Dental Tourism in Panama:
Just Like Home?
Strong ties: Panama Canal
While some people are concerned about going abroad for dentistry, you might find that dental tourism in Panama can be as familiar as staying home.
You have several excellent reasons to visit a Panamanian dentist:
- Panama is pretty much the safest country in central America, so you’ll have minimal worries about crime.
- Many dentists speak English because of the historic ties between Panama and the US.
- Dentists in Panama often train in the United States or belong to the American Dental Association.
- Panama is close to the United States and Canada, and several North American airlines have direct flights there.
- Since the country’s currency is the US dollar, you won’t have any hassles with currency exchanges.
- The country itself is beautiful and diverse, and well worth a visit.
There’s another very good reason to consider dental tourism in Panama: cost! Have a look at a few comparisons:
| DENTAL PROCEDURE |
AVERAGE DENTAL COSTS IN PANAMA
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
in UK£
|
in US$
|
in € Euro
|
|
| Implant and Crown |
£1020
|
$1700
|
€1220
|
| Root canal |
£60
|
$100
|
€70
|
| Teeth Whitening |
£230
|
$380
|
€275
|
| Porcelain crown |
£240
|
$400
|
€290
|
| Scale and Polish |
£57
|
$95
|
€68
|
NOTE: prices are indicative of those posted online by dentists in Panama – some may charge more.
On the whole, Dental Implants costs in Panama are a good half what they are in the United States.
Panama won’t be too unfamiliar, either. Because of the Panama Canal’s history, English is much more widely spoken than in other Central American countries. And many dentists use the same equipment and technology you’d find back home in North America or Europe. In fact, many Panamanian dentists are trained abroad.
Dental Tourism in Panama
Not only is Panama a retirement paradise (no income taxes!) but dental tourism in Panama is on the rise, along with all types of tourism to the country.
Panama is full of extraordinary beaches
- The San Blas Archipelago, a string of 365 Caribbean islands which are home to the Kuna Indians.
- Boquete, a cool mountain town with possibly the best coffee in the world.
- Bocas del Toro, a quiet Caribbean resort that feels more Creole than Hispanic.
- La Amistad International Park, astride Panama and Costa Rica, with its huge biodiversity.
- Speaking of biodiversity, Panama is home to 226 reptile species, 164 amphibians, 218 mammals, and 125 animal species found nowhere else.
Kuna Indian weaving
There are plenty of dental tourism opportunities in Central and South America. Visit the cloud forests after you’ve received your Costa Rica dental treatment, or experience the increasingly popular Argentina dental care and tango lesson combination. Closer to home? A Mexico dentist may be just the answer.