What We Discovered About Dental Care in Guatemala and Why We Did It

"You're doing what"?

That is typically the response we get when we tell someone any aspect of our plans, and that's ok. We secretly enjoy that brief moment of shock. It means we're on the right track. "Yes, we are," Shane replies with a grin. We've come to love the inquisitive, amazed and even baffled reactions we get, and this time is no exception.

Of course, we know what many of them don't and we ourselves only recently discovered. We know that Americans are sold a bag of goods when they are told that they should "stay home and stay safe". We know that staying home doesn't equate to staying safe. We know that getting outside of your comfort zone will very often surprise you in the very best of ways and that our preconceived notions about places we've never visited are more often than not, completely wrong. We know that life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. We've learned that the purpose of life is to live it...to taste experience to the utmost. To reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience. To be one of the few, rather than the many. You don't tell stories from the nights when you got plenty of sleep. Above all, we know that we are always learning, and that we should never allow ourselves to believe that we know it all.

This is why we decided to create this website and share videos of our experiences. How can people (ourselves and others) change their thinking and better their lives if they don't have the information? We aren't setting out to convince, persuade, or inspire anyone to live the way that we live. We only want to share our journey and our perspective as we find our way and hopefully, it provides some value.

By now, most of our friends and family know that we've sold our homes and bought a 46-foot blue-water sailboat in Guatemala. They've followed our travels and kept up with our plans thus far, passing along supportive messages and "likes" on social media. They call and text with questions, concerns and well wishes.

We won't pretend that the current state of affairs in the world, as well as the events we all lived thru during the covid "pandemic", haven't influenced our decision to make major changes. In fact, as with so many, it sparked a change in us. Thankfully and miraculously, it sparked the same change in both of us, nearly simultaneously.

Shane and I have both enjoyed successful careers in the financial industry and it's from that perspective that we've watched governments worldwide make astonishingly bad decisions over the last two years. Regardless of the motivations behind those decisions and setting politics aside, it's clear that the consequences are now raining down on individuals and families across the globe. Inflation is skyrocketing (far beyond the reported figures), mortgage rates are creeping ever higher while home prices fall, medical bills and insurance premiums continue to rise and there seems to be no relief in sight. Everyone is feeling the pinch, to say the least.

Recently, we took another trip down to Guatemala to spend some time on the boat planning upgrades like new lithium batteries and solar. A few weeks prior to the trip Shane cracked one of his molars. There had been pain there for years and he had been told to expect it to crack eventually. He went to a local US dentist to assess the situation and find out what the [financial] damage would be. On a side note, this dentist is a personal friend of ours and is very experienced and talented.

Our US dentist conducted an exam and confirmed that the molar was cracked. He also determined that a root canal would be needed because the damage was too close to the root. None of this was a surprise. Then came the price-tag: for one crown and a root canal we were given an estimate of $3,200 (with dental insurance paying a tiny, laughable portion, if any at all). Surely, no one in the US will be shocked by that number however, we also understand that doctors and dentists have had no other choice but to charge higher and higher prices. The increasing cost of liability insurance, their education and compliance, office supplies and equipment, salaries and benefits for staff, escalating office rental rates, and so many other things make it very difficult and increasingly impossible to run a business in the US, much less compete internationally.

Resigned to the price and prepared to shell out the money, Shane thought about something that our US dentist said during his appointment. Knowing our travel and sailing plans, he half-joked, "or you could have it done in Guatemala!" That was a lightbulb moment! We already know that everything from food to travel and lodging is far less expensive in Guatemala, and the quality and services are comparable. We've heard from friends there that medical and dental care are as well, so our upcoming trip suddenly presented the perfect opportunity to find out for ourselves and share those findings with you!

To be perfectly clear, the decision to have Shane's dental work done in Guatemala wasn't as easy as it sounds. We have the utmost trust in our US dentist and friend and know that the price he is charging is the price that he needs to charge in order to run a successful practice and provide quality care. As business owners ourselves, no one understands the cost of doing business in the US more than we do. If we hadn't been heading to Guatemala at that time, we most definitely would have had the work done at our friend's office, without hesitation. However, with that opportunity right in front of us, and as financial professionals, we were eager to find out if we could get comparable care in another country and save some money.

My first call was to our friend, Becky Janette Nicholls de Rocha (affectionately referred to in our videos as Bec). Bec is a Kiwi (born and bred in New Zealand) and she has called Guatemala home for 16 years. She's one of those kindred spirits that comes into your life unexpectedly, but you know right away that they'll be there for a long time. Bec is a driven businesswoman extraordinaire in so many respects. We came to know her before our first visit to Guatemala when a friend referred us to her for help planning that trip. She is a Mexico & Central America Travel Specialist and owner of "I Can Travel Too". That barely scratches the surface of all that she does and has done for us and others, and we'll get into all of that in the near future. If you want to reach out to Bec, you can contact us and her name above is a clickable link as well. This time, I asked Bec if she could set us up with a good dentist in Guatemala City or Antigua, Guatemala and she quickly scheduled an appointment with Dr. Jorge De La Cruz.

