Positive Dental Experience

Not intended as an endorsement but rather for information only. I certainly hope that this doesn't turn into another bashing of any particular dentist involved!

Kathy recently visited a dentist here in Albuquerque. First of all, she didn't care for his personality and really didn't care for his radical treatment approach. Without going into all of the details, he wasn't interested in saving all the teeth that she has and was definitely interested in paying off his student loans.

I approached a number of members of this forum for suggestions and/or referrals. We contacted Dr. Barragan and sent him copies of the x-rays and proposed treatment plan from here. It turned out that, the required work was outside of Dr. Barragan's area of expertise. After emails going back and forth, he referred Kathy to two specialists in Guadalajara and he arranged an appointment with both for this past Monday. Kathy flew down last Sunday but was naturally apprehensive about what the treatment plan might be. This session was to be an examination and consultation by both specialists.

Prior to a thorough examination by each of them, she was given a complete cleaning and it was determined that she had some infection in her gums. Both specialists then performed examinations and these were followed by a joint consultation during which their treatment plan was laid out in detail. Both specialists were extremely nice and exhibited a real concern for retaining as many teeth as possible with the least patient stress. From a mental standpoint, this was a relief to Kathy and the really great news was that their treatment plan involved saving all but maybe one or two teeth.

Secondary to the above positives is the incredible difference in cost. The NOB dentist had estimated an approximate cost of $9KUSD including the initial charge for diagnosis and copies of x-rays. The cost of Monday's session was $800MXN and the estimate for the remaining work is $4000MXN. Even with plane fare and hotel costs, it is hard to figure out the cost justification for traveling this distance!

The information on these two specialists follows. By the way, they both speak English.
Dr. Edilberto Valdivia (Prostodontist, rehabilitation)
Dr. Yadira Macias (Periodontist)

Carlos F. Landeros 190
Colonia Ladrón de Guevara
In between México avenue and Reforma street. For reference, this address is located near the intersection of López Mateos Avenue and México Avenue.

01 333 616 0188
01 333 616 3062

Dr Valdivia is a gentleman probably in his 50's and speaks excellent English. Dr. Macias is a female probably in her 30's with lesser English skills but can certainly be understood. Great "chair side manners" and really caring people!

I also like Dr. Barragan...his manner, his office, his staff and his setup. I will be interested to see if the periodontist that I'm seeing Dec. 2nd in Dr. Barragan's office is the same as the one Kathy saw. He/she is coming from Guad. A bad cap (at the back) has pushed and moved my front teeth out of alignment and caused some gum damage. Hope they can fix it.

As a follow-up to this earlier post, Kathy has now completed two of the four sessions with Dr. Yadira Macias. Dr. Macias is extremely gentle when scraping below the gum line and Kathy has experience ZERO pain after each treatment. Sure there has been some minor tenderness in each quadrant but certainly not anything to slow down consumption of adult beverages or eating just what she wants to.

As you will see in the following photos, the office is immaculate and quite modern:
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My neighbor had a very bad toothache under a cap and I recommended the two best Dentists to her, both Dr. Barragan and Dr. Haro. She called Dr. Barragan's office and they didn't have an opening for a month!!! Any Dentist in the US or Mexico would have squeezed her in in an emergency.

Not wanting to wait a month, being in pain, she called Dr. Haro and he took her right away. It took 2 hours to pull her tooth, but she praised Dr. Haro so much for the way he worked and his mannerisms making her feel so comfortable.

If you have an emergency then talk to Dr. Barragan directly. He speaks perfect English and his assistant does not...but I also believe that at least one of his assistants is pathetic...just not sure which one but do know that it's giving him a bad rap/rep (three and counting).

johninajijic wrote:My neighbor had a very bad toothache under a cap and I recommended the two best Dentists to her, both Dr. Barragan and Dr. Haro. She called Dr. Barragan's office and they didn't have an opening for a month!!! Any Dentist in the US or Mexico would have squeezed her in in an emergency.

That's consistent with my experience. (Discussion here: http://lakechapalainfo.forumotion.net/t2167-dental-health-one-dr-candy-ugalde?highlight=Dental+Health+One )

I'm still sold on Dr. Candy Ugalde (Dental Health One) in Riberas del Pilar. (Telephone 106-0826)

We went to Dr. Barragan for our last cleaning. It was OK but nothing exceptional for 500 pesos. Nice fellow, clean office but we'll probably try someone else next time.

Mainecoons wrote:We went to Dr. Barragan for our last cleaning. It was OK but nothing exceptional for 500 pesos. Nice fellow, clean office but we'll probably try someone else next time.

Dr. Candy had a tree up for the Christmas season and asked me to remove one of the ornamental cards. After I plucked one from the tree, I discovered that it was a "hidden" gift certificate for a free cleaning! You just can't get much better than that. (I'll cash it in on January 26th!)

