Short version: In March 2013 I had a root canal and crown from Dr Mayora and it is performing fine in February 2017.
Long version: I needed a root canal and crown on an upper bicuspid. The root canal had been started by another dentist but not finished. I had swollen gums above the affected tooth. I asked two US dentists about the swollen gums before deciding against letting them treat me. One was an economy dentist working out of his home in an older big city neighbourhood. When I told him I was worried that it was still infected, he shrugged and said "It's in God's hands." I thanked him and paid him the visit fee but did not return. I went to a more expensive dentist in a nicer neighbourhood. Again I asked about residual infection. He shrugged and said the bump on my gums was probably there before, I just didn't notice it. Again, I didn't fully trust him, paid the visit fee and left. I walked into a US Endodontist's office without an appointment and inquired about the cost. 2K+. I said to the receptionist: "Fine, I'm going to Mexico". She shrugged and fake smiled.
I found Dr. Mayora on this website. I emailed back and forth a few times and talked to him briefly on the phone, so I felt comfortable with him. I flew to San Diego from the Upper Midwest and booked a week-long Spanish language course in Ensenada, along with accommodation. I ended up spending about the same amount I would have in the US, but I got a little vacation along with it.
When I finally met Dr. Mayora in person he put me at ease. He said that the bump in my gums was a sign of residual infection which needed to be treated before the final filling of the canals with gutta percha. This was the first sane answer I had heard and was consistent with what I had read online. It was a Monday or Tuesday. In the first session, he took a mould of the existing tooth. Cleaned out the canals again, I believe there were some antibiotics inserted directly in the tooth.
He ground down my tooth to a nub to accept the crown. This was the most unpleasant part of the experience, though it was not painful. The sound and smell of burning teeth and prior fillings being ground away right inside my mouth was not fun. He took another mold of the nub and put on a temporary crown which felt and looked funny. A couple of days later I returned, and he examined the gums, cleaned out the canals for a final time, filled them in, and then glued on the crown. This was March 2013, and it is still holding solid almost 4 years later in February 2017 and no one noticed unless I showed them. He took care to get a close colour match. His brother or cousin gave me a ride a kilometre or two to Hussong's where I was meeting some people from the language school. Dr. Mayora even offered to give me a ride to the border in San Diego but I needed to leave quite early, so I went on the bus instead.
All in all, the experience was awesome.
Excellent
Treated by: Dr. Mayora
