Come hell or high water!

tondra · #1 01-10-2003, 02:21 PM

I can't believe all of the personal hurdles that have tried to get in my way for my first trip to the DR! After my father's stroke a week before Christmas, I now find I need $1,800 of dental work done before I go!

Even though this expense will tap out my personal savings, I don't intend to let it stop me. I am determined to come and get my much needed R & R. Plus, I am so looking forward to possibly meeting some of you who post here and getting a real taste for the DR.

As luck would have it, a non-English speaking, Spanish woman walked into my business yesterday asking for directions. Boy, what a challenge! Her English was about as good as my Spanish, but I got her to where she wanted to go. Just a small taste of what I will face when I come.

Just 39 days to go! Keep up the great postings!

Tondra

JOHNNY HONDA · #2 01-10-2003, 03:07 PM

TONDRA
If its not emergency dental work you might want to get it done here and save a lot of$$$$$$$$ There are excelent dentists here at incredibly low prices.Hillbilly whats your opinion?
Johnny

Ken · #3 01-10-2003, 03:11 PM

I agree, Johnny. For example, I am completing a root canal, new crown, filling, and treatment of 5 teeth with very worn enamel for RD$8000. I have an excellent Dominican dentist in Sosua.

My experience is only illustrative. I am sure she would same real money anywhere in the country.

tondra · #4 01-10-2003, 03:31 PM

Wow, what a price difference! However, I will only be in Puerto Plata for 7 nights and it was my understanding that it takes at least one week to get the crown made. Maybe I am wrong. What was your experience, Ken? Could the root canal and crown be done in one week's time? If so, maybe I could tolerate it until the middle of February and save some dinero.

Thanks for the input.

Tondra

#5 01-10-2003, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken
I agree, Johnny. For example, I am completing a root canal, new crown, filling, and treatment of 5 teeth with very worn enamel for RD$8000. I have an excellent Dominican dentist in Sosua.

My experience is only illustrative. I am sure she would same real money anywhere in the country.

Real money? Ken, I just had a root canal and crown done in the US (Boston) cost me around 1800.00 USD...Isn't RD 8000 around 350.00?

Ken · #6 01-10-2003, 04:41 PM

At about 21 to 1, you can see the huge savings. Yes, at present rate it is about $350. Dominican dentists can't survive if they have only an occasional rich gringo client. Most of their patients are Dominicans, who can't pay those inflated prices charged by dentists in Boston and elsewhere.

Like any place there are good dentists and those you would not be advised to go to, but the good dentists here do very good work. For example, the husband of another poster had quite of bit of work done by the dentist I go to in Sosua. When he got back to Canada, he had the worked checked by a dentist friend there. The dentist said it was very well done.

A couple of very good Puerto Plata dentists have been recommended in the past, tondra. I don't know there rates, but they are well below what you are scheduled to pay.

But if you only have a week, you will be out of luck. The crowns are made by a lab in Santiago, and it takes time. First a mold which goes to Santiago; a crown comes back without enamel for checking of fit, etc.; it then goes to Santiago and comes back with the enamel; it is tested and modifications made by the dentist so that it fits and the bite is right; then it goes to Santiago to be finalized. Obviously this can't be done in a week.

tondra · #7 01-10-2003, 04:50 PM

I didn't think I would be able to complete this work in one week, but I appreciate the efforts to save me money. I am, however, surprised that my dental work cost is the same as in Boston. I live in a small city in Michigan and one would think it would be cheaper. Go figure.

Well, if I ever am able to retire in the DR, it is good to know that great care is available and at such a good price.

Thanks guys for all the help.

Tondra

kjdrga · #8 01-10-2003, 05:22 PM

My husband's root canal is going to cost $1130 here in VA but we only have to pay $617 for both after insureance. He has to have two because the dentist in the DR didn't properly clean out a cavity before filling it. That was only about 6 months ago too, and here we are after having paid out a couple of hundred USD in Santo Domingo, shelling out some more to fix what she created.

Yes it's cheaper in the DR unfortunately for us it's become quite and investment.

Ken · #9 01-10-2003, 05:46 PM

Don't blame you for being upset, kjdrga, I would be, too.

Bad things sometimes happen to patients in the DR, just as they do in the US and elsewhere.

Before consulting a health professional in the DR, it would be wise to check with this board to see if anyone has had experience with that individual, or could recommend someone in the same general location.

When I was looking for a dentist in the Sosua area, I got the names of two dentists in Puerto Plata who are regularly used by posters, and the name of the dentist in Sosua that I am very happy with.

tondra · #10 01-10-2003, 10:15 PM

Thought I had better get the names of a few good dentists in the Puerto Plata area just in case I have problems with my dental work. So if anyone would like to suggest some names of people they have had personal experience using their services and their office locations, it would be much appreciated.

As for bad dental experiences, I can attest to poor treatment here in the US as my root canal is the result of an improperly filled tooth. So......yes, it can happen anywhere. Always best to get a few referrals from people who you trust before entering into any business or service partnerships.

Kdgrja, I hope your husband's new dentist has done well by him. I understand his pain

Tondra