In the fall of 2008, after several months or research, I decided to come to Costa Rica to have dental work done.
I had been given several unaffordable quotes for the dental work I very much needed by the several dentists involved in the work in Portland, OR. My home state has a lot to offer, but not affordable dentistry. Neither did any other state. I needed 3 implants, 2 crowns for root canals and wanted to have my lower teeth crowned, or get a bridge to cover them as they had become very crooked as I aged.
The quotes for the implants were from $1000 to $1500. for the implant peg placement itself. One doctor noted that since I needed 3, it would take 3 visits and 3 novocaine sessions and 3 periods of time with a sore mouth. Then I'd wait for 4-6 months and another dentist would take the impressions for my crowns, send them to a lab and eventually I'd get my permanent porcelain teeth. The crowns averaged $1500. to $2000. each. I also wanted to have veneers over the lower teeth but was told I wasn't a candidate for veneers on these teeth. I could have crowns on them after they were prepped for them by one dentist-then another would take the impressions and send them to a lab.
Basically there were 4 dentists and a lab required for this fairly simple work. The total cost was so out of my ability to pay that I looked for less expensive options, even considering dentures, which would at least be partially covered by insurance.
In Costa Rica, however, I found a large number of dentists who cater to the norteamericano needing dental work. The prices are affordable for the average person and instead of having to take a second mortgage out on my house to do the work, I was able to save for it in just 6 months. On social security and pension income.
My total cost for 3 implants and 7 crowns here is around $3500.
Included in the time I have spent here was a bit of sightseeing, shopping and enjoying two different parts of the city where I have stayed. I shopped for the least expensive flight before I made my arrangements with the doctor and made last minute room reservations for my second stay, in the Downtown of San Jose, the capitol and largest city in Costa Rica.
I have done my entire trip on the cheap, staying for free at a friends house for 3 weeks and at a youth hostel -even though I am 65- for $20.00 a night. Reservations at a medium class hotel in San Jose would run from $65. to $100. a night and in an American style hotel over $100. a night. Since I'll just be in the hostel less than a week, it's fine. The friends place was a real bonus as far as expense goes, but very inconvenient to the dentists office and turned out to be a less than positive decision. The long bus ride into San Jose was the most difficult part and I was unavailable for afternoon fittings, which extended my time by at least a third. I had, however planned some vacation time into the trip and have ended up using it for the final dental work.
Some basic information about Costa Rica will show any researcher into Medical Tourism that it is not a 3rd world country. It is a cultured society with a free school system and health plan. It is a socialistic politically country and has no standing army. It is the most advanced country in Central America, and much of South America and more advanced that Mexico in my opinion. It is safer than Mexico in any case.
