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| Hi,
I've had my dental work done in Los Algodones since 2006. I wrote a 30-page journal about my first trip and this is from the first page of the journal: "I am 60 years old, smoked from the age of 21 to the age of 52 and drank a six-pack of Coca Cola every day. I’m also a night grinder.”
Whenever someone asks me for a copy of the journal, I send the .pdf with part of this message:
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My trips to the Bernal Dental Group:
2006, October: you know from the journal
2007, March: four implants, one mini-sinus lift
2007, September, two-week trip (this will always be the case when completing the implants):
First Week: Dr. Bernal "discovered" the six implants (cut open the gums to display the implants), placed "gum-trainers" (I think they're called healing abutments) over the implants, preparation for seven regular crowns in lower jaw
Second Week: crowns for the six implants and crowns for the seven teeth in my lower jaw
2008, June: In 2006, there wasn't enough tooth left on #11 to place a crown so the lab created a combination crown for #11-#12. After almost two years, I decided that having to use a special flossing tool to work between the combination crown and the gum wasn't working for me...or maybe I was just lazy. I had a root canal to make way for the post, a post and buildup, a temporary, and then the crown. And a new crown for #12 that wasn't attached to #11.
Note on cost in June, 2008: Because I didn't need a lot of work, I checked with a Seattle dentist. I was quoted $2,400 just for the root canal, post, etc. By going to Dr. Bernal, I spent $1,200...and that included round-trip airfare on Southwest, car and hotel for a week (Priceline), AND the dental work mentioned in the last paragraph.
2016, October: Over the past two years, I had two crowns fall off (not implants). I'd had crowns fall off in the past with my old Seattle dentist so I wasn't particularly concerned with the work; it happens. Because there wasn't much tooth left in either case, Dr. Bernal said I really needed implants. I was 70 then and told him I might live another five years. I asked him to do root canals, post/buildups, temporaries, and new crowns. He kept telling me that he couldn't guarantee the work. I said I was fine with that. [Edit: last year, I couldn't resist a Big Hunk candy bar; yep! One crown gone.]
2016, June: By the way, because I hadn't been to Los Algodones for eight years, I made an appointment with a new dentist (I moved from Seattle in 2013) in case I needed work in addition to the new crowns. I had a cleaning, X-rays, and exam and the dentist made two comments: 1) you sure put a lot of money into your mouth 2) you need two implants but the rest of your teeth look like you really take care of them! I didn't tell him that my dentist is in Mexico because I do not want him to "find" additional work that he "needs to repair." What surprised me was that the exam was so good because I stopped flossing about six years ago! Don't tell Dr. Bernal...
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There are hundreds, if not thousands of dentists along the Mexican/U.S. border. I'm sure many of them are better than U.S. dentists and some aren't as good. In the past dozen years, I've heard all the rumors: I know someone who had dental work done in a Mexican garage with a dirt floor; they'll take a kidney and leave you unconscious in a bathtub of ice; my American dentist says he has to fix all the problems Mexican dentists create.
Always get referrals! Ignore the pullers on the street and go to a dentist
My dentist got his dental degree from the Autonomous University of Baja California (Mexicali) and his dental implant training in the U.S. He and his partner continue to take classes to learn the newest tools and procedures. His office has doubled in size since my first visit. The Bernal Dental Group (member of the ADA) started with two dentists and now have five.
If you want to read 30 pages, send an email to SuzanneFromSeattle (at) yahoo.com.
This is a 2016 photo of the office: https://imgur.com/4NMMdzY
This is Dr. Juan Bernal and his assistant (2016): https://imgur.com/iBVQdI2
Suzanne from Seattle
P.S. Every once in a while, someone who'd received my journal writes back to ask me where I stayed. Here's the list (most are Priceline; Priceline will never work between October and March when the snowbirds are in Yuma):
October, 2006
Flew into Phoenix, AZ
Desert Grove in Yuma, AZ
Sheraton in Phoenix, AZ
Flew out of Phoenix, AZ
March, 2007
Flew into San Diego, CA
La Fuente in Yuma, AZ
Extended Stay America in Carlsbad, CA
Ramada Inn in Burbank, CA
Flew out of Burbank, CA
September, 2007
Flew into Ontario, CA
Super 8 in Yuma, AZ
Holiday Inn in Palm Desert, CA
Oak Tree Inn in Yuma, AZ
Rodeway Inn in Kingman, AZ
Holiday Inn in Yuma, AZ
Countryside Suites in Ontario, CA
Flew out of Ontario, CA
June, 2008
Flew into Las Vegas, NV
Best Western InnSuites in Yuma, AZ
Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV
Flew out of Las Vegas, NV
October, 2016
Flew into Tucson, AZ
Comfort Suites in Tucson, AZ
Best Western InnSuites in Yuma, AZ
Sheraton in Tucson, AZ
Flew out of Tucson, AZ
If you saw my first two attempts at posting, I have deleted them. I didn't realize that, as soon as I attached photos, the comment would post. Duh!
Edited by SuzanneFromSeattle 1/8/2019 19:46
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Dental work in Mexico?
