That's the happy ending. How I got there has a few twists and turns, but then most journeys start out that way, right?
In November 2010, I was looking at a huge expenditure for dental work I was needing to have done. Some crowns, a root canal and three dental implants.
After a few months of online research and talking with friends, by June 2011 I chose to work with a specialist in Costa Rica. The biggest motivator was a friend of some friends who had gone there and not only save a lot of money but he loved the experience.
I was very skeptical to the idea of going to another country for dental care, but it was saving a lot of money that opened my mind, and this is how I got there, and here is a collection of pictures from our trip.
Martha at one of the many pools at Arenal Volcano , colorful
locals, great meals, white-faced monkeys and Costa Rica fruits
Here's how it all unfolded:
In November of 2009, my local dentist delivered some bad news to me about my teeth, i.e. that I needed quite a bit of work done. Long story short, I spent the next year looking for a solution. Waiting that long was not the smartest thing for me to have done, but it was a lot of money and I wanted to find a solution I could live with.
Some close friends heard me mention that I was needing dental work and how much money I was going to have to spend. They told me of a friend of theirs who went to Costa Rica for dental work to save money and asked if I would like to speak with him. I said, sure.
I had never considered going to another dentist locally, let alone in another country. At first thought, I was apprehensive about going to Costa Rica for dental work. It was not even a thought until I spoke with my friend's friend who had actually went and was glad he did.
We talked and that started me on a long online search for facts. I looked at websites and enrolled on forums about dental vacations in Costa Rica, and long story short, I ended up selecting my dentist.
This is my Dental Implants Costa Rica specialist who is helping get
my smile back.
He is a specialist in dental implants and graduated from the University of Miami in Florida, but he had something I didn't find anyone else had.
This dentist had a "dental coordinator" who handled all the questions, trip arrangments, etc.
His name is Charlie Dennard 
(in the middle with me and my wife Martha at the B&B, more about later) and he was a huge help in easing my mind about my concerns, answering my questions, etc.
(in the middle with me and my wife Martha at the B&B, more about later) and he was a huge help in easing my mind about my concerns, answering my questions, etc.Charlie is from the USA and now lives in San Jose, Costa Rica, so he knew the information I wanted to know about the area, the local traveling while there, the dentist, etc. He was of immense help planning the trip, etc.
Plus, he had been a patient himself, so he knew the concerns, procedure of the dental work, the local customs, the ins and outs - everything I wanted to know. Charlie what made my decision a slam dunk.
Also, he put us in touch with a B&B in Escazu which is just west of San Jose, Costa Rica in a nice part of the city. And Ginette, the owner of the B&B we selected, has been more than anyone could ask for.
Ginette's travel tips for getting around in Costa Rica were priceless, not to mention the wonderful fruit filled breakfasts each morning.
Whatever we wanted to eat, she prepared for us and the breakfasts for both of us were included with the room.
And the setting was gorgeous with all the tropical plants, flowers and birds that surrounded us at the B&B.
Between Ginette and Charlie, it was like having our own personal travel guides at our beck and call anytime we needed it.
While there, between dental appointments, we were able to visit the pacific coast. Ginette booked us into a nice place just outside the Manuel Antonio National Park. 
We walked from our room to the park and saw sloths, monkeys, colorful birds, red crabs in the jungle and went to the beach inside the park. It was exactly like that deserted beach you picture seeing in your mind. It was great!
The next day, we booked a sailing and snorkling tour through our hotel staff.
After returning to the dentist in San Jose for another appointment and a short stay back at our 'home-away-from-home' at the B&B, we traveled up north in Costa Rica to the Arenal Volcano area.
The resort we stayed at was like a fairy tale place, only it was real. The view from our room was of the Arenal Volcano.
On the grounds of the resort there were so many places to visit and things to do that it is hard to name them all. There was horseback riding, zip lines, swimming pools of different temperatures fed by the hot springs of the Arenal Volcano, a 2 kilometer hike to an observatory, a butterfly farm, crocidile pools, a frog sanctuary, spas, shopping, a restaurant, a gazebo out in the middle of a lake and other things I may be forgetting to mention.
This picture of Martha, taken at one of their many pools, shows the beauty of the place so well that it looks like it is fake and taken in a studio. 
It's a great example of just how "shangrila" this place really is.
It's a great example of just how "shangrila" this place really is.The room was reasonably priced and included a breakfast buffet that was delicious including fresh fruits and locally grown coffee and everything you could want. Most meals were 'tico' style which means they included rice and beans. All in all, great food!
Charlie and Ginette made this a trip that not only saved me over $8,100 including airfare and the lodging, but we also had a dream vacation to a beautiful country as well.
I can't repay them enough with words for all they did for us but hopefully this testimonial will help them and others connect so they too can have the great time and save money like we did.
Charlie and Ginette certainly made our Costa Rica dental vacation much more enjoyable. The security of knowing they were there for us allowed us to relax and enjoy our trip to the Pacific coast and to the Arenal Volcano much more than we might have otherwise had we had to figure it all out on our own.
Of course, dental work is never fun, but even that has been excellent and as pleasant as could be expected. 
The professionalism of the staff at the dental clinic was above my expectations.
The professionalism of the staff at the dental clinic was above my expectations. I look forward to my return in December to complete my dental implants in Costa Rica!
All the best to you and yours,
Kurt & Martha Gross
