Interview with Dr. Mariano Kriebel of Kriebel Dental

Interview with Dr. Mariano Kriebel of Kriebel Dental 

 kriebeldental.com

Here's an interview--conducted via the magic of email--with an excellent Costa Rican specialist dentist, Dr. Mariano Kriebel, about his great specialist clinic, Kriebel Dental.  Readers of this blog know how much I like specialists, especially those trained in the U.S., such as Dr. Mariano Kriebel and his father, Dr. Ricardo Kriebel, and their associates.

Here's how this interview happened.  A few weeks ago, I posted a favorable review by a patient of this clinic. (To find that post, click on the "DrKriebel" label.)  Dr. Kriebel saw it and sent me a thank you note, suggesting that I put up some testimonials from his web site.  This I couldn't do, though I'm happy to put up testimonials that I receive directly from patients.  Instead, I suggested that we conduct a little interview.

Disclaimer:  I have no business or financial interest in this clinic (or indeed any of the other clinics mentioned on this blog).  Even though I have not met any of the dentists at Kriebel Dental, I feel confident in recommending this clinic because of the previous patient's excellent report and the specialty training of the principal clinic dentists.

I have not edited Dr. Kriebel's responses except to improve on spelling in a couple of places. 

Question 1: You are a father-and-son team of prosthodontists, trained in the US.  Does dentistry run in your family?  

Answer: Kriebel Dental means four generations of dentists serving national and

international patients for over 100 years. The clinic was founded by Dr. Ricardo

Kriebel Staats, who arrived from Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1894. My grandfather,

Dr. Kriebel Rodriguez, an Honorary Member of the American Dental Association

among many distinctions, retired from the practice of dentistry in 2008, after 66

continuous years of treating patients.

My father Dr. Ricardo Kriebel Coronado, trained as a specialist in Prosthodontics

from Indiana University, joined the practice in 1981 and is currently working

with me. I joined the practice in 2012 after graduating as a Prosthodontist from

The Ohio State University. I also served as a clinical instructor in The Ohio State

College of Dentistry for 4 years.

Question 2:  You have an interesting CV, Dr. Kriebel.  You are the first prosthodontist I know of who can boast of specialty training in implantology too.  What is your role in the clinic, which also has another implantologist, and an endodontist, and your father, the prosthodontist?

Answer: I have a specialty in Prosthodontics and also have advanced training in

implant dentistry in both the surgical and restorative aspects. I spent one extra

year at The Ohio State University only working with implant patients. We

managed to restore over 1000 implants between the 3 resident doctors. In the

clinic I work as a full time prosthodontist as well as my dad. I do implant

placement surgery and we have an oral surgeon who supports the clinic in

specific cases, example: third molar extractions, block grafts and pathology. We

have an endodontist, Dra. Perez, she graduated from Baylor College in Texas. She

is a great professional and her expertise are very hard to beat.

Question 3:  There's always discussion about which dental implants are the best.  I imagine that questions like this are best decided with the patient in front of you, but could you give us some general advice about implant brands that might be useful to many US patients thinking of getting implants?

Answer: Currently here in Costa Rica we have a wide variety of options regarding

dental implant selection. The majority of implant brands are very good and I

personally feel they all work very well. It all comes down to the personal choice

of the dentist, the most important aspect is to find a dentist with the right

training and knowledge in order to use them correctly. Some of the implants I

like to use are: Zimmer and Bio-Horizons. Both of them very popular in the USA.

Question 4:  Along these same lines, what types of crown materials does your clinic tend to use in  which particular situations (e.g., front teeth, molars, etc)?

Answer: Regarding crown material selection, this is very specific for every case. When

selecting the material we need to take multiple aspects into consideration and

select the material accordingly. I like to use a lot e-max crowns from Ivoclaar.

