Cost of dental braces in Argentina?

[Sockhopper]

I'm correcting an error in my post, above. I wrote $CAD3500 when I meant $CAD 35,000. So my 4th paragraph should have said,

When my local dentists in Canada tell me that I must bring them $CAD 35,000 in 4 days to start a new batch of dental work that, in fact, I don't need, Dr. Pelcman has reviewed each of those x-rays and opinions also for free and provided me his professional opinion for free. Time has shown that not once have my local specialists been correct in their latest determination of my dental needs and my need to pay them any money. (Frankly, they’ve been downright dishonest. This happens to patients from the US too.) Not once has Dr. Pelcman’s opinion been wrong! He volunteers to consult with any and all of my local dentists but they ask me when I ask them to do this and even pay them to consult with him by ‘phone, “Why would I want to talk with some dentist in of all places, South America, ha ha! You can, instead, just bring me $CAD 35,000 so we can start working on you." And, “you’re pulling my leg saying that you can’t access $35,000; that is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!”

 

[LostinBA]

I'm correcting an error in my post, above. I wrote $CAD3500 when I meant $CAD 35,000. So my 4th paragraph should have said,

When my local dentists in Canada tell me that I must bring them $CAD 35,000 in 4 days to start a new batch of dental work that, in fact, I don't need, Dr. Pelcman has reviewed each of those x-rays and opinions also for free and provided me his professional opinion for free. Time has shown that not once have my local specialists been correct in their latest determination of my dental needs and my need to pay them any money. (Frankly, they’ve been downright dishonest. This happens to patients from the US too.) Not once has Dr. Pelcman’s opinion been wrong! He volunteers to consult with any and all of my local dentists but they ask me when I ask them to do this and even pay them to consult with him by ‘phone, “Why would I want to talk with some dentist in of all places, South America, ha ha! You can, instead, just bring me $CAD 35,000 so we can start working on you." And, “you’re pulling my leg saying that you can’t access $35,000; that is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!”

I appreciate you taking all the time and effort to write such a comprehensive response. I've been living in BA for enough time to know to check/confirm EVERYTHING.

My primary concern, hence my posting, is about braces. Why I might need them is none of your concern. All I need is some comparable prices to know whether the cost I am being quoted is acceptable or not. The cost of the implants seems to be fine but also worth checking and keeping tabs on so that others can compare with the prices they are being quoted and or charged now and as a measure to compare as we get slammed with another year of 20-30% inflation.

Do I agree that Dr. Pelcman is an impressive professional? Absolutely. Do I personally like the guy and his teams? Totally. I think they're fantastic and I'm very pleased with everything so far.

Do I think that Canadian and US dentists are overpaid? Well, when a cosmetic dentist, on average, makes more than a brain surgeon, you know there's something terribly wrong going on...

 

[citygirl]

To the OP: thanks for updating on how things are going.

I too would have some concerns about any professional here quoting in dollars and requiring the blue rate for paying in pesos.

For what it's worth - if he were using the official rate - I don't think 5000 pesos (more or less) is out of line for implant/crown (1050 * 4.58 = 4800).

However, 1050 USD * 6 pesos = 6300 pesos. That's a BIG difference and yes, that seems pricey.

 

[LostinBA]

To the OP: thanks for updating on how things are going.

I too would have some concerns about any professional here quoting in dollars and requiring the blue rate for paying in pesos.

For what it's worth - if he were using the official rate - I don't think 5000 pesos (more or less) is out of line for implant/crown (1050 * 4.58 = 4800).

However, 1050 USD * 6 pesos = 6300 pesos. That's a BIG difference and yes, that seems pricey.

As usual, I find your response intelligent and pragmatic.

 

[interdit]

Thanks. Does the 600 USD include the crown over the implant as well? I'm being charged about 1100 USD/each for the implant+crown (ceramic over metal) combo plus told I must pay 6:1 exchange by Pelcman.

Can you let me know which dentist/ortho I should go to for these prices?

Thanks,

yes it does include the tornillo and the teeth.
crown is not an implant is a crown

 

[interdit]

Adult braces? How long did you have to wear them for? And were they really obvious you had them on?

adult braces depends on your mounth.
from 6 months to 2 years
yes you can see them, but guess what, once they removed them
you look great

 

[Napoleon]

I'm doing the braces thing through the office of the Drs. Pettiti that I listed here:

LINK: http://baexpats.org/expat-life/21920-dentist-recommendation-2.html

The thing with dental equipment & supplies is that it's mostly imported, so that affects the price.

When I first went in for an estimate about July of 2011, I was shown various plans for braces. Depending on if you get METAL w/Metal Band, PLASTIC w/Metal Band, Plastic w/White Band... the price is different.

ALL PRICES WERE QUOTED IN PESOS!!

The office accepts insurance, but I don't have any, so I don't know much about it.

COSTS: The pricing is a one time payment up front, and then another payment with each visit (which is usually monthly).

The prices, like most things in Buenos Aires, have gone up since I started, but that doesn't affect me. Once you lock into your plan, the monthly payment DOES NOT CHANGE. So I am probably paying more per month than someone who started in April of 2011, but I am also probably paying less than someone who started in October of 2011.

Contact the office for more info.

My orthodontist, Mariela, comes in once a week: Wednesdays

But when I have a conflict, she works along with a different orthodonitist who comes into the office once a week: Thursdays

Because of the changing exchange rate, my braces have become less expensive each month (in dollar costs) than originally predicted.

