Dental Tourism in Costa Rica Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What country has the best dentists in the world?

Did you know that the top dental clinic in the Western Hemisphere isn’t in the United States or Canada, but Costa Rica? But, to answer the question of what country has the best dentists in the world, we’ll have to dig a bit deeper.

To come up with an objective answer, many rely on the World Oral Health reports, World Health Organization data, and the DMFT index, which takes into account a country’s combined decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) per population.

While diet and lifestyle can certainly affect oral health, combining these reports gives us a dependable resource.

The data shows that the top three countries in terms of dental excellence are Denmark, Germany, and Finland.

Where is the best country to go for dental care?

For patients seeking to avoid the high cost of dentistry in the United States and Canada, there are a few great options.

Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Colombia rank among the best dental tourism countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Beyond those rankings, it comes down to what type of procedure you are looking to have completed and how much you are willing to pay for a quality procedure.

What is the best country to get dental implants?

As dental implants inch closer to being standard procedures, there are two countries in the Western Hemisphere that stand out for their dental tourism offerings in terms of dental implants: Costa Rica and Mexico.

Both of these dental implant destinations boast dental implant success rates of around 97%, placing them in league with other top countries around the world.

In which countries can I find cheap dentists?

According to many dental tourism experts, the countries which offer the best rates on dental work (while still offering high quality dental services) include Costa Rica, Mexico, Thailand, Hungary, Spain, and Poland.

Is it cheaper to have dental work done outside of the US?

YES! Due to the cost of living, insurance, and other factors that influence the cost of dental services, most major dental procedures are cheaper performed outside of the country.

In fact, by having dental veneers, implants, crowns, and other procedures placed in countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico, or Panama, patients can save anywhere from 50-75%.

Is it cheaper for you to visit another country for a medical procedure and have a holiday than to have it done in the USA?

For most major dental procedures, it is typically less expensive to book airfare, rent a hotel room, and have the procedure performed overseas than it would be to have a major dental procedure performed in a country such as the United States or Canada.

Consider full-mouth restoration using the All-on-4® treatment concept.

Having this procedure performed in a country such as Costa Rica can save patients around $20,000 — that’s quite a lot of savings that can be applied to airfare, sightseeing, and other tourist activities.

Which is better for dental tourism, Hungary or Costa Rica?

Hungary and Costa Rica are often cited as two of the top dental tourism destinations in the world.

Therefore, patients undergoing major dental procedures will typically choose Costa Rica if they reside in the United States or Canada, and Hungary if they are in the UK, Germany, Italy, or Austria.

Costa Rica and Hungary are fairly comparable in terms of price and quality of medical services.

Which country is better for dental tourism, Costa Rica or Mexico?

While both countries have an abundance of US-trained dentists and prosthodontics offering a similar quality of care, there are some negligible price differences between Costa Rica and Mexico.

On average, single-tooth dental implants cost $800 in Costa Rica, whereas you can expect to pay around $870 per tooth in Mexico. When it comes to porcelain veneers, the average price is $330 per veneer in Mexico and $410 in Costa Rica. You can also expect to pay 25% less per dental crown in Mexico in comparison to Costa Rica.

By and large, the prices and quality of care are similar enough that it usually comes down to finding a physician and clinic that offer exactly what you are searching for.

Costa Rica

Is it safe to have dental work and surgery in Costa Rica?

Absolutely. The State Department ranks Costa Rica as one of the safest countries to visit in Latin America.

The country actually abolished its military in 1949, which means more funds can go to quality-of-life improvements such as high-quality, affordable healthcare.

Like other Latin American countries and parts of the United States, there is some gang-related violence related to drug trafficking, but this rarely affects tourists.

What are the pros and cons of going to Costa Rica for extensive dental work?

For one, Costa Rica is very affordable. Procedures such as dental implants, crowns, and porcelain veneers usually cost anywhere from 50-75% less in Costa Rica compared to the United States and Canada.

Plus, the quality of care you will receive is very similar to that of other countries in North America. Are there any drawbacks? Of course. Every country has its pros and cons and Costa Rica is no exception. The biggest concern is the complexity of transportation.

If you venture outside the city, you will likely encounter some poorly maintained and unpaved roads. Also, despite the laid-back, carefree attitude of its citizens, Costa Rican motorists can be as aggressive and lead-footed as those you’d find in New York City.

