One of the many things I was most excited about when I decided to become a Panama expat was having access to affordable dental care.

Living in San Diego, I was used to getting great dental work—but at a steep price. Moving abroad felt like a smart financial move. I thought I'd be able to keep up with my dental health for a lot less money.

While it looked like this on the surface, it didn't exactly turn out that way.

A Small Concern Before the Big Move

Right before I left for Panama, I had a little concern with one of my molars.

About 10 years earlier, I had gotten a crown on that tooth, and now I was seeing a slight gum recession and a darker color near the base.

I asked my San Diego dentist to check it out.

He took x-rays, examined the area, and told me not to worry. He said it was normal for older crowns, and everything looked totally fine on the x-rays. (This was not actually the best input!)

Relieved, I packed my bags without giving it much more thought.

My First Dental Experience in Panama

Soon after settling on the Azuero Peninsula, I found a dentist close to my house.  

I was so happy I could pop in for a cleaning just 10 minutes from my house for a fabulous price!

At my first appointment, I mentioned a sore spot between two teeth that hurt when I flossed.

The cleaning was very basic, and everything felt rushed. He emphatically repeated, "No cavities, no cavities!" 😄

And, I couldn't help but wonder...how do you know this without taking any x-rays? 

The sore spot remained, so I decided to listen to my gut and look for a better dentist.

But here's the thing—there’s no Yelp in Panama. Finding reliable professionals is almost entirely word of mouth. So, like many expats, I turned to the local expat group for help. I posted asking for dentist recommendations so I could get my still sore spot legitimately checked out.

One name came up several times—an office that was about 1-1/2 hours from my house. I had no choice but to trust the people who recommended him and give him a shot.

Better Cleanings...But Big Gaps Remained

This second dentist was definitely better. The office was much more professional, the cleaning was more detailed, he treated my sore spot successfully, and he spotted a cavity—with his eyes. (Not sure how the other dentist missed it just a couple of weeks ago???)

I had a much better feeling—but this dentist did not offer me any x-rays.  

My assumption was that he didn't have any and my inner voice told me this was probably not a good thing, but my brain told me to trust without rocking any boats.

When I went back to have the cavity filled, things went a little more sideways.

The Novocain didn’t do the full job 😳—jarring to say the least. One of those dental nightmares you hear about but hope you never experience!

Thankfully, all I needed at the next two visits was cleanings. Still no x-rays; still no mention of any issues with any of my teeth.

I went for a couple more cleanings before I returned to the U.S. (both times ignoring my inner voice about the x-rays, which was getting a bit louder.)

It's clear to me now that despite the office's clean and professional appearance, this Panama dentist was negligent. Had I stayed in Panama much longer without a proper diagnosis, I would have developed a very serious health issue as a result of necrotic tissue. 

Read on to see how this is not an exaggeration.

Back in San Diego

After returning to San Diego, it didn’t take long for my inner voice to say "I told you so!!!"

About two weeks in, I started having some sensitivity when I chewed my food on my crowned molar.

So, I made an appointment with a new dentist not far from my house. This time, in addition to a full exam, I got a complete set of x-rays, and even a CT scan.

The news was awful:

• A large cavity had been forming over a long period of time under the crown.
• Not only was it clear as day on the x-ray, it was visible to the eye with the help of a little poker tool.
•  A CT scan showed it had reached the nerve.

I was given two treatment options: a root canal plus a new crown OR a full implant. Estimated cost: $8,000 to $10,500.

If the decay had been caught earlier, it would have been a simple replacement crown. Way cheaper and way less painful—proof that it's NOT worth it to skimp on dental care.

Thank God for Tijuana

Thankfully, living in San Diego means Tijuana is just a short drive away.

This time I did some solid research and found a highly regarded dental clinic in Tijuana whose office boasted:

• Full digital x-ray and CT scan equipment
•  English-speaking staff
•  Numerous rave 5-star reviews on both Google and Yelp

Their office was no different than a U.S. office—sophisticated, modern, and clearly servicing many patients at a high level of care.

They confirmed the issue and highly recommended going with an extraction and implant to minimize long-term problems and costs.

They were shocked that my Panama dentist had not caught this. When they showed me with a mirror, I was livid. It's more than just the the money—it's the pain and hassle.

I lost a tooth because my Panama dentist never offered me x-rays in my three years of visiting him.

Thankfully, their prices are a tiny fraction of what U.S. dentists charge...in my case, about 80% less.

I'm still going to be out about $2,500—more than I would have spent on higher quality dental care in Panama, but not nearly the $10,500 the U.S. dentist wanted to charge me. 

My suggestions

Hopefully you understand what I had to learn the hard way — affordable dental care in Panama is great, but it has to be the right care in order to be truly affordable.

There’s no Yelp in Panama, so it’s not easy to vet professionals. You rely on word of mouth, just like I did—which, unfortunately, didn’t serve me well in this case.

X-rays are totally necessary for proper care of your teeth—no matter what any dentist says. Not even the best dentist can see what’s happening under crowns, inside teeth, or below the gums with their naked eye. X-rays help you catch problems early so you avoid major dental costs down the road.

If you're moving to or already living in Panama, don't skimp on dental care. My best advice:

• Commit to spending more money and travel into Panama City if necessary. Higher quality dental care is worth it.
•  Make sure your dentist has x-ray equipment and uses it regularly.
•  Listen to your inner voice when something feels off.

Don’t settle for care that looks professional on the surface but skips critical steps. Teeth aren’t something you can afford to gamble with—even if you’re trying to save money.

Subscribe to get notified of new posts!