Brimming with anticipation, we flew into Guatemala City and spent a few days there with Bec. We then took the 30 to 45-minute drive to the enchanting city of Antigua. In our video linked above you can get a peek at this truly unique and beautiful 16th century gem and we will have another video out soon that takes an in-depth look. We were familiar with the city after several days exploring during this and previous trips...days full of delicious food and drinks, city tours and amazing people. We arrived at 3a Avenida Norte to find Clinicas De La Cruz elegant and welcoming. The office is flanked by a breathtaking colonial cathedral being restored and colorful neighboring businesses on either side. We were delighted by a herd of goats nearby that were providing milk to the construction workers...so much so that Bec had to dissuade Shane from giving it a try right before his appointment.

Myth #1

"I'm worried that I will receive a lower quality of care in other countries and that the doctors aren't as well trained."

In our video linked above, we discuss three common myths that are associated with the idea of receiving medical or dental care abroad. We've all read the horror news stories..."Young Girl Dies After Traveling to Mexico for Cosmetic Procedure", for example. Of course, the few scenarios such as this are the ones that grab headlines. You never hear about millions of successful international medical procedures that happen each and every year worldwide.

The global medical tourism market size accounted for $104.68 billion in 2019 and is only expected to grow each year. The pandemic caused an unsurprising dip in those numbers, but as worldwide travel returned to normal levels, so too has medical tourism. With so many options available during a time of financial turmoil for many, why are some so reluctant to consider medical care abroad? The first myth speaks to the lack of knowledge on the topic and the misinformation that the media spreads (shocking, we know).

Of course, you can find sub-par care in any country. Avoid public health systems or hospitals as well as shady clinics with no viable references...solid research and your own intuition go a long way. If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. Well established medical travel services will ensure that the providers that you are seeing are vetted, experienced and well trained. As with Dr. De La Cruz, many attended medical or dental school in the United States or Europe and received the same high-quality training and credentials as their US based counterparts.

Dr. De La Cruz received his post-graduate training at the University of Rochester, in New York and returned to his home country to practice in both Guatemala City and Antigua. As has been the case with every Guatemalan that we've met, Dr. De La Cruz and his staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. We were taken aback by the amount of time that he was willing to spend explaining the details of the exam and procedure, step-by-step.

This is something we've never experienced before, perhaps because little time is available for much explanation during appointments in the US. In many doctor's offices there, it's more of a get them in, get them out situation.

In all respects, when we consider quality of care and the training and skill level of physicians and dentists, we feel confident proclaiming Myth #1 DEBUNKED.

Myth #2

"Doctors in other countries don't have access to the best technology."

Not only was the doctor kind, patient, and knowledgeable, he used technology that neither of us have seen and at a speed we've never experienced back home. Dr. De La Cruz detected a second tooth needing a crown and he was able to avoid a root canal. Watch the video see the 3D scanning process, which was rather impressive.

From there, the data was sent to the lab in Guatemala City, where the crowns were milled from zirconium, and sent directly to Dr. De La Cruz's office in Antigua. This kind of technology allows the doctor to work from start to finish at a speed that is not typical in the US. We are accustomed to waiting two weeks or more for permanent crowns to be created from a mold and installed. Dr. De La Cruz was able to install Shane's crowns the very next morning, and very often he is able to do this the same day. In addition to such receiving such phenomenal care, Shane has had the new crowns for about 2.5 months now and he has experienced zero pain or discomfort. So, with all of these things considered, we can safely consider Myth #2 DEBUNKED.

Myth #3

"It won't end up saving me any money."

This myth is perhaps the one that we enjoy addressing even more than the others. As financial professionals, one of our primary goals when we started a YouTube channel and website was and is to help people understand the potential costs and savings of international medical travel and moving to another country altogether. The simplest way to confirm or debunk this myth is to simply compare the costs.

United States:

1 crown + 1 root canal = $3,200

TOTAL = $3,200

Guatemala:

1 crown (no root canal needed) = $550

2nd crown (no root canal needed) = $550

Airline ticket US to Guatemala = $300

4 nights in Antigua = $196

TOTAL = $1,596

As you can see, for two crowns verses one, with added benefit of not needing a root canal and including accommodations and travel we paid nearly HALF the price by having dental work done in Guatemala. We were also able to spend time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. After speaking with many expats and Americans who have traveled internationally for medical care, we can confirm that our experience is certainly not unique. So it is with confidence that we can vehemently and easily consider Myth #3 DEBUNKED!

If you have dreamed of international travel, moving to another country or pursuing medical care abroad, nothing should stop you. There are many companies that specialize in connecting people just like you with professional, skilled and experienced physicians, worldwide. All that you need is a penchant for new experiences, a hunger to experience a different culture, and a desire to save money. If you have questions that we didn't address or would like to be connected with a travel or medical travel specialist, contact us! Simply send an email to genxpats@genxpats.com...we will respond and would love to help you take that first step! It's a big and magical world. Get out there!

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