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Professional and technological development of dental tourism
in Puerto Vallarta
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Desarrollo profesional y tecnológico del turismo dental
en Puerto Vallarta
Chávez Trujillo, G.a Anaya Corona, M.C.b
a. Candidata a Doctora en Ciencias para el Desarrollo, la Sustentabilidad y el Turismo (PhD Candidate). Universidad de Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, México
b. PhD. Universidad de Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, México
Recibido 2024-10-14
Revisado 2024-12-12
Aceptado 2024-12-13
Summary
Introduction
The Universal Medical Travel agency of the United States (USA), promotes Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia, as Latin
American countries with high quality in dental services.
Other countries in Latin America that offer dental tourism are Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
Objective
The objective of this study is to describe the professional and technological development of dental practitioners in Puerto
Vallarta.
Method
For the analysis, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with dentists practicing in Puerto Vallarta, selected from a
total population of 176 professionals listed in the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units (DENUE), as of November 2023
(INEGI, 2024).
These interviews provided insights into key trends and challenges related to specialization and the adoption of advanced
technologies in the dental eld.
Results
The results show a notable increase in the use of advanced technologies among dentists in Puerto Vallarta. Additionally,
there is a marked rise in professional specialization, driven by the need to cater to an increasingly demanding international
clientele as a result of the growth in medical tourism.
Conclusions
The professional and technological development of dentists in Puerto Vallarta largely depends on the ongoing training and
updates that practitioners seek and nance with their own resources. Dentists contribute to local economic growth through
the foreign tourism they serve and the services and materials they consume.
The Puerto Vallarta Dental Association has played a crucial role in enhancing the professional skills of afliated dentists and
those willing to participate in the activities it offers.
Keywords:
Technological development; professional development; dentists; medical tourism; Puerto Vallarta.
Chávez Trujillo, G., Anaya Corona, M.C. (2025) Professional and technological development of dental tourism in Puerto Vallarta. Odontología Vital, 2(43) 16-30. https://doi.org/10.59334/ROV.v2i43.652
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Introduction
Health tourism is dened as the process of
leaving one’s country or state of residence to
receive treatments and health care in search
of high specialization, faster access, and better
costs (López et al., 2023). This type of tourism
is divided into medical tourism and wellness
tourism (see Figure 1); the former refers to all
surgical and outpatient procedures such as
dental, ophthalmological, bariatric surgeries,
hip replacements, among others, as well as
preventive, curative, or aesthetic medical
treatments, in order to achieve an improvement
in the health or quality of life of individuals.
Wellness tourism refers to all activities aimed
at restoring the psychological, physical, and
social health and well-being of individuals, and
includes relaxation, alternative medicine, lifestyle
changes, spas, retreat centers, assisted living
facilities for the elderly, among others (Guzmán
Flores, 2015). In 2022, the General Tourism Law
added Section X Bis to its Article 7, the Subject of
Medical Tourism, due to the importance of this
economic sector.
Figure 1. Health tourism outline
Source: Prepared by the authors based on López et al. 2023.
Table 1. Ranking of dental tourism destinations
Rank Country Main treatment procedures
1 Mexico Dental implants Crowns and bridges Veneers Full restorations
2 Thailand Veneers and smile makeovers Dental implants Full oral restoration Teeth whitening
3 Hungary Dental Implants Orthodontics Crowns and Bridges Cosmetic Dentistry
4 Turkey Dental Implants Veneers Smile Makeovers Crowns and Bridges
5 India Dental Implants Crowns and Bridges Orthodontics Cosmetic Dentistry
6 Costa Rica Dental Implants Veneers Full oral restoration
7 Croacia Dental Implants Orthodontics Crowns and Bridges Veneers
8 Colombia Dental Implants Veneers Smile makeovers Crowns and Bridges
Source: Prepared by the authors based on data from Universal Medical Travel (s.f.)
