Americans Seek Affordable Dental Care Abroad

Why Americans Choose Dental Care Abroad

If you don’t know someone who has sought medical or dental care outside the United States, you may soon be in the minority. Over 750,000 people have chosen dental and health care abroad, a figure that has increased by about 20% annually. Initially, overseas health services primarily addressed rising medical costs, but dental care abroad is now catching up.

Several factors are driving this trend:

• There is insufficient dental coverage with dental insurance.
• The cost of dental services is continuing to rise.
• There are now affordable options that are easily accessible outside the US and Canada.

Dental Insurance

Despite growing insurance coverage for medical conditions and prescriptions, dental coverage lags far behind. Most dental insurance has high deductibles and modest coverage, if any, for procedures.

Over $115 billion is spent on dental care annually, with about 45% of that out of pocket. That means Americans spend over $50 billion annually on dental services.

In addition, dental insurance plans often have a waiting period of up to a year before coverage is adequate. Therefore, if someone considers dental insurance after a dental problem arises, it may be a while before benefits are available.

Rising Costs for Dental Care in the United States

Dental care costs continue to increase faster than inflation and wage increases. The combination of flat wage growth and the aging of the United States population has complicated the dental care picture, leaving millions of people delaying the dental services they need. About 36% of people need dental care, and more than one in three people put off dental care because of the cost.

Putting off dental services is more than just enduring a little pain. Delaying needed dental treatment can have serious health consequences. Numerous debilitating health conditions, including diabetes, lung disease, osteoporosis, stroke, and heart attacks, have been linked to periodontitis (inflammation around the teeth and gums).

People with gum inflammation are 40% more likely to have a chronic health condition. In extreme cases, people who lose their teeth live, on average, 10 years less than those who don’t, according to Charles Mayo, MD.

Why People Travel to Mexico for Dental Work

Americans discovered affordable dental services at cross-border clinics in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Thailand. By far, the easiest and most cost-effective choice for dental work in Mexico, since it is closer and less expensive to travel to than most other dental locations outside the United States.

Studies have reported that satisfaction with dental care in Mexico is comparable to that in the United States. In addition, with cost savings that can be in the thousands of dollars if extensive work is needed, the expense of travel and lodging is hardly a factor.

Over the last twenty years, Americans have saved up to 75% on dental services in Mexico. See an example of the tremendous cost savings below:

For instance, in border towns in northern Mexico, where Americans have been getting dental work for decades, a crown that might cost from $1,200 to $1,800 in the United States starts around $500. An All-on-4 permanent denture procedure that could cost $24,000 (per arch) in the United States costs about $12,000 (per arch) in Mexico.

However, knowing where to go and which clinics have a history of satisfied patients is essential so they can take advantage of cost savings while still receiving high-quality dental services. Here is a simple checklist:

• Go to a location known to be safe and accommodating to Americans.
• Ensure the clinic you choose has a good track record of satisfaction and that the dentists and staff speak English. Also, make sure the dentist has adequate credentials and prominently displays their license in the dental clinic.
• Use a dental referral agency or a Dental Referral Service. These agencies have built their business on evaluating and recommending dental clinics with good reputations and a history of satisfied patients. A reputable dental referral agency should continuously monitor dental care outcomes and be alert to infractions that could affect a clinic’s licensing. A dental referral service can help you with scheduling, lodging, and transportation, and often has relationships with local dentists that can save you even more money. Most importantly, they are an excellent resource for everything you need to know about getting dental services in Mexico.

Travel to Mexico Through Dental Referral Agencies

If you have any concerns about the logistics of getting dental care in Mexico, a Dental Referral Service can eliminate the worries of getting affordable, quality cross-border dental care. This new service category goes beyond just referring patients to dental clinics in Mexico and can help with every part of your experience.

Today, many dental clinics in Mexico have a long history of serving Americans, and they have proven that high-quality dental care with significant cost savings is available to American citizens. As many Americans have already discovered, putting off needed dental care because of the cost isn’t necessary anymore.

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