Your Guide to Common Dental Procedures Part 1

Walking into the dentist's office used to mean getting one of only a few potential procedures: a check-up and cleaning, a cavity removal and filling, a root canal, or an extraction. Dentistry has always been essential to healthcare, but for centuries, it was limited by the technology and knowledge available to practitioners.

Today's dentists have a vastly expanded knowledge of our bodies and how dental care fits into our overall health. While you may still need a root canal or a bridge, many other options now exist. This series of articles will help you understand the different procedures available in modern dentistry - explaining when each is used, what is involved, and how much it will cost to have them done at one of the Meza Dental offices in San José, Costa Rica, or Cancún, Mexico.

Procedure 1 - Titanium or Zirconium Implant

When A Titanium or Zirconium Implant Is Used

In simple terms, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed in the jaw to replace a tooth root that has been extracted. This fools your body into maintaining the bone density in that area of your jaw. Without an implant, your body will slowly reabsorb the bone, weakening your jaw and allowing neighboring teeth to loosen or move.

What is Involved in Getting a Titanium or Zirconium Implant

In the case of a damaged tooth, an extraction must be performed first. The natural tooth is removed, the oral surgeon cuts the gums to expose the bone, and a bone graft is performed if necessary. Holes are then made in the bone where the dental implant will be placed. Because the titanium or zirconium pin will serve as the tooth's root, it must be implanted deep into the bone.

At this point, you will still have a gap where the tooth used to be. If you wish, a temporary, partial denture can be fabricated and placed to improve appearance while the implant heals. Before the implant procedure can take place, you will need a CT scan and a recent X-ray so we can determine the health and density of the underlying bone, determine if a graft is required, and create a treatment plan.

How Long Does It Take?

The implant procedure relies on osseointegration - a process whereby your body's natural healing process grows new bone that covers the metal pin, incorporating it into your jaw. This can take several months, so this is a two-part procedure. International patients should schedule a week for the first (surgical) visit and 1-2 weeks for the final visit, depending on how many crowns need to be fabricated.

How Much Does It Cost?

In the United States, the cost of a single dental implant with abutment and standard crown averages $4,500. In Costa Rica or Mexico, it starts at around $1,300.

Procedure 2 - All-on-4/6/8 (also known as All-on-X)

When All-on-X is Used

This procedure allows you to replace an entire arch (of 10-12 teeth per arch) without requiring a separate implant for each tooth. Depending on the available bone structure and density, 4, 6, or 8 implants are placed in the upper and lower jaws, and then a prosthesis is created for each arch to mimic your natural smile. The All-on-X prosthesis attaches to the implants via tiny screws and does not need to be removed daily as you would with traditional dentures.

What is Involved in Having the All-on-X Procedure?

Before an All-on-X procedure, you must have a CT scan and a recent X-ray, and molds must be made of your remaining teeth as a reference. Since the procedure allows us to utilize the most vital areas of the jawbone for the implants, bone grafts are not always required. As with individual implants, this is a two-part procedure. Patients are given temporary prostheses to use during the healing process.

Once the implants have healed sufficiently, a secondary set of scans and measurements is taken, and a prosthesis is designed using a 3D scanner. This allows our team to try it out, see how it looks, and make any necessary adjustments before the final prosthesis is made.

How Long Does It Take?

After the initial surgery, the implants must be allowed to heal into the jawbone. This can take 6 - 8 months. International patients should schedule a week for the initial visit and a week (6-8 months later) for the final visit.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of All-on-X depends on how many implants you need, but it averages around $25,000 per arch in the US. In Costa Rica or Mexico, the cost drops to around $10,700.

Procedure 3 - Mouthguards and Occlusal Guards/Splints

When Mouthguards and Occlusal Guards/Splints are Used

There are two common types of mouthguards. One is used to protect your teeth while playing sports, and the other is worn at night to prevent you from clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism), which can damage your teeth and lead to headaches or jaw and neck pain.

What is Involved

In both cases, a mold is made of your teeth, and a plastic guard is created to fit snugly over them. An occlusal mouth guard is made of thinner, smoother plastic to make it comfortable at night. It comes in three types: soft, dual laminate, and hard. An occlusal splint is a custom-designed mouthguard for people who grind their teeth. While the splint will not stop grinding, it will guide your jaw into a more neutral position, alleviating some of the pressure on your jaw joints.

How Long Does It Take?

Mouthguards custom-made to protect restorations usually take one day to produce, whereas occlusal guards or splints typically take three days.

How Much Does It Cost?

In the US, a custom night guard costs around $150, comparable to Costa Rican prices. A custom sports mouthguard will cost between $75 and $100. A top-and-bottom occlusal night guard or splint costs $400 in Costa Rica, compared to up to $1,000 in the US.

Procedure 4 - Whitening

When is Whitening Used?

Professional tooth whitening is a safe and effective way to remove stubborn stains and discoloration that brushing alone can't remove.

What is Involved

At Meza Dental, we prefer the chairside whitening method. Your teeth are coated with a whitening solution and then subjected to an LED light that helps the solution break down the stains.

How Long Does It Take?

This quick and painless process involves a 1-hour trip to the office.

How Much Does It Cost?

This procedure averages $1,500 in the USA; it costs $350 in Costa Rica or Mexico.

Procedure 5 - Veneers

When Veneers are Used

Veneers are a standard solution for people whose teeth are generally healthy but have cosmetic issues like cracks, chips, discolored enamel, or an unpleasant shape. While some of these problems can be addressed with bonding, veneers are a practical, functional solution many prefer.

What is Involved

Veneers are created from composite resin or porcelain to fit over your existing teeth with minimal modification. Composite veneers are made by adding the material directly to the existing teeth. For porcelain veneers, a mold is made of your teeth; if cosmetic adjustments are needed, scans may also be taken so that our lab technician can use digital technology to design the perfect smile and fabricate a porcelain veneer that fits precisely onto the front of your teeth.

How Long Do Veneers Take?

This process requires several visits: a consultation, a visit for scans and molds, another to fit the diagnostic cast, and 3-4 days to create up to four veneers. If you need more, the procedure will take two weeks from beginning to end. The process is usually completed for international patients over a 10 - 14-day trip.

How Much Do Veneers Cost?

This procedure averages $2,500 in the USA and $600 in Costa Rica.

There are plenty of reasons to travel for dental care!

The price difference compared to the US is the main draw for many people who embark on a dental tourism journey, but it's certainly not the only reason to visit a tropical paradise. When you can get the same procedure with the same world-class quality and enjoy the beauty of one of the world's premier destinations, it truly is a no-brainer. Call us toll-free from the US and Canada at 1-(877)-337-6392 to learn more.