My teeth, my dental journey... (Photos & Video)

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
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dr1.com
Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting a video/photo blog of my journey of having a complete dental reconstruction at Dental Cibao Spa in Santiago.

Some background...

I have had dental problems all my life, primarily due to a pretty rare jaw structure, bite and "apparently" according to the experts, the blood pressure pills my mum took when she was pregnant with me. I'm sure the odd sweet and cup of tea didn't help either.

I have had dental work performed in England, Australia, USA and the DR, pretty much across the globe.
Every time I open my mouth for the first time, I get the same reaction... ummm... Jesus!

I have had crowns, veneers, minor reconstructions, odd root canal etc. I have spent a lot of hours in the dentist chair. Most dentists refer me on as I'm not an easy case or they don't have the expertise or are not confident of a good outcome.

So how did I end up at Dental Cibao?

18 months ago, I needed some stabilization work performed, so after speaking to a few people, I went to Dental Cibao in Moca. I know, Moca, some campo in the DR, how is this possible? Let me tell you, I have had dental work performed all over the planet, and the treatment I received at Dental Cibao was by far the most impressive and patient friendly. For the first time in years of dental work, my mind was put at ease and I felt really comfortable with the people looking after my teeth.

Side note...

Dominicans are very people orientated and most of the doctors I have come across here have excellent people skills, friendly, caring and open. I have always been treated as the most important patient they have and never just a number, like in some other countries I have had the experience of being a patient.

Back to my teeth…

Late last year, Dr. Enrique Rojas the owner of Dental Cibao opened a super high end clinic in Santiago.
He installed the best technology available and brought in the best specialists. This is by far the best dental clinic I have stepped foot in and I have been in a few! Ultra modern, clean and at the same time friendly and homely if that's possible.

After sitting down with Dr. Enrique Rojas a few weeks ago, I decided to take the plunge and finally resolve my 40 years of dental problems.

I had basically two options.

Option A:
Complete jaw reconstruction and re-alignment of my bite. This would mean complex surgery and at least 12 months of rehabilitation. Once this was complete, then they could look at fixing some of the other issues.

Option B:
Remove a bunch of teeth and have a complete posterior and exterior (front and back) reconstruction.
This would fix my bite issues and at the same time give me a much better smile. This would involve having some new teeth created via 3D CEREC technology, bonding of existing ones, old crowns removed and some bioesthetic dentistry work.

I really didn't fancy Option A, I was looking at US$30,000 to have this performed in the USA or a trip to Venezuela to have the best maxifillio surgeon perform the work. Plus a few months of eating and drinking via a straw really didn't appeal to me. So Option B won the day!

Let the journey begin…

My first visit (5hrs). Dr. Miguel Asenjo re-built 4 of my back teeth, so now I have a back bite that is functional and symmetrical. They now have a reference to work off for the rest of the reconstruction and for the first time since I can remember, I can chew using all of my back teeth. How cool is that!

Below are some photos taken on the weekend of Dr. Miguel Asenjo at work and of the clinic.
I will be posting many more, plus some videos as my journey unfolds.

Dr. Miguel Asenjo also works a few days a week in Punta Cana, super nice guy, perfectionist and is very passionate about what he does.

That's me being worked on.
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They have some seriously cool technology.
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Certificates, awards, degrees, diplomas etc. They have 2 walls full.
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Links to Dr. Miguel Asenjo's and Dental Cibao's Directory Pages.

Dr. Miguel Asenjo - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Dental Cibao Spa - Santiago, Dominican Republic.
 
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MaineGirl

The Way Life Should Be...
Jun 23, 2002
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Invaluable info. I have spent countless hours in the dentist's chair and am currently considering realigning my jaw/bite as well. My insurance covers the costs in the US. Wonder if they cover the cost in Moca??? Way better option. BTW, Maine the way life should be is really ironic as we have very few dentists in the campos of Maine (where I grew up) and for years I have sought excellent care for my case. Hard to find, hard case. Good luck and great info!

ps I am impressed with the windows/view! Serenity! My current dentist has bird feeders outside the window so while you wait you can watch nature in action.
 

Acira

Silver
Sep 20, 2009
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I am now in the process of "fixing" some immediate urgent repairs (root canal and crowns) in my neighborhood and must say, I am quite content but I know eventually I will have to come to terms with some major repairs in the near future. So I will be following this with great interest.
 

suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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It would also be great if you could post some costs as well as this moves along...
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
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dr1.com
It would also be great if you could post some costs as well as this moves along...

