Best dentist in Santiago

[mgrnd]

So big deal with the telephone call, except showing that the dentist is concerned about his reputation.

Such concern has a value. If a doctor is concerned about his reputation among dr1 members, then there is a good chance that his new dr1 patients will have no reason to complain.

Also, such principles as "patient's health -- the only factor to consider" and "the same prices for all patients" are not obvious, at least for some percentage of doctors. There are doctors who openly declare doctor's business interests as a factor they are 'forced' to take into consideration and there are doctors who openly admit that they charge patients with respect to patients' ability to pay.

 

[mgrnd]

I do not have the exact prices of the dentists in Santiago, but the dentists I see have the following pricing. In my opinion they are one of the best dental groups in the country. In a month or so, they will open a VERY high end dental spa in Santiago.

Dental Cibao Centres for Smile Design - Dominican Republic

- Root Canal - RD$9k (US$250)
- Crown - RD$10-16k - Depending on type

- Panoramic X-ray - RD$400 (US$11)
- Normal X-ray - RD$150 (US$4)
The clinic I go to uses digital x-rays, never seen a charge for them.

- Wisdom teeth extraction (2x normal & 2x impacted) - RD$12k (US$340)
This price includes everything. x-rays, antithesis, follow up visits etc.

The above pricing is an average for private patients, it may vary depending on your exact case. If you have local insurance, you can discount the above 40-100% depending on your coverage.

The prices are much higher than prices listed with humano dental platinum plan (the most expensive humano plan).

 

[mgrnd]

Wisdom teeth extraction (2x normal & 2x impacted) - RD$12k (US$340)

RD$12k is about US$400. It cost less in New York.

 

[Robert]

The prices are much higher than prices listed with humano dental platinum plan (the most expensive humano plan).

I use Humano with Salud Bucal. I'm in the middle of lots of work, so have a pretty good idea of their pricing. Having insurance here will save me around RD$130,000 (US$3,750) on local dental bills. I pay RD$14,000 per year with Humano for their Max Plan.

If you factor in what it would cost me in the USA or Europe, I'm saving around US$8-10,000. A decent chunk of change.

The dental group doing the work here is first class and I'm VERY impressed with their level of expertise and patient management etc. A mix of Mexicans and Dominicans. Each a specialist in a particular area and each have trained extensively outside of the DR in the USA, Mexico, Europe etc.

Back to the root canal cost...

It's never just a root canal, it's all the other bits and pieces that go towards the final cost of a root canal.

Consultation
Follow up visits
Endodontic tools, cleaners etc
Filling materials
X-rays
Anesthesia
etc etc...

 

[Robert]

RD$12k is about US$400. It cost less in New York.

So you're telling me, a very good private dentist in NY charges a total of less than US$400 to extract 4 wisdom teeth, two of them impacted? I don't think so. Maybe US$400 per tooth, then again, I doubt it.

Please post the details of those dentists, I'm sure many of our NY posters would like to know the details.

 

[mgrnd]

I have no doubt that there are doctors in Dominican Republic with knowledge, skills, experience, talent, ability to provide excellent services by the standards of any country. But prices for services cannot be based only on doctor's qualifications. Other factors should be taken into consideration.

Prices for medical services are based on multiple factors, such as:

1. EDUCATION. Cost, time, level and quality of education. It is clear that cost of medical education in USA is 100s times higher than in third world countries. Some of DR doctors do have American education or training. It is possible that some of DR doctors graduated from the best American schools. But these are exceptions. Prices for medical services are based on education factor as related to the majority of doctors. This all does not mean that all doctors from the best American medical schools meet the standards. Of course, not. But reputation of medical school cannot be completely ignored.

2. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE. It is clear that there is no medical malpractice issue in DR. This means that DR doctors save tens of thousands of dollars every year, while patients have practically no protection against medical malpractice. It does not mean that American patients are always protected. But absence of medical malpractice issue dramatically change all the arithmetics.

