www.CostaRicaTicas.com

How difficult is it to get a decent dentist in SJ or Jaco?

Do I need to make an appointment?

Quality of service?

I just need an exam & cleaning, nothing major.

Fricking dentists in the US want me to make an appointment like, 6 weeks out. No telling where my gypsy ass will be in 6 weeks.

Sucks being here.

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On a lighter note, I actually saw a thin, cute white girl today that smiled at me, which is the first one I've seen in the USA in 3 months.

You should have no problem in SJ.

I go to a guy who I like in Desamparados, a short bus ride from the gulch. He rebuilt an old tooth for me for $100. He had his hands in my mouth for 90 minutes and used a lot of material. He works alone, so he does it all himself.

Send a PM to me if you want details.

Thanks Buddy. Off to send you a PM now.

Contact the sponsor CRT Medical Dental Team right on the home page of this site.
They pick you and bring you back to your hotel no charge.
$50 for simple ultra sonic teeth cleaning by a dentist not a dental hygienist. With X Rays could be $150 or so.
They are a great dental team.

_________________
Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

It's $50 if you have a CRT card. Just one of the reasons to be a paying member. The name is actually Costa Rica Dental Team, but Isra123 is correct, follow the link on the home page.

How is $150 for a cleaning and Xrays a good deal in CR?

Excellent question but let's look at the context: New Bro wants solid advice on a matter that's incidental to the purpose of his visit AND a limited number of choices to wrestle with. May not know who's advice to trust yet, so this is something of a test of that as well as getting simple service with a minimum of fuss. I'd recommend the CRT dental Sponsor as well for these reasons. Next trip with a dental visit included (maybe for more extensive work) would be the time to sort out better or less-expensive but equally-skilled Dentists. BTW, Bro, El D, if you use our CRT dental Sponsor, ask for a tour of the lab upstairs and be further impressed.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I have been on the tour and it is impressive.
They make dentures and crowns etc. for Miami dentists so your dentist in the States sends them the X rays and you wait a week for your crown while you walk around with a temporary crown.
They will make your crown and put it in the next day if you are in CR.
Your States dentist then charges you $1000 to $1500 or even $2000 depending on how smart a rip off artist he/she is.
You will pay $300 or less for the same crown in CR with only an over night wait.

_________________
Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

$300 for a crown is a good price but anyone charging $100 for xrays when they are all done with a computer @no/very little expense is a rip off and $50 for a cleaning is again about 2 1/2 what it should cost, again overpriced even for newbies IMHO.
The reason I originally came to CR was for dental work (2) crowns in 2007 and got them for $200 each by our old favorite dentist Dr Chen, at the time I saved $1600 over what my dentist wanted to charge me and it more than paid for my trip and they are perfect 7 years later.
I understand Dr Chen has lost favor with many as he has gotten older and more feeble but there are many decently priced dentists in San Jose.
Just because someone is a sponsor doesn't mean we should tout a very poor price schedule and if you are adding that $100 for Xrays to the price of the crown then the value goes down pretty fast.

I want you to understand I am NOT touting any thing or anyone just stating what i know about the CRT sponsored dental team.
You obviously seem to know dentists who charge lower prices than the sponsored dentists and should give the OP the names and addresses of these dentists. That is what he is asking for.
All information and advice is welcome.

_________________
Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

I understand Dr Chen has lost favor with many as he has gotten older and more feeble but there are many decently priced dentists in San Jose.
Just because someone is a sponsor doesn't mean we should tout a very poor price schedule and if you are adding that $100 for Xrays to the price of the crown then the value goes down pretty fast.[/quote]
It's $50 most places now,i paid 7000 colones for a cleaning at dr chen in 2005 he is 25,000 now....also Dr chen has several dentists male and female in his office all very good and bilingual.....x rays were 7000 colones in 2012

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

Sorry I wasn't aiming that at anyone in particular, just a general rant.
As far as pointing him anywhere, I haven't needed any work for awhile since my front tooth implant from Dr Anglada....who I recommend but not the other dentist that works with him as he overcharged me by $360 or $325 (a mind is a terrible thing to waste) after I was paid in full.
If I needed anything this trip I still would go see Dr Chen as I and my wingman have always been happy with his work and his prices. I can't believe that tico families can even afford a cleaning at $50 per K*D.....My wingman had a "deep cleaning" done by Dr Chen personally back in 2012 for $20 and Dr Chen worked on him for 1 1/2 hours.

I looked back at my notes from past discussions with expat residents and this dentists name popped up:
Dr. Andres Furchtgott Barrios
http://www.whatclinic.com/dentists/cost ... tt-barrios
You might call and get a quote, and if you do please post for all to see.

It's $50 most places now,i paid 7000 colones for a cleaning at dr chen in 2005 he is 25,000 now....also Dr chen has several dentists male and female in his office all very good and bilingual.....x rays were 7000 colones in 2012[/quote]


$50 for a cleaning is about standard - while I might go to Dr Chen's office, I would not use Dr Chen himself - too many bad reports

I have had extensive work done by Dr Marcos Munoz Cavaleni - excellent all way round, but he is a product of his own success - you will wait a long time to be seen - I have used him over the past 10 years, and if you need implants, he is great - if you just need a cavity filled and a cleaning, you don't "need" him.

(Costa Ricans, if I can generalize, seem to expect and to certainly put up with bad service, and seem to expect it - long waits are common too. If there is an inefficient way to do things - like dealing with the government, legally, or a bank, for example - the longest, most inefficient way seems to be the norm - but I digress Don't wanna sound like Greengo, b/c I love Costa Rica, and really like the people - but it is something I've noticed)

In fact someone mentioned a female dentist they had good luck with, and next trip I may try her - or maybe not; Dr C is excellent, but you do wait - about a 50/50 mix of Americans and Ticos. His practice is called Asethetic Dentristy - I know I'm misspelling it