I was at a party last night with dear family friends who are also Filipino. My friend's mother had a few months back cracked her dentures and was wearing a temporary replacement. She's retired and I bet these days, even if you have dental insurance, there is a big out of pocket expense.

I think ethnic groups in general, the original social network, are very resourceful. In our culture, it's important that you try best you can to help your close family friends in need. My friend's mom approached us about having dentures made for her in the Philippines when I take my family for a vacation next July. Of course, the ideal situation would be for her to take a dental tourism trip down there herself and get custom fitted. Another family member is doing that to save more than $10,000 on replacing is bridge work. Right now, we tried to explain to her that without her taking the impression there, there was a good chance the dentures would not be comfortable.

Right now, I think she's going to see if she can get someone here to take an impression for her. Then, we'd take it to a lab and have the dentures made. We'd bring it back to her. Interested on comments about whether or not you all think this would work or suggestions you might have in handling this case. Have any of you been in this situation before?