They offer great strength and aesthetics. In cases where we have very limited

space and we require a stronger material, we might consider Zirconia or

porcelain fused to metal. I sometimes combine, using a more aesthetic material in

the front teeth like e-max and a stronger material for the back teeth like

porcelain fused to metal. It depends in the clinical situation, the important thing

here, is to have adequate knowledge of how to pick your material correctly in

order to have good longevity with your crowns. The biggest mistake I see, is

some dentists don’t know their materials and rely on their lab-technicians for

advice, trust me, understanding what materials to use is a critical component of

success.

Question 5:  Your clinic web site is in English to attract patients from the US, in addition to all your local clientele.  What are the most common concerns of your US patients, and how does your clinic try to address them?

Answer: In relation with international patients, we have been blessed to have great

patients and make a special friendship with lots of great people. Our website

provides some information and we are putting up a new one this week.

International patients always have concerns and are sometimes a little scared to

travel to a different country to get dental care.

When a patient contacts our office, I always take the first phone call, I spend as

much time as the patient needs to answer questions and make them feel secure.

We provide our patients all the necessary information and follow up before,

during and after their treatment. We explain every single detail, procedures,

pricing, lodging and all aspects before they come to Costa Rica. Once the patient

feels comfortable, everything becomes smooth.

We provide our patients a boutique type service, I usually only see one patient a

day when there is a big case. I talk with my patient and provide them special

individual care. We don’t do assembly line type dentistry (this happens a lot) we

serve each patient with quality. This helps them a lot and calms them down, after

all they are looking for a positive experience and good results.

We have a lot of pride in our dental work, we don’t compromise our quality and

patients can feel that. They like to see we have our own dental lab and do

everything custom for them, all these details add up to eliminate the fears and

concerns.

Thanks a lot David!!!!

Dr. Mariano Kriebel D.D.S,Ms

And thank you, Dr. Kriebel!

Tags: DrKriebel → Implants

Interview with Dr. Mariano Kriebel of Kriebel Dental

By CometGlare → Sunday, May 8, 2016

My Interview on Alex Wideman's Implant Site

A

lex Wideman runs a web site for people needing implants.  He gives general information about implants and crowns, and advises prospective patients about their options in choosing a dentist.  I've looked at the site, and it seems to fill an unmet need.  Implants are a huge expense for patients, and it's good to see a site that tries to provide unbiased information about them.  I'm always leery that dental-oriented web sites might have some hidden agenda, so I scrutinized the site looking for any telltale signs that Alex has "sold out" to some commercial interest. I'm glad to report that I didn't find any.  Whew!

He sent me a list of questions, which I dutifully answered and sent back.  My answers are now posted as an "Interview" in the "Costa Rica" section of the "Dental Tourism" page.  If you've read the other posts on this blog, I don't think you'd find many surprises in my interview.  I provided my standard list of encouragements and warnings.  You can read the full interview here.

Why did I give advice about implants even though I don't actually have any implants?  Well, I have procedures just as complicated as implants.  Furthermore, I know folks with implants--some of whom used dentists I recommended.  Even if I couldn't tell you the technical details of their work, things turned out well, so I felt both vindicated and gratified.  So when Alex knocked, I answered.

Buena suerte and pura vida!

Tags: Implants

My Interview on Alex Wideman's Implant Site

By CometGlare → Sunday, March 8, 2015

Before-and-After Pics from Stephen: Full bridges, 8 + 6 implants (Dr. Prada and Dr. Gonzalez)

Stephen's Before-and-After photos

Readers of the Topix forum last year were treated to a round of reports from one of our intrepid dental tourists. "EssKay", otherwise known as Stephen, had a full-mouth reconstruction done at DDS Dental with Dr. Prada and Dr. Gonzalez.  He sent me his photos so everyone could see them, as he doesn't have a blog of his own.  Glad to oblige, Stephen.  I read a lot of his posts on Topix and even corresponded with him, but it was only when I saw his photos that I understood his situation.

