Last fact-checked: 26 January 2021

Patients booking through Dental Departures are able to save thousands on All-on-4 dental implants in San Jose, Costa Rica. 

With more than 150,000 success stories around the world, our verified partner providers can restore your entire smile using just four dental implants per jaw, with this treatment provided by Nobel Biocare®, among other big-name dental brands from around the world.

If you’ve lost all (or some) of your teeth and want a permanent mouth restoration rather than using dentures, the All-on-4® treatment concept might be for you. 

The course of treatment replaces all of the teeth on just four dental implants per jaw. The procedure means that your replacement teeth (held on a fixed bridge) are permanently and securely attached to the implants, which act as tooth roots.

There is no danger of them slipping or falling out (unlike dentures), and they will look and function (90%) just like your real teeth. 

The procedure was developed by world-renowned implantologist, Dr. Paulo Malo. His successful technique is now used around the globe and is carried out by trained-specialists in most major cities, making it accessible for many people, especially dental tourists. 

Unlike traditional implant-supported mouth restorations which can take several sessions of surgery to complete, All-on-4 treatment requires just one session. 

Following extensive planning, examinations and consultation to confirm healthy bone structure and no infection, the surgery can take place in which any remaining teeth are extracted, the implants are inserted and the immediate loading denture is attached. Thus, the patient is able to walk out of the dentist's office with their new (temporary) teeth on the same day. 

This immediate denture will be replaced at least six months later with a permanent one. 

Also, patients with bone loss may still be suitable for candidates without the need for a bone graft, as long as they have enough bone for the implants to be placed.

This is because the rear implants are longer than traditional implants, and are placed at 45 rather than 90 degrees, which creates a larger surface area for bone-to-implant contact.

Since it’s easy to reach from the US and Canada, with direct flights from major North American cities, San Jose offers a convenient destination for millions of protective dental tourists.

It’s Costa Rica’s capital city, has good transport links and is a convenient base to use if you want to see other areas of interest in the country.

The city has impressive theatres and museums with European-inspired architecture blended with amazing cultural, artistic, and musical presentations. You can stroll around and visit museums, parks, plazas, and zoos; attend a Spanish class or discover other exciting activities.

You’ll find plenty to do in San Jose between your visits to the dentist; however, do remember that after your procedure you will want to take things easy, so best to get any activities out of the way before your treatment commences.

Costa Rica has been a popular dental tourism destination for some years now. The prices are excellent; it's a popular holiday destination and the standards of dentistry are high.

Booking with Dental Departures assures you of quality-checked dentists who we have pre-screened.

We confirm dentist qualifications and professional memberships; carry out on-site visits and publish real patient reviews. Our listings also include prices, location maps and clinic photos to make your choice as easy as possible.

Take a look at some high-quality clinics where you can book in for your mouth restoration in San Jose below:

• All-on-6 Costa Rica by Freer Dental
• DDS Dental Costa Rica - Dr. Prada
• Aesthetic Dental Care

Evaluation & Planning:

Your procedure begins with a consultation with your dentist. During your initial appointment, your dentist will review your medical and dental health. Diagnostic tests such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) are taken to assess your condition, as well as measurements and photo evaluations.

If you’re deemed a suitable candidate, detailed impressions of your mouth are taken and sent to a laboratory where the initial dental prosthesis (immediate loading dentures) is made, ready for the day of surgery. 

Surgical Procedure:

Carried out in one session, the surgery is normally performed using local anesthesia and IV sedation. It can take between two and six hours, during which time:

• Any remaining teeth are extracted
• The titanium implants are inserted into the top, bottom or both jaws (dual surgery)
• An immediate loading denture is then attached using special abutments and copings

Healing Phase:

Dental implants take around three to four months to properly fuse with the jawbone (a process called osseointegration), and so patients are advised to follow a diet of semi-solid foods so as not to exert too much pressure on the gums. 

Patients will also be given other instructions by their dentist in terms of how to properly care for their temporary teeth while back at home. 

Final Restoration Phase:

After around six months, patients return to Costa Rica (the same clinic in San Jose) to have their temporary denture replaced with a permanent (final) prosthesis (or "fixed bridge"). 

This may take a couple of appointments, but no surgery is involved as these different prostheses can simply be screwed on and off. 

It's possible to save over 50% on the price of this treatment in San Jose compared to home:

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

Get in touch with Dental Departures' Customer Care Team if you’d like further information on dental care in San Jose, or see below for ways you can book an appointment.

You can also leave us your contact details and we'll get back in touch at a time that suits you. This service is completely free, with no up-front costs. 

Sources:

Burhenne, Mark. Your First Dental Implant Procedure: What to Expect. Ask the Dentist. 27 March 2019. https://askthedentist.com/dental-implants/

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

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

About Prof Paulo Malo. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 26 January 2021
https://www.nobelbiocare.com/ca/en/education/our-speakers/m-o/paulo-malo.html

Temporary Abutments and Copings. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 26 January 2021. https://store.nobelbiocare.com/us/en/media/eifu/IFU1093_EN_GB_00.pdf

Krans, Brian. Bone Graft. Healthline. 6 November 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-graft

Marcus, Lilit. San Jose: Why you shouldn’t Ignore Costa Rica’s Capital. CNN Travel. 10 May 2019. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/things-to-do-san-jose-costa-rica/index.html

Dental Cone-beam Computed Tomography. FDA. 28 September 2020. https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-x-ray-imaging/dental-cone-beam-computed-tomography

Ditcher, Darin. The Biologic Fundamentals of Osseointegration. Spear Education. 7 January 2016. https://www.speareducation.com/spear-review/2016/01/the-biologic-fundamentals-of-osseointegration