My first dental foray in Mexico occurred during a six-week visit a few years ago. I needed a cap for a tooth that was darkening due to a root canal. The graying tooth looked wretched when I smiled and also, as I understand it, root canal teeth should ultimately be capped.
It's easy to put off going to the dentist and even easier to procrastinate when on vacation in Mexico. Therefore, I waited until two weeks before departure. I asked around and checked out dentists with expats living there--in San Miguel de Allende.
The beautiful, petite, female dentist (formerly head of the state's dental association) said she could get the job done in ten days. No problema, she said. The cost was $120USD, a good price, considering that my dentist at home wanted $600.
On my first visit, she drilled my tooth to a fine stub, covered it with a "no es permanente" cap. We set another appointment for a few days later. At that time, she fitted a metal cap perfectly over my tooth. Although the dentist spoke only five words of English--close, open, eyes, mouth, drink--she made me understand that the cap now had to go the laboratorio to be coated (with porcelain) to match the color of my teeth.
By now, we were entering the Semana Santa (Easter) period, the highest of all holy days in Mexico. The laboratorio would be closed for a week, so we made an appointment for the following Monday, five hours before my bus left for Mexico City. I had a non-changeable airline ticket from Mexico City to Denver. I was doubtful, panicky, but the doctor smiled sweetly, put her arm around me and assured me that my tooth would be ready.
It wasn't. "No problema," she said calmly, and made me understand that she would mail me the cap, complete with "instruciones y cemento!"
This is one of the things I love so much about Mexico. Nothing ever seems to be a problem. Also, the Mexican people are much more "do it yourself" oriented..
Still, I didn't want to give her 1,000 pesos until I got my tooth. My
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