LASTLY: I had my lower braces on for ~6 months to get those teeth in place before my upper braces were applied. The estimate was for about 1.5 years from start to finish.

 

[trennod]

Napolean, I have an appointment with Dr Pettiti in a cpl of weeks, after your glowing endorsements its the first dental appt I have ever looked forward to haha

Just a general check up but as had been mentioned in the other thread her receptionist confirmed they are covered by OSDE 310.

 

[LostinBA]

I'm doing the braces thing through the office of the Drs. Pettiti that I listed here:

LINK: http://baexpats.org/expat-life/21920-dentist-recommendation-2.html

The thing with dental equipment & supplies is that it's mostly imported, so that affects the price.

When I first went in for an estimate about July of 2011, I was shown various plans for braces. Depending on if you get METAL w/Metal Band, PLASTIC w/Metal Band, Plastic w/White Band... the price is different.

ALL PRICES WERE QUOTED IN PESOS!!

The office accepts insurance, but I don't have any, so I don't know much about it.

COSTS: The pricing is a one time payment up front, and then another payment with each visit (which is usually monthly).

The prices, like most things in Buenos Aires, have gone up since I started, but that doesn't affect me. Once you lock into your plan, the monthly payment DOES NOT CHANGE. So I am probably paying more per month than someone who started in April of 2011, but I am also probably paying less than someone who started in October of 2011.

Contact the office for more info.

My orthodontist, Mariela, comes in once a week: Wednesdays

But when I have a conflict, she works along with a different orthodonitist who comes into the office once a week: Thursdays

Because of the changing exchange rate, my braces have become less expensive each month (in dollar costs) than originally predicted.

LASTLY: I had my lower braces on for ~6 months to get those teeth in place before my upper braces were applied. The estimate was for about 1.5 years from start to finish.

Thanks. So how much are you paying then?

 

[Sockhopper]

‘Lost in BA’,
I like your name. I was not wanting in any way to invade your privacy. I already have too many of my own dental details to find gathering anyone else’s the least bit interesting, and some of my work has involved ensuring that people’s privacy rights under 3 separate legislative regimes weren’t infringed. That’s something I care about.

My being curious about your novel juxtaposition of implantology and braces inherent in the questions you asked was geared to learn something about THAT definitely, bur not about your personal life. I thought you might inform me more about implants and whether braces presented any risk to fairly new implant surgeries. Perhaps a snippet could save my husband and me from losing another 2 years’ worth of holidays abroad to dental fees in my country priced 4-7 times higher than in BA. I need all the information I can get on implants. I can’t always be in BA and emergencies have a way of coming when you pray for them not to. I’ve had done to me just about every dental procedure and surgery known and performed outside a hospital setting, some of these 3-20 times apiece. My x-rays have been used at dental conferences in China, Switzerland and BA by dentists in 2 other countries.

I wondered and began to worry after reading your posts if having teeth alignment intended to tighten teeth and so coax them (is this how braces work?) to reposition how they sit in the gum could place stress on the sites of recent implant surgeries also in gums and whether an implantologist or some other kind of dentist or person in BA had recommended braces after implants to you. One part of a mouth can or does respond to what’s going on in another or nearby, I know that much from personal experience and Dr. Pelcman explained to me why that is when no other dentist found it helpful to let me know this because I’m just some stupid patient who symbolizes more cash. Even an extraction of certain teeth (next to an implant) that’s not done right can jeopardize the ability of an implant to be one. If an implant shifts position because for any reason it has not integrated to an acceptable degree with bone, it stops being one and falls out whenever it just does. If that happens, one could have to give up on this year’s planned holiday dreamed of and saved for over the past year. The implant surgery, 3 (or 6 or 9) month-healing period, never biting on that side of the mouth even once during the first 90 days, integration of titanium with bone and making and fitting a new crown must all be done again and therefore paid for twice! You gave me an opportunity to possibly untangle something important and unknown to me that you inadvertently raised. I used what you presented in the hope you might teach me something. Maybe you’d even tell me if I were lucky that you were advised by the person who said you need braces that these do not disturb the integrity of fresh implants one bit!


Often on forums, an OP’s question triggers further ones from people while they’re answering his. That can signal a well-considered reply. The fact that you as an OP only needed to know the price of braces cannot stop that process or compel a responder to suppress a question that developed naturally from the OP’s. Not unless the person answering is employed by the OP and so bound by the narrowest job description imaginable to instil in himself a sense of servitude and to promote sound-bytes incapable of broadening the knowledge base that good forums build.

I did work to answer you. No one knew whether the person who advised you to have braces had ever fitted braces on anyone with implants. You didn’t say. I couldn’t know if you were using the service of a dentist or an auxiliary to dental services which happens in some countries. I worked in the dark of your sparse factual info to lend you a hand. I am shocked that you ‘appreciate’ this by telling me that your dental health is none of my business as though I’d tried to take it from you, and just because I thought you might be able to add something in return to my knowledge learned as a never-ending dental patient wherever I am. Sharing knowledge and learning makes communication worthwhile and people more empowered to make better informed decisions.


Were I to have anything new done near the site of a fresh implant, eg. teeth realignment, I’d first want confirmation from an implantologist that it’s safe to do that thing.