3. OFFICE EXPENSES. Cost of office space, employees' wages (receptionist, medical assistants, bookkepers, etc.). Most people in DR are happy to have job for 3,000-10.000 pesos (100 USD- 300 USD) a month. The wages in USA are thousands of dollars/a month. Cost of office space in USA is also tens times higher than in DR.

4. COST AND QUALITY OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT. Some doctors in DR probably have the latest equipment, but this is much less likely than with doctors in USA by many reasons.

5. PATIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY. The ability to pay is based on income. The income of most patients in DR is 10s times lower than in USA.

So, what are realistic and fair prices? About 5%-10% USA prices for similar services. And again, the absence of medical malpractice issue along brings prices down to this level. In fact, the Humano platinum dental plan prices are about 5%-10% of USA prices. I don't think anyone can sincerely believe that prices for medical services in DR can be higher than 10% of prices for similar services in the USA. This is what some (far not all) of local people can affort, this is what they pay.

 

[mgrnd]

So you're telling me, a very good private dentist in NY charges a total of less than US$400 to extract 4 wisdom teeth, two of them impacted? I don't think so. Maybe US$400 per tooth, then again, I doubt it.
QUOTE]

While a dentist in Santiago can be a better professional than a dentist in New York, for our purposes it would be more reasonable to compare 'a dentist in Santiago' with 'a dentist in New York', than to compare "very good private dentists". I think, even if the best dentist in Santiago (recognized as such not only by his patients) charges as much as an average dentist in New York, then the dentist in Santiago should reduce his prices by 90%. Let us not to forget that Santiago is neither New York nor London nor Paris. It is a city where probably less than one percent of population can afford a supermarket shopping. Also, let us not to forget that Santiago's Cibao is neither New York's Park Avenue nor New York's Central Park West nor even Brooklyn. There is at least 100 times difference in office expenses. Plus probably at least 100 times difference in cost of education. Universities in DR, Mexico or Chile usually charge less than Harvard or NUY, or even SUNY. Plus other factors, such as medical malpractice issue, etc.

 

[mgrnd]

Universities in DR, Mexico or Chile usually charge less than Harvard or NUY, or even SUNY.

This does not mean of course that the difference in cost is the only difference between Harvard and NYU and universities in DR, Mexico, Chile, or Cuba. We are realistic when we criticize the education system in USA. Let us remain realistic about the education in the third world countries.

 

[Robert]

We are all aware of the cost differences in running a practice in the USA as compared to the DR or specifically Santiago. What's your point?

I'm a patient, I don't care about the doctors cost. I care about the level of skill and service and the bottom line to me. In my case, I'm getting great dental care, in a modern practice, with skilled dentists and saving a chunk of money, that's the bottom line.

You still haven't answered my very simple question.

RD$12k is about US$400. It cost less in New York.

Who are these NY dentists? I'm sure many of our NY posters would like to know the details.

 

[Berzin]

Who are these NY dentists? I'm sure many of our NY posters would like to know the details.

There is not one high-quality dentist in NYC that I would recommend who charges so little for an extraction, especially if they have to deal with impacted wisdom teeth.

There are clinics in NYC that do extractions for around $50-$75. You could also go to a public hospital and you will get charged a sliding fee based on what you can afford.

These places do exist. But for all intent and purposes they are the clinics of last resort for people who cannot afford to pay and have no insurance.

There is no need for conjecture in terms of what type of care you will receive-you will be getting the worst of the worst, and the clinics are located exclusively in the inner city.

 

[mgrnd]

I'm a patient, I don't care about the doctors cost.

1. Doctor's' cost affects the cost of doctors' services for patients. So, the doctors' cost gives us a clear idea what is the reasonable price patients must pay, what can be the 'real' fee and what is the 'tourist' fee.

2. In general, doctors' cost does affect quality of treatment. Because doctors' cost reflects education of doctor, quality of office equipment, education and qualification of doctor's assistants.

