www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Wow, some folks really like to ram their opinions down your throat.

Steven1, it is ok to have your opinion, but making statements is not an opinion. If you know CR dentists who are doing substandard work, it would be a service to our community to name those dentists. I would guess that at least 75% of the root canals done in the US are done by family dentists.

The only problems I have had with dental work has been done in the US. I have had crowns come off, crack, and break. I have not had any problems with the work done at CRDT over the past five years. That work includes fillings, crowns, root canals, and a bridge.

Went to 90210 this past week to get teeth cleaned with my girl
The price is now $60 and I can get cleaned in LA for $75
Besides that, while I waited and she got her teeth cleaned the lady came out and said "oh your girlfriend has such beautiful teeth and she wants a whitening" I had understood that she might have a cavity and asked if she had checked for the cavity
I was told no cavity but she really needed a $300 whitening
My response was that this what the price in LA and I wasn't interested in her hard sell
She comes back with "ok so you arent going to pay for that?" NO I am not interested
When I went in they started telling me I needed ALL 5 of my fillings replaced as well as a crown
She had xrays up and was attempting show me the decay that was a dark line that I couldn't see at all
I was told that the pain could be coming tomorrow and I required a root canal as well
Was sort of overwhelmed by this and she followed up with "do you think im lying to you? You don't believe me?"
Really uncomfortable and unprofessional because she just wasn't a good salesperson tbh
Oh and my girl said she never asked for the whitening but was told that she should have me pay for it even though she can get the same procedure at a different dentist she uses for $150.
Im guessing this must be the new directive from the top and even though I am not using them for anything close to what the op is using his dentist for they have lost my business.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

This may be a story of interest to the topic. I was at a Periodontist in Fort Lauderdale a few weeks ago to get a proposal on some implants. He was born and raised in Medellin and he told me he went to school with many of the dentists there, that they were friends of his, and that they use inferior material for the implants. He could have just been selling but he seemed very sincere.

Zoom is Cheap in San Jose.

+ 1 !!!

Totally agree with GoodDayJohn on this one.

Steven1... your blanket statement about "don't have dental work done in CR - you will live to regret it" is total bullshit. Nothing more than useless drivel!! Typical! You think that all dentists, endodontists and oral surgeons in CR are not qualified to practice in their field??? You think that all the dentists, endodontists and oral surgeons in the good ole U.S.A. are all perfect and can't screw up??? Get a clue!

I've had extensive dental work done in CR over the past 12 years, and have yet to have a problem. And I know many others who've also had extensive work done in CR and are extremely pleased, all around! I did have a root canal that went bad many years ago by a local dentist, here in the U.S.A.! Three years after the original procedure, they had to go in and re-do the root canal (@ no charge). Yes, it was free the second time around, but it was still a pain in the ass to get back in that chair and go thru that shit again!

In CR, I've also had regular teeth cleaning, whitening, fillings, a bridge, crowns, root canal's and a veneer. And the cost to have work done in CR was literally a FRACTION of what I was quoted in the U.S. And furthermore, the doctor who's done the lion's share of the work on me got his degree from the University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor - one of the top dental schools in this country! Granted, I researched him ahead of time and talked to people who used him in the past. But I would have no problem (ZERO) using him again in the future or recommending him to others.

http://www.costaricaimplants.com/

To other CRT'ers.... if you are contemplating having dental work done in CR, once again I'll say - Do your homework, but don't shy away from having the work done, simply by reading Steven1's ridiculous comments. Make an informed decision. Good luck and good oral hygiene to all!

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I agree with Mucho Gusto, in that dental work is something I would personally get done in Costa Rica. After 10 years of living here, I have not had any major cosmetic dental needs. However, I have seen many people walk away satisfied with the work they have received here.

I would not lump dental work into the same bucket as major surgery, which may be life threatening and have serious long term complications.

CRT has two advertisers, the Costa Rica Dental Team and Dr. Marco Cavallini and Associates. Both do good work and have laboratories where they produce implants.

The tax rules in Costa Rica allow for some legal ways to avoid tax when the money comes from a foreign (non-Costa Rica source). The upshot is that professionals often prefer when foreigners pay cash. Keep mind that the payroll tax here is 20 percent for the self-employed. That doesn't even account for income tax.

However, cash may not always mean "cash". You may be able to wire money to the clinic's bank account. It's the local credit card processing with special tax accounting and retention they want to avoid.

Both of the advertisers have good reputations and can point to thousands of satisfied customers.

The only thing you should be aware is that while the professionals may warranty the dental work or prosthesis they provide, any adjustments are done here in Costa Rica. So, you may have to plan for several trips.