"Not intended as an endorsement but rather for information only. I certainly hope that this doesn't turn into another bashing of any particular dentist involved!"

Did any of you bother to read the lead in to my original post? First Johnnyboy has to bash Dr. Barragan for not dropping what probably was a full schedule to deal with his special friend. Have to wonder how he would have liked it if he had been punted from an appointment in preference to someone with a toothache? Give me a break! Then the rest had to chime in with their own personal "ME-ME" experiences!

I had a terribly infected lower molar and called everyone (dentists lakeside) - Haro was my dentist but they were all at a conference and I would have to wait 4 days to have the tooth pulled. I called and talked to Dr. Barragan directly, explained the problem and he said come in at 7:30 at night. Pulled the tooth - so much infection hanging off the roots I would probably have been dead in a few days. The good thing about Barragan is he lives here and in an emergency can take you immediately - if you speak to him. Many dentists come in from Guadalajara so you have to wait until they get here.

CheenaGringo wrote:"Not intended as an endorsement but rather for information only. I certainly hope that this doesn't turn into another bashing of any particular dentist involved!"

Did any of you bother to read the lead in to my original post? First Johnnyboy has to bash Dr. Barragan for not dropping what probably was a full schedule to deal with his special friend. Have to wonder how he would have liked it if he had been punted from an appointment in preference to someone with a toothache? Give me a break! Then the rest had to chime in with their own personal "ME-ME" experiences!

Always something negative to say. I was NOT bashing Dr Barragan as you can see from my post, but because my post didn't suit you and your post, you have to start bashing me. And if a Dentist had to move my appointment for an emergency, I would fully understand, unlike you and many self centered people in Ajijic.

I'm getting a bad attitude because there are so many aholes, me me me and cheap bastards in Ajijic. Not many real people here, like the people I have known in MA.

Talk about dense. Maybe you didn't bash Dr Barragan but you sure did throw out a negative about him. Since there was no physical contact with Dr. Barragan, the original post was not an endorsement other than the fact that we felt he went above and beyond with the number of email communications to accomplish this entire arrangement. To our way of thinking, this certainly says something about him not only as a dentist but also as a person!

As far as the two specialists in Guadalajara goes, given the personal experience we felt that they were to be commended for their professionalism and excellent approach. We have both talked to enough people that have gone through "deep scaling and root planing" to know that this is often a somewhat painful experience both during the procedure and after. The fact that Kathy experienced zero pain and could immediately eat anything she wanted says a great deal about the talents of Dr. Macias. Additionally it now appears that she will not have to have any teeth pulled which to our way of thinking, speaks highly of the talents of both specialists.

ferret wrote:I also like Dr. Barragan...his manner, his office, his staff and his setup. I will be interested to see if the periodontist that I'm seeing Dec. 2nd in Dr. Barragan's office is the same as the one Kathy saw. He/she is coming from Guad. A bad cap (at the back) has pushed and moved my front teeth out of alignment and caused some gum damage. Hope they can fix it.

Ferret would you post if it is the same periodontist. It would be great not to have to go in to Guadalajara.

Was not meant to ruffle any feathers.

simpsca wrote:

ferret wrote:I also like Dr. Barragan...his manner, his office, his staff and his setup. I will be interested to see if the periodontist that I'm seeing Dec. 2nd in Dr. Barragan's office is the same as the one Kathy saw. He/she is coming from Guad. A bad cap (at the back) has pushed and moved my front teeth out of alignment and caused some gum damage. Hope they can fix it.

Ferret would you post if it is the same periodontist. It would be great not to have to go in to Guadalajara.

I will ask again on Monday. Sorry, was a little upset with the periodontist (male and very gentle and nice) and blocked it out. I was not going through a two year procedure to graft bone onto the jaw, then get implants and then get caps. If I was forty...maybe. So bye bye periodontist...back tooth is out and the four front happen on Monday...then a bridge and I`ll have my smile back. Dr. Barragan understood my choice.

CheenaGringo wrote:Then the rest had to chime in with their own personal "ME-ME" experiences!

Maybe I'm not very astute -- but what do you consider your original post if not a "ME-ME" experience?


Is everybody else is supposed to accept your post and make a mad dash to the office of your preferred dentist? Not bloody likely. Discussion boards should present both pro's and con's. (Thanks, CanuckBob!)


Since this is a public forum, why are the experiences of others less valuable than your own? Just asking.

I guess you were upset ferret - but Dr. Barragan is very gentle. Pulled an infected rear molar and I hardly felt it. I'm not a fan of implants - never had one but know someone whose body rejected them. I'll take a bridge any day - I have two of them and easy to maintain.

So the periodontist was a man?

