Drs. Cordero and Rubinstein are traveling abroad from today through July 14 but Prisma Dental remains open for scheduled appointments and emergencies, with Drs. Lizano and Hernandez in the office.
Telma and Josef are attending an international dental congress in Germany.
Prospective patients can still make appointments, preferably a month in advance for major dental work, by calling Tiffany Kofroth, international patient coordinator, at 1.866.741.8194; or via e-mail to clinic@prismadental.com; or even via Instant Messenger (See this post.)
– the moderator
Tiffany Kofroth, the patient coordinator at Prisma Dental, has let me know that she is now using Instant Messenger in the clinic to communicate with patients and prospective patients from the U.S. and elsewhere.
“We thought it might work better for some people,” she said.
I don’t know of many dental offices that are this accessible to patients. In fact, I don’t know of any.
Tiffany is using Windows Live (MSN) Messenger. If you are using Windows Messenger, you can add:
prismadentalcr@hotmail.com
as a contact in order to communicate with Prisma by IM. That address is for Instant Messenger only, not for e-mail. Tiffany said she will generally be available online during Prisma’s usual business hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you prefer to use Yahoo Instant Messenger, you can: it is interoperable with Windows Messenger. In Yahoo IM, when you add prismadentalcr@hotmail.com as a contact, make sure to specify the network as Windows Live/MSN.
Again, the contact address is for instant messaging only. If you want to contact Prisma after hours, the best way is generally to e-mail clinic@prismadental.com. The staff is also available during business hours by phone, toll-free, at: 1.866.741.8194.
As I said, I don’t know of any dental office in the world as accessible to patients as is Prisma, at this point. I am sure some use instant messenger for contact but I bet it is with a marketing service, not their own trained staff.
Maybe I can convince them to set up a webcam next … 
-jeff schult
The privacy of our patients is paramount to us. Over the years, however, it is also our patients who have spread the word about Prisma Dental care and services back in the United States. We have made so many friends this way.
Yesterday, we received this e-mail:
Thank you so much for making my week in San Jose, Costa Rica so enjoyable. It is not easy to make a week of dentistry and Spanish classes enjoyable, however it is to your (Kalexma Bed and Breakfast and Prisma Cosmetic Dentistry) credit.
Prisma Cosmetic Dentistry was without a doubt one of the most modern, organized and comfortable dental offices I have ever been in. there was never a time without the comfortable support of either a dentist or dental hygienist during the entire time I was in the office (on the first day it was 8 hours.) The explanation of the necessary work was clear, concise and ensured the confidence that the work would be done well. The added comfort of the laboratory being within the office assured me that there would not be any delays in the completion of the treatments. The benefit of having a patient coordinator such as Tiffany to help solve and coordinate any problems outside of the office did not go unappreciated.
Read the rest of this entry »
A picture (or two) doesn’t tell the whole story when extensive dental work is involved, but they can be extraordinary testimony to the skill of the dentist and the happiness of a patient. Here is the “Before and After” of a New Mexico man who came to Prisma recently, for what was obviously some major dental work.
(Click on the photos to see a larger view of each.)
Afterwards, this is what Patrick had to say, in e-mail:
Hello there — just a note to thank you all for your great support and excellent work on my teeth during my stay in Costa Rica in April. Dr. Rubenstein: a personal thank you for your kindness and excellent help..Everyone back in my “pueblo aqui” in New Mexico liked my new smile very much..Your kind staff and expert workmanship in the lab got me the smile I have always wanted. I am doing fine and look forward to seeing you again when I return in the fall.
Warmest wishes to all at Prisma Dental from Patrick
Patrick’s case, at least from the photos, reminds me a little of my own — it looks as though the major work was needed on the uppers.
Prisma Dental welcomes your questions about affordable and professional dental work in Costa Rica for individuals or families. They are perhaps best known for full mouth reconstruction, implants, veneers and crowns but are a full service dental office.
– Jeff Schult
The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday on a survey that indicates that men and women over 60 “lack adequate insurance and cannot afford oral healthcare.” Link to full story:
Older L.A. County adults suffer from inadequate dental care
Dr. Roseann Mulligan, an expert in geriatric dentistry at USC, said she was not surprised to learn that so many older Angelenos were lacking in dental coverage and care.“
They’re on a limited income,” she said. “They have to pick and choose. . . . Dental insurance for seniors is virtually nonexistent, and unless you’re able to pay out of pocket, you frequently don’t get dental care.”
Increasing numbers of seniors and Baby Boomers are heading out of the country for dental and other medical care when they cannot afford it in the U.S. — especially when the work required is major.
Preventative care is key to long-term oral health at any age, according to Telma Rubinstein at Prisma Dental in Costa Rica.
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