Dental Care in Costa Rica

You don't have to be in Costa Rica for very long and you will soon realize that no matter what town or city you are visiting, dental clinics are everywhere. Before coming here I had read that dental care in Costa Rica was very reasonable in price and of high quality. Now I know first hand some of the costs of having work done. We had noticed also the nice teeth almost everyone had. After some discussions with different business people we learned that the employer pays the insurance for their employees. This insurance covers not only medical but dental, glasses and prescriptions.

A lot of the dentists here have been trained in the U.S. and use modern methods, supplies and equipment. The main reason for the price difference is the cost of labour. Some clinics are very fancy, some more modest in their look. If you do some reaserch on the internet you will find a whole new type of tourists coming here to Costa Rica, that is "medical tourist". Most are coming for dental work and paying for their vacations with the savings.

Rob and I were recommended, by another guest at Norma's, to Dr. Bogantes in Atenas. She had been directed to him by another Canadian now residing in Atenas. We have both been to him now, very impressed with his work and gentle approach and plan to have further work done when we return next year.

Costs: White Filling: $30.00, Check up and Cleaning: $30.00 Bonding: $60.00, Root Canal and Crown: $195.00

These are costs at the dentist we went to. I have read prices for implants starting at $800.00 although haven't asked personally but plan to before we leave. If you are ever in this area and need a dentist I highly recommend Dr. Rodrigo Urena Bogantes, in Atenas. His phone number is: 2446-5344.

Having my teeth cleaned by Dr. Bogantes and his staff

I still don't like going to the dentist !!