Dental work

getting better says on Dec 21, 2007, 14:35:

We had a gringa tourist on one of our trips who arrived mid-afternoon in Bogota and her bridge had come unglued, we were off into the forest the next day. We managed to get it fixed for her at cost of 19,000 pesos! Pereira is nice enough for a few days, I would be bored to be too long there, the coffee park is a nice day out, and the botanical garden a nice 2-3 hours. Pananca is not so nice for me, unless you have children. But its very peaceful and pleasant around Armenia, its coffee belt agriculture, not much real natural habitat, not really for me the real best of Colombia, but its relaxing..

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SPN says on Dec 21, 2007, 15:23:

getting better,

Thanks for the reply. I have heard the prices are pretty amazing compared to what we are use to here in the states. Do you know of any names of good dentists?

Thanks for the info on Pereira as well. I found that dentist website and that was the first time I had heard of the city.

Nati,

You are right. It is a long process. I have other work I wouldn't mind getting done at the same time, like replacing the dark fillings to match my teeth color.

Having an excuse to head back 6-9 months after my initial visit is great for me. That was my plan. My concern is finding a good dentist and best location to do this.

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fecherklyn says on Dec 21, 2007, 16:04:

SPN,

I can vouch the dental work in Colombia is of EXCELLENT quality and a fraction of prices in the USA.

An implant will cost around 2.5 million COP each with a GOOD dentist. My dentist (A professor at the University of Antioquia) charges this, but you can find cheaper. If you need bone grafting this is extra, but not much.

I have recently had extensive dental cosmetic surgery (replacement of fillings, bleaching, etc) and was very pleased with the results.

We have several family members and friends from the USA who do nearly ALL their dental treatment here. You will not be disappointed if you make sure you choose a good dentist (of whom there are many in virtually every city and large town).

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SPN says on Dec 21, 2007, 16:17:

fecherklyn,

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I really appreciate it.

It sounds like there are good dentists in every city. Is there a major price difference in each of the cities or will the rates basically be the same all throughout Colombia??

I was reading some threads on here in the archives but they were from 2004 so I doubt they would still be relevant.

I found that site in my original post and was thinking it sounded like a great deal and I would jump on that...then I thought I would come here and see if anyone had any experience and all I have seen in the archives and so far in this thread are positive responses. So now I am thinking any location in Colombia would be good if there isn't a major price difference in certain areas.

Thoughts are appreciated.

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tomtom33 says on Dec 21, 2007, 16:31:

http://www.sonria.com.co/

They have done all my work for 4 years including 2 root canals and 3 crowns. A dentist friend of mine from the US cautions care with implants. Contact that UdA prof. for a recommendation.

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SPN says on Dec 21, 2007, 16:41:

Thanks tomtom33...only problem is I don't speak any Spanish. :(

Is there an English version that I am not seeing a link for on the site somewhere?

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msaucey says on Dec 21, 2007, 16:46:

In defense of Colombia... Yes, it's a small town, but depending on what you're going to be doing it may be suitable....

http://www.enpereira.com/es/index.html

But, here's a couple links to a few dentist.... I know there's a dental chain called Sonrisa something, can't remember, they have offices all over Colombia including one in Pereira... I did a price comparison, and saw that I could get teeth whitening done cheaper in Mexico then in Colombia....

Bogota or Neiva - http://www.implantesycoronas.com/
Cali - http://www.clinicadentilaser.com/

But, that was just my particular research....

Good luck

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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fecherklyn says on Dec 21, 2007, 16:46:

SPM/tomtom,

I am not aware that prices vary excessively around Colombia. In Medellin, where I live, I did some research on implant prices and found them all (strangely?) similar.

Tomtom, you mention "a dentist friend of mine from the USA cautions care with implants". I don't know, although I note your friend is a dentist from the USA and may have an interest to protect?

I also have experience of persons from the USA who have had dental treatment in the USA and relied on follow-up care in the USA, only to prefer to return to Colombia on a comparative basis.

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barranquillera says on Dec 21, 2007, 17:12:

Colombia has good dentist. Go to sonria.com.co this is a nationwide company with good prices and warranties. I am dental assistant, and I worked there. Now I am in USA working for another dental clinic.