[quote="Mucho Gusto
http://www.costaricaimplants.com[/quote]

I have been very impressed with Dr Anglada and Dr Castro. They take the time to explain what needs to be done and even told me to see my dentist in the states because they were too busy to squeeze me in for a broken tooth and I was going home in 2 days. They fixed it up so I could make it home without too much discomfort and did not charge me for it. I have had them do fillings, cleanings, and whitening and have been very happy. A good friend is having implants done with them and his dentist here is very impressed with what he has seen of their work.

Funny shit!! This blanket remark can be used vis-à-vis ANY developed or semi-developed country around the globe be you in India, Thailand, Germany, Malaysia (back to Asia).....hell....even Peking (I do NOT recognize Bejing... )

Too, there is NO QUESTION that dental work in the USA is also very crap shoot like: Dentists "practice" (and in many instances that is exactly what is going on....PRACTICE...) with impunity; answer to no one; generally fail to accept responsibility for errors; etc. Given this reality, one can only imagine what it is like in pair o dice Learn from others' mistakes. Go ahead on and get a root canal from a general dentist if you're stupid. Endodontists, however, are the real deal. As well, dental work in the USA is a racket as are all insurance derived schemes. Once you find one that actually knows what they're doing, dance with the one that brung you. Trust is a major factor in the relationship as are references from long time, satisfied customers/patients.

However, back to the original poster: $15k and you're looking for a discount? I don't get it. Don't matter, either. It's your thing....do what you want to do...

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I may have misspoke, or over stated the $ amount I will ultimately be paying. It say $15,000 to cover the bases. The true total really ought to come in around $11,000 - $12,000. This is for a full mouth restoration affecting every single one of my teeth. For cosmetic appearance that will result from the approach to correcting bite and malocclusion problems I've had for a long, long time.

I took advantage of more than half a dozen free consultations here in the US of A, and guess what — the lowest price they quoted me was $35,000. Dude, I don't know about you (in more ways than one) but if you think that's something anyone should (or can) shell out just because it's at home, you're talking out your ass.

"if you have $15k floating around in cash for your fuccking [sic] teeth....pony up the extra and get it done correctly. Seriously." with what I've been explaining, seriously? and "$15k and you're looking for a discount?" to be clear, this is the discount — the final owed isn't even going to be that much!

Besides milking you for ridiculous sums they take weeks to complete all the work (sometimes months)
I could almost be a dentist with what I've learned about procedures, efficacy, materials, technology, methodology, etc. I know how to read x-rays and CAT scans. I know my options and I can sense bullshit. CRDT may try to up sell me but they already know from our conversations that I'm savvy to what's "under the hood" so to speak. So, I'm confident I can deal with any funny business. I encountered that with just about every dentist I visited locally.

Haste makes waste my friend.

I understand you're talking about a fortune to a working guy. Still, how long did it take for that mouth and those teeth to get jacked up like that? Ain't pointing a finger....simply pointing out the obvious. Some are blessed with good genes such that that stuff just doesn't happen; some of us grew up in families that had the money to deal with dental issues during childhood and were schooled in correct hygiene. Some of us were just screwed with bad genes and no matter what we do, we end up toothless. And then there is the category of idiots who just didn't take care of their teeth or their mouth. I don't know which category you fall under and to be blunt, I really don't care.

Trying to correct a lifetime's legacy of dental problems with a magic wand in Costa Rica just isn't going to cut it for me in my life. There is a reason WHY the USA dental industry "drags out" the process you're noting and, YES, a good deal of it is money. However, there are also good reasons for it taking more than one or two visits. Be you in Costa Rica, Thailand, Miami, NYC, Chicago....wherever....there are people that are happy to tell you what you want to hear and take your money. You describe an elaborate and complex problem. There are NO instant solutions to what you're doing.

Look before you leap.

good luck.

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Steven, my friend — Thanks for sharing your worldly advise and especially your dental expertise, but to be blunt, if you don't really care, why participate in this thread?

A. Because I can (...and I've time to waste on certain inane and insipid matters...)
B. You asked for it

Clearly:

A. You've never traveled with cash money before
B. You've money burning a hole in your pocket for some peculiar reason
C. For whatever odd reason, you've chosen a quick fix that is going to come back and bite you in the ass

Ever heard of this guy Solomon?? It is rumored he once noted "A fool and his money are soon parted". Looks and seems to me that you already made up your mind before you ever posted and came here for a pat on the back?

Still, back to the money: Like a little kidd, evidently, you're going to need to learn the hard way.

Take a listen to Matt Foley, the well known motivational speaker. I do believe his remarks here: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=acd9870fca will shed some light on this very dark matter......

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Just curious...what is the average cost of an implant in CR? My dentist here in Florida recently quoted a price
of $4,000 each

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Average price of various industry standard quality, at least, quoted to me is $1,600