For many people, the cost of dental crowns in the United States and Canada has reached unbelievably high prices, making this work unaffordable – sometimes even with dental insurance. Additionally, with many employers routinely changing insurance carriers, many dentists are refusing to accept insurance any longer due to frequent contract and price negotiating. Dental care is essential to every person’s health, but the rising costs are causing people to delay or altogether forego treatment, which can lead to health problems. Fortunately, dental work in Mexico is much less expensive, even though Mexican dentists are highly skilled and well-educated, like their American and Canadian counterparts. Read on to learn more about dental crowns in Mexico!

What is a Dental Crown? 

Dental crowns are fake teeth, or prostheses, that replace a broken or cracked tooth. They are permanent, look and feel like natural teeth, and are very common procedures, especially for root canals. There are several types of dental crowns: porcelain fused to metal, all-porcelain or ceramic, zirconia, and metal alloy. The second most durable dental crown is a porcelain layer fused to a metal base, second behind metal alloy. Metal alloy used to be the most common type of dental crown, but due to the fact that they are metal with no porcelain, many people no longer choose metal alloy crowns. Those that do typically only use them for back teeth, where they are less likely to be visible. Some people choose all porcelain for a better cosmetic touch because they are the most natural looking. 

What is the Process of Getting a Dental Crown?

The dentist first examines the tooth or teeth that need a crown. They may take x-rays or use another type of scan. If other work is needed, such as a root canal, that will be done first, or the dentist may need to shape the present tooth. Another benefit of dentists in Mexico is that many dental clinics have their own in-house labs that can make the dental crowns that same day, making getting the crown a one-day trip – which is great for dental tourists to spend the rest of their time in Mexico enjoying the fun things that the country has to offer. 

The Cost of Dental Crowns in Mexico

Like in the U.S. and Canada, the materials that are used for the dental crown can significantly affect the total cost. The available materials include porcelain, ceramic, and zirconia; each has pros and cons. The least expensive material is porcelain that is fused to metal crowns, followed by crowns made of all-porcelain or ceramic, and the most expensive are zirconia crowns. The savings on these crowns when done in Mexico can be 75 to 83 percent off the cost you’ll likely find in the U.S. and Canada. See the following breakdown: 

• Porcelain fused to metal crowns
  • US: $1,100
  • Mexico: $180
• All-porcelain/ceramic crowns
  • US: $1,800
  • Mexico: $350
• Zirconia crowns
  • US: $2,000
  • Mexico: $450

Mexico offer inexpensive, high-quality dental work, but the country is full of exciting things to do and see. The most popular areas for dental work are Cancun, Los Algodones, and Tijuana. Each region has specific excellent reasons to visit, such as Cancun’s location on the Caribbean and Tijuana’s proximity to San Diego. All three areas are easy for American and Canadians to travel to with many airlines flying to these locations frequently. Additionally, Tijuana is a short drive from San Diego. Many dental tourists find that even with the cost of travel included, it simply makes more sense to go to Mexico for dental work than to stay in the U.S.