There are not many poor US dentists.
Just a month or two ago here was someone talking about how, fresh out of dental school, they were able to secure a $4M loan to set up their practice.
I am in the midst of having some complex dental work done. In the US, I got three competing quotes. The lowest was $49K, the highest $57K.
I am getting it done in Mexico for $23K. With arguably better equipment used (all 'top shelf' implants, materials, etc.)
I was unable to travel for a few years on account of work, and then COVID, and was seeing the local dentist recommended by my health insurer. They advised me that I needed my wisdom teeth removed. I was skeptical: My wisdom teeth came through in my teens with zero pain. I'm an adult with no tooth pain. When I asked why, the dentist was very vague, and told me it was for the best on account of the long-term likelihood of decay. I wasn't convinced. When I recently saw my extended family's local dentist, they showed me that my local Australian dentist had just left decay to flourish in my wisdom teeth, and not even let me know there were cavities there that were fixable. A quick filling would have saved me lots of hassle. Instead it seems they wanted to encourage me to take a much more costly course of action. In case anyone is wondering, this was an expensive clinic in Sydney's CBD. I'll never return!