Americans Flying to Mexico for Root Canals? Blame Big Government

Dental care in the United States has become a luxury for many Americans.

Need a root canal? That’ll run you around $1,000. Need an implant? You’re looking at $3,000 to $5,000 per tooth. Even a basic filling can top $200 if you don’t have insurance.

And here’s the kicker: Most health insurance doesn’t cover dental. That’s left a lot of Americans in pain – and in debt.

In fact, nearly 40% of Americans skipped the dentist in 2024 because of cost, according to the American Dental Association. And 25% don’t have dental insurance at all.

It’s gotten so bad that some folks are packing their bags and heading to Mexico, Costa Rica, or even Thailand to get work done. It’s called dental tourism, and it’s booming. People are saving thousands – even tens of thousands – on crowns, braces, and surgeries by going abroad.

So what’s going on? And why is dental care such a mess in one of the richest countries on earth?

Look at the Government

Conservatives believe the problem isn’t a lack of government programs, it’s too much government meddling in the first place.

Take health insurance. Medical and dental are split up because of outdated federal rules. That makes it harder and more expensive to get full coverage.

Many dental plans cap your benefits at $1,500 a year, which barely covers a root canal and crown. After that, you’re on your own.

It’s a broken system, and it’s broken because of red tape, not because of the free market.

Real Solutions, Not Bigger Bureaucracy

Instead of calling for more government-run programs like Medicare for All (which some on the left want to expand to include dental), conservatives are pushing for market-based reforms.

Here are a few ideas:

• Expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): These let you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for things like fillings, cleanings, or braces. Conservatives want to raise the limits and loosen the rules, so more people can take control of their own care.

• Cut the Red Tape: Right now, only licensed dentists can perform many simple procedures – even ones that trained dental hygienists or therapists could safely handle. That drives up costs and reduces access, especially in rural areas. Conservatives say it’s time to open up the field.

• Let Insurance Compete: Conservatives want insurers to offer flexible, low-cost plans that combine dental and medical. Let consumers pick what fits their needs instead of forcing them into bloated “one-size-fits-none” packages.

• Support Medical Tourism: Some people frown on going overseas for care, but conservatives see it as smart shopping. They’d like to see better systems for checking credentials and maybe even insurance that works abroad.

• Make Pricing Transparent: Want to shop around for a cleaning or a crown? Good luck finding a price online. Conservatives believe dentists (like other medical providers) should be required to post prices clearly. More competition means lower costs.

Why It Matters

Dental health isn’t just about having a nice smile. It’s directly linked to heart disease, diabetes, and even brain health.

If people avoid the dentist because of cost, those small problems can turn into big (and expensive) ones. In fact, emergency room visits for dental problems cost taxpayers an estimated $6 billion a year.

Preventive care like cleanings is a lot cheaper than emergency surgery, but with high costs and limited coverage, people are putting off routine care and paying the price later.

So Why Don’t We Hear About This More?

Mainstream media tends to focus on big, sweeping ideas like free college or universal healthcare. Dental care is more like a side issue. When it is covered, the proposed solution is almost always “more government.”

One post on X showed a $2,300 bill for a single wisdom tooth extraction.

Another user said they saved over $10,000 getting implants in Mexico.

Others are calling out the system’s failure to deliver basic care, especially to low-income families and rural communities.

Final Thought

Conservatives aren’t saying dental care isn’t important – they’re saying it’s too important to leave in the hands of bloated government programs. Real reform starts by trusting people to make their own choices, and letting the free market do what it does best: drive prices down and quality up.

In America, you shouldn’t have to go into debt (or out of the country) just to smile.