I had been putting off an implant for three years because of the cost. $950 plus flights and hotel for a long weekend is genuinely affordable in a way that $5,000 in Denver is not. The procedure was completely comfortable under local anesthesia. Back home within 5 days.
Nobel Biocare implant. I specifically asked for Nobel because I knew my Boston dentist could service it. They documented everything and gave me a physical warranty card. Six months later my Boston dentist placed the crown and said the placement was textbook. He asked who did it.
Four implants placed in one surgical session. The efficiency was impressive. My periodontist in Philadelphia was going to stage these over 18 months to manage healing. Here they placed all four with appropriate temporary coverage in a single 90 minute session. All four are fully integrated at the 4 month mark.
I needed two implants and a sinus lift on one side. The surgeon was honest that the sinus lift adds complexity and cost. Total for both implants including the sinus lift was $3,100. In Phoenix I was quoted $12,000. The extra procedure was explained clearly before surgery and there were no surprises.
Single Straumann implant with zirconia crown. The entire procedure from initial visit to final crown was handled in two trips each under a week. I saved $4,200 compared to my LA quote just on this one tooth. When I factor in that I also had two crowns placed on the same trip, total savings were over $7,000.
Three Nobel Biocare implants. Each one placed in a single surgery session on day two of my trip. I was back in Miami on day five. The implant documentation they gave me had the brand, model, lot number, and warranty card. My Miami dentist confirmed everything was placed correctly at my follow-up six weeks later.
I brought my complete dental records, three years of X-rays, and a video consultation request. The coordinator answered every question in detail before I booked anything. That level of communication before I spent a dollar told me everything I needed to know about the operation. Surgical result was flawless.
My dentist in Dallas said I needed bone grafting which would have added another $8,000 and 6 more months of waiting. The surgeon here reviewed my CT scan and said the All-on-4 angled placement technique eliminates the need for grafting in my case. She was right. No grafting, immediate temporaries, wonderful result.
As a Canadian the savings are even more dramatic. My Toronto specialist quoted CAD $48,000 per arch. I paid USD $9,500 for my upper arch here. Flights from Toronto were $580 round trip. The dental district in Escazu is like being in a North American suburb. Everything is modern, clean, and professional.
Great experience overall. The surgeon was excellent and my temporaries look natural. Only minor issue was that scheduling communication could have been faster, but the clinical result is outstanding. I am 6 months out now and just got my final zirconia arch placed on my return visit. Worth every penny of the trip.