Here are his "Before" and "After" photos:

Before: Face

Before: Smile

After: Smile

Stephen had his work done at DDS Dental by Dr. Prada and Dr. Gonzalez.  It was completed in December 2014.  He had 8 implants on the top and 6 implants on the bottom.  The bridge material is Prettau "full-contour" zirconia from Lorenzo Favini's dental lab.  These are solid zirconia bridges, without a porcelain facing.  (I think that this might be a slightly improved version of the Prettau in my crowns from 2011.)  Lorenzo likes to make his crowns and bridges as life-like as possible.  If you look closely, you'll notice that the color is a shade darker near the gum line, and that the individual "teeth" have ever-so-slightly wavy edges.  These artistic effects are a hallmark of his lab.  See the "gums"?  Those are actually part of the bridges, painted as gums.

It was quite an event for Stephen. As I remember, he had a rough time recovering from all the procedures.  But he got a great smile out of it!

He sent me a more detailed description of his work:

My arrival at DDS was predicated upon faith.  After reading all the posts on the forum, I started focusing on Dr. Prada.  This was mainly the result of reading what you and Rod [of thedentaltourist.com fame] had to say.  So when I had my first appointment in Costa Rica, I was really at the mercy of the gods and the fates.

It was determined that all my teeth had to go.  Thankfully, I'd mentally prepared myself for that eventuality for a couple of years prior to making the decision.  I knew the front teeth were a lost cause, but I thought that some of the molars were salvageable.  The truth is, even they were loose (though not all of them obviously so).  It was easier to start from scratch.

My procedures were as follows:

First trip:

• Full extraction of all remaining teeth
• Bone grafts in all implant sockets and a sinus lift
• Eight implants placed in upper, and six implants in lower
• Fixed dentures

Second trip:

• Removal of dentures and measurements taken for finals
• Because of receding gums, it was determined that full bridges were the best option.  The alternative of several bridges would have left me with an unsightly gum line when smiling.  This was compensated for by having full bridges with the "gums" a part of the bridges (i.e. all the same material, Prettau Zirconia, but the "gums" painted and baked in.
• The construction of temporary "blueprint" molds to determine shape and bite
• The final bridges permanently attached

That was pretty much it.  Of course, I went through quite a bit of mental turmoil during these procedures, but that's too subjective to be of any use to others.  The mental oscillations of each individual tend to color true perceptions.

By the way, should anyone wish to contact Stephen directly, the best way is to send him a Private Message through the Topix forum. For example, see post #6649 on the long thread. Click on the envelope icon in the left pane to send him a PM.

The patient and the dental staff say goodbye in this parting shot:

Mission Accomplished! 
Stephen's the one in the white T-shirt, flashing his final bridges.  
Next to Stephen is Dr. Prada, and on the far left is Dannia, his long-time dental assistant.

Stephen says, "I think the photo shows the respect and love I felt for all those at DDS. I wasn't the easiest of clients, but Dr. Prada was/is a gentleman and a consummate professional."

Thanks for the photos and the report, EssKay.

Tags: DrPrada → Implants

Before-and-After Pics from Stephen: Full bridges, 8 + 6 implants (Dr. Prada and Dr. Gonzalez)

By CometGlare → Tuesday, February 24, 2015

What I know about implants in Costa Rica

I'm not a dentist. I don't have any implants. I have never researched implants and I really shouldn't be commenting on implants.  But I can't help myself, so I'm going to go ahead and tell you what I do know about getting implants in Costa Rica.

Implants are a mysterious topic for many US patients who suddenly learn from their dentist that they need one (or several).  Let's see if we can demystify it some.

First, as I explain elsewhere on this blog, I have nothing against US dentists.  If you have a local dentist that's an expert in implants, by all means, take advantage of him. Not all US patients are so fortunate, and so there has always been a demand for dental services abroad.

