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Colombia is well known for Dental Tourism. So many Americans travel to Colombia for dental work, including celebrities like Rick Ross and more. Even though we traveled to Colombia to explore, dental work was also one of the reasons for our trip.
Dental Tourism In Cartagena, Colombia
Why Colombia For Dental Tourism
We chose Colombia for several reason!
- Affordability of dental and orthodontist care
- Affordability of flights, food and accommodations
- Lots of things to do and keep us entertained since we plan to visit multiple times
- Favorable weather all year round
- Good food – the food here is soooo good!
For my full blog post on things to do in Colombia, make sure to read 20 + Things To Do In Cartagena, Colombia With or Without Kids
Choosing A Dentist or Orthodontist In Colombia
After doing lots of research I finally decided that we would get our dental work done with a Dentist and Orthodontist.
Dentist
We decided to go with Dr Rodriguez at Cartagena English Speaking Dentist
My husband needed an implant and 2 crowns, bone graph etc and she quoted him about $1,500 USD which is a fraction of the cost of what he would have paid in the U.S. For reference, a single implant alone in the U.S. can cost around $4,000 USD.
Orthodondist
After his dentist appointment, he walked a flight off stairs up to see his Orthodontist Dr Martinez +57 315 7313765 (cell and WhatsApp number).
He also wanted to get veneers, but the dentist and orthodontist highly recommended he start with braces first to adjust the gaps. So he got braces on the top and bottom and was good to go. You can see how it looks in the photo below.
He was able to see an orthodontist recommended by the dentist who put in top and bottom braces. His total braces treatment will be about $550 USD.
He gets his braces adjusted in Colombia every 8 to 10 weeks as he’s also getting other dental work so it works out for us.
Aiden also got retainers at the Orthodontist. Top and bottom retainers cost $85.
Other Dental Treatment In Colombia
I got my teeth whitened for $165, and a cleaning for $47. Aiden got teeth cleaning for $24 and a check up.
Aiden’s first visit to the dentist was when he was 4 years old and that was on a trip to Mexico City. This is just to show that most of our dental care happens out of the U.S.
He had no cavities and the dentist was impressed at how well taken care off his teeth are.
Where To Stay In Cartagena During Dental Visit
There are so many decent hotels as well as Airbnbs with super hosts to choose from. The Hilton chain has several hotels to choose from based on your budget and even Aibnb too.
We generally prefer the Aibnb route because we have more space to spread out (given we live in our RV this is great 😀) but most especially because we can get a cook who can make us any meal we would like to eat.
After dental surgery and braces adjustments, earing can be hard, and so having a cook is helpful because she can make us any meal we’d like.
Most cooks cost about $30/day and are at the house from about 8am to 5pm. They can make you 3 meals a day or as many or little as you’d like. You just have to provide money for them to go grocery shopping which honestly is very affordable.
We spent approximately $120 for 3 days of meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for our family of 3 last time we were there. And we were eating good and drinking fresh juices at every meal.
Airbnb Recommendations
All properties listed below have the option for a cook, just make sure to ask. There are also many other very nice Airbnb or rental options with cooks, but these are the 3 that I have actively looked into and really like.
- Airbnb 1 – stayed here during my 1st visit to Cartagena. Highly recommend.
- Airbnb 2 – stayed here during my 2nd visit to Cartagena. This property is a bit dated, but still nice.
- Airbnb 3 – this is on my list to book when I visit with friends next time.
Hotel Recommendations
If you don’t want to stay in an Airbnb, that’s okay. We have also stayed at the Hilton which is a great property. There are also many hotels which are great and affordable too. There are so many to choose from which is great.
- Hilton Cartagena
- Hyatt Regency Cartagena
- Hotel Admiral Cartagena
- Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
- Hotel Bocagrande
Dentist & Orthodontist Contact Information
Dentist – Dr Rodriguez IG – You can read her through her IG page Cartagena English Speaking Dentist
Orthodontist – Dr. Martinez – You an reach him via his phone on WhatsApp – +57 315 7313765
Overall Thoughts On Dental Tourism
A trip to Colombia as well as dental work is much cheaper than seeing a dentist in the U.S. So we’ll gladly take that option anytime. My husband has also seen a dentist in Turkey and Aiden has in Mexico and loved the dental care there.
Although we need to fly back often, it is still cheaper than U.S. dental care. Plus, we are getting to vacation each time.
If you book tickets far out in advance, and your job is flexible then you won’t have any issues with the overall cost of going back and forth.
