Affordable dental care? Mexico has it. - Page 2 - GoFuckYourself.com

Amputate Your Head · 07-08-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco67

So I guess that makes Mexico better than us.

In terms of dental care, yes.

will76 · 07-08-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

In terms of dental care, yes.

do they have malpractice insurance or any type of liability insurance. What if you get a bad Mexican dentist or a good one that makes a mistake. Do you have any recourse for damages?

Amputate Your Head · 07-08-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will76

do they have malpractice insurance or any type of liability insurance. What if you get a bad Mexican dentist or a good one that makes a mistake. Do you have any recourse for damages?

I would imagine I'd have roughly the same recourse I do here, which isn't much. Just because a dentist here is required to carry malpractice insurance by law, doesn't mean he's going to willingly hand over a big fist full of cash to you when you cry because your tooth still hurts. You still have to go through the lawsuit procedure, which doesn't help you when you're in pain. What you need is someone to fix your busted tooth, immediately, and so it is usually the same dentist that screwed it up. Besides, how many dentists are going to allow you to leave their offices in an unsatisfactory condition? Who leaves halfway through a dental procedure?

But alas, I am not familiar with the procedure for filing a lawsuit against someone in another country. I know that here in the US, you need either a lot of cash or a 100% slam dunk case before anyone will listen to you.

AmeliaG · 07-08-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

Why would that matter? The Gov isn't paying for dental care either way, and the right would never allow it anyway because of their fear of "Socialism!"

The problem with the pricing on most US medical care is the way the government subsidizes the insurance industry. It is basic business math that you add cost when you add middlemen. A lot of what we pay in medical goes to malpractice insurance payments and administration on getting payment out of patients' insurance companies. Yet insurance is tax-deductible and medical is only half-deductible and then only when it is a catastrophic expense.

fuzebox · 07-08-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will76

You also have to take in the cost of living of where you are at. A dentist in Mexico or central america can live like a king for a fraction of the cost vs living in SoCal for example. Also, I bet there isn't any malpractice insurance in those countries, so the dentist doesn't have to pay out of the ass for his own insurance. Which also means if they fuck up your mouth, you fucked. Where in the US you have recourse at least.

It's all relative, and not so much the US's fault, like the Dentist here are greedy or the "but I can go to Mexico and get is 1/2 price what the fuck is wrong with you, USA" mentality some of you have.

If a dentist in the US has to pay 5K a month in rent for his office, and a dentist in Mexico has to pay 1K a month rent. The dentist in US has to pay $15 hour for dental assistants, the one in Mexico pays $5 hour, etc... You get it? Even their own houses, A dentist in socal might pay 1 Million for a house, the one in Mexico can get a nicer house for 250K. So yeah, of course the one in Mexico can charge a lot less, because he doesn't need to make as much money to still live better than the dentist in the US.

Obviously I understand why the prices are lower

I wasn't trying to say the US dentists were greedy, but rather that the US consumers like you equate price with quality, label anything outside their borders as "3rd world" and therefore dangerous, and worry about malpractice insurance versus the actual procedure being done.

fuzebox · 07-08-2010, 11:44 AM

I guess I should disclaimer my posts a bit... I don't worry about malpractice with dentistry, because even in the crazy statistically unlikely event that something happens, it won't cost me that much to just fix it. It's just teeth, and I'm sure my dentist would fix it for free. He's treated several friends of mine for many years (the longest one 10 years) and has always been super professional.

Now for the disclaimer: I had my LASIK done in the USA. Because eyes and teeth are fucking apples and oranges, and if I was blinded I wanted recourse... Also the difference in cost was like $500.

will76 · 07-08-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

I would imagine I'd have roughly the same recourse I do here, which isn't much. Just because a dentist here is required to carry malpractice insurance by law, doesn't mean he's going to willingly hand over a big fist full of cash to you when you cry because your tooth still hurts. You still have to go through the lawsuit procedure, which doesn't help you when you're in pain. What you need is someone to fix your busted tooth, immediately, and so it is usually the same dentist that screwed it up. Besides, how many dentists are going to allow you to leave their offices in an unsatisfactory condition? Who leaves halfway through a dental procedure?

