Last fact-checked: 26 January 2021

Restore your smile with the All-on-4® treatment concept in Costa Rica and save up to 70% when booking with Dental Departures. 

Provided by dental manufacturing company Nobel Biocare®, this treatment uses four titanium implants per jaw that immediately support a full arch of replacement teeth, without the need for bone grafts or multiple sessions of surgery. 

Attracting adventure seekers, holidaymakers, honeymooners and now, an increasing number of dental tourists from all over the world, Costa Rica promises gorgeous beaches, diverse flora and fauna, tropical rainforests and stunning waterfalls.

The country has the benefit of overlooking the Caribbean on one side—perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling and other water activities—and the Pacific Coast on the other, which is great for surfing.

All these activities can be enjoyed as part of a dental tourism trip—just as long as you schedule them before your surgery, as you'll need to take it easy after your new dental prosthesis has been installed. 

Aside from the scenic attractions, Costa Rica is known for its reputable dental tourism industry. A growing number of people are visiting the country for dental care, an ideal setting for recuperating from a life-changing dental procedure like this.

This is an advanced mouth rehabilitation technique that replaces all your teeth in the upper, lower or both jaws (dual surgery) with four implants.

The treatment is unique because the two rear implants are longer compared to traditional methods; by inserting them at near-45-degree angles, the need for a bone graft (in patients who have bone loss) is negated. 

After a detailed planning stage and a consultation to ensure healthy bone structure and absence of infection, patients are able to undergo all of the surgery (including extractions and insertion of the implants) in one single session. 

As a result, patients can leave Costa Rica with a full set of replacement teeth. It should be noted that these are temporary, allowing the gums to heal and implants to properly fuse with the jawbone. 

After at least six months, patients return to the same clinic in Costa Rica to have their temporary prosthesis (temporary denture) replaced with a heavier, permanent one, which is simply screwed on. 

The process involves the following steps, which have been summarized:

Assessment & Planning:

Before flying all the way to Costa Rica, it may be a good idea to have your digital X-rays taken and emailed over, allowing your chosen dentist to make a provisional assessment as to whether you are a suitable candidate for treatment.  

Upon confirmation and your subsequent arrival in Costa Rica, you'll undergo a series of tests and evaluations in the days leading up to surgery. For example, x-rays, 3D cone beam images and photo evaluations all help the specialist to formulate a meticulously detailed treatment plan.

Impressions are also taken of your mouth. These are used to manufacture the immediate loading denture, ready for installation on the day of surgery. 

Surgical Phase:

Surgery is carried out under local anesthesia and IV sedation, with other options available depending on the clinic. 

Over the course of several hours, any remaining teeth are removed before the four implants are embedded into the jawbone at the predetermined positions. Using specialized abutments and copings, the immediate denture is attached, providing you with your new, albeit temporary, smile on the same day. 

Surgery may take anywhere between two and six hours. 

Healing Phase:

Over the next few days, weeks and months, patients must follow the specific advice given by the dentist so as to allow the implants to properly osseointegrate with the jawbone, as well as protect the gums.

In general, patients return home after a few days of rest. For 14 days following surgery, a special mouthwash is used rather than brushing. 

Notably, for the next three to four months, patients should stick to semi-soft foods (i.e. anything that can be cut with a fork) so as to not exert too much pressure on the temporary arch of teeth. 

Restoration Phase:

After approximately four to six months, patients return to Costa Rica to have their temporary arch replaced with the permanent (final) fixed bridge, onto which a whole row of porcelain or composite ceramic crowns are cemented. 

This marks the end of the All-on-4® treatment concept process, restoring the function of the teeth by up to 90%. 

Clinics in Costa Rica are equipped with state-of-the-art technology with highly-skilled dental teams comprised of specialists in implantology, oral and maxillofacial surgery and prosthodontics.

Many dentists in Costa Rica are US-trained and members of the American Dental Association (ADA), as well as professional organizations like the International Congress of Implantologists (ICOI).

Before any clinic is listed on our site, we carry out a number of background checks, including:

• Carrying out on-site visits
• Checking malpractice records
• Researching criminal/legal records
• Verifying dentist qualifications
• Confirming dental association memberships
• Collecting and publishing authentic, unedited patient reviews

The overall treatment price for mouth restoration treatment like this in Costa Rica is, on average, USD $10,480; (CAD $13,527 AUD $14,240; NZD $15,354; UK £7,245; EURO 9,800)

This can be compared to prices in the US which come in at around USD $24,300; (CAD $32,200 AUD $34,400; NZD $32,200; UK £20,000; EURO 22,000) for the same treatment. 

[Note: these are estimated prices calculated at the time of writing. Please see our clinic listings for up-to-date prices.]

First, search our listings, compare prices, read reviews and find a dentist that is right for you.

You can then book your appointment directly online with Dental Departures or contact our Customer Care Team if you’d like to discuss anything else about restoring your teeth in Costa Rica. 

Sources:

Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 26 January 2021. https://www.nobelbiocare.com/en-us

Bone Resorption: Why It Happens And What To Do Next. Colgate. Website accessed: 26 January 2021. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/mouth-and-teeth-anatomy/bone-resorption-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-next

McMahon, Shannon. 10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica. Smarter Travel. 7 August 2017. https://www.smartertravel.com/10-best-things-to-do-in-costa-rica/

Garrison, Judy. Dental Care in Costa Rica: My Story. International Living. 31 October 2018. https://internationalliving.com/dental-care-in-costa-rica/

All-on-4® Treatment Concept. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 26 January 2021. https://www.nobelbiocare.com/en-us/all-on-4-treatment-concept

Care for your dental implants. TePe. Website accessed: 26 January 2021. https://www.tepe.com/uk/tips-and-advice/your-teeth/implant-care/

Full Arch Rehabilitation: All-on-4™ Restorative Steps, Roadmap for Success. Nobel Biocare. PDF accessed: 26 January 2021. http://iddentallab.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Nobel-Biocare-All-on-4-Restorative-Steps-Roadmap.pdf

Kumar M, Shanavas M, Sidappa A, Kiran M. Cone beam computed tomography - know its secrets. J Int Oral Health. 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377156/