Four Directions of Health Tourism
There are four recognized directions in which
health tourism occurs (Labonté, 2013):
North-North (between developed countries):
This generally occurs among individuals residing
in high-income nations. South-North (from
developing countries to developed countries):
This is the most traditional form and involves
individuals with high purchasing power living in
developing countries who seek medical care in
developed countries with better facilities.
South-South (between developing countries):
The most overlooked category, where individuals
from developing nations travel to another
developing country for medical services.
Common destinations include Cuba, Yemen,
Barbados, Jordan, and Mexico. North-South
(from developed countries to developing
countries): A newly emerging category where
most services are provided by private entities
in developing nations aiming to attract an
underserved foreign market.
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This study focuses on the last category, referring
to individuals from developed countries visiting
developing nations for dental health services. A
notable example is Latin America, particularly
Puerto Vallarta, which attracts clients from
countries such as the United States and Canada.
Medical Tourism in Latin America Medical
tourism has been growing in recent years,
capitalizing on the private healthcare
infrastructure available in developing countries.
In Latin America, nations such as Costa Rica, the
Dominican Republic, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil,
Panama, and Mexico have focused on attracting
health tourists. These countries rank among the
top destinations for medical tourism globally,
according to Patients Beyond Borders and the
Medical Tourism Index (2020; Woodman, 2020).
Dental medical tourism has positioned Mexico
as the primary provider due to its proximity to
a large market—the United States. This trend
initially emerged in the Mexico-U.S. border
region, where U.S. residents traveled south for
dental care, particularly to cities such as Tijuana,
Vicente Guerrero (Los Algodones), Nogales, and
Ciudad Juárez. Later, dental medical tourism
expanded to Mexico’s Pacic and Gulf beach
destinations, including Cancún and Puerto
Vallarta (Turner, 2009; Woodman, 2020).
Other Latin American countries, including
Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia, and
Brazil (Dental Innovation, n.d.; Misch, 2020), have
also joined this global economic activity, where
dental treatment and vacations are planned
together. Lower airfare prices and reduced
dental service costs in developing countries
have facilitated and encouraged this type of
tourism.
Ranking of Dental Medical Tourism Destinations
Table 1 presents a ranking of the top countries
attracting dental medical tourists, based on
data from Universal Medical Travel, which
manages 14 destinations for medical tourism.
Mexico ranks rst, while Costa Rica and
Colombia rank sixth and eighth, respectively.
Despite these rankings, identifying a single most
popular destination remains challenging. The
ranking is often inuenced by the origin of the
website presenting the data. For example, a
Costa Rican website may list Costa Rica as the
most common destination, leading to biased
results. However, one certainty is that all these
destinations are equipped with cutting-edge
technology to provide patients with the best
possible experience.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a municipality located in the
Costa-Sierra Occidental region of the state of
Jalisco, on Mexico’s Pacic coast (Figure 2). The
city began developing as a tourist destination in
the 1960s, experiencing population growth (Table
3) due to national migration. This was a result of
the March to the Sea Plan, proposed by Mexican
President Adolfo Tomás Ruiz Cortines (1952-
1958), which aimed to alleviate demographic
congestion in the central highlands by
encouraging people to migrate to coastal areas
(Gómez, 2017).
Subsequent development efforts continued
under President Adolfo López Mateos (1958-
1964), who ordered the construction of the
Compostela-Puerto Vallarta highway. Work
began in February 1960 and was completed
in March 1969, with the ofcial inauguration by
President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz in 1970 (Fernández
& Correa, 2016; E. Gómez, 2017; J. M. Gómez, 2018;
Guzmán & Anaya, 2011). Additional infrastructure
developments included the construction of
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Puerto Vallarta’s airport, completed in 1962
(Fernández & Correa, 2016; E. Gómez, 2017; J. M.
Gómez, 2018). In 1966, the rst international ight
from Mexicana de Aviación arrived, covering the
Puerto Vallarta–Los Angeles route via Mazatlán
(E. Gómez, 2017; J. M. Gómez, 2018). Meanwhile,
the construction of the maritime terminal took
place between 1968 and 1970.
Today, the marina can accommodate up to
three cruise ships simultaneously (National Port
System Administration of Puerto Vallarta, n.d.).