You still haven't answered my very simple question. Who are these NY dentists? I'm sure many of our NY posters would like to know the details.[/

1. An answer to this question is given already by another post.
2. You can call some dentists in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan and ask prices. Also, many of dentists distribute fliers with price lists.
3. I believe this forum is to share information about dentists in DR rather than dentists in New York.

 

[mgrnd]

These places do exist. But for all intent and purposes they are the clinics of last resort for people who cannot afford to pay and have no insurance.

There is no need for conjecture in terms of what type of care you will receive-you will be getting the worst of the worst, and the clinics are located exclusively in the inner city.

1. We all know that the quality of doctors' services is not always reflected by doctors' fees. In particular, a higher fee doesn't necassary mean a better service.

2. As I understanding in your opinion many DR doctors provide high quality services that only the most established NYC doctors can provide and for a significantly higher price. This opinion sounds to me a little strange. But may be you are right? I do not disagree.

 

[Berzin]

As I understanding in your opinion many DR doctors provide high quality services that only the most established NYC doctors can provide and for a significantly higher price. This opinion sounds to me a little strange. But may be you are right? I do not disagree.

You are misunderstanding my opinion 100%.

 

[Robert]

1. Doctor's' cost affects the cost of doctors' services for patients. So, the doctors' cost gives us a clear idea what is the reasonable price patients must pay, what can be the 'real' fee and what is the 'tourist' fee.

2. In general, doctors' cost does affect quality of treatment. Because doctors' cost reflects education of doctor, quality of office equipment, education and qualification of doctor's assistants.

Let me re-type what I originally posted.

I'm a patient, I don't care about the doctors cost. I care about the level of skill and service and the bottom line to me. In my case, I'm getting great dental care, in a modern practice, with skilled dentists and saving a chunk of money, that's the bottom line.

Again...

I pay a real fee, I'm getting great care, work done in a very modern environment, using modern techniques and I'm saving money.
As I said, that's my concern, not how much it's costing the doctor to run his practice.

1. An answer to this question is given already by another post.
2. You can call some dentists in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan and ask prices. Also, many of dentists distribute fliers with price lists.
3. I believe this forum is to share information about dentists in DR rather than dentists in New York.

As for your New York pricing, yes your correct, Berzin already posted an answer. Maybe next time you should compare apples

I also agree with you this should be about sharing DR info, it was you that brought up the subject of NY, not me.

 

[SKing]

I had sent an email to Dr. Morel for a visit for my daughter (age 15), she has overcrowding and needs braces, I don't even know if he does this.
Does he? They haven't answered the email yet
SHALENA

 

[Robert]

I had sent an email to Dr. Morel for a visit for my daughter (age 15), she has overcrowding and needs braces, I don't even know if he does this.
Does he? They haven't answered the email yet
SHALENA

Dr. Morel comes well recommended, so does Dr. Enrique Rojas.

Dental Cibao Centres for Smile Design - Dominican Republic

 

[donmobay]

phone#

809 583 2288 in memory bank....dr morel habla english, secretary speaks a little.

 

[vnazaire]

On December 8, 2010 at a dental clinic run by a female dentist ( estomatologa ) on Avenida Las Carreras, I had an upper left front broken tooth removed and resin job for 2 000 pesos.

Two days later, I returned for two rear bottom right fillings for 2 900 pesos.

No pain, not fancy equipment .

 

[cobraboy]

Mi esposa's sister, Marcia Santillan-Olivo, is a fine dentist in downtown Santiago, educated at PUCMM and well experienced. Alida and I have had several needs, both prophylactic and emergency (broken crown, broken fillings, etc.), over the last 3 years.

All were handled in a first world manner with fairly modern equipment in clean, comfortable professional surroundings and at reasonable cost (no family discount, I will pay for true professional service.) Marcia speaks some English.

PM me for phone number.

 

[waytogo]

Going to the states soon and would like to get a good dental cleaning before I leave. Can anyone recommend a dentist in Santiago that takes their time and does a thorough job......I reside close to the monument, Thank you

B in Santiago