www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Concerning Teeth Whitening; I made the following contact with Dr. Sergio Chen (because he was the only email address listed above):

Dr Chen's reply (that same afternoon):


When I arrived on Monday I called him from the SL and he told me to come on in. When I arrived, I was escorted past all the Ticos/Ticas that were in the waiting room and the process began.

Expect the 1st visit to last an hour and a half as he spends time explaining all his processes (sterilization, SDI whitening treatment, etc.) plus he does a full teeth cleaning as well as the first whitening treatment. After the first visit, expect to be there for an hour each of the remaining visits (the actual procedure only lasts ~ 30 minutes each time).

I was only able to do 3 visits while in town. However, Dr. Chen told me that it was no problem for me to finish my treatment on my next visit to CR.

The process works (worked for me) and is the same as what I would have expected in the US (except for price of course).

When I arrived back home I asked someone who I knew had done this in the US. It pretty much verified that the treatment I received was the same as done stateside. The person I talked to paid ~ $400 for one visit that lasted about 2-hours in the US.

And best of all - After I did this, the chicas really seemed to like me!

...or was it the greenbacks?

Stinky

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"An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex." – Edgar Wallace (English author) - then I must be a complete moron.

I finished a week of dental work by Dr. Chen two weeks ago. One extraction, 4 permanent porcelan bridges and a cleaning. He also cleaned up a dry socket and infection from 2 difficult lower extractions complements of my first SJ dentist (female on 1y3 calle, 3 avenida). Total cost was $720, plus another $40 or so for oxycillin and anti inflammatory pills. I checked what this would cost when I returned to Orlando. The consensus was a little over $5,000. The only drawback was 2 of 4 temporary implants kept falling out and I had to go back 3 straight days to get them glued in again. I also had to wait for long periods of time due to his volume of patients that had to get back to work and the fact he never turns down an emergency. IMHO virtue is a necessity if you want quality dental care at a rock bottom cost. The final visit he estimated a 1 hour time so I planned on 3. Ended up staying for 4 and 1/2 hours. I would do it again.

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johnorlando

JMF81123...You saved about $3000,now are you saying that the temp bridge was falling out or did you get implant's.i got work done,over 6 visit's for a four tooth bridge with hmo it was $2500 Here in fort lauderdale,thanx for your dental review of dr chen....

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

I figure he saved more like $4300.00



Every time I have recommended Dr. Chen I always advise bringing a book as he is extremely busy. Considering his prices and quality of work that is understandable.





If many more CRT guys start going to see Dr. Chen I am going to ask him for a commission

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

My temporary bridges were on only after Dr. Chen took the mold and before he implanted the permanent bridges. I have a bridge on each side of my mouth both upper and lower jaws. My first dentist in CR wanted to charge for twelve different teeth. I was lucky to have 2 good teeth around my four missing spaces. My teeth feel great now!

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johnorlando

I just got the following email from a satisfied customer of Dra. Yalille Sauma Sanchez:

hey DG Thank you for the referall !!
IOU- A HOT TIME AT TH ZONA OR IDEM

Just got back and Yalile took good care of business.

they are GREAT people and she is absolutely the most detailed, caring, professional dentist i've ever met.

in one week we did 7 root canals, 7 crowns, including re-designing the front 4 teeth, and an assortment of 10 fillings. including taking out all the old metal fillings

No matter which CR dentist that you use, you will save BIG BUCKS !!!!!

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NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

DG

Does anyone know if dental insurance in the US will cover work performed
by a dentist in CR. Obviously it would be out of the network, but the dentist I see here in Florida is out of the network anyway. I have insurance with Met Life. I need four crowns and my dentist told me each crown is $900 ($3600 - ouch!). What would that cost me in CR? Maybe
$1800 tops?

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"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)

What is the average price for a crown in CR and the amount of time it takes to get a permanent crown?

My dentist in Atlanta said it was $1,200 and it would take several weeks to get everything finished.

goboy

I don`t have her current pricelist but last year`s price list shows the price for a crown at $131.
Last year I had a 7 tooth partial bridge made for $250 and it was ready in 36 hours.
You can call her to get the current price.

Dra. Yalile Sauma Sanchez
(506) 227-1835
Sorry but she does not have a regular email address.

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NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

DG

Think is hard to beat the prices Dr. Chen charges. Last I knew a crown was $100.00.

But if Dr. Sanchez charges $131.00 it is more who you are comfortable with rather than price.

Would suggest anyone looking for dental work talk with both and then make a decision.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have this email from Dra. Sanchez, her son gave it to me last year and speaks english, worth a try- molinamark00@hotmail.com

i had $15000- you read that correctly- of dental work done on my son. in spite of an excellent dental plan cosmetic work is not covered. he had high fevers as a baby and all his front teeth looked like a wash board of fine ridges. my dentist (in CA) quoted me 15000 for veneers. DRA. Adriana Seas in Sabana Sur did the work for $2100 which included cleaning, whitening xrays and molds which were a send out. total time in the chair was about 8 hours. she did it with one days notice over the coarse of a week. the results are stunning and i think it's the best 2000 i ever spent we went marlin fishing etc and i still saved a bundle. on top of it all she is drop dead gorgeous. married to a canadian unfortunately. i can't say enough about her. i'm going back for a couple implants which are also insanely expensive in the states. she runs an add in the tico times

Does Dr. Chen do root canals? Price?

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Go Dolphins!!!

I would suggest you email him with any questions.

schepu@racsa.co.cr

He is very good about answering quickly. Remember in CR it is not uncommon for an email to never be delivered so if after a few days you do not hear from him resend your questions.

If you prefer his phone numbers are 011-506-222-0063/233-2703. He speaks English but his staff does not.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I had two great visit with Dra. Yalile Sauma Sanchez. Each time a bridge with two root canals. The first one I had pre estimated with my insurance though my Florida dentist. It was $3,500 or $3,600 after insurance $2,500 to me IF he charged his estimate. I had the work done by Yalile for $960, she included the two root canals I didn't see on estimate from my US dentist.
I Called my insurance when I got back and told them the crown broke on vacation. I only had her letterhead with what she did. I GOT $480 BACK
My second bridge was only $600 something. I had brought all the forms for Yalile to file out. The insurance company then wanted all additional shit. Screw them for the $300, I gladly paid for the best dental work I ever had.
I need to find another Florida dentist, just for the pre-estimate .
Thanks Don Gordo for the introduction.