Puerto Vallarta continues to experience
population growth, making it one of Mexico’s
leading cities in terms of both national and
international immigration.
Source: Statistical and Geographic Information Institute of the State of Jalisco (2018).
Figure 2. Geographic location of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
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Table 2. Personnel employed by the economic activity sector
between 2003 and 2018 in Puerto Vallarta
Sector 2003 2008 2013 2018
Primary 241 0.49% 104 0.16% 103 0.15% 228 0.25%
Secondary 2,596 5.29% 4,100 6.37% 3,321 4.87% 5,115 5.58%
Tertiary 46,220 94.22% 60,120 93.46% 64,702 94.97% 86,300 94.17%
Source: Prepared by the authors based on data from the Economic Census (INEGI) from 2004-2019.
The Beginning of Professional Dental Training in Mexico
In Mexico, the earliest recorded instance of a commercial dental practice dates back to 1823, when
a French-born individual, Dr. Guillermo Parrot, became the rst to advertise his services as a dental
surgeon (Díaz, 2008). After the end of Mexico’s War of Independence, Parrot promoted his services in
the newspaper Águila Mexicana, offering medications to whiten and preserve teeth (Alvarado, 2014;
Díaz, 2008).
Table 3. Population of Puerto Vallarta between 1950 and 2020
Year Population Growth rate (%)
1950 10,801
1960 15,462 43.15
1970 35,911 132.25
1980 57,028 58.80
1990 111,457 95.44
2000 184,728 65.74
2010 255,681 38.41
2020 291,839 14.14
Source: Prepared by the authors based on data from the Population and Housing Census (INEGI) from 1950 to 2020.
The Beginning of Professional Dental Training in
Mexico
Due to increasing demands for quality in dental
services, Mexico saw the need to accredit
dentists, as the profession was not yet regulated
in the country. Eugenio Crombé became the rst
foreign dentist accredited in Mexico (Alvarado,
2014; Díaz, 2008). Years later, in 1854, the rst
Mexican candidate, Mariano Chacón, was
examined for dental accreditation.
He had acquired his dental knowledge through
an apprenticeship system, learning from foreign
dentists in their clinics (Alvarado, 2014). As a
result of this mentorship system, Margarita
Chorné y Salazar became the rst accredited
female dentist in Mexico in 1886 (Díaz, 2008).
In terms of professional training, Eduardo Clay
Wise and Tobía Núñez pioneered efforts to
establish a formal dental education program in
1880.
They submitted a petition to the Ministry of
Justice and Public Instruction requesting
a facility for a Dental School in Mexico,
emphasizing its necessity (Rodríguez, 2007).
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By 1887, the rst edition of the journal Arte
Dental was published, and a dental society
was established, reinforcing the signicance of
dentists in Mexico (Rodríguez, 2007). As part of
these efforts, various associations and private
dentists requested the creation of a dental
school in 1896, though multiple failed attempts
were made to establish it (Alvarado, 2014;
Rodríguez, 2007).
In 1898, Dr. Charles Aubrey Young published the
rst issue of Revista Dental Mexicana to unite
and update the dental community, aiming
to establish a new dental society involved in
dentist certication (Alvarado, 2004). At the
time, certication was handled by medical
professionals with limited expertise in dentistry,
leading the society to request that experienced
dentists serve on the examining board. The
curriculum for the dentistry program was
modeled after training programs in the United
States and Europe (Alvarado, 2004; Rodríguez,
2007).
In 1900, Francisco Pastor Artigas attended a
dental congress in Paris on behalf of President
Porrio Díaz to obtain the curriculum from the
Paris Dental School. This curriculum served
as the foundation for the Mexican dental
program, which was implemented in 1901 at
the Consultorio Nacional de Enseñanza Dental
(CNED). The curriculum was ofcially approved
by presidential decree in 1902, published in the
Diario Ocial (Rodríguez, 2007).
