This is Dr. Stephen F. Mackey, my dentist in Mazatlán.

UPDATE – Dr. Mackey wrote to say: “I am no longer affiliated with Mexican Dental Vacation and do not reccomend them.” Also, they’ve moved to the Golden Zone and, last I heard, do not have a full-time dentist on staff.

The rest of the original post below:

He practiced for over 40 years in the Seattle, Washington area. Finally, after some minor heart trouble, the doctor decided to leave the rainy Pacific N.W. and head for the sun.

Mexican Dental Vacation, the business, was founded by a Canadian Nick Konev from Alberta. Nick recognized the opportunity to sell dental work at 50% the cost or less than what it costs in Canada and the USA.

This was my third time visiting a dentist in Mexico, but the first to have MAJOR work done.

My trip was precipitated when a big chunk of one of my front teeth fell out. I took that as a sign that I had put off major work for too long. I booked a trip to Mexico immediately.

I had done some research and the buzz on-line was generally very good for a company called Mexican Dental Vacation that caters almost exclusively to Gringos. I like that they are up front with the cost of work, posting it on-line, and stick to those prices.

On arrival Dr. Mackey drove me over to get a panoramic X-ray as I brought none with me from Canada. No appointment. No referral. Imagenes Diagnosticas de Mazatlan $18 was a brilliant beginning.

I was in and out of X-ray in 15min while the Doctor popped into Home Depot for building supplies. (In Mexico only 3 months, he was still making himself at home here.)

That same morning the doctor laid out his recommendations. He feels I need bigtime work.

We decided I would get 7 root canals, have four teeth extracted, and do some minor repairs this trip. Then, in future, as time and cash permit, put in 3 bridges and as many as 10 crowns. He did not feel I needed any implants.

To keep costs down, as much work as possible is farmed out to local Mexican dentists. I was sent to get my root canals done by Dr. Ernesto Bertrand Morales. He was excellent, doing 7 in 4 appointments over 5 days. Only one caused me any pain. The doctor recommended a pain killer called Flanex. I didn’t need it.

I like the personal attention you get here. None of that sitting in a chair waiting for someone jumping from patient-to-patient to finally attend you.

My cleaning was well done by the office of Dr. Roberto Coppel Azcona, the most posh dental office I have ever seen. It was a little too “Western” for me.

I had a couple of days recovery, then went to get 4 teeth extracted by Dr. Mackey in one appointment. Though that is a lot of freezing, this was supposed to be the least of my worries.

People ask me, “Rick — what if something goes WRONG when you are getting medical attention in a foreign country?”

That is a good question. My extractions went very, very WRONG.

Though my teeth have been poor my entire life, for some reason they do not want to be removed from my body. I was one of the most difficult patients Dr. Mackey could recall.

Finally, he decided to sent me to a dental surgeon. He and the dental assistant both drove me while I was still frozen.

The Mexican surgeon saw me immediately, but also had mucho problemas despite having a full surgical set-up. I was also one of his most difficult patients ever.

I don’t think anyone counted how many sutures I had in my mouth. Plenty.

On to antibiotics (Dalacin C / Clindamincina), an anti-inflamatory and yet more rest.

Dr. Mackey decided to do just one post / repair and save everything else for the future. I plan to return late January 2008.

All in all, I was very happy with Mexican Dental Vacation. There was no language barrier at any office. The city of Mazatlán is clean and modern. And certainly safer than Calgary or Seattle.

My COSTS aside from airfare:

$50 / day total – hotel, food, etc.

$18 – X-rays at Imagenes Diagnosticas de Mazatlan
free – quotation on work
$290 / root canal
$60 / extraction
$70 – cleaning

They guarantee their work for a period of 2 years.

Dr. Mackey drove me to the airport. When is the last time your dentist did anything like that for you?

Next time you get a quotation for work from your dentist, check this chart:

Mexican Dental Vacation – official website

Contact me if you have any specific questions.