Numbers don’t lie medical and dental tourism are growing trends, approximately 1.6 million North Americans (1.2 million Americans and 400 thousand Canadiens) seek dental or medical care overseas, and out of this number approximately 45-65 thousand travel to Costa Rica to take care of their teeth.

According to the American College of Prosthodontists over 35 million American are losing all their teeth and 178 million Americans are losing at least one tooth, part of the problem is they can’t afford dental care in the U.S.A. Modern Healthcare indicates that around 200 million Americans have a very low dental insurance or don’t have one at all, and according to Oral Health America, almost 70% of Americans over 65 years of age do not have dental insurance.

Prices in Costa Rica and other destinations are affordable in comparison to the same treatment in the U.S.A. which explains why Americans find the idea of vacationing and taking care of their teeth at the same time a very attractive idea.

There are, however, still many myths and wrong concepts about seeking dental care in Costa Rica; many people doubt they will receive quality service if they are paying lower prices, others, not familiar with the country worry that the education or preparation of dentists and doctors in Costa Rica is not comparable to that of professionals in their country, while some get concerned they won’t find English speaking professionals, the latest technology, etc. These concerns, although valid, are unfounded and a product of the lack of information.

Dentists in Costa Rica can get their degree through the University of Costa Rica or private Universities such as ULACIT or Universidad Latina. The University of Costa Rica for instance is in position 21 among the best Universities in Latin America and globally it is ranked in position 481 (Of over 20,000 Universities worldwide). In average a student will spend from 4 to 6 years attending college to graduate as a general dentist, the last year of college includes many hours of clinical practice on patients; after they graduate, a dentist can spend between and 1 and 3 more years in college to specialize in a particular area of dentistry. Many dentists after graduating opt to get their specialties in a U.S.A. University, and many continue to get additional educational credentials in renown Universities in the U.S.A or other countries. English is not a problem as professionals in Costa Rica understand the importance of speaking other languages.

The Costa Rican College of Dentists and Dental Surgeons is the institution in charge of monitoring and regulating all practitioners to ensure quality and good service.

Not all dental clinics in Costa Rica have the latest technology, but some like the Flikier Dental Institute in Costa Rica have made an important investment in this area and offer state-of-the-art technology.

Well prepared professionals who understand that a good reputation is the best publicity they can get, affordable prices and quality dental work is what you can expect from professional dental care in Costa Rica.

If you are considering Costa Rica as your next vacation destination, consider investing also in your dental health and saving money. Do your research to find reputable dental clinics that offer the treatment you need and ask all the questions you have to ask prior to scheduling your appointment, Flikier Dental Institute is a highly recommended alternative.