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 Health & Beauty | August 2005 
Medicine Take Notice
 Peter Wells Scott - PVNN
| | There are medical advancements taking place in the Puerto Vallarta community. Perhaps they are not as striking or as significant as occur in the United States or Europe, but the popular illusion of Mexico as a third world country is fading. |
There are medical advancements taking place in the Puerto Vallarta community. Perhaps they are not as striking or as significant as occur in the United States or Europe, but the popular illusion of Mexico as a third world country is fading.
San Javier Hospital in the Marina area has performed open heart surgical operations. But on an even more local area there is an ever advancing technology. The process of chelation as performed by Dr. Alfonso Gonzalez is world class, and many believe that the process, if started early, can ward off the necessity of open heart surgery.
Dr. Lupita, as she is affectionately known, shares her expertise at Medasist Hospital and the new Cornerstone Hospital located adjacent to Gigante at Plaza Caracol. She is a leading heart specialist in addition to being a much respected general practitioner.
Dra. Gilda Marquez de Aberg is as fine a dentist as exists. She is located at Uruguay 1149 Esc. Paraguay. A friend of mine from Vermont slipped in the shower and fractured his two front teeth. She performed rehabilitation surgery, and when he returned to Vermont his regular dentist gave the work exceedingly high marks.
The latest report involves the old favorite, root canal, or endodoncia, as it is referred to here. It used to be that it was a toss-up between being hit by a Mack truck or having a root canal. That all changed when I scheduled an appointment with C.D. Oscar Gabriel Salcido Robles at Basilio Badillo No.311.
Most local dentists don't perform root canals. Instead they submit the work to specialists. An advanced degree is required to perform root canals. Oscar Salcido is a perfectionist in his field, and comes in from Guadalajara two days a week to make the circuit and perform operations.
The price is generally set by the sponsoring doctor. It is not your local flea market, but there may be some room for negotiating. He carefully explains what might hurt, what wont hurt, and what the operation consists of. His English is not 100 percent, but it is close enough. Most of our communicating was done in Spanish.
I had two endodoncias performed concurrently, although I was afforded the opportunity to return at a later date for the second one. Total time in the chair was 2 hours fifteen minutes. With respect to pricing, one would do well to get some comparative bids, called presupuestos. Brush up on your Spanish. It is well worth the effort.
After the canals are clean, you can return to your regular dentist for post and crown work. I cannot say that it was a stroll on the Malecon, but it was a relief to be in extremely capable hands, especially considering the amount of apprehension associated with this procedure. Puerto Vallarta should be proud of the advancements being made right under our noses, so to speak. |
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