Implants are not an exotic specialty in Costa Rica.  CR dentists have been doing them for over 20 years.  Implants are now a bread-and-butter service at many CR dental clinics.  Services can range from a single implant to replace a diseased tooth, to several implants and associated crowns/bridges/appliances to replace all the teeth on the top or bottom of the mouth. I won't presume to give you any advice for your particular needs; that's the job of highly trained dentists.

You won't save much money going to Costa Rica if you just need a couple of implants: The travel costs will eat up the savings, especially since patients generally require multiple trips.  But if you need a whole bunch of implants, the savings can add up fast.  More importantly, you might be able to afford a much better dental solution in Costa Rica for the same price you would pay in the US for a lesser solution.

All of the clinics listed in the "The Dentists" menu do implants.  Patients frequently post on the Topix and TripAdvisor forums about their experiences in Costa Rica with implants.  In the last year alone, people have posted on Topix from these clinics: Cavallini clinic, Nova (Dr. Obando), DDS (Dr. Prada and Dr. Gonzales), Dr. Anglada and others.  My knowledge about implants comes from these posts, and occasional conversations with other patients.

The Cavallini clinic offers high-quality, economically priced implants.  They have placed over 21,000 implants since 1980.  There is discussion on the Internet boards from time to time about the best types and makes of implants, but I don't follow those discussions.  Sorry!  Most patients don't care about the particulars as long the final result is solid and aesthetic.

The Costa Rica Dental Team also does implants; please see their page.

This photo of a lone surfer at the edge of the Costa Rican surf is so relaxing to me.  I hope it relaxes you too.  And if you're reading this blog to research dental implants abroad, you could probably use a little relaxation!  (123RF stock photo)

The specialist clinics discussed on this blog (DDS, Nova, Anglada, and other specialty clinics) offer specialist services, naturally:  One specialist places the implant and another specialist fits the crowns/bridges/appliance.  The dentist placing the implant is sometimes called an implantologist.  Though a graduate of a US specialty program would more frequently be called a periodontist with training in implants.  Implantology is not a separate specialty in US dental schools, though it is in other countries. The dentist placing the crowns would be called a prosthodontist (if he holds a graduate degree in that specialty).  Prices for implants by specialty clinics are pretty standard, about 800 or 850 for just the implant (no crown) according to one person I talked with recently (Oct 2014).  Prices for a crown-on-implant run a little higher than crown-on-natural teeth.  As there are different choices of crown material with different prices, it's hard to quote a figure.

If I needed an implant today, I would probably use my current dentist with a high-end crown made by a top outside dental lab. (I would go to Costa Rica even if I needed only one implant.)  I think that this would run a little above $1800, implant plus crown.  This is the route that one patient took last year for his rather involved case.  It worked out well, judging from Rod's blog, which has already inspired several people to make the pilgrimage to Costa Rica.

For exact prices, you will have to contact the clinics directly.  You can find the URLs of their web sites listed on the clinics' individual pages in the "The Dentists" menu of this blog.  To get comparable quotes, please be specific in the work you need done and how you will pay (credit card or cash/wire transfer).  Some dentists include extractions in quotes, others charge separately.  Most dentists quote credit prices, but some quote cash prices, which are generally lower.   You can also explore choices in crown or implant materials.

Some dentists will work up a prospective treatment plan for complicated cases based on x-rays and photos you send them.  The treatment plan will show how the dentist proposes to treat your case.  It might offer alternative approaches.  See my Q and A posts for more information.

Of course, implants are performed by clinics not discussed on this blog.  Feel free to explore your options among good Costa Rica dentists. It's always great to learn about great, new dentists.

So that's it, folks.  That's all I know about implants.  It's not a lot, but it should be enough to give you a few ideas and get you started. And that's as much as this blog aspires to do.

Pura vida!