Lehrer:

Since you already have a four page thread extolling the virtues of Dr. Candy, I would have thought that would be adequate. If you were to take the time to read my original post and the follow-up posts, I think that you would find them to be more of a report of the sequence and the results. At no time did I state that anyone should or needs to go to these particular specialists as something like this is a personal decision based upon facts that are available. The last thing that I wished for was my original post to turn into a royal pizzing match like the following thread from MexConnect: http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=168509;search_string=Dr%20Barragan;#168509

This entire need by some to proclaim mine is better than yours is getting totally ludicrous! When looking for the original referral, I didn't post it in public because I figured that it would degrade into just that. Instead, I asked two particular forum members who I respect and trust for advice and they both provided the same referral to Dr. Barragan. In view of the fact that there were at least fifteen emails back and forth and he extended his time and caring to set this whole thing up without being personally involved in the eventual treatment plan. At this point he has our respect and if need be, Kathy will go to him if the need arises. Nothing more and nothing less!

Yes Simpsca, the periodontist was a man...a very kind and gentle man.

It's not only the implants that your body can reject...the bone graft has about a 50/50 chance of being rejected as well. What's the point when you're 60?

Interesting after effects of having that bad crown and root removed (and it was not infected)..1) for the first time in 7 years, my bite is now together 2) for the first time in seven years, I can breathe through my left nostril. Just goes to show the results of having a bad dental work...the dentist who did the crown was in San Miguel.

I think dentists are like restaurants. Everyone has a favorite.

Yes but some restaurants are better than others. So glad you are feeling better ferret. And that you can chew and breathe!

He must have a new periodontist - I saw a woman when I went. All she did was measure my gum gaps not anything else.

CheenaGringo wrote:Lehrer:

Since you already have a four page thread extolling the virtues of Dr. Candy, I would have thought that would be adequate. If you were to take the time to read my original post and the follow-up posts, I think that you would find them to be more of a report of the sequence and the results. At no time did I state that anyone should or needs to go to these particular specialists as something like this is a personal decision based upon facts that are available. The last thing that I wished for was my original post to turn into a royal pizzing match like the following thread from MexConnect: http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=168509;search_string=Dr%20Barragan;#168509

This entire need by some to proclaim mine is better than yours is getting totally ludicrous! When looking for the original referral, I didn't post it in public because I figured that it would degrade into just that. Instead, I asked two particular forum members who I respect and trust for advice and they both provided the same referral to Dr. Barragan. In view of the fact that there were at least fifteen emails back and forth and he extended his time and caring to set this whole thing up without being personally involved in the eventual treatment plan. At this point he has our respect and if need be, Kathy will go to him if the need arises. Nothing more and nothing less!

Apparently, you assume that I have not read the "original post"? Your assumption in invalid.

But any time you (or anyone else) posts to the forum, you (or anyone else) should expect a discussion. Isn't it called a "Discussion Board"? That involves pro's and con's; no sane person would choose a dentist based upon a single person's evaluation or experience.

Yes, I started a thread for folks to read about and discuss Dr. Candy Ugalde (Dental Health One). That's why I posted the URL (above), rather than get into a "royal pizzing match" about who's the best. I expect readers to evaluate professionals, based upon various individuals' experiences.

For you to moan and groan about other peoples' input on this thread is the epitome of "mine is better than yours"! You shouldn't have expected everyone to fall in line and say, "Amen! I'll take his word for it."

If you didn't want (or at least "envision") a discussion, it would have been better for you to have abstained from posting, don't you think?

I like the discussions and I like the feedback and I like the recommendations. It beats the hell out of sitting down with the yellow pages and blindly picking someone. We all have favourite "whatevers" because we're all different.
Oh, BTW, if you're a masochist DON'T go to Dr. Barragan 'cuz he'll never hurt you the way you want to be hurt.

ferret wrote:Oh, BTW, if you're a masochist DON'T go to Dr. Barragan 'cuz he'll never hurt you the way you want to be hurt.

I have to interject here that it was Dr. Barragán's nephew (Dr. Carlos A. Chávez Barragán) who performed the oral surgery for me (first, extracting a molar, second, performing a root canal & third, removing a portion of gum and part of a split premolar) at Dental Health One. During the last, he cautioned me that the injection (roof of the mouth) would be painful; afterwards, I said: "That wasn't so bad." And he told me that he could tell, because most patients flinch and I didn't. So, I guess it runs in the family. My only complaint with uncle is that I couldn't even get in to see him (as a new patient)!!!! So, I really can't judge his performance. I don't need to, because I'm happy with my chosen dentist(s).

It so happened that another couple from Albuquerque were renting another of the apartments where we were staying in Tlaquepaque. It turned out that the wife had been having dental problems with a previous partial but had been procrastinating about getting the work done. Based upon Kathy's experience, she decided to go see Dr. Edilberto Valdivia (Prostodontist, rehabilitation). She called on Monday and was given an appointment for yesterday. We just received an email after arriving back home. Dr. Edilberto gave her a thorough cleaning and made adjustments to the partial which was affecting both her upper and lower teeth. One session took care of the problems and the total cost was $61USD. Apparently, she is one happy camper!