Are there dental clinics near Juan Santamaría International Airport? (SJO: San José Airport)

Let’s say that you are not really interested in seeing all the wonderful sights Costa Rica has to offer and you’re just really visiting for the savings. We’ve got you covered.

Dental tourism in Costa Rica is so popular that there are over 20 dental offices located within 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) of Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José.

This makes it convenient for visitors to schedule dental and/or cosmetic procedures that are close to their hotel and airport.

Dental Implants

Who are the best dental implant dentists in Costa Rica?

When it comes to dental implants, you not only want a dentist or prosthodontist that is affordable but also one that delivers excellent quality of care. Because all dentists will say that they’re the best, for Care Overseas the best dentists will have these characteristics:

Proven experience with international patients
State of the art, top notch and latest technology
High-quality international and certified materials
Impeccable work ethic

The clinics we work with, Flikier Dental Institute and DDS Dental, possess these qualities and even some others that not necessarily will make a dental clinic the best in general, but definitely the best for dental tourism, like having a fully bilingual staff, in-house lab, in-house surgeons and professionals that have studied or belong to American dentistry boards.

How much do dental implants cost in Costa Rica?

Looking to replace a missing tooth for cheap? Costa Rica can be a great option. In addition to affordable dentures prices, the average cost of dental implants in Costa Rica is right around $800 for a single-tooth implant, or roughly half of what you’d expect to pay for the same procedure in the United States.

How much do dental implants cost for seniors?

Dental implants are widely considered to be the best way to replace missing teeth. While they are more expensive than permanent false teeth price-wise, they do come with a number of advantages.

Seniors missing all of their natural teeth and wishing to transition to dental implants can expect to pay around $20,000 to $25,000 for a full-mouth restoration.

That’s roughly half of what you’d expect to pay in the United States and Canada.

What is the average cost of dental implants in Costa Rica?

Unlike the United States, getting affordable full mouth dental implants restoration is possible and $800 dental implants are about what you can expect to pay per implant in Costa Rica.

While you can have luck finding dental implants under $500; if your tooth replacement budget isn’t in the $800 to $1,000 range, you may want to consider a bridge for a missing tooth.

The cost of full mouth dental implants in Costa Rica (replacing both arches of teeth) will usually run somewhere around $25,000.

All-on-4® Dental Implants

How do you clean All-on-4® dental implants?

All-on-4® dental implants are tremendously popular due to their esthetics and function. While they are convenient, they do require regular cleaning to maintain the tissues around the implants and prevent peri-implantitis.

To clean the prostheses (false teeth), you should use a toothbrush and floss.

You should also use specialty floss to clean underneath the bridge and between teeth. Before starting the use of a water flosser, such as a Waterpik®, you should discuss it with your dentist.

What are All-on-4 dental implants?

The All-on-4® treatment concept uses four, five, or even six dental implants to support a full-arch bridge.

Like other types of dental implants, getting All-on-4® dental implants in Costa Rica is less expensive than in other countries in North America.

How much are All-on-4® dental implants?

If you are concerned about how much All-on-4® dental implants cost, be aware that getting All-on-4® dental implants abroad can drastically reduce the cost by as much as 50 to 75%. Costa Rica is often cited as the cheapest place to get All on 4 dental implants.

To replace a full arch with the All-on-4® treatment concept usually costs around $11,000, whereas rehabilitating both arches will be around $20,000 to $24,000.

How much do All-on-4 dental implants cost?

In the United States and Canada, it’s common for patients to spend over $50,000 for All-on-4® dental implants on the upper and lower arches.

In Costa Rica, the quality of care and materials are on par with North America, but the savings can be enormous.

Low-cost All-on-4® dental implants in Costa Rica can save patients over $20,000 for full mouth restoration — that price difference is close to that of a new car!

Are there problems with All-on-4 dental implants?

If a patient does not have healthy jawbones and gums, even the best All-on-4 dental implants can prove problematic. When it comes to All-on-4 dental implants problems, there aren’t very many unique to the system.

If the implants are not placed properly or the patient is not screened for periodontal disease or gingivitis, the patient’s experience can end with implant failure or peri-implantitis (inflammation around the implant).

Whether you are getting All-on-4® in Costa Rica or the United States, the best advice is to research the dentist in advance. Make sure they are credentialed, trusted, and are using quality implants and implant bridges from a recognized brand.

