Thread: Newbie

Right on, Woo. If I could get his name and number from you? We will go see him when we get off the bus in Chitre. Thank you so much.

Marcomac, any chance that I could find out who this dentist is? I could then compare him with the one the MRWOOHOO is telling me about. Up here in the States a full root canal is running about $1,100 without insurance. $550 with insurance. WE could make an appt with one of them while we are down there and get it done.
Has anyone on this forum had a root canal job done in Panama?
Thanks Marcomac!

When you become a permanent resident you will qualify to use the social security hospital system. That means you can use the neighborhood clinic! The clinics have family doctors and also dentists. The cost is almost nothing. Should you become very sick and need hospital care, that is affordable for most Americans also in public hospitals. Unless you need special medical care, you should be very happy with the price and the quality of the care here in Panama. You might have to buy your meds in the local pharmacy though. However, if you can buy meds online they are supposedly tariff free. Med's are the cheapest in Panama City if you can shop around. The doctors I have met so far are very nice and attentive to your needs.

india...I will shoot my lawyer an email and see if I can get the contact info. His daughter got her braces there and her total cost is about $1000. When I lived in Mexico I had a root canal done with crown for $380 and it was better work than I have ever had done in Canada. I hope it's similar in Panama!

Originally Posted by marcomac

india...I will shoot my lawyer an email and see if I can get the contact info. His daughter got her braces there and her total cost is about $1000. When I lived in Mexico I had a root canal done with crown for $380 and it was better work than I have ever had done in Canada. I hope it's similar in Panama!

Theres a few threads here about dentists too! type dental or teeth or so in search and you'll find some.

The wife had braces installed here in Las Tablas. The cost was 300 to get started and then 50 dollars per month for the appointments. She has been told that her teeth will be restored in 1 year. The Orthodontist was recommended by the dentist in the public clinic in the barrio. My dental care has been done by the barrio clinic and I am happy so far. I have been to about 3 appointments and I don't think I have spent 20 dollars yet. I have no insurance. I think you will find that things will fall in place for you if you decide to move here permanently. Just takes some time and patience and sometimes endurance.

Oh wow, you are all so wonderful to direct me through this dentist/doctor maze. I cant thank you enough for pointing me and the encouragement also. We will wait on that root canal that the dentist here is wanting to do for 1,100 and see what they will do down there in Panama.
Thank you all for your input!

Originally Posted by india

Thanks Rosecamoro! WE have decided to do just that. Now if I can just find a good underwater camera that doesnt cost an arm and leg...

Unless you are talking about an underwater video camera, I can recommend either the Kodak or Fuji disposable underwater cameras. Cost between $8-$12 in the States, good for still shots up to depth of 50ft. Both come with a strap to hold it onto your arm so you don't loose it when you're snorkelling. When all 27 exposures are used just take it to your local walmart (or equivelant) for processing. Doesn't cost any more to develop the pix from these cameras than for any other disposable camera.

Thank you, Viviana, this is good. I will just settle for a couple of the cheapy disposibles. Price is right. I wonder just how "still" a person could be in diving gear underwater..
thanks for the info!
india

thanks, jani. I should have thought of that before.