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Atrevido says on Dec 21, 2007, 17:22:

I had two implants in Cali about a year ago. So far so good.

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tomtom33 says on Dec 21, 2007, 18:08:

There is no English site for Sonria.

My dentist friend has a practice nowhere near anywhere I live. He merely explained that there were problems with lack of training in the US as well. He did say that most routine dental work is done just as well in Colombia. And he owns an apartment in Cartagena. So he does know Colombia.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 21, 2007, 19:47:

I've had a great dentist in Colombia and a mediocre one. Pretty much the same as my experiences in the states -- Hit or miss.

The economics of it make great sense if you're living in Colombia but I can't imagine making the trip to save a few hundred or even a thousand bucks. Or, rather, I mean I can't imagine wasting my vacation to Colombia in a dentist chair. And the complicated work that costs the big bucks like bridges and stuff usually requires a couple follow up visits that would be difficult from a couple thousand miles away.

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miamimike says on Dec 21, 2007, 19:48:

SPN-I had my Dentist in Bogota replace 5 old silver fillings(very large) with the New White Natural type like you want. At the same time, I had her place 9 Gold Crowns with a white Ceramic(over). I was in Bogota for approx 2 weeks for this work. It was extensive and it has held up very well. My work in total cost $1800 and the dental Gold, which I purchased(NYC) and hand carried into Colombia, cost me $250(for 18 grams). Expect to Now pay more for the Gold, if needed, since the worldwide Price of Gold has more then doubled since I had my work done.The 3 Estimates I had here in Miami ranged from $10,000 to $13,000. My total Dental Work Expenses, Dental Gold, trip, food, Lodging, taxis and airfare cost me a total of $ approx 3000. Savings were a minimum of $7,000 and first class work. If you want my Dentist's name and address and Before and after Photos, PM me. For the Work you describe you need, it would definetly pay for you to travel to Colombia for it! Bigtime. get a Vacation out of it also!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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SPN says on Dec 21, 2007, 22:38:

Thanks for all of the great replies. I really do appreciate it.

miamimike...I think it was your thread that I was reading in the archives from 2004 or somewhere around there. It sounded like you had some pretty major work done and it turned out well. I would love to get the contact information for the dentist you used if you wouldn't mind.

Can you also explain what you mean about the dental gold? I have no idea what that is and how I would go about getting it and taking it with me.

For the work I would have done it would save me at least $5000 which seems to make the trip worth it in itself. The work will be pretty extensive so I am sure I wouldn't be up for much night life, but I would prefer to be in a safe city. I am not scared or worried about travelling to Colombia. But as is the case anytime I travel offshore (Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, etc.) I like to be in safe areas.

Thanks again for all of the information.

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miamimike says on Dec 22, 2007, 03:54:

SPN--Sure I will PM you. Please leave me your Email when youPM and I will add a few before and after photos she took. My work and the after effect difference was that drastic. . Dental Gold is a special Type of Gold Alloy used in Crowns/fillings; 18K Gold as you find in Jewelry is not suitable for this type of Application(dental). My Dentist, at the time imported hers(gold) from a US Firm based in New York. She stressed the importance also of knowing your dental Lab well because she told me in some cases, a Col Dentist would send his/her Dental Impressions out to be cast in Gold at some Colombian Lab and in reality, some less then honest Labs would swap the Noble Metal(gold, silver) for a lesser quality metal like some alloy of copper, nickel , or mix of silver and a cheap metal, ect. The patient may not know this swap occurred until a few years later when he/she experiences dental distress. . Gold at this time is simply the best for Dental Work and that is reflected in the final cost of your work.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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miamimike says on Dec 22, 2007, 04:01:

CAr 1-if someone travels to Bogota and then decides on a Lot of Dental work,they may not feel like doing much partying at the end of a Day. When I went for my work, I was in the Dentist's Chair for up to 4-5 hours at a crack due to the complexity of my work. Trust me, at the End of a day like this, all you want to do is go home to Bed or have a Drink in your Hotel.Not to mention, the time it took for the Anethesia to lose its effects. Who feels like partying after your mouth has been Drilled, probed and prodded into for hours on End?

