Storme Blais, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.
Hello Ana, Sharon, Dr. Mario, Dr. Ortiz:
This letter is to acknowledge & thank you, the friendly & professional staff I met at the Mario Garita dental clinic.
Dr. Mario Garita is more than a dentist, he’s an artist.
My dentist in Calgary, AB, Canada, is recognized as one of the best dentists in the city. When I asked about implants to replace molars that had been extracted when I was only fourteen, he said there was not enough bone to hold the post of an implant. After my topographic X-ray in Costa Rica, Dr. Mario, said I had enough to support a shorter but wider than usual post, so rather than a 13mm one, he used a wider 9mm post. His confidence reassured me and once he started work in my mouth I knew it was justified.
Two years ago I had 2 implants done in Canada & 2 years before that I had another two done so I recognized the skill behind his work. The gum area was the problem, as after more than 50 years without a tooth the gums had receded, but Dr Mario had a periodontist who worked out of his office & in one visit I had skin grafted to the gum line around the 2 new implants.
There was infection under one of my 4 year old implants & that was cleaned out & stitched up.
This meant 5 days of antibiotics & pain pills but on the 6th day the healing was well underway with some tenderness remaining. Day 7 was the checkup with Dr Ortiz the periodontist & removal of the stitches.
Normally I would have been done & good to go home but after discussion with Dr. Mario about future dental care I opted to have an extraction and another implant done beside the previously infected site. Originally I had planned to do that on the next visit when I would have the caps put on the implants (between 3-6 months later).
By opting to have it done now I would save myself a third visit and have all 3 caps done on the next visit. The old implant (previously infected) was at a bad angle & would have to come out (ouch that cost me $4000 4 years ago in Canada) However Dr. Mario would build a one tooth bridge during the next visit between the remaining old implant and the new one.
I then spoke to Dr. Juan who specializes in porcelain crowns & veneers as I had metal showing at the gum line from older crowns. He said he could replace them but not this trip as my mouth needed time to heal. Next visit I will have those crowns replace for $550 each & then I will have the “after” photos taken!
Why come to Costa Rica for dental work?
Well, as a newly retired teacher living on a reduced income, cost is a major consideration. Prices have risen dramatically in Calgary and what I had paid previously for implants had increased by 1/3. (I actually had an estimate for one implant of $6600) For the cost of one implant at home I had a flight, accommodations, a “mini-vacation”, X-rays, periodontal work, 1 extraction, 3 implants & a bridge. Dr. Mario has his own state of the art dental clinic with a lab on site. He is personable, talented, efficient and a gifted implant specialist and I have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone considering dental care.
I made my own air & lodging arrangements
I made my own air and lodging arrangements using AirBnB.com and stayed in the upscale suburb of Escazu at the beautiful home of Liza Morning – Google “Living in Luxury for Peanuts” on the AirBnB.com website. She is also a registered massage therapist and I had a weekly massage while there, also highly recommended, especially after hiking near Arenal Volcano or my visit to Manuel Antonio National Park.
I am looking forward to the return trip when the caps will be placed & I will have less pain & more time to explore this beautiful country. Did I mention it was snowing in Calgary? Here it’s warm & sunny every day with a shower in the afternoon, it is November!