South American Dentists?

[Guest Les]

On part of my upcoming 8 week vacation I will be having my teeth capped. Fun, fun fun.;( I have no dental insurance.

My dentist here wants over $22,000 for 21 caps and bridgework...yikes!!!

I have a friend in the Phillipines who has recommended an American trained dentist in Manila who'll do it for under $3000. I've checked into him and he seems very reliable and competent. The problem is I really don't like Manila and the thought of spending a few weeks there is nauseating.

Does anyone know if dentistry in South America is as cost saving as it would be in the Phillipines? I believe a few weeks in Rio would almost make me look forward to this upcoming nightmare.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Les:7

[trilingual]

Dentistry and other medical procedures should be less expensive in South America than in the U.S. I believe another M4Mer recently came here to have dental work done. I hope he reads this and will post about his experience and the costs. If he was satisfied with his treatment, I hope he'll post the contact information for the dentist he used.

[R1]

Do you want a dentist who escorts?

[gulliver]

i am a dentist here in the northeast and have spent half of the lst six months in rio. i visited an office across from the atlantico copacabana hotel in February when another m4m poster had a toothache and met the dentist and his staff. i own a large office which is also a teaching center for esthetics and lasters for a university here so i know something about evaluating an office. I was most impressed with the feeling I got from this office. the dentist and staff appeared quite competent, compassionate, and very friendly. I will forward his name if I can find it.

 

thru a patient here, i have met a Rio dentist who is in portugal for another few days. if you wish i will talk to him and get an idea of rio pricing. I buy dental gold and bring it with me when I visit Cuba and I can tell you that the "gold cost " for one tooth is approximately 75.00 US so the cost for just the gold for 21 teeth is approximately $1600. I think since gold costs are pretty standard all over the work, i can not imagine what you can get in manila fro $3000. i would say if you can get acceptable work for $9000 os so US you have yourself a bargain. Mexico City and other centers in Mexico where americans winter and retire are known for quality work at low fees.

[Guest pshaw]

You may also want to give consideration to Thailand, where dental costs usually run 50% or less from those in Western countries. Many large Thai hospitals (such as Bangkok's Bumrungrad Hospital) have dental departments. There are also major dental clinics in Thai resort areas such as Phuket and Samui.

[VaHawk]

No advice, I'm just amazed! I keep thinking of that old Dustin Hoffman/Laurence Olivier movie! (was it Marathon Man?). YIKES is right! Good God man, 21 caps plus bridgework. How many sessions is that going to take? Wouldn't matter if you did have dental insurance, as most of those plans have a 1200/1500 year total coverage. As for myself, I don't think I could trust someone who would do all that for the price the guy in the Phillipines stated.

[Guest Les]

Thanks gulliver!:7

This is very helpful information...and encouraging too. You can always count the on M4M family to come through for you.

 

Take care, Les

 

PS: I should have said the Manila price was plus gold.

[Guest Les]

Another thing to consider. Thanks for the suggestion pshaw.:7

[Guest Les]

Is It Safe?

[+ nycman]

What?!?!??!

 

...a Les thread without pictures?

 

http://www.drh-careers.med.usyd.edu.au/health_courses/images/dentist.jpg

 

Ever tried to find an online picture of a cute dentist?

 

As you can see....I failed!

[trilingual]

Besides gold, dentists in developing countries often have to pay for supplies and equipment in dollars, so even though labor and other overhead costs may be very low compared to the "developed" world, quality care won't be dirt cheap. It will still be much less expensive than in the U.S. or Europe.

 

Remember that there may be a language problem, and chances are English-speaking practitioners will probably be more expensive than those who only speak the local language.

 

For Rio, go to http://www.consulado-americano-rio.org.br and click on U.S. Citizens. The U.S. Consulate in Rio maintains lists of medical practitioners (including dentists) that you can consult. Similar lists are probably found on the websites of U.S. Consulates and Embassies in many other cities. Just browse the web!

[CarloRio]

Hallo Les,

 

Brasilian dentists as well as plastic surgeons have excellent reputation and they do work with state-of-the-art equipment, so if you were to have a treatment in Rio or São Paulo you'd definitely get an excellent treatment. As for prices I do believe prices here are much lower than those in the USA, for I know many Brasilians who live in Europe and in the USA who come down here for dental treatment. And I could recommend some excellent dentist either in Rio or in São Paulo, such as Dr. Luiz Sá and Alexandre Petronillo. But as for how much they would charge you... I wouldn't be able to say anything about it. For they would have to examine you prior to giving a price. My suggestion is that you visit about two or three very good dentists and have an idea of how much each would charge you, and we at Romanus could arrange for these appointments if you wish.

