Medical Tourism: Doug Undergos Major Dental Surgery In El Salvador
by Lori Lundin
The major portion of treatment will be done today with Doug under twilight anesthesia. He’ll have seven titanium dental implants, three extractions and two bone grafts. This much work in one day is quite invasive, which is why he will need to be sedated.
It is sunny and 85 degrees, the birds are chirping outside our hotel window and Doug says he is ready. Our host, Ricky, picks us up and drives us to the dental office nearby. Another day of big welcomes from the staff.
The dentist has two assistants, both Salvadorian female dentists and an anesthesiologist. They all look like they are ready for a major surgery, dressed in sterile clothing.
Doug sits down in the chair and the anesthesiologist begins the intravenous sedation process. He explains every step to Doug: that he will sedate him and inject antibiotics through the IV. Doug quickly goes under and I’m asked to leave the room.
Waiting
Ricky and I go to the local grocery store to buy soft foods for Doug to eat. We buy chocolate pudding, yogurt, applesauce and best of all… baby food! He won’t be able to eat anything solid for a while. Ricky drops me off at the hotel and tells me he will pick me up when the procedure is finished.
I go back at the Sheraton, sit by the pool and read a book while I wait for the surgery to finish.
About three hours later, Ricky calls to say Doug’s surgery is finished.
We arrive back at the dentist where they are slowly bringing Doug out of anesthesia. Every 10 minutes a nurse comes in and raises his chair up a little more until he is ready to stand. When he does, he’s groggy, but alert. They help Doug out to the car and Ricky takes us to the local pharmacy to pick up prescriptions the doctor has ordered. He will have to take an antibiotic and a painkiller.
Special Treatment
We bring him back to the hotel with instructions for Doug to take it easy the rest of the day. He is immediately hungry (he didn’t eat breakfast).
His first treat - ice cream.
This was a tough day, but Doug seems to be doing incredibly well. He says he feels no pain. Dr. Lorenzana says tomorrow will be a rest day, but if Doug is up for it; he would like to take us to spend the day at his beach house. That’s certainly not the usual prescription we get from a dentist in the United States, but it is enticing nonetheless.
The doctor says he will call us in the morning to check in.
Doug spends the evening in our hotel room. For dinner, room service sends up a beautiful plate of mashed potatoes, refried beans and applesauce.
Lori Lundin is a News Anchor/Reporter with Fox News Radio
I am anxiously awaiting further updates. I am planning on going to Costa Rica in the next year or so for extensive dental work badly needed because I simply cannot afford it here in the states. What would easily cost $25,000 + here will cost me about $7000 there and unlike in the US, I can have all my work completed (to include the permenant crown and bridge work) in about 10 days.
Best of luck!
Wow, that is some day! Good luck tomorrow and hope Doug feels better!!
Why did you not give names and exact places and contact info? Please do.
Thanks
Hey Lori, congrats! Glad you are having fun. Any chance of a shout out to us and an acknowledgement that Ricky works for us…
What people want to know is, HOW MUCH AND COMPARED TO AN AMERICAN DENTIST, HOW MUCH LESS IS IT ?
Good reporting on the applesauce though, really stellar.
would like to have a contact number to the dentist
linda teague
I am responding to a comment made below asking for more information. For the sake of full disclosure I am the son of Dr. Rafael Lorenzana currently living in San Diego. I visit El Salvador frequently and I am jealous of Ms. Lundin and her husband who must be enjoying the beautiful beaches and food that El Salador has to offer. As for my father who is featured in the article, he is an American Board Certified Prosthodontist and member of the American College of prosthodontist, which is extremely unique among Latin American dentists. To set up an appointment with him you should contact PLANET HOSPITAL (www.planethospital.com) they make all the travel arrangements and coordinate the treatment and quotes with Dr. Lorenzana. The contact there is Sarine Garabedian.
I am enjoying these articles and I am happy that Ms. Lundin and Doug are enjoying El Salvador. It is a great place.
This comment is in response to Mr. Charles Hugh’s question.
Ms. Lundin is writing a series of articles on her and Doug’s experience getting treated by Dr. Lorenzana in El Salvador. In her first article, which you can find at http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/25/medical-tourism-a-trip-to-the-dentists-office-in-el-salvador/ , she says that in the US they were quoted $60,000. Dr. Lorenzana quoted them an estimate for $18,000 for the same treatment. Ms. Lundin wrote, “Even with airfare and hotel, we would be saving about $40,000.”
Thanks for your interest Mr. Hugh.
Strange, I was there for a year in 2004 and had some treatment. All my filling changed to white ones. Was very cheap. Also had 2xCrown $1000. In the end I had to have the one crown completely replaces with an implant a year later.
I found that although the Dentists were very accomodating the equipment was not the latest state of the art stuff. In fact it was my wifes cousin who did the work.
However on the other hand my friend had a mouth full of crooked teethe replaced with bridges and crown and has not had a single complaint in 3 plus years.
I guess its a case of luck of the draw.
I can’t deny value for money but one thing should be remembered is that once you leave to go back home and then uncur complications then costs can spiral.
It’s truth. Dental treatment abroad become more and more popular. I was searching for dental clinics in Salvador and found this article. There is a real loud buzz now about dental tourism.