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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bufalo says on Dec 22, 2007, 04:23:

getting better: "... around Armenia, its coffee belt agriculture, not much real natural habitat..."

WHAT????? no real natural habitat - did you even look around? OK the city isn't much and if you only go to the touristy coffee parks like you mention then you won't see anything real. But please, around Armenia is practically all nature. Did you happen to see the huge mountain chain that lines one side of the city? Plenty to do there. Also plenty of hiking all around, rivers, small campesino towns, horeseback riding, etc.

As far as the OP - I used miaimike's dentist in Bogota and have to go back come next Wednesday - she's a real sweetheart and so far I have no complaints with the results. I think she charged me about 500.000 COP for a crown, everything included. She also had no problem staying late nor changing her hours to suit my schedule. (Crap, I just remembered I was supposed to call her last night to confirm Wednesday). I asked her tons of questions and she had no problems answering them and had plenty of patience with me as well. Some docs just glaze over your questions, she doesn't.

I've had work done here in Armenia. Big mistake was when I decided to change my metal fillings to normal colored ones. They kept breaking, my last dentist was clueless in my opinion. Her name is... Aritza or something - youngish woman who is still doing studies with NYU. Her office is in the Clinica Central. (I gave up when she kept talking on her cell phone while drilling my tooth). For some reasn she had to cut my gum, I don't think it was necessary. The original problems came from Linea Media - don't even thinkn about that place.

I think like everything else, docs and dentists here are hit and miss - get a great one, it's super cheap and worth the trip, but just as hit and miss as the states.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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miamimike says on Dec 22, 2007, 09:02:

Bufalo--Glad to hear your work with my Dentist Jacky turned out good. She has a lot of Patience to tolerate someone like myself in her Chair Daily for days on end. LOL

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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dwmte7 says on Dec 22, 2007, 10:53:

the only savings account we have is the dental work--implants--in my wifes mouth. all done in medellin. our dentists are all in envigado. if you needsome recommendations, pm me or e me at dwmte7 at yahoo.com

dwmte

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bufalo says on Dec 22, 2007, 17:23:

sorry if I didn't email you miamimike. I THINK I did, but now have doubts. Thanks for the info.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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SlyFrancis says on Dec 22, 2007, 19:57:

SPN,
I had great dental work done in Cartagena. I had six implants done for a total cost of $6000.00. My dentist was located in Bocagrande and she did great work. I figured I must have saved a minimum of $8000.00. Her name is Pilar Ordonez and she is well trained. Her brother has a practice in Miami and she charges three times of what she charges. I believe she has a website. She speaks english very well.

"If you won't stand for something, you will fall for anything"

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miamimike says on Dec 22, 2007, 21:54:

SLYF---Colombian Dentists, taking in to account higher rents, wages, insurance ect, are still very Expensive here in Miami! Same for the Col Optomitrists! You are spot on with that statement!

Bufalo--you very well may have emailed me on Jacky ! They say "Of all the things I miss most, for me, its my mind" LOL I have sent so many people to her from PBH I have lost track of everyone and when I recommended them! I ought to be working on a Commission with her! LOL! My Natural Colored fillings she put for me are still there, over 5 years later! She also put a filling in one of my Front teeth that Miami Dentists(3) could not get a filling to adhere to for any length of time. What she did different I don't know but it is still in place, knock on wood! And she did it at about 1/10 less of the Miami Price.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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SPN says on Dec 23, 2007, 17:26:

miamimike,

Can you shoot me an email when you have time. I'd like to see those pictures and get her contact info. Thanks again!

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miamimike says on Dec 23, 2007, 18:24:

I'll send 'em out tonight-------SPN

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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dwmte7 says on Dec 24, 2007, 17:10:

by the way, spn...my wife's implants are excellent, not sure the name of her dentist, if dr. leopoldo doesn't know the name of luz stella's emplantologist (?) e me and i'll get my sis to tell you. she has a boutique in envigado.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Dec 24, 2007, 17:11:

oh, and they didn't cost $6,000.00.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Dec 24, 2007, 17:16:

just asked the mrs. and she's gonna look up the name and number after she's finished cooking...i'll forward it then

out of curiosity...are you the one who e'd me about the dentist? someone did.

dwmte

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SPN says on Dec 25, 2007, 09:02:

Thanks dwmte7.