After more than 20 years of efforts to establish
university-level dental education, classes at
CNED began on January 1, 1904, under the
jurisdiction of the School of Medicine at the
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
(UNAM). The school was formally inaugurated on
April 19 of the same year, marking the beginning
of formal dental education in Mexico.
As of 2022, Mexico has 222 higher education
institutions offering programs in dental and oral
health sciences.
These institutions collectively provide 2,255
academic programs: 1,032 at the undergraduate
level and 1,223 at the postgraduate level,
including specializations, master’s, and doctoral
degrees (DataMéxico, 2023).
Objective
The objective of this research was to describe
the professional and technological development
of dental practitioners in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Method
This study followed a descriptive-explanatory
approach, aiming to illustrate the professional
and technological evolution of dental
practitioners in this tourist destination.
According to the National Statistical Directory
of Economic Units (DENUE), as of November
2023, Puerto Vallarta had a total of 176 dentists
(INEGI, 2024). From this population, a sample of
21 dentists was selected through convenience
sampling. Most participants volunteered, while
others were chosen randomly.
A semi-structured interview guide was designed,
consisting of 12 open-ended questions
focusing on the professional and technological
development of dentists. The open-ended
format provided exibility, allowing interviewees
to share relevant insights based on their
experiences.
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The interviews were conducted in person at
dental ofces, each lasting approximately 30 to
45 minutes. With the participants’ consent, the
interviews were recorded for later transcription
and analysis.
The transcriptions underwent thematic analysis,
identifying recurring patterns and key themes
related to the professional and technological
development of dental practitioners in Puerto
Vallarta.
Results
Sample Description
The study was based on a sample of 21 dentists,
representing 12% of the total registered dental
professionals in Puerto Vallarta as of November
2023 (INEGI, 2024). The key characteristics of the
sample are as follows:
• Gender distribution: 11 female and 10 male
participants.
• Age distribution:
• 10 dentists aged 30-47 years
• 5 dentists aged 48-65 years
• 6 dentists aged 66-76 years
The results indicate that most of the
participating dentists were young adults (see
Table 4).
Table 4. Characteristics of the research sample
Folio Sex Age Training
periods Main specialty Subspecialty Total
specialties
Study
abroad
Year of
autonomy Business line
1 M 76 1966-
1970
Oral
rehabilitation Implantology More than 2 Yes 1980 Civil society
2 F 69 1972-1976 Implantology Geriatric
dentistry More than 2 Yes 1985 Natural person
3 F 69 1972-1976 Endodontics ND 1 No 1998 Natural person
4 M 75 1967-1972 Prostodoncia Adhesive 2 No 1972 Natural person
5 F 46 1996-
2000 Orthodontics Implantology 2 No 2003 Natural person
6 F 65 1977-1981 Surgery Orthodontics More than 2 Yes 1980 Natural person
7 F 31 2012-2016 Oral
rehabilitation ND 1 Yes 2020 Natural person
8 F 54 1988-
1992
Oral
rehabilitation Prosthesis 2 Yes 1992 Natural person
9 M 75 1968-
1974 Implantology ND 1 No 1989 Natural person
10 M 60 1984-
1988
Oral
rehabilitation Implantology More than 2 No 1988 Natural person
11 M 47 1995-
2000
Oral
rehabilitation Endodontics 2 No 2001 Natural person
12 M 30 2013-2017 Endodontics Orthodontics 2 Yes 2017 Natural person
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13 F 48 1993-
1997 Endodontics Aesthetic
dentistry 2 No 2003 Natural person
14 F 42 2000-
2005 Endodontics Implantology 2 No 2006 Natural person
15 M 36 2006-
2010
Oral
rehabilitation ND 1 No 2017 Natural person
16 M 33 2009-
2013 Implantology ND 1 No 2017 Natural person
17 F 47 1994-
1998 Prosthodontics ND 1 No 2014 Natural person
18 F 36 2008-
2012 Prosthodontics Implantology 2 No 2022 Natural person
19 M 72 1973-1977 Endodontics ND 1 Yes 1983 Moral person
20 F 42 2000-
2004
Oral
rehabilitation Implantology More than 2 No 2012 Natural person
21 M 55 1987-
1992 Implantology Restorative
dentistry More than 2 Yes 1992 Natural person
Source: Prepared by the authors based on the results of the interviews conducted.
