Bob needed major dental work done, so we took a Mexican vacation!
Getting crowns and eating tacos may not go together in your mind, but here’s the dirt: Dental work is way cheaper in Mexico than in the United States. The dentists are just as qualified, often US-educated, and it’s easy to find one that speaks English.
We discovered this when we were living in Guanajuato, Mexico, in 2019 and the whole family needed our teeth cleaned. We went to an ex-pats’ Facebook page and discovered that Mexico has a thriving cottage industry of dental tourism. The cost for dental care is so much less than in the States, that you can use the money you save to enjoy a lovely holiday. If you’re going to endure the pain and stress of dental care, wouldn’t you prefer to spend the rest of the day lying on a beach or drinking tequila?
You can get your dental work done anywhere in Mexico. All it takes is a Google search to find a facility. There are countless choices. We chose Puerto Vallarta because it’s one of our favorite Mexican cities. Bob found PV Smile in a convenient residential neighborhood, on the route to the Romantic Zone from our resort. Over the course of four visits, he had four fillings, two crowns, and an inlay replaced. He was very pleased with the quality of the work and the professionalism of the office. Total cost was $1,856, plus a few taxi rides. Bob just used a credit card to pay, though if you are able to pay in Mexican pesos, you get a 10% discount.
The estimate to have the same work done at Allen Pond Dental in Rutland, VT, was $3,400. With almost 50% savings, we could spend a week in Mexico! Obviously, Lisa enjoyed it a little more than Bob, because she had more time free. But Bob still enjoyed himself, and we took advantage of the trips to the dentist to explore some new neighborhoods of the city. We spent the time Bob wasn’t lying back in a dental chair doing a food and drink tour of Puerto Vallarta, enjoying the resort where we stayed, and exploring the region.
