Dental Vacation

Costa Rica Dental Tourism Marketing Survey

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:38 +0000

Costa Rica Map

It was only a matter of time for professional survey to be done as countries look to reap rewards from the lucrative medical and dental tourism market.
Brookline, MA (PRWEB) January 5, 2010 — In what may be the first survey of its kind, Massachusetts-based Stackpole & Associates is conducting a landmark survey of current and former guests of the Ramada Plaza Herradura in San Jose, Costa Rica to evaluate their awareness of medical tourism and to plan for improved hotel services for medical tourists. The survey is part of a comprehensive marketing plan by the hotel’s management team to promote its services to medical tourists, increasing hotel occupancy and differentiating itself from other hotels in Costa Rica and beyond.
With a very high response rate, the survey revealed important information to guide the hotel in the implementation of its marketing strategy including creating special menus for guests receiving dental treatment and to bundle services with local dental and medical providers to offer special package deals. The survey also revealed that many guests are not aware of the many health and wellness services available in the country, pointing to a need to raise the awareness of Costa Rican medical tourism to potential visitors from other countries including the US and Europe.
An estimated 20,000 health travelers sought treatment in Costa Rica in 2008, according to Dr. Alfredo Lopez, board member and spokesman for the Council of International Promotion of Costa Rica Medicine, or PROMED. According to Dr. Lopez, because no “hard data” is available, the number of medical tourists to Costa Rica could be closer to 100,000, with more than 90 percent coming from the United States. If the team at the Ramada Plaza Herradura has its way, many of those guests will come to their hotel to receive specially tailored services in addition to the “pura vida” customer service for which Costa Rica is famous.

It only makes sense for the tourism and medical and dental get together to offer packages to travelers. It creates a win-win for the tourist, and tourism industry. Taking that dental vacation will only get easier and easier.

Dental Vacation Reviews

Cost Comparison Bangkok Dental Hospital

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:59 +0000

Bangkok Dental Hospital

Yesterday we wrote about a dental vacation traveler’s (sorry we can’t share their name) experience at the Bangkok Dental Hospital. Below is the cost saving they experienced.

I have just landed in Bangkok, Thailand and am currently living with my brother at his condo. I had been thinking about going to the Bangkok Dental Center since I got my braces a year ago. The price for my braces is about $5400 CAD back in Canada and that is not enough. I still need reconstruction on my upper and lower teeth after I remove my braces. I might also need an implant, but I think I don’t really need it.
The reconstruction of the lower and the upper teeth would probably cost somewhere between $5000-$10 000 CAD, also the implant is another $5400 CAD. A total cost of well over $15 000, plus I already paid for $5400 for the braces. So I’m going to paid a total cost about $15 000 – $20 000 CAD if I was to do it all in Canada.
The dental insurance does not cover this because it is consider comedic dentistry and I am over 25 years old. So I have to pay it myself and I don’t have that amount of cash for my dental care; I just don’t have that sort of money to pay anymore. The price is just too high. With that kind of money ($20 000) I can make a down payment for nice single bedroom or a studio condo somewhere in Toronto. That would be a better investment.
The cost of my cleaning is about $1200 Thai baht. Which is about $35 CAD, compare that to $150 CAD for a cleaning back in Canada and that work was done by a nurse and not a dentist.
Overall, I’ll definitely come back to Bangkok Dental Center next year when I have my braces remove and complete the rest of my dental need in Thailand. The staff is very professional and the service is as good if not better as any place I have visited in Canada. Why spend $20 000 CAD when I can spend $3000 – $5000 CAD for the same thing and maybe even better service? I’m looking forward to go back there and finish all of my dental need. (well, ok I’m not looking forward to have a drill in my mouth, but I look forward to save a lot of money and getting the same sort of quality services…)

It is always interesting to read about dental tourism experiences. We hope you also find it interesting and useful.

Dental Vacation Reviews

Dental Vacation in Bangkok, Thailand

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:36 +0000

Bangkok Dental Hospital

Here’s a story of one traveler’s dental vacation to Bangkok, Thailand. Sorry, but we did not see the traveler’s name to give credit.

Inside Bangkok Dental Center

There are two levels, the first level is on the first floor where you first had to go to “Reception and Registration”, remembered to bring along your passport if this is your first time there. They will need to make a copy of your passport and give you a Bangkok Dental Center card. The next time you come to Bangkok Hospital Center you don’t need to bring your passport because you already have your Bangkok Dental Center card.
Once they give you the Bangkok Dental Center card and finish filling up some forms. They will send you to the second level. You will then show the receptionist on the second level your forms and they will ask you to sit and wait till the dentist is ready to call you in.
On the second level that there is a big chart displaying all of the dentists who work at that dental center. There are currently about 70-80 dentists working at the Bangkok Dental Center and I believe it is open on weekends and maybe open 24 hours (not sure).
You can expect every type of dentists, general dentists, dental doctors and dental surgeons from Bangkok Dental Center: Endodontics (Root Canal), General Dentistry, Implant Dentistry, Maxillofacial, Prosthetics (implants), Operative & Esthetic Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Orthodontics (Braces), Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology (Gum disease), Prosthodontics (implants), Surgical Orthodontics, TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Once I was at the second level and waited about 15 minutes. A nurse came and took me to one of their room. A few minutes later a dentist came in and I asked her some questions regarding my braces and coming back to Thailand next year to finish all my dental need. The dentist told me I would have to finish my braces with my current dentist back in Canada because I already sign a contract with him and he will be the best person to remove the braces. Then the Thai dentist told me to get some kind of removal container for my teeth after I removed my braces because the container will act as the braces and stop my teeth from moving back to its original position.
After about 20 minutes of asking questions and getting my teeth clean, it was done and it was time for me to leave. I notice that there was a nurse along with the dentist inside with me at all time. The nurse never touched me, she was there only to help the dentist. The dentist was the only person that did all the work and talking. Unlike back in Canada when I only see my dentist for 5 minutes (probably less) and he would tell his nurse what he wanted to do on my braces and then he would leave. I hardly had any time to ask him any questions; he’s always seemed to be rushing, but not here in Thailand.

Tomorrow we will share the dental tourism cost comparison and results for this individual.

Dental Vacation Reviews