Business Landscape of Dental Practices in
Mexico
In Mexico, 95% of businesses are classied
as microenterprises or sole proprietorships,
according to the 2019 Economic Census (INEGI,
2019). These are businesses with between 1 and
10 employees, including the owner.
Among the dental practices surveyed in this
study, 90% of respondents identied as sole
proprietors, while the remaining 10% were
registered as civil associations or corporate
entities.
Regarding the year in which dentists were
able to establish their own practices or
clinics—achieving nancial self-sufciency—the
distribution is as follows:
• 14% between 1972 and 1981
• 19% between 1982 and 1991
• 19% between 1992 and 2001
• 14% between 2002 and 2011
• 33% between 2012 and 2022
One key aspect of dental practice in Puerto
Vallarta is collaborative work among dentists. To
provide comprehensive dental health services,
practitioners often collaborate, referring patients
to specialists when necessary or sharing
equipment. In some cases, specialists travel
from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta to offer their
services. In dental clinics, multiple specialists
associate to meet the diverse treatment needs
of their patients.
Among the interviewed dentists, most covered
between one and six specialties in their practice
through collaborative partnerships. The three
most common specialties were endodontics,
periodontics, and third molar surgery. When
a required specialty was not available, 86%
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of respondents stated that they referred the
patient to a trusted colleague.
Professional Development of Dental
Practitioners in Puerto Vallarta
Like all healthcare elds, dentistry requires
accredited professional training and continuous
education. In addition to earning a university
degree and specializing in at least one eld,
dental practitioners must stay updated on new
technologies, materials, and innovations.
Table 4 outlines the years in which the
interviewed dentists completed their
professional training and their respective
specializations. The majority obtained their
degrees from the University of Guadalajara.
Among the three dentists who studied between
1960 and 1969, nancial and logistical challenges
were signicant, as they noted in their interviews.
At that time, the road connecting Puerto
Vallarta to Guadalajara had only recently been
completed under the Costa Program led by
Governor Agustín Yáñez (1952-1958). Families
in Puerto Vallarta rented homes in Guadalajara
to accommodate students who pursued their
education in the city.
However, few dental graduates returned to
Puerto Vallarta to practice their profession, as
seen in Table 4.
Notably, all interviewed dentists had at least
one specialization, 38% held two specializations,
and 29% had more than two specializations.
The most common areas of expertise
were implantology, oral rehabilitation, and
endodontics. Additionally, ve of the respondents
had completed at least one specialization
abroad.
All interviewed dentists agreed that ongoing
training and professional development are
essential, and they personally nance these
costs.
Additionally, 53% of respondents were members
of the Puerto Vallarta College of Dentists, an
association that organizes courses, diploma
programs, and other professional development
events for its members.
Technological Advancements in Dental
Practice in Puerto Vallarta
Technological advancements play a crucial
role in modern dental practice. In addition to
acquiring furniture and equipment, dentists must
stay up to date with new techniques associated
with these innovations. During interviews, dentists
highlighted two main benets of continuing
education and specialization:
They gain access to the latest technology as
part of their training.
Their work becomes easier and more efcient
through the use of new tools and techniques.
Regarding the origin of most dental technology
used in Puerto Vallarta, the distribution is as
follows:
• 33% from the United States
• 27% from Germany
• 21% from Asian countries (Japan, China, and
South Korea)
• 10% from other European countries
(Switzerland, Italy, and Spain)
• 10% from various other countries
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Based on the technological level and services
available in the dental ofces and clinics of the
interviewed practitioners, a categorization of
these practices was developed, as presented in
Table 5.