But alas, I am not familiar with the procedure for filing a lawsuit against someone in another country. I know that here in the US, you need either a lot of cash or a 100% slam dunk case before anyone will listen to you.

you talking silly man. I am not talking about a tooth ache, but if a dentist messes up and clips a nerve or causes permanent damage to your mouth, etc. (I am sure there are several ways this could happen) and you are in mexico what happens then?

If a dentist messes up he isn't going to be the one to hand over a fist full of money to you, it will go to his insurance company where you would make a claim/sue both of them. The insurance company may settle, or you may have to go to court to collect. In the US if a mistake is made, you have recourse. Do you have recourse in Mexico, if they have malpractice insurance then you have someone you can make a claim with. If they fuck up your mouth, you have a case and in many cases in the US the insurance company will settle to save the money from going to court for a case they know they going to lose.

I know this wrinkle doesn't fit with your, go to mexico for cheap dental strategy, but don't try to go out of your way to make it sound like having recourse if someone makes a mistake isn't important.

Amputate Your Head · 07-08-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will76

you talking silly man. I am not talking about a tooth ache, but if a dentist messes up and clips a nerve or causes permanent damage to your mouth, etc. (I am sure there are several ways this could happen) and you are in mexico what happens then?

If a dentist messes up he isn't going to be the one to hand over a fist full of money to you, it will go to his insurance company where you would make a claim/sue both of them. The insurance company may settle, or you may have to go to court to collect. In the US if a mistake is made, you have recourse. Do you have recourse in Mexico, if they have malpractice insurance then you have someone you can make a claim with. If they fuck up your mouth, you have a case and in many cases in the US the insurance company will settle to save the money from going to court for a case they know they going to lose.

I know this wrinkle doesn't fit with your, go to mexico for cheap dental strategy, but don't try to go out of your way to make it sound like having recourse if someone makes a mistake isn't important.

I didn't mean to imply it wasn't important.... I was trying to imply that for most, it's irrelevant. Unless you have money to sue someone successfully, all the recourse in the world doesn't help you, and lots of people don't have much money any more. Represent yourself and the insurance company will eat you alive.

will76 · 07-08-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzebox

I guess I should disclaimer my posts a bit... I don't worry about malpractice with dentistry, because even in the crazy statistically unlikely event that something happens, it won't cost me that much to just fix it. It's just teeth, and I'm sure my dentist would fix it for free. He's treated several friends of mine for many years (the longest one 10 years) and has always been super professional.

Now for the disclaimer: I had my LASIK done in the USA. Because eyes and teeth are fucking apples and oranges, and if I was blinded I wanted recourse... Also the difference in cost was like $500.

Just teeth, lol. I personally know someone who had their wisdom teeth removed and they clipped a nerve by accident and she lost feeling in the whole side of her check/face. Major lawsuit. Shit happens, it's not "just teeth" when they messing around in your mouth with drills and shit.

but hey you people going to mexico or other countries, if the dentist there doesn't have insurance just keep telling yourself nothing bad will happen so you can feel better about getting your discount.

will76 · 07-08-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

I didn't mean to imply it wasn't important.... I was trying to imply that for most, it's irrelevant. Unless you have money to sue someone successfully, all the recourse in the world doesn't help you, and lots of people don't have much money any more. Represent yourself and the insurance company will eat you alive.

Attorneys do take cases on contingencies. If you have a good case the dentist's insurance company will rather settle with you vs going to court. They wont eat you alive, if anything they will get you to bite on a settlement that is a lot less than you would have won if you decided to go to court. In some cases if the amount isn't too high the dentist will settle with you vs having you make a claim because he knows if you do file a claim and get a settlement that his insurance will be jacked up 10x more for many years and it will cost him a lot more in the long run.

