Our Mexican Adventure

So, it had been almost three years since my last dental checkup. When I lived in the states, I religiously saw my dentist every 6 months. So, how did I let it come to this in Mexico? It wasn’t due to an ignorant fear of ancient equipment or less than hygienic conditions. I knew better than that. It was sheer laziness.

You see, the biggest hurdle in seeing a doctor or dentist in Playa del Carmen (at least for this gringa) is making the appointment. Many of the doctors and dentists here use their cell phone numbers as their business numbers and don’t have a receptionist. And voice mail? Forgetta ’bout it! I had to call my gynecologist several times a day for two weeks before I finally got a hold of her!

I actually tried to make a dentist appointment, about a year ago or so. It was quite the comedy. I’d call the dentist. He didn’t answer. I’d call the dentist again. He didn’t answer. I’d call the dentist again. He answered but said he would call me when he was in the office. I waited a few days. He never called back. I’d call the dentist. He didn’t answer. … And so it went, until I gave up in sheer frustration!

I put it off and put it off, until I thought I felt a dull aching in a couple of teeth with old cavities just a few days ago. This time, I decided, I would not give up! I will persevere! I decided to try the Coral Dental Center, a modern dental office I had heard about that I guessed would have a receptionist.

When I first called the office, I got a busy signal. Called back 30 seconds later, and got through! Yes! The receptionist spoke clearly and at a “normal” pace, so that I was able to understand her Spanish perfectly. Yes! I made an appointment for the next morning.

When I arrived for the appointment, I found the office to be bright, white and gleeming. It looked just like dental offices back in the states. I filled out a new patient form in Spanish. They may have an English version, but the receptionist said my Spanish was very good , so that may be why I got the Spanish one. I did notice that the receptionist spoke English with another patient.

As soon as I finished the form, I was led into the back and met Dra. Mariana Gutierrez. We also spoke in Spanish. I kind of thought maybe she didn’t speak English, until after my cleaning when I couldn’t quite grasp something she was trying to explain to me so she switched to English. Her English is definitely better than my Spanish! Even if you don’t know a bit of Spanish, you’d have no problem communicating with her.

The cleaning went smoothly, just like any other cleaning I’ve ever had. (Well, except for that crazy Chinese dentist in the Chicago burbs who held me hostage until I lied and told him I could see the gazillion cavities he insisted were perfectly obvious on my X-ray!) John has been to another dentist here in Playa who used sandpaper to floss his teeth!

The only not so good surprise I had was when it came time for payment. When I had called, I asked for the price of a cleaning and was told it was $440 pesos. That’s a little more expensive than mosts dentists around here, but I was fine with that. Their office and equipment are very modern (no sandpaper), and I love the convenience of making an appointment with a receptionist. But when it came time to pay, I was told I owed $700 pesos — 440 for the cleaning and 260 for a consultation. I was disappointed that this wasn’t disclosed to me ahead of time. I mean, how do you get a cleaning without a consultation?! I paid up of course.

At first, I thought I wouldn’t be back because 700 pesos is about twice the going rate around here. But then I thought about the time and stress involved with making an appointment with another dentist, and realized it was totally worth it!

I think $70 USD is still pretty competitive compared to U.S. rates, but from what I hear, the real savings for Americans comes with the more advanced dental work, like root canals, replacing fillings/crowns, implants, etc. This is why dental tourism is so popular these days. Imagine getting a root canal on your vacation!

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