Table 5. Categorization of the level of specialization of dental ofces and clinics in Puerto Vallarta
Lever Services Equipment
Level 1. Basic services
General dental exam
Dental chairs, hand instruments,
conventional x-rays, ultrasonic dental
cleaning equipment, traditional llings,
simple tooth extractions, uoridation
and dental sealants
Professional dental cleaning
Conventional x-rays
Cavity treatment
Simple tooth extraction
Fluoride and dental sealants
Dental hygiene education
Level 2. Intermediate services
Digital X-rays
Digital X-rays, intraoral scanner, LED
teeth whitening lamp, clear aligners,
CAD/CAM technology, computerized
electronic anesthesia
Professional teeth whitening (LED light)
Invisible orthodontics (clear aligners)
Intraoral and CAD/CAM scanners
Complex extractions
Computerized electronic anesthesia
Level 3. Advanced Services
Dental implants with computer guided
surgery 3D printing, dental implants with
computerized surgical guidance,
laser dentistry, CT scanner, articial
intelligence for diagnosis, regenerative
dentistry.
Laser dentistry
3D printing
Computed tomography
Diagnostics with articial intelligence
Regenerative dentistry
Source: Prepared by the authors based on the results of the interviews.
According to the interviews, 14% of dentists
offer basic-level services, 71% operate at an
intermediate level, and 14% provide advanced-
level services. This classication of technological
and service levels in Puerto Vallarta’s dental
ofces and clinics highlights the high quality
of available dental services. Additionally, when
combined with the signicantly lower costs
compared to the United States and Canada,
these factors help explain the increasing trend of
dental medical tourism in Puerto Vallarta.
Regarding materials used for treatments,
repairs, and dental reconstructions, dentists
source them from local, state, national, and
international suppliers:
• 62% purchase from local suppliers
• 86% obtain materials from suppliers in
Guadalajara (state level)
• 67% buy from suppliers in other cities in
Mexico and receive deliveries via courier
• 10% import their materials from foreign
countries
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Dental laboratories play a crucial role in
completing dental procedures, particularly for
reconstructive purposes. Their primary function
is the design and fabrication of dental materials,
such as implants, crowns, veneers, and splints.
Some dental clinics operate their own in-house
laboratory, but 81% of the interviewed dentists
rely on local dental laboratories, while 14% use
laboratories in Guadalajara.
Dental Services for Foreign Patients
As an international tourist destination, Puerto
Vallarta offers unique advantages that make
it attractive to individuals looking to combine
vacations or recreational activities with health
tourism. This phenomenon is described by
Connell (2006) as “Sea, Sun, Sand, and Surgery.”
Puerto Vallarta perfectly ts this concept, as it
not only provides high-quality health services—
particularly dental services—but also allows
tourists to enjoy beaches and warm weather in
one of the world’s most famous vacation spots.
Among the interviewed dentists, foreign
patients account for an average of 46% of their
clientele per clinic. Most foreign patients seek
implantology, oral rehabilitation, and dental
cleaning services, which serve both aesthetic
and functional purposes.
The United States and Canada are the main
countries of origin for foreign patients. However,
there has been a growing inux of patients
from South America, Asia, and Europe. To
accommodate these international visitors, most
dentists have made an effort to ensure at least
one staff member speaks English.
None of the interviewed dentists directly work
with foreign health insurance companies, but
86% stated that they assist patients by lling
out insurance forms or compiling their dental
records so they can seek reimbursement from
their insurance providers.
Many tourists and foreign residents willingly pay
for dental services out of pocket, even if their
insurance does not cover them, as the cost is
signicantly lower than in their home countries.
The most in-demand advanced dental
procedures among foreign patients include
endodontics, oral rehabilitation, implantology,
and maxillofacial surgery.
Discussion
This study was based on a sample representing
12% of the total registered dentists in Puerto
Vallarta as of November 2023, according to
DENUE (INEGI, 2024). Within this sample:
• 52% were female, and 48% were male
• Most dentists were between the ages of 30
and 55, indicating they were at the peak of
their professional productivity
• 90% operated as microenterprises under
sole proprietorships, which is the most
common business structure in Mexico
According to the interviewed dentists, dental
tourism began in Puerto Vallarta approximately
40 years ago, primarily attracting patients
from the United States and Canada. Foreign
patients have chosen Puerto Vallarta for dental
treatments because prices are up to one-third
of what they would pay in their home countries,
while maintaining high-quality standards.