Tags: DrAnglada → DrCavallini → DrPrada → Implants → Obando

What I know about implants in Costa Rica

By CometGlare → Sunday, October 5, 2014

Internet Faves: Dr. Anglada

Dr. Arnoldo Anglada  (implants)

http://www.costaricaimplants.com/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/AngladaCastroDentalCare

Financial disclosure information:  I have no financial ties to this clinic or any of its dentists.  I am not employed by them in any capacity, nor do I receive commissions or any other form of consideration for any referrals or anything else. 

  

Dr. Arnoldo Anglada has been burning up the blogosphere for years.  Even casual readers of the Topix or TripAdvisor forums will have stumbled across his name numerous times--invariably in a favorable context.

    Dr. Anglada, a specialist dentist, trained at the University of Chile as an implantologist.

External Links:

Tara's 2012 blog of her experiences with Dr. Anglada, including some nice before and after pics and general advice about Costa Rica.

Another blog with a few posts about Dr. Anglada.


      Disclaimer:  I have no first-hand knowledge of this clinic.  I have not met Dr. Anglada.



Comments welcome.    Is Dr. Anglada your dentist?  If so, consider "paying it forward" by telling us about your experience (hints for posting).

Tags: DrAnglada → Implants

Internet Faves: Dr. Anglada

By CometGlare → Saturday, September 6, 2014

Internet Faves: Dr. Obando and Nova Dental

Dr. Luis Obando and Colleagues 
Nova Dental Clinic

http://www.novadentalcr.com/

Financial disclosure information:  I have no financial ties to this clinic or any of its dentists.  I am not employed by them in any capacity, nor do I receive commissions or any other form of consideration for any referrals or anything else.  

    

T

his is a fairly new clinic in the upscale suburb of Escazu, where Dr. Prada, SONRIA and Dr. Quiros are located.  Dr. Obando is a rising star on both the Topix and TripAdvisor Internet forums.
      His website describes Dr. Obando as a "Specialist in Oral Implantology and Cosmetic Dentistry. New York University and University of Chile".  That means he's a specialist in the sense of having obtained graduate-degree level training in a dental specialty.
      I first heard about the clinic while in Costa Rica in Spring 2011. At my hotel, there was a stack of flyers for a new dental clinic called Nova in Escazu.  I was surprised a year later when I started seeing rave reviews on the Internet for this very same clinic and its principal dentist, Dr. Obando.  In a July 2013 trip to Costa Rica, I met a patient of Dr. Obando.  "Euthie" had posted previously on the Topix forum that he was making the pilgrimage to Costa Rica and to Nova Dental despite the misgivings of many of his co-workers about Costa Rica dentistry.  His co-workers need not have worried.  I saw Euthie's new dental work, and they were pretty.  As I wrote on Topix, “Euthie is a real person and he has beautiful front teeth courtesy of Dr. Obando!”  Euthie would later report that some of his once-skeptical co-workers had booked their own flights to Costa Rica and Nova Dental.

      I don't have any first-hand knowledge of this clinic.  I have never met Dr. Obando or the two specialist colleagues listed on his web site: Dr. Paola Truque, endodontics, and Dr. Javier Chavarría, prosthodontics.



Comments welcome.    Is Nova your dental clinic?  If so, consider "paying it forward" by telling us about your experience (hints for posting).

Tags: Implants → Obando

Internet Faves: Dr. Obando and Nova Dental

By CometGlare →

Dave's Faves: The Cavallini Clinic

The Cavallini Clinic

http://www.aestheticdentistrycr.com/

Financial disclosure information:  I have no financial ties to this clinic or any of its dentists.  I am not employed by them in any capacity, nor do I receive commissions or any other form of consideration for referrals or anything else. 

I

heard so many good things about this clinic in Fall 2010 that I put it on my itinerary for my fact-finding trip that November.  I sat for an exam by Dr. Marco, and had a good visit.  Though I eventually decided that another dentist was a better fit for me, I remain impressed with this clinic and have been following its progress second-hand ever since.