What it costs me, will not be the same as the next person, as they have different needs, problems, treatments required etc.

But...

An initial consultation costs US$50 and they do not take insurance in their Santiago clinic.

They take insurance in Moca, but that is a very different level of service, it's still excellent,
but not the same materials, dentists etc.
 

Kipling333

Bronze
Jan 12, 2010
2,528
829
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Much much better than my former dentist ,,,I have had several extractions and the anesthetic was given so roughly that i was fearing the very worst but the actual extraction was very quick and I was given a prescription for anti biotics and pain killers and sent packing ,,the time in the chair was about 10 minutes
 

AnnaC

Gold
Jan 2, 2002
16,050
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Looks like a very modern clean office with all the latest equipment.

Don't ban me for saying this but nice crotch shot :rambo:
 

AZB

Platinum
Jan 2, 2002
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I was there and all I can say: I was impressed. It was better equipped than many dental clinics I have seen in usa.
AZB
 

jrjrth

Bronze
Mar 24, 2011
782
1
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Best of Luck on your journey, I have always hated going to the dentist, even for a minor cleaning, I just started my journey root canal and crown starting Thursday, then deep perio scaling and I'm treating myself to bleaching for a brighter smile:)....my view is nothing like yours, I stare at a wall with a hedious photo that's been there for 10-15 years....But as they say "if you Ignore your teeth, they will go away"....
 

DR2001

New member
Jan 2, 2011
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Good luck with it all, and while sitting here in the rain, the view outside the exam office window looked fantastic as well!
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
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Good luck with it all, and while sitting here in the rain, the view outside the exam office window looked fantastic as well!

This Saturday I will take some more photos. They have a huge spectacular window in the reception that looks out onto a wooded park. The clinic is in a very nice part of Santiago and only a 2 min walk to Metro.
 

Shiraz72

Bronze
Feb 10, 2010
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That's great you've found a good dentist you feel comfortable with. I've had dental anxiety issues since I was a child...my mom took me to a brand new dentist just out of college who had never worked on a child... he dropped the drill in my mouth and it bounced around chipping my teeth and cut my tonge and gums...Now, I have to take anxiety meds to be able to get dental work done now and I've recently had to get root canals and old fillings replaced on some molars...a couple crowns etc... I've considered getting a crown done while in POP but I just can't convice myself while on vacation to go to the dentist LOL. But perhaps having a good dentist like the one you've been to could make a world of difference?
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
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dr1.com
I've considered getting a crown done while in POP but I just can't convice myself while on vacation to go to the dentist LOL. But perhaps having a good dentist like the one you've been to could make a world of difference?

When I was a kid they gave me gas for an extraction. It was a really bad experience and one that lived with me for a long time.

But...

They have a relax room with an excellent massage chair and oxygen therapy.
It's used for patients that are nervous or have any type of anxiety.
I haven't had to use it, but they tell me it works wonders.
They also have video glasses to watch a movie or headphones for listening to music.

When your'e in a 1st class environment, surrounded by people that all care about your well being, it goes a long way to relive any anxiety you might have. My root canals and crowns have been 100% pain free.
 

Shiraz72

Bronze
Feb 10, 2010
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They have a relax room with an excellent massage chair and oxygen therapy.
It's used for patients that are nervous or have any type of anxiety.
I haven't had to use it, but they tell me it works wonders.
They also have video glasses to watch a movie or headphones for listening to music.

When your'e in a 1st class environment, surrounded by people that all care about your well being, it goes a long way to relive any anxiety you might have. My root canals and crowns have been 100% pain free.

Thanks. That's encouraging. The dentist I currently go to, has flat screen tv's they pull down over you so you can watch and they give you sunglasses to avoid the splash...I usually wear my ipod to drown out the sound of the drill. They have all the new state of the art equipment etc... but it's just the smells and noises that get me all frazzled LOL a massage chair sounds really inviting.
 

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
341
83
dr1.com
Thanks. That's encouraging. The dentist I currently go to, has flat screen tv's they pull down over you so you can watch and they give you sunglasses to avoid the splash...I usually wear my ipod to drown out the sound of the drill. They have all the new state of the art equipment etc... but it's just the smells and noises that get me all frazzled LOL a massage chair sounds really inviting.

They have pull down flat screens screens as well :)

Yep, a drill spinning at 5,000 rpm is no fun in your mouth!
 
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