Friday, December 30, 2011

An Apple A Day





Ouch. Owen woke up one morning pre Christmas with a sensitivity to hot and cold. He calls the insurance company, his dentist at home and then a dentist in Desert Hot Springs. He visits Dr. Yu and has a consultation and xrays. It is determined that the filling in one of his teeth in the back is 'breaking down' and that he needs to keep an eye on it and come back if it gives him anymore grief. Two days later, eating dinner with June E, out comes a huge chunk of tooth connected to a filling. And you can guess which one.
Well mention dentist in southern CA and a whole raft of people can recommend dentists across the border where the prices are increcible. To have a crown done in the US (and Canada too), I think you are looking, at the very least, $1200. In Mexico, $250. Las Algodones is a 3 hour drive. Upon arrival to this little border town, that thrives on touristas with hawkers selling pharmaceuticals, alcohol and souveniers, we come to a ginormous parking lot. It takes us longer to walk across the parking lot than it takes us to walk across the border into Mexico. Owen is visiting Dra.Laura Quintero. Well, come to find out, there are actually 4 people with varying degrees of education and aptitude that work on him. After much pulling, yarding, jamming and mucking about in Owen's mouth, they sent him on his way but not without a root canal and temporary crown and an appointment to return for a permanent crown. He was also in a lot of pain and was prescribed pain killers and antibiotics.
Long story short. Owen has his root canal but won't return to Mexico for dental work again. Did I mention I had tons of fun shopping for the 2.5 hours Owen sat in the dentist chair?

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