by Lori Lundin 

We came her for dental work, and it’s been more like a vacation.  So far, the dental care my husband has received has exceeded our expectations.  I would even say it’s been superior to what we’ve had in the states.  The level of hospitality, concern for his well being, and the short time it’s taken to get the work done has been nothing short of amazing. In the states, Doug was told it would take 2 years to complete his treatment plan, here he’ll have had a total of five visits and a whole lot of fun in the process.  This has been an eye opening experience.  Doug had major work done. Bone grafts, extractions and titanium implants (like a screw that goes into the bone…and slowly adheres to it so you can attach a crown). Doug has had absolutely no pain.

The day after the big surgery, Doctor Lorenzana called to see if Doug was feeling okay, and up for a day at his beach house.  Doug has been taking his antibiotics and anti-inflammatory and feeling just fine.  We couldn’t pass up the offer.  The doctor picked us up and off we went.  It was spectacular.  Driving through small villages, you see very few tourists in this country, so it’s easy to get a flavor for the culture.  There are many more modern amenities than you’d imagine.  You can find just about anything you would in the states.

Driving down a dirt road with women selling fruit and barefooted children playing…we arrive at a beautiful home right on the beach.  An open air patio with incredible ocean breezes.  We’re given a room to use for changing or resting.  A lovely young Salvadorian couple live and work on the property.  They make us lunch as we listen to the Pacific waves crashing and relax in hammocks. What a way to heal from dental work. I can’t imagine doing this with my dentist in the states.  We’re being treated like family and getting great care.  Doesn’t get much better than this.  Tomorrow, Doug will get his temporary crowns and then end the day with a massage at the hotel. 

Lori Lundin is a News Anchor/Reporter with Fox News Radio

by Lori Lundin 

My husband Doug grew up in a very low income family in Washington State and didn’t get much dental care.  His teeth were also becoming very worn down as a result from grinding. 

He finally decided he had to do something, so he went for a consultation with a dentist in New York.

The diagnoses:  financially painful.

Doug would need a full mouth reconstruction, which would take about two years to complete and cost approximately $60,000.

However, if he didn’t have his teeth fixed, they would continue to deteriorate and he would continue to have problems.  

But we didn’t have $60,000 to make it happen.  I’d heard about medical tourism and started doing some online research.  From there I found a book called “Patients Beyond Borders.”  It was an eye-opening experience.  More and more people are traveling to places such as India, Thailand, Costa Rica and El Salvador to get health care. 

There are companies that specialize in facilitating all sorts of medical treatments overseas.  Not only are they getting great quality care and saving thousands of dollars, but they are making a vacation out of it.

And it’s not just small stuff.  Folks are going for heart surgery, plastic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, dental work, laser eye surgery…you name it.  The book showed price comparisons and recommended the top medical tourism companies.  After calling a few, I chose a company called Planet Hospital. 

The founder, Rudy Rupak began the journey toward medical tourism after his wife became sick in Thailand.  He was amazed at the quality of care, the compassionate treatment and how little it cost. After the initial phone call, we sent Doug’s treatment plan and x-rays from the American dentist.

Rudy put us in touch with one dentist in Costa Rica and one in El Salvador.   We immediately felt comfortable with Dr. Rafael Lorenzana, who was located in El Salvador. 

We were given an estimate for $18,000. Even with airfare and hotel, we would be saving about $40,000. But knowing so little about the country, we also felt cautious.  We called several people in the states who had gone to Dr. Lorenzana for similar procedures and they were thrilled.  Not only did they rave about the care and the quality of work, but they loved the country.

We decided to go for it.  Not only would Doug finally get his teeth fixed, but we would get a tropical vacation in the process.

Lori Lundin is a News Anchor/Reporter with Fox News Radio