PenisFace · 07-08-2010, 03:49 PM

I had my wisdom teeth out in my late teens/early 20's (cant remember, exactly). It cost me $0.00. Well, Maybe about $1.12 for gas driving to the place. And I guess about $1.75 for the coffee I bought my mother on the way home.

I've heard horror stories about ambulance rides to the hospital costing $900 in the US. IS this true?

abshard · 07-08-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenisFace

I had my wisdom teeth out in my late teens/early 20's (cant remember, exactly). It cost me $0.00. Well, Maybe about $1.12 for gas driving to the place. And I guess about $1.75 for the coffee I bought my mother on the way home.

I've heard horror stories about ambulance rides to the hospital costing $900 in the US. IS this true?

Probably more then double if they have to turn on the siren

PenisFace · 07-08-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abshard

Probably more then double if they have to turn on the siren

goddam! No wonder people down there drive themselves to the hospital with a broken leg instead of calling 911.

Amputate Your Head · 07-08-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenisFace

goddam! No wonder people down there drive themselves to the hospital with a broken leg instead of calling 911.

Yeah, you do not want an ambulance in the US unless you know you're going to die on that trip. They are astronomically expensive.

mountainmiester · 07-23-2010, 01:03 PM

Years ago, i needed some dental work and didn't have much money so I went to TJ as I lived in San Diego.

Ended up in a hospital in San Diego two days later. Yeah, they have great dental care...NOT!!

If you're gonna advocate something, at least have the decency to have tried it yourself.

Blazing · 07-24-2010, 08:18 AM

Tijuana tacos here I come... Ive been wanting to get an implant for a missing tooth for a while.. they want like $4k to do it here... if i can get it done for $1k across the boarder i am down!!

Amputate Your Head · 07-24-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainmiester

Years ago, i needed some dental work and didn't have much money so I went to TJ as I lived in San Diego.

Ended up in a hospital in San Diego two days later. Yeah, they have great dental care...NOT!!

If you're gonna advocate something, at least have the decency to have tried it yourself.

I never recommended TJ. That's your fault. I also never recommended Ciudad Juárez either. Go there at your own risk.

07-08-2010, 03:49 PM	#61
PenisFace Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,774	I had my wisdom teeth out in my late teens/early 20's (cant remember, exactly). It cost me $0.00. Well, Maybe about $1.12 for gas driving to the place. And I guess about $1.75 for the coffee I bought my mother on the way home. I've heard horror stories about ambulance rides to the hospital costing $900 in the US. IS this true? __________________ Need custom blog posts or articles? Hit me up: Blog And Article Writer Yes, I can do any kind of custom orders, too! ICQ: 641204000

07-23-2010, 01:03 PM	#65
mountainmiester Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 509	Years ago, i needed some dental work and didn't have much money so I went to TJ as I lived in San Diego. Ended up in a hospital in San Diego two days later. Yeah, they have great dental care...NOT!! If you're gonna advocate something, at least have the decency to have tried it yourself. __________________ Randall Crockett LIMELIGHT NETWORKS [email protected]

07-24-2010, 08:18 AM	#66
Blazing Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Irvine, CA, USA Posts: 1,665	Tijuana tacos here I come... Ive been wanting to get an implant for a missing tooth for a while.. they want like $4k to do it here... if i can get it done for $1k across the boarder i am down!! __________________ [email protected] ICQ 7703879

07-08-2010, 11:44 AM	#56
fuzebox making it rain Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 22,199	I guess I should disclaimer my posts a bit... I don't worry about malpractice with dentistry, because even in the crazy statistically unlikely event that something happens, it won't cost me that much to just fix it. It's just teeth, and I'm sure my dentist would fix it for free. He's treated several friends of mine for many years (the longest one 10 years) and has always been super professional. Now for the disclaimer: I had my LASIK done in the USA. Because eyes and teeth are fucking apples and oranges, and if I was blinded I wanted recourse... Also the difference in cost was like $500.