   A word on names.  Patients of this clinic generally refer to the father-son team of dentists as "Dr. Cavallini" (Dr. Marco A. Muñoz Cavallini, the father, a US-trained specialist in prosthodontics) and "Dr. Marco" (Dr. Marco A. Muñoz Peralta, the son, a talented general dentist).  These names are so commonly used that I will follow that convention here. I hear through the grapevine that Dr. Marco is completing his graduate coursework as a specialist in prosthodontics.  I would like to be the first one to call him "specialist" once he finishes.  But until then, he is still technically a general dentist.

   There are now four full-time dentists at the clinic not named Cavallini: Dr. Ruben, Dr. Mora, Dr. Garita and their endodontist, Dr. Conejo. (There is another dentist also named Dr. Garita--Dr. Mario Garita, who has a clinic in Escazu.) 

   The Cavallinis had the largest and most devoted base of former patients of any clinic I looked at.  There were legendary stories of how Dr. Cavallini and Dr. Marco created a prosthetic upper jaw for a woman whose jaw was so injured that no clinic in the U.S. or CR could help.  Very impressive.  Another impressive indicator was the list of references the clinic was able to provide me when I asked.  Not only were there many patients willing to vouch for the clinic, but all these patients had received complicated procedures.  (Some other CR clinics had given me testimonials from patients who had received very minor dental work; I ignored such clinics.)  Several patients had full-mouth restorations, mostly from Dr. Cavallini, and everyone was pleased.  My reference list must have been more than 20 people if we include not just the people I spoke with or emailed, but also friends who were referred for work.  Not a one them uttered a discouraging thing.

    Recently the clinic and onsite lab have been expanding.  I was told that not only have they added a guest hotel ("Casa Marco"), but also an in-house pharmacy.   “Dr. Marco” (the son) has been at the clinic for 20 years, I am told. His Dad, who is getting up there in years, has cut back his time at the clinic to only (!) 40 hours a week.  But eventually he will have to retire and turn over the reins to Dr. Marco and his associates.

    In 2013, I heard sotto voce rumblings about the clinic.  These were always second-hand reports, never from the patient themselves.  I tend to discount second-hand reports.  The clinic, a long-time price-leader in CR, has always attracted more than its fair share of sour grapes from its competitors.

   There have always been sporadic Internet complaints about this clinic, going back as long as I've known about it.  I have investigated several of these complaints, and none have ever panned out.  In 2010, there were posts on Topix alleging outrageous, credulity-straining problems.  None of these checked out, and the posters would never identify themselves.  In March 2014 I looked into an unpublished allegation of bad workmanship at the clinic.  This story fell apart when it emerged that the work had been performed in the US.  More recently, in June and September 2014, there has been a poster on Topix and TripAdvisor alleging problems with her work at the clinic.  I looked into this, and don't believe a word of it. All these groundless allegations over the years have made me rather jaded.  I believe that the clinic takes its reputation very seriously and continues to deliver very good quality and high patient satisfaction through efficient, high-volume economies of scale. However, if you have evidence to the contrary, drop me a line.

    Some criticisms were directed more toward what I think of as the "style" of the clinic rather than its substance.  Many US patients are searching for an American-type of dental experience: with lush waiting rooms, fixed appointments, underworked receptionists, etc.  This clinic operates in a different--more efficient--way, and I think this is off-putting to some American patients.

     One distinctive feature of the clinic is its waiting room experience.  Patients are given only general times for appointments, and are expected to wait in the common waiting area until the dentists were ready.  I did this in November 2010 and had a good time talking with other patients, who were a mix of US and local patients.  Not everyone likes this system, though, so be warned.  If you prefer a dentist who can give you an exact appointment time, choose another clinic.  (Or stay at the dental clinic's in-house motel, the Casa Marco, and they'll call you down when it's your time.)  I personally think the Cavallinis' patient-management procedures are a brilliant innovation, but not everyone likes them.

