Costa Rica Dental Tourism – The following was a story of a dental tourism patient that wanted to talk about his dental experience in Costa Rica. We all here about the benefits of going abroad to get your dental procedures performed but do you really know what you are going to experience when getting your passport stamped and leaving customs in Costa Rica?
It is not easy being tall especially if you need to go on a vacation and stay in a low ceiling house; it actually spelled disaster based from my experience! Let me tell you why.
In one of my numerous surfing trips to Costa Rica, I rented a house with low a low ceiling and a much lower doorway built for shorter people. It was okay at first and I didn’t mind ducking all the time to get in and out of the house since I am in no rush to get anywhere. The problem was, when I had to rush back and forth from one room to another to ready myself for a beach party I am attending I forgot to duck one time and accidentally hit my forehead on a low doorway which not just snapped my head back but also snapped one of my top front teeth in half.
Since I didn’t want to go home with my front tooth chipped, I contacted local friends to get a recommendation for good Costa Rican dentist. My friends referred me to nearby local dentists whom they have personally seen and have had great experiences with. I called one dentist and made an appointment that same day. When I went to the dental clinic I was impressed with how clean and sterile the clinic was. The receptionist was friendly and speaks perfect English so I had no difficulties communicating with her. I also did not have to wait long for the dentist and was ushered inside another room five minutes after I got to the clinic.
The dental equipment inside the office are new and looks just like the ones I see at home when I am getting my teeth checked by my American dentist. The dentist checked my tooth and told me what needs to be done and extensively answered all my questions. In just three consecutive visits, the dentist was able to cast a color-matched cap for my chipped tooth, ground a post for the remaining half of my natural tooth, fit a new cap perfectly making my tooth look so natural as if nothing happened to it. The best part was that the dentist who took care of my tooth only charged me less than $300. If I had my tooth done at home in the good old US of A, the total amount I would have paid for is a whopping $600 to $1300, and mind you for the same type of work.
Since it was the first time I had dental work done abroad, when I got back home I had my dentist check my tooth and he was surprised with the quality of work done that he even commended the dentist in Costa Rica. After that I decided to have other dental procedures get done in Costa Rica every time I am in there and had the same great experience. The quality of work done is not the only thing worth mentioning, personal care and dedicated customer service should also be commended. I have never felt rushed by the dentists I have seen and they have answered all my questions to my heart’s content. The equipment they are using are also top of the line and the materials they are using came from the same manufacturer as that in America.
It is true that there are some oddity but for the most part, dental care from qualified dental professionals in large metropolitan centers in Costa Rica are not that much different from that in the US except for the price of dental services and procedures. On average, a dental visit for a regular check up, cleaning and consultation is $50 while basic filling is around $70-$90. More intricate procedures vary in price but definitely less expensive that in the US.
If you do not know locals and is planning on getting dental work done in Costa Rica, you can always do your research online. Make sure to shop around but be diligent when doing your research just like you would when shopping for products and services online. – Max
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There is a lot of information to digest when it comes to preparing for your dental vacation to Costa Rica. Entry requirements to Costa Rica, how to find a dentist or dental clinic, what to expect for your specific procedure ( dental implants, porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, full mouth restorations and much more) and so much more.
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