Algodones, Mexico & Yuma, AZ
Finding dentistry while living on the road is a challenge, especially when you need a lot of work. If it were possible to give negative stars in a review, I have finally found a place I would do that. Sani Dental Group in Algodones, Mexico.
NO COMMUNICATION: Over 10 phones attempts/calls to get someone to call me back about my treatment.
They returned the call 3 days before my scheduled treatment to tell me that my “Visit 1” will actually be 3 days long. I had left numerous messages to have calls returned prior to that.
LIED TO: My exam assistant, Fabian, did NOT tell me that “Visit 1” would be 3 days long at my initial exam (he actually DID tell me 3 days just before my proposed treatment), DESPITE what he YELLED at me, when I arrived for the procedures. The actual estimate/plan says “Visit 1” & “Visit 2”. Not “Visit 1: Day 1”, “Visit 1: Day 2”, etc. After I found out, I had to make several calls to Cigna just to see about approval for 3 consecutive days of IV sedation. I repeat: He did not mention it at the exam.
INCONVENIENCE: I only booked a hotel for 1 night because I thought I would be IV sedated for THAT day. Turns out I would (unexpectedly) be sedated for 3 days. Had I known that, I would have booked 3 nts stay. My wife also rearranged her travel schedule to accompany me for the IV.
GREED: Sani also charged an extra $35 (notified of 3 days earlier) to fill out one paragraph of an insurance form after I had already filled out the rest. This would involve them essentially copying and pasting from the dental plan.
LIED TO: Fabian did NOT tell me that payment would be required IN ADVANCE at my initial exam, forcing me to immediately recall my wife (who had just left the office) from the hotel with the cash. He refused to even “let” me say that he did not say it. I repeat: He did NOT mention it at the exam.
GREED: No discount for cash as most other dentists in the area do, BUT you can avoid an ADDITIONAL 4% credit/debit card fee by paying cash. Again, I was only informed of the extra fee a few days before my planned treatment and ONLY because I asked specifically. Result: Fast, unexpected trip to the bank to get cash.
BAIT & SWITCH: I was told on one of my first 10 phone calls, that Laser Whitening was $190, only to be told, just as I am getting ready to get into the chair for my procedure, that it is NOW $250, despite only needing 6 teeth whitened due to the top teeth being crowned.
BAIT & SWITCH: When presented with a 15% OFF coupon from a local magazine which reads “15% off ANY Treatment”, Fabian DEMANDED to know if I presented this BEFORE the consultation or if I presented this BEFORE the appointment. When I asked if he neglected to mention the 3 days of treatment or prepayment or the price change in teeth whitening, he looked me in the eye, lied to say he did, and then cut me off from even talking about it further. This coupon refusal could have likely cost me over $300 extra.
THROWN OUT OF THE OFFICE: With no further discussion allowed, Fabian got right in my face and threw me out of the office saying I had disrespected the billing woman. I will say that after all the lies, bait & switch, arbitrarily denied discounts, uninformed conditions & changes, and lack of communication that I was ticked off and slammed the $2700 they demanded on the desk. I was not disrespecting her, I was expressing my total lack of respect for HIM. I am glad that I did not get my dental work done there as I realize that I could no longer trust him or this office. My bill would have been close to $7000 by the end of February and I am glad that given this horrible customer-facing attitude that it will NOT be going to them. Since when does an exam assistant have the power to throw a $7000 cash customer out? Evidently, now.
I wanted to believe because of the outright lies that the problem was Fabian, but because of the several Bait & Switch issues, the maze of unreturned phone calls, or inability to call about my account directly, and $35 fee for filling out an insurance paragraph that the problems are likely systemic within Sani Dental Group. Regardless, I would never use them now even if the services were free.
This was not the first dentist in Algodones, Mexico I went to. I went to Supreme Dental Group and instead of even considering the treatment plan of the dentist in Charlotte, NC, they decided that the only possible choice was to pull out all my teeth and do all-on-6 dental implants (to the tune of $21,000.00!) all at one time so I couldn’t even get my full dental insurance benefits. When I asked about other options, I was told that was it or nothing.
Dentists in Mexico are much cheaper than in the States, and I am continuing to look for one for my dental needs, but so far, I am unimpressed.
UPDATE:
I ended up going to Dental Solutions and it was like night and day. Very open and cooperative. They flexed to accommodate my insurance and schedule. Did all the work in one day (I will have to return in 6 months if I want implants – but was going to have to do that anywhere). There were several procedures that Sani was insisting upon that Dental Solutions said I didn’t even need. Besides being very transparent and helpful, they were about $3000 cheaper than Sani. I recommend them heavily.
RVonTheRoadYet.com is a blog to keep our friends and family informed of our latest adventures or misadventures. We are NOT RV professionals, doctors, lawyers, or travel guides. We are a couple of people who have decided to embrace the full-time RV lifestyle of idiots and gypsies.