Ecuador Clinic a Pioneer in Dental Tourism
Jan 31, 2025 08:46AM ● By Bernice Butler
Costs for dental services in the United States rose 4.9 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to Money magazine, and more patients are venturing toward dental tourism—the act of crossing borders to acquire dental procedures beyond routine cleaning and exams at lower costs.
Adam Elliot Altholtz saw that such a significant portion of clients of his medical/dental tourism business, based in Cuenca, Ecuador, sought dental implants that he opened the Find Health in Ecuador Dental Clinic in 2012. It provides a range of dental services found at most clinics in the U.S., and they also refer patients to other providers nearby for plastic surgery or orthopedic care.
Americans can obtain bridges, crowns, veneers, root canals, teeth whitening, extractions, dentures, braces and cleanings from Altholtz at a fraction of the cost in the United States or Canada. “In Ecuador, it costs $950 for each implant; in the U.S., implants often start at $3,000 or more each. Temporary crowns are included in cost of the implants, whereas the permanent crowns are $350 to $500 each. In the U.S., cost starts at $1,500 for each permanent crown,” Altholtz explains.
Dental services are provided by English-speaking Ecuadorians that have studied dentistry in the United States. Maxillofacial surgeon Santiago Reinoso completed a fellowship in craniofacial surgery at the University of California Los Angeles. “We do everything to American standards. The clinic is very clean and bright, akin to what patients expect from clinics in the United States,” Altholtz says. “We keep up with the latest technology and dental options.”
The clinic serves a significant American expatriate population in an area which consistently ranks among top retirement destinations due to a temperate climate, reasonable cost of living, low crime and natural beauty, including the Andes Mountains.
Planning a Dental Vacation
Patients begin the process by scheduling a free consult with Altholtz, the patient coordinator and concierge via phone, text or email. All services are provided in English; so options such as Google Translate are not necessary. Clinic staff will request dental X-rays from the patients’ dentist. Even if someone has never been seen by a U.S. practitioner, they can still pre-qualify. Altholtz notes that most patients are accepted unless something in their medical history or specific medications would prohibit dental surgery.
To reach Cuenca, patients can fly into either Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport, in Quito, or José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, in Guayaquil. Altholtz says most dental tourists fly into Quito. From there, they take an hour-long domestic flight from Quito to Cuenca. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport serves several airlines that offer direct flights to Ecuador.
Upon arrival in Cuenca, an English-speaking taxi driver with a name card will pick up the patient. Altholtz helps patients navigate the local landscape. “I’ll ask them where they’re staying, what they are planning to do, and recommend restaurants and area attractions. Our clinic offers free walking tours of Cuenca.” Cuenca makes for a stunning travel destination, and getting needed dental work can make dental tourism a win-win for patients. “A full mouth replacement is the best reason and biggest cost savings for your dental vacation,” says Altholtz.
Dental procedures are performed in the same manner as those in the this country. The clinic handles the transfer of all dental records with no additional fee. There are myriad dental tourism options available, including clinics just over the border in Mexico, but Altholtz claims that Ecuador is advantageous because the U.S. dollar is the country’s official currency. There are no foreign transaction fees on credit cards and ATMs dispense American cash.
Find Health in Ecuador Dental Clinic is a preferred partner of Dental Departures, a specialized travel agency that along with its sister agency, Medical Departures, educates patients about the best and most appropriate clinics and doctors around the world for their medical and dental needs.
Find Health in Ecuador Dental Clinic is located in the Medimagen Building, 2nd fl., on Ave. Pumapungo, in Cuenca. For more information call 941-227-0114 (U.S.), email [email protected] or visit FindHealthInEcuador.com.