I would definitely be interested in getting that information. From what I am told, implants are a different animal than most of the other dental work.

Where is Envigado?

Thanks for the pictures miamimike. That is incredible. You must be extremely happy with how that work turned out. You have a Hollywood smile!!! I would love to get her contact info and speak with her about implants. Do you know if she has done implants? Like I mentioned, I am hearing implants are different than the other dental work because of the surgery into the jaw bone.

Thanks again to everyone that has provided information in this thread. It is so helpful I can't even begin to tell you. Obviously every website promoting their own services will make it sound like they have the best dentist available, but first hand experience from actual clients is the best way to review in my opinion.

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dwmte7 says on Dec 26, 2007, 15:57:

ok, the mrs. just dug out the tel number of dr. ophelia velez :334-2652 you can say mrs. luz stella martin recommended her.

envigado is the south end of medellin.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Dec 26, 2007, 15:57:

her specialty is implants.

dwmte

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RAAAY says on May 21, 2008, 05:55:

dwmte7 says on Dec 26, 2007, 15:57: flag

" ok, the mrs. just dug out the tel number of dr. ophelia velez :334-2652 you can say mrs. luz stella martin recommended her.

envigado is the south end of medellin."

.........................Sorry for dragging such an old post up again......


dwmte............I took your recomendation about this Dentist...............what an absolute prize.................For anyone considering dental work here, I would give this lady 10 out of 10.

Not alone is she such a lovely person, but her work is phenominal.

My mother came down for a week-end visit, whilst on a trip to Florida from Ireland. She needed some little bit of work done, so I brought her off to this dentist. She ended up staying for another few days to get extensive work done.

My sister got into the act and had major work done. Both of them returned several times just for the dentistry. They ended up with a mouthfull of teeth to rival Julia Roberts.

On seeing this, another sister got into the act and travelled from Ireland to have her's done also.

It would take too long, to fully explain how much this dentist went out of her way to facilitate them. She made three people extremly happy. One of the sisters had a mouthfull of teeth that would remind you of something out of " Deliverance ". Not any longer.

One funny part. The driver/translator had to leave for a few hours one morning. When he returned the dentist mentioned the sister needed 8 cavities done. He explained this to the sister. Being terrified of dentists, she expressed alarm at the thought of having to get 8 cavities. The guy explained that the dentist had finished them already.

Thanks again dwmte.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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rjstuff says on May 21, 2008, 10:23:

Colombian dental prices were about 75% of what I pay here. My wife had some crowns done and was charged about $480 each in Barranquilla - the bad news - she has been back for three months and now needs two more crowns - so the dentist didn't do all of the crowns needed or missed couple of those that should have done and did others that could have waited. She is a friend of my wife's so maybe next time we won't use her. The prices are not a big savings from what I see. Good Luck with the implants - I wonder if they are going to charge you as much as US prices. Go for a vacation any way and if you have the time and inclination get Dental work done - don't go for dental work and try to make a vacation out of it - not worth it in my opinion. Entiende?

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bickerss says on May 21, 2008, 11:07:

Another great place is www.clinicadentalhome.com It is in Medellin and has significant discounts from from time to ime (like now10 y 15 %)

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lpdiver says on May 21, 2008, 11:37:

There are two prices generally. My wife ALWAYS gets a much cheaper price than I am quoted. Of course she presents her cedula and uses her sisters address as her own. She gets interest free time payments as well.

t

"cook some rice!"

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clinicasdentales says on May 30, 2008, 15:29:

The best place is Clinica Dental BlankyDent. Is located in Bogotá, Colombia and their web site is www.clinicadentalblankydent.com. For all the clinicas dentales I visited the Clinica Dental BlankyDent has the best prices for implantologia treatments and blanqueamiento dental. It has great technology and do a lot of investigation.
I recommend that for clinicas dentales en Bogotá for service and quality treatments.

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