Why You Should Be Careful of Cosmetic Dentistry Tourism

If you want to improve and brighten your smile, you might be tempted to skip out of the United States to get your teeth done. Perhaps you had a friend who told you that they went down to Mexico and got brand new porcelain veneers for a steal. However, is cosmetic dental tourism really that much cheaper? And is it safe? Do you get what you pay for?

What Is Dental Tourism?

Cosmetic dental tourism is the practice of going to another country to get cosmetic dental services at a perceived cheaper cost. Quite often, the countries that are visited have less regulations and educational requirements for their dentists, so there can be potential problems or issues with the work done.

What Are Some Common Destinations for Dental Tourism?

Here in the United States, the closest place for cosmetic dental tourism is Mexico. Since we are quite close to the border here in Downey, Tijuana is often a place that people go to for cheap medical and dental procedures. You can get to Tijuana in just a few hours’ drive, so it is quite tempting. 

Now, we do not want to say that all Tijuana dentists are bad. There are actually some very good dentists in Mexico. However, the ones that are marketing to Americans as a cheap alternative to American dentists are probably the ones you want to avoid. Mexico’s process to license a dentist is also much less arduous than the process in the United States.

Some try to claim online that most Mexican dentists are actually trained in the United States, but that’s not true. They are typically trained in Mexico.

Dental tourism isn’t just an issue in the United States. In the UK, people often fly to Turkey for cheap dental procedures. The Mediterranean developing country has become such a popular destination for dental procedures, that there is a name for Turkish dental procedures gone wrong: “Turkey teeth.”

What Are the Dangers of Dental Tourism and “Turkey Teeth”?

The most common problem that occurs when people go to cheap dentists abroad is that they will get shoddy work done. Sure, your teeth might look great when you get home, but then you find out that the veneers weren't properly placed, and that they fall off easily. Or the new teeth just look fake because the work done was subpar and not enough attention was paid to detail.

Aesthetic problems are just the beginning. If the cosmetic dental work wasn’t done properly, it could lead to problems with the bite, which could cause issues with chewing or create chronic pain such as TMJ syndrome.

In very serious cases, some people can get a bad infection. Some report that people have even died from bad dentistry in other countries.

What Are Some Dental Tourism Horror Stories?

If you search online, you can often find horror stories of dental tourism. Some common problems are crowns that don't fit properly and look like they were made for somebody else’s tooth. Full mouth restorations done in Mexico are done quite differently than those in the United States. Many of these are subpar and can cause some serious problems later on.

Some unlucky patients may have been sold dental work they didn’t need. For example, one person went down to Mexico from Phoenix and was told that they needed four crowns. After getting the crowns, one of the crowns broke off in three days. Then the dentist said that he needed a root canal. 

After the root canal, the patient started having extreme sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, as well as excessive pain while eating. To get back to Mexico would have been another 500-mile round trip. So he went to a local dentist, who then told him that his tooth was cracked and should have been extracted. He also learned that the crown he had gotten in Mexico would have to be thrown out.

As you can see, you may think you are saving money by going down to Mexico, but when you add up all of the costs of travel and gas as well as possibly getting dental errors fixed here in the United States, the trip is usually not worth the risk.

What Should I Do If I Had Bad Dental Work in Mexico?

If you went down to Mexico for a cosmetic dentistry solution (or any other type of restorative dental treatment for that matter) come to Downey Dental Arts to get it assessed. It may be that your cosmetic dentistry solution from Mexico isn’t the best quality, but perhaps it can do for a while until you are ready to upgrade to a more durable and better quality solution from Downey Dental Arts.

However, if you are experiencing any problems from your dental tourism trip to Mexico, you should see us right away. We can assess your teeth and see if there are any problems, such as an infection or an improperly fitted crown.

If you are experiencing pain in particular, you do not want to ignore it. Let us know that you have an urgent pain problem, and we will try to fit you in as soon as possible. The good news is, any cosmetic dental problems that might have occurred in Mexico can be repaired. And hopefully we can do so in the most cost-effective way so you don’t have to feel too much of a second pinch on your wallet.

Want the Best Cosmetic Dentistry in Southern California at a Reasonable Price?

Downey Dental Arts has the expertise and training to provide you with the best in cosmetic dental care that you can trust. The good news is, we also make it very affordable with our great financing plans. Our team will be happy to help you plan your cosmetic dental treatments, so the costs work out to an easy monthly payment. There’s no need to travel to Mexico when you can get great, affordable cosmetic dental care right here in SoCal!

If you’d like to beautify your smile via cosmetic dentistry, contact Downey Dental Arts at (562) 445-3363. We will provide you with the best in cosmetic dental care that is safe and high quality.