 

Best regards,

 

:7

[Guest Les]

Oh Carlo...I'm so sorry I didn't see your response till right now.:-(

Your generous offer is truly appreciated but it appears Manila is my destination for my dental work. Oh well next year Rio for sure!

Love to meet you then. :7

[Guest Les]

Thanks for the advice and link Tri!:7

This from the consulate:

 

"Please be advised that the costs of medical treatment are considerably higher in Brazil than in most parts of the United States for similar care and/or treatment."

 

Though of course I rarely take these quasi-goverment warning statements as fact I do believe it would be far more expensive than my friend's Manila dentist... but lets get real... even there I expect to pay more than what's been quoted.

It won't be too bad as I'll have two days of grinding then go to Australia for a few days...then back to the grind...then a few days in Taiwan etc.

Fortunately I have scads of air miles saved up.

Thanks again for letting me intrude myself in your wonderful forum.

[trilingual]

Well, I don't know what the consulate is talking about, price-wise. Most prices I've seen for medical services in Latin America are considerably cheaper than in the U.S., and that's what M4Mers who've used such services in Brazil report.

 

Yesterday I went to the dentist to have a VERY overdue teeth-cleaning done (my gums were screaming "clean up this mess, already!"). For a very thorough cleaning, using modern American-style equipment (ultra-sound scaling, plus polishing with an ultra-sound sand-blasting system using baking soda) and an x-ray of a quadrant where my teeth are sensitive (no cavities showed up on the x-ray, though), at a nice office at an Ipanema address, I paid R$140, or US$48. Cleaning alone, in San Francisco, would have been at least US$85.

 

So prices may not be DIRT cheap, but they are definitely cheaper than in more expensive U.S. cities.

 

(I liked my dentist and will go back to him for future cleanings and check-ups, but I don't know if he speaks English. He probably does, but we spoke in Portuguese and I forgot to ask if he speaks English!)

[Guest davenida]

This is a very late posting with reference to dental care; but I'd like to share my dentist with anyone who cares to have dental work done in Rio. His name is William Mirelles Frossard; and his clinic is in Botofogo. It is his clinic; but there are several specialists there who do all kinds of dental work. He is a very, very respected dentist and is recommended by the American Consulate. His email address is frossard@oralcare.com.br

[Guest msclonly]

D'OR Hospital and OUT patient or Emergency

 

A year ago, I went to the D'OR for a skin rash, that did not respond to the local pharmacy suggestions. English speaking young Dr assured me that I was now in the tropics and it was a tropical condition, which the zinc Vit ointment he recommend at any local pharmacy did not help. No surpirce, since the local Scripps Dermatologist missed also. I thought it was more of a yeast fungus infestion.

Anyway the D'Or visit cost $42.00 or less then 1/2 of stateside fees. I was assured by a well dressed young women also at the reception desk, that D'OR was the best facility in Rio.(?)

[lagoon]

Darl, one thing is to do 1 or 2 teeth abroad - which may be a good idea -- and the other is to do the whole mouth as you are going to. It's a long process - it may also include adjusting, or focus on strictly preserving your bite. If the bite changes, you may get a chronic pain in your mandibular joints afterwards. I suggest finding a local dental school where you live and have a post-graduate student to do this for you. It will take a year or 2 to complete, but good chances are that you'll get a cutee boy who will be overseen by 1 or 2 faculty and, without a doubt, will do an excellent job at a half what private dentists charge.

[Guest msclonly]

A full mouth reconstruction is a touchy procedure, that did not go well for me, since the Prostodontist was one of the newer breed and they are NOT trained as well as the old school boys, which would include LACK of EXPERIENCE!

 

If I could do it over, I would have the molars done first and work with them until there is a PERFECT bite. Then I would have the front incisors done.

The full mouth temporaries were fantastic and I never felt better. Even stood up straighter and taller, better brain function.

But the Permanent teeth made by a Dental Tech was a disaster after they were permantently set. They were NOT well placed by the 'young' Periodontist! And he didn't know what to do to correct the bad bite, that was more painful then the TMJ before any work was done.

x( x( x(

[Guest msclonly]

COPA D'OR Hospital and Clinic

 

That should have read COPA D'OR. I found it modern, clean and upscale.

 

Easy to find. If you walk out of the Metro Campos Sequira exit opposite of the one for the Atlantico Hotel, you will be right there!

I believe that is the South Exit.

 

Or just walk the long block past the Campos Sequira Metro from the Atlanico Hotel, and there you are.

 

 

 

:-) :-)