Taking adequate care of our teeth is important to our overall health, but not only is it important to make sure we have no cavities, gum disease or any other conditions, it is also necessary that we care for the appearance of our smile, since this plays an important role in our self-confidence.

Years back, going to the dentist was not considered of importance, some would only go when a toothache forced them to it and ended up getting a tooth taken out; there weren’t many ways to fix crooked teeth or get rid of the stains, certainly, there was no chance of replacing a lost tooth.

Times have changed, thankfully, and now investigation, education, and technology have brought us to an entirely new era. Most people are aware of the importance of keeping a healthy mouth, kids start going to the dentist from a young age, habits have changed, and it is now also possible to have a beautiful smile and correct problems that in the past were considered impossible.

Dental tourism has also played an important role in the area of cosmetic dentistry by making treatments more affordable and accessible.

“Cosmetic dentistry, contrary to what some think, is not about having pearly white teeth, it’s also important to your dental and general health and involve a number of different procedures: braces and aligners, teeth whitening, veneers, implants, bridges, full mouth reconstruction, among others”, explained Dr. Simon Flikier from the Flikier Dental Institute in Costa Rica.

“Our smile can be affected by a number of different reasons, sometimes it’s about genetics, other times as a result of an accident or a disease, and sometimes its age and bad habits.
Whatever the case may be, patients have to understand that correcting these problems is not about vanity, is an investment in your health; for instance, having overcrowded or crooked teeth doesn’t only make you feel insecure about your smile, it also provides perfect spaces for bacteria to grow, areas that are hard to reach when we brush our teeth, bacteria can cause bad breath, cavities, and periodontal disease; misaligned teeth can make it difficult to bite into food, and the inappropriate position puts unnecessary stress on the jaw joints which could lead to another set of symptoms and problems, which many times we don’t attribute to a teeth problem”, continued Dr. Flikier.

Speech disorders, TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders), the exposure of root structure which can cause decay and inflammation, teeth movement, having difficulty eating and changes of facial structure are just some of the repercussions of not fixing your teeth “esthetic” problems.

In Costa Rica you can find excellent professionals who specialize in cosmetic dentistry; treatments in the country could save you anywhere from 40% to 65% of what you’d pay in the United States. The Flikier Dental Institute is one of the most regarded clinics in Costa Rica, offering the latest technology and excellent service.