Is Costa Rica Dental Tourism Safe?

Costa Rica News – Many US, Canadian and UK patients believe that going abroad to get medical and dental care is a wise decision as they will be able to save a lot of money on procedures that are overly expensive if done in their home countries.

It is true that the overall out of pocket money which already includes airfare, hotel accommodations and actual procedure are relatively smaller when done in a still developing country but the other things that patients also need to consider aside from possible savings are the risks that come with getting medical and dental services in a country they know so little about. Although savings on dental implants, porcelain veneers, dental crowns and bridges is great when coming to Costa Rica or another dental vacation destination, make sure you do your homework.

So what should patients consider before deciding on whether to go abroad to get dental care or not? The answer is their safety.

Crime is rampant everywhere including in our home countries, but at least we know how to deal with them and who to call during an emergency. So if you are considering on travelling out of the country for medical or dental reasons make sure that you learn as much as you can about the country to which you are travelling including crime rates, danger signs to watch out for and where you can find help. Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America.

Patients should also know the qualification required of dental professionals in the country they are visiting. They should consider the fact that dental care providers in well developed countries like the US and UK graduated from dental schools accredited by Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, passed national examinations and meet state/country requirements before earning a license to practice so we can be sure that they are qualified to perform dental procedures on patients but the same cannot be said of all dentists in still developing countries. Many dentists in Costa Rica however were trained in the USA, but check your dentist for their credentials.

We must also remember that extensive treatments such as dental implants requires lengthy recovery period in between treatments and repeat visits so we must ask ourselves if we really will be able to save money travelling abroad to get the treatment we need or will the travel fare and hotel accommodation fee cost us more in the long run?

But of course we can still have safe dental service abroad! We just have to be careful in selecting the country, dental clinic and dentist we will visit by thoroughly researching their background and reputation so we can make an informed decision.

Click Here to Get Your FREE Costa Rica Dental E-BOOK.

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 and so much more.  

The Medical Tourism & Travel Guide Offers a Free E-Book to answer all your questions.