Dental Tourism

What are the prices of dental tourism in Costa Rica?

If you are planning a dental vacation, Costa Rica is a very attractive option. The island country has over 800 miles of shoreline and 300 beaches, not to mention one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

It is truly a place filled with natural wonders. For those wondering about dental tourism in Costa Rica, cost comparisons are usually a driving factor.

Typically, you can take the U.S. cost of the procedure and then reduce that anywhere from 50-70%. This is true with most major procedures such as the All-on-4® treatment concept, porcelain veneers, dental implants, and dental crowns.

When getting dental work in Costa Rica, what prices can I expect?

Dental vacations in Costa Rica are popular for many reasons. For one, the country is relatively safe, and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous.

If you are considering major dental work in Costa Rica, you can expect to save anywhere from 50-70% on the total cost of the procedure.

Plus, many of the clinicians in Costa Rica either come from the United States or are professionally trained in the United States. This means you can count on your dentist to have similar training and thus deliver a virtually identical quality of care.

Dental Crowns

How much does a dental crown cost?

Instead of going on Google and searching for “cheap crowns for teeth near me,” you can do what many patients do — check out dental crowns in Costa Rica.

The price of dental crowns in this tropical paradise is usually more than half of what you’d expect to pay in the United States and Canada, where a single crown can cost anywhere from $1,100 to $1,500.

When you consider that a dental crown will cost around $400 in Costa Rica, there are still significant savings even when you factor in the cost of airfare and lodging.

What does a dental crown look like?

A dental crown looks like the visible portion of the tooth, but it is hollow on the inside so it can be fitted on top of an existing tooth. With the VITA shading system, porcelain crowns can be tinted to the same shade as the surrounding teeth.

How is a dental crown procedure done?

A dental crown, or “tooth cap,” is designed to replace the outer portion of a tooth’s crown. It is, in effect, a prosthetic crown, completely encapsulating the crown of a tooth.

Before a crown is placed, the tooth is shaved down so the crown will look and perform identically to the natural tooth. Keeping the exact dimensions helps patients speak clearly and keeps the bite from becoming unstable.

While there are same-day crowns, you may need to wear a temporary dental crown while a laboratory creates your permanent restoration. And, yes, they do make crowns for kids who have undergone root canal therapy or, more likely, have suffered a fractured tooth.

Dental Veneers

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shell-like pieces that are cemented onto the face of teeth in order to enhance their appearance. Veneers are usually crafted from porcelain, but affordable dental veneers can be crafted from composite resin.

How much are dental veneers?

If you’ve done any preliminary research on the topic, then you have most likely learned that dental veneers cost quite a bit of money (to say the least). In the United States, the cost of one dental veneer can range from $950 to $2500 per tooth.

This leads many wanting this cosmetic treatment to seek out dental veneers in Costa Rica. On average, the dental veneers price in Costa Rica is right around $500 per tooth.

How long do dental veneers last?

With porcelain dental veneers, patients can expect them to last a little over 10 years. Although, it’s not unheard of for porcelain veneers to last upwards of 20 years before they need to be replaced.

Some factors that affect the longevity of dental veneers are the quality of materials used, the skill of the clinician, and the oral health of patients.

How are dental veneers placed?

Before dental veneers are placed, a section of the tooth’s enamel is shaved to accommodate the added thickness of the veneer. After the tooth is prepared, the dental assistant will take impressions of the teeth.

These impressions will be sent off to a dental fabrication lab. Some clinics have in-house labs, which cuts down on the wait time, but others will require that you wear temporary veneers until your permanent porcelain veneers are ready to be placed.

Are veneers and dental implants the same?

Some patients ask the question, “Are dental implants and veneers the same thing?” While both can achieve similar cosmetic results, dental implants and veneers are very different.

A dental implant is used to replace an entire tooth, from the root to the crown. Dental veneers, being just a sliver of porcelain, only cover the front of the tooth.

Can dental veneers be whitened?

Since the tint of dental veneers is actually baked into the veneer, they do not respond to whitening in a way similar to natural tooth enamel.

If you are concerned about the shade of your veneers, it’s best to start by whitening your teeth in advance of getting veneers so you can choose a veneer shade that is better suited to a whiter smile.

Dental Tourism in Costa Rica FAQs

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