfm)...these contain tin and nickel and often cause gum irritation and swelling. Also, in the USA, you can have your all porcelain crowns completed in under 2 hours chairside! This can only be accomplished with CEREC 3 D CAD design! No more ill fitting temporary crowns that fall out mid week, No more 2nd visits and unnecessary shots, No more goop in your mouth because we use intraoral cameras to image the tooth. The cost is reasonable because we don't have to send out our crown orders to a lab which charges up to $300/ tooth! Check us out in South Bend, Indiana. We have been in practice 24 years and loving it! Tad S. Lovan DDS, P.C
June 3, 2013
They wanted $1,000 a crown at the dentist that I have been going to for years....no insurance and like Vestilene....older...and I have no dental insurance... Went to Mexico...got 3 porcelain crowns made with Cerec machine by end of day...also had ZOOM whitening... She had to take off the old metal crowns and fill two cavities... I feel comfortable in going to Mexico for treatment....just like other things...do some research... I paid less than $1400...not including a $350 plane ticket and nice hotel for $80 a night...one night paid by clinic and a driver... I am sure that in time I might have found a comfortable dentist here...but of the 2 others I checked on....I still came out ahead and I feel the work was great...
June 9, 2013
Dear Robbie, sounds great do you know how much it would be over all to have possibly 3 srew in crowns placed in I already have one root canal that was done 3 yrs ago and the idiots used a plastic post so guess what it fell out...help thanks from Massachusetts..
January 9, 2014
Which clinic Kellygirl101 did you go to?
April 4, 2013
You should always get a 2nd opinion...
April 4, 2013
April 5, 2013
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October 12, 2013