     For more recent information about this clinic, let me refer you to other Topix posters.  Two posters in particular have followed it closely for several years.   "Jerry6665" spent a lot of time talking with me about the clinic in Fall 2010, and took it a little personally when I ultimately chose someone else.  He has "retired" from active posting now, but had been a frequent poster for many years.  In late August and September 2013, he posted about his long return visit to the clinic and contributed three photo essays to Photobucket (here, here, and here).
     Phyllis, another long-time poster, is now a full-time CR resident.  I met her on Topix in 2010, and then in person during a visit to CR in 2011.  She sent her daughter for a lot of work in May 2013, and she continues to refer family and friends to the clinic.
   In early 2014, "DCDan" posted about his experiences at the Cavallini clinic.  He was quite pleased.  I take satisfaction in his success because I was the one who gave him the name of this clinic.  I gave Dan the names of other dentists, as I always do, and he decided that this clinic best met his own requirements.  As long as I hear good feedback from patients of my favorite clinics, I'll continue to recommend them.


Comments welcome.    Are the Cavallinis your dentist?  If so, consider "paying it forward" by telling us about your experience (hints for posting).

Tags: DrCavallini → Implants

Dave's Faves: The Cavallini Clinic

By CometGlare →

Dave's Faves: Dr. Vinicio Prada

Dr. Vinicio Prada, Prosthodontist

Dr. Anibal E. Gonzalez, Periodontist/Implantologist

And their colleagues at:

DDS Dental

http://www.ddsdentalcr.com/

Financial disclosure information:  I have no financial ties to this clinic or any of its dentists.  I am not employed by them in any capacity, nor do I receive commissions or any other form of consideration for any referrals or anything else.  In April 2013, Dr. Prada waived the $300 laboratory fee for my follow-up dental work.  However, I don't think this small courtesy affects my objectivity.
   If I have any bias in favor of this clinic--which I probably do--it is simply because I have more information on Dr. Prada and DDS Dental Clinic than any other dentist or clinic in Costa Rica. My knowledge is a natural result from spending dozens of hours in the clinic.  Any patient will invariably have far more information about their own dentist than about any other dentist.  

Dr.

Prada of DDS Dental is my own prosthodontist.  His colleague, Dr. Gonzalez, is a periodontist/implantologist who performed my gum surgeries in 2010.  I highly recommend them both.  Their colleague, endodontist Dr. Paola Caranza, did my root canals in 2013.  Other DDS associates include: A maxillofacial surgeon (with stellar credentials), an orthodontist, and a pediatric dentist.
I have written in detail about my work with DDS elsewhere on this blog ("Welcome ==> My Dental Story").

      Dr. Prada did his post-DDS specialty training in prosthodontics (crowns, bridges, etc.) at Louisiana State University.  He functions as the "quarterback" when planning and executing complicated dental procedures, co-ordinating the work of the other specialists including Dr. Gonzalez.  Having experienced this teamwork approach personally, I wish that others could enjoy the same privilege.

     For folks considering implants, keep Dr. Gonzalez in mind.  He did dual post-DDS training at Baylor University in both periodontics (gum surgery) and implants.  I am sometimes asked about whom I would recommend for implants.  I don't have any, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Dr. Gonzalez, who did such a great job with Rod Anderson.  See Rod's blog at TheDentalTourist.com.  (I discussed a few dentists with Rod, and after a long search in 2013, he settled on Dr. Prada as best meeting his own particular needs.)  Rod's experience underscores what I have long believed about the importance of the prosthodontist, even in implant procedures. Dr. Prada oversees and co-ordinates dental implant work, from the beginning to the final crown, giving additional assurance that everything will fall into place. 

     Okay, enough said.


Comments welcome.    Is Dr. Prada or Dr. Gonzalez your dentist?  If so, consider "paying it forward" by telling us about your experience (hints for posting).

Tags: DrPrada → Implants

Dave's Faves: Dr. Vinicio Prada

By CometGlare →