General Frequently Asked Questions
From dental procedures to international travel – we try to answer all your questions.
- What dental implant brands do you offer?
- What is an All on 4?
- Why do I need to wait 4-6 months for my permanent teeth?
- How many days should I plan to stay?
- What type of anesthesia do you offer?
- What is conscious sedation?
- What pain medications do you prescribe?
- What payment methods do you accept?
- Do you offer financing?
- Can you help with my travel arrangements?
- Do you offer transportation?
- When should I purchase my air tickets?
- What guarantees do you offer?
What dental implant brands do you offer?
Zimmer
What is an All on 4?
If you have multiple missing teeth, discolored or damaged teeth and may be considering dentures, a full mouth restoration with a fixed denture using an all on 4 procedure may be an option. An all on 4 simply means that the fixed denture is permanently secured using 4 dental implants on the upper jawbone and 4 dental implants on the lower jawbone.
Instead of dentures which are loose and must be removed for cleaning, an all on 4 uses dental implants, which will fuse with your jawbone. The fixed dentures are secured for a permanent set of teeth. The process typically requires at least two visits, but the end result is a fixed solution that looks, feels, and works just like natural teeth.
For most patients with average jawbones, four implants provide enough stability and strength to support a fixed dental bridge for a lifetime. Today, the all on 4 is the most recommended dental implant solution for international patients coming to Costa Rica.
Why do I need to wait 4-6 months for my permanent teeth?
When you receive your dental implants, we will send you home with a beautiful set of temporary teeth. They will look so good that everyone will think they are real. These temporary teeth have a lifespan of 6 months.
During these four- six months, your dental implants will need to heal and integrate into your jawbone. This process is called osseointegration. In short, it means that your jawbone will grow through your dental implants, fusing your implants to your jaw for life.
Your surgeon and Patient Coordinator can tell you exactly how long you will need to wait for your permanent teeth. However, as a general rule, your upper arch requires 6 months to fuse completely and your lower arch will require only 4 months.
How many days should I plan to stay?
We recommend that patients plan to stay for at least two additional days after we have completed our care to allow time for rest and healing. These two days also allow us time to make any final adjustments to ensure an ideal fit.
Please speak with the Patient Coordinator to determine the exact number of days to plan for your stay in Costa Rica. However, you may use the following as a general guideline.
- Implants/Surgical Phase: 7-9 Business Days
- 1-3 Crowns/Bridges: 5-6 Business Days
- 4+ Crowns/Bridges: 8-10 Business Days
What type of anesthesia do you offer?
Most patients receive local anesthesia such as Novacaine. Nitrous Oxide is not allowed in Costa Rica due to national health regulations.
What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation involves a combination of sedatives to help you relax and anesthetics to block the pain during a dental procedure. Most patients are able to stay awake but may not be able to speak. Conscious sedation allows patients the ability to recover quickly after a procedure.
A dentist or anesthesiologist administers conscious sedation in clinic. Patients may receive the medicine through an intravenous line in a vein or a shot into a muscle. You will begin to feel drowsy and relaxed almost immediately. If the sedation is administered orally, the effects begin in approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
An attendant or anesthesiologist will monitor you during the procedure and will stay with you at all times during the procedure. You may fall asleep, however you will be able to wake up easily and may be able to respond to people in the room. After conscious sedation, you will likely feel a bit drowsy and may remember the details of your procedure.
What pain medications do you prescribe?
Goodness Dental surgeons prescribe pain medications based on patient needs and anticipated pain. These pain medications have an additional cost, however our Patient Care Coordinator will be able to help you fill your prescriptions.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, Paypal, wire transfers to our US bank account and most credit cards. We are unable to accept checks of any kind, including personal, business or traveler’s checks in our Costa Rica clinic. However, patients that wish to pay by check may mail their checks to our US office at least 18 days before your scheduled treatment. The check must clear the bank prior to your treatment.
Do you offer financing?
Goodness Dental is associated with Advance Care Card, which offers credit to patients seeking dental care. Patients may visit http://advancecarecard.com/apply-now/ to apply for credit. Please note that patients should apply for credit and ensure that they have been approved for credit prior to scheduling travel and treatment.
Can you help with my travel arrangements?
Flights: Please purchase your flights once we provide you with your treatment dates. It’s best to arrive 1 day before your treatment and plan to depart 2 days after treatment if possible. Plan to arrive earlier if you want to go sightseeing before your dental care. Please fly into San Jose’s Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO).
Lodging: Your Patient Coordinator will send you a list of our recommended hotels and B&Bs. We have negotiated discounted rates for our patients that often include breakfast, but you will need to follow the instructions and book through our approved contact to get the discounted rates and amenities. If you book through third party sites like Expedia.com, Travelocity or Booking.com, you will not receive the discounted rates or benefits.
Know Thyself! Please consider what type of traveler you are before booking your accommodations. If you prefer US chain hotels like Marriott, Holiday Inn or Sheraton, these brands are available close to our clinic. If you prefer more simple accommodations, a B&B may be a good option.
Transfers: Goodness Dental is pleased to arrange your transportation needs while you are with us for dental care. Some of our recommended accommodations offer free airport transfers and free transfers to our clinic. If you have any questions about which hotel is best for you, please ask! If you choose a hotel located outside of our pick-up zone, we can help you arrange and Uber or taxi. Costs for transportation services are very affordable in Costa Rica.
Do you offer transportation?
Yes, Goodness Dental offers complimentary transportation to and from the airport. We also offer free transportation and transfers for your dental appointments if you are staying at Goodness House or one of our approved hotel partners.
IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION DETAILS:
Goodness Dental will include transportation from select hotels and B&B’s when the accommodations are booked through Goodness Dental or directly with the accommodations provider as directed by Goodness Dental.
Goodness Dental only makes hotel reservations for our patients that choose our hotel partners. We no longer make patient reservations for hotels that are not our partners.
Effective September 1, 2022, Goodness Dental will only provide free transportation – (clinic/hotel transfers) to patients staying at Goodness House or one of our approved hotel partners. Patients that choose accommodations at unapproved hotels or B&Bs will need to provide their own transportation to and from Goodness Dental. We will continue to provide free airport transfers to all patients in the San Jose metro area.
Goodness Dental cannot guarantee transportation services will be included in the rates if the patient books accommodations through another online source such as Expedia.com, Booking.com, Trivago or other third-party reservation systems. We cannot guarantee transportation if your hotel is located outside of Escazu. Please check with our accommodations staff to see if your hotel is qualified for our transportation services.
NOTE: For patients booking a consultation only, the pick up at the airport is not offered.
When should I purchase my air tickets?
Patients should purchase their air tickets once they have confirmed their treatment with Goodness Dental. Your Patient Coordinator will confirm your treatment dates, allowing you to purchase air tickets to arrive one day before your scheduled treatment. We recommend that patients stay at least for 2 additional days after treatment is completed. This allows you time to heal and affords us the time to examine you after your treatment to make any final corrections to ensure an ideal fit.
What guarantees do you offer?
At Goodness Dental, we work with the leading specialists, and we stand behind all of our work. We offer a Lifetime Guarantee on titanium dental implants, and a limited guarantee on our crowns, bridges, dentures and other restorations.