The primary method of promotion for
dental services has been word-of-mouth
recommendations, with friends and family
members of past patients referring new visitors.
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This type of tourism is highly seasonal, with a
peak during winter months (October to March),
when northern hemisphere residents escape
the harsh cold by migrating to warmer climates.
However, in the last decade, second-home
tourism has increased, leading to year-round
demand for dental services as visitors extend
their stays in Puerto Vallarta.
Over the past two decades, new generations
of dental professionals have entered the eld.
However, senior dentists expressed concerns
about lower training standards among new
graduates and suggested that a certication
process should be required. Some of the most
successful dentists emphasized that high-
quality dental services depend not only on
formal education but also on continuous training
and updates in technology, techniques, and new
materials.
The Puerto Vallarta College of Dentists has
attempted to establish a formal certication
system for new dental professionals, but this
initiative has not yet been fully implemented.
All the interviewed dentists had at least one
specialization, and their clinics were categorized
as either intermediate or advanced-level
facilities, as detailed in Table 5.
A controversial issue regarding private dental
services in Puerto Vallarta is that dentists tend to
prioritize foreign patients over local residents.
As a result, public health institutions should take
greater responsibility in providing dental care
to the general population, particularly those
with limited nancial resources—a need that
remains largely unmet. Only a small number of
dentists provide pro bono services as part of
humanitarian initiatives.
Conclusions
Dental medical tourism has emerged as a
major economic activity worldwide, particularly
in developing countries with popular tourist
destinations. In Latin America, leading
destinations for dental tourism include Costa
Rica, the Dominican Republic, Argentina,
Colombia, Brazil, Panama, and Mexico. Although
online sources list these countries as top
destinations for dental tourism, it is difcult to
determine the single most popular location.
This is because rankings are often inuenced
by the origin of the website presenting the
information. For instance, a Costa Rican website
may list Costa Rica as the top destination,
leading to biased results. However, one clear
conclusion is that all these destinations are
equipped with state-of-the-art technology
to provide patients with the best possible
experience.
The development of dental services in Puerto
Vallarta has been shaped by professional
and technological advancements, as well
as continuous education and experience.
Additionally, dental practitioners contribute
indirectly to the local economy by supporting
the tourism value chain. The presence of
medical tourists generates revenue in various
sectors, including hospitality, transportation,
dining, local crafts, leisure activities, excursions,
and tours (Jansen, 2013).
Furthermore, dentists contribute to employment
creation, as all interviewed professionals
reported having at least one employee in
their practice. One negative aspect of dental
medical tourism is that local residents often
struggle to access affordable dental care. While
foreign patients benet from low-cost services
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compared to their home countries, prices
remain high for local residents, leading many
to seek only basic or emergency treatments.
As a result, adequate dental care remains
inaccessible to much of the local population.
The Puerto Vallarta College of Dentists not only
serves as a professional organization but also
promotes continuous training and education
for its members. Additionally, it fosters a sense
of community through social and networking
activities. Finally, we express our gratitude to
the dentists who voluntarily participated in this
research, sharing their insights and professional
experiences without restriction.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION:
The authors have contributed to the conception,
planning, execution and approval of the nal
version of this article.
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Conict of interest:
The authors declare that they have no conicts
of interest.
Funding:
No funding was received to assist with the
preparation of this manuscript
Author contribution statement:
Conceptualización y diseño: GCT, MCAC
Revisión de literatura: GCT
Metodología y validación: GCT, MCAC
Análisis formal: GCT
Investigación y recopilación de datos: GCT
Recursos: GCT, MCAC
Análisis e interpretación de datos: GCT, MCAC
Redacción-preparación del borrador original:
GCT, MCAC
Redacción-revisión y edición: GCT, MCAC
Supervisión: MCAC
Administración de proyecto: GCT, MCAC
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