Nova Dental Costa Rica
According to our open methodology, this clinic scored 76.1/100 for transparency, reputation, service accessibility, and digital visibility.
Overall rank: #5 of 17 ranked clinics · Last checked: 25 September 2026
76.1/100
Positions by Rating Profile
- Overall Transparency & Trust#576.1/100
- Best for Expats#576.3/100
- Best for Dental Implants#573.2/100
- Best for Emergency Dental Care#379.8/100
- Best Price Transparency#863/100
- Best English-speaking Clinics#379.5/100
- Best for Families / Children#480.4/100
- Sleep Dentistry (GA / deep sedation)not ranked
General Anaesthesia & Deep Sedation
Whether the clinic documents treatment under general anaesthesia or deep / twilight sedation — "sleep dentistry", where the patient is asleep and unaware (does not feel, see, or hear the procedure). Ordinary conscious sedation, where the patient stays awake and responsive, does not count here. This is informational and does not affect the transparency score.
- ✗ General anaesthesia / deep sedation (sleep dentistry) — No general anaesthesia or deep sedation documented Same site as Nova Dental; only 'The Wand' local anesthesia documented, no sedation/GA [nova-dental-escazu-sedation]
Summary
Dental clinic at Plaza Itzkatzú in Escazú directed by Dr. Luis G. Obando, with named specialists in endodontics, prosthodontics and dental surgery. The English-language website publishes indicative prices for single implants and full-mouth restoration and maintains a dedicated USA/Canada phone line. The clinic and three of its dentists appear with active registration codes in the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas public directory.
Strengths
- Information Transparency: 20 of 20 points.
- Reputation & Reviews: 16.5 of 20 points.
- Medical Infrastructure: 13 of 15 points.
- Communication & Service: 8.5 of 10 points.
- No red flags identified in public sources.
Weaknesses
- Price Transparency: 5 of 13 verifiable points (missing: cleaning price listed; filling price listed; crown price listed; x-ray / imaging price listed)
Score Breakdown
Every criterion below is scored from public sources. ✓ verified yes · ✗ verified no / not found · ◐ partial · ? unverified (scores 0, not a negative finding).
Information Transparency
20 / 20
Whether basic facts about the clinic - its team, premises, services, and location - are publicly verifiable.
| ✓ | Has a working website [s1] | 4/4 |
| ✓ | Dentist names listed [s1] | 3/3 |
| ✓ | Dentist specializations listed [s1] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Real clinic photos Named photos of the director on the clinic's own domain [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-11] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Service list published [s1] | 3/3 |
| ✓ | Clear contact details Phone and email consistent between own site and the dental college directory. [s1] [s2] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | English website version [s1] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Address and map published Plaza Itzkatzú location published; no more granular street address found. [s1] | 2/2 |
Price Transparency
5 / 15
Whether patients can estimate costs before visiting. Published price ranges count; exact prices are not required.
| ✓ | Prices or price ranges published Indicative prices published: single implant approx. $800; full-mouth restoration $20,000-$25,000. [s1] | 3/3 |
| ✗ | Cleaning price listed [nova-dental-escazu-deepen] | 0/2 |
| ✗ | Filling price listed [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-12] | 0/2 |
| ✗ | Crown price listed [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-2] | 0/2 |
| ✓ | Implant price listed [s1] | 2/2 |
| ? | Consultation price listed | 0/2 |
| ✗ | X-ray / imaging price listed Panoramic X-rays are part of an unpriced family plan, not bundled into a priced consultation [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-13] | 0/2 |
Reputation & Reviews
16.5 / 20
Public review signals. The Google rating is adjusted with a Bayesian prior (rating 4.0, weight 25) so a 5.0 from a handful of reviews does not outrank a 4.8 from hundreds.
| ✓ | Google rating (Bayesian-adjusted) as of 2026-08-26 [nova-dental-escazu-refresh] | 6/6 |
| ◐ | Google review volume [nova-dental-escazu-refresh] | 2/3 |
| ✓ | Review recency as of 2026-09-25 [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-14] | 3/3 |
| ✓ | Clinic responds to reviews One owner reply found among reviews read, dated 2018 [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-15] | 2/2 |
| ✗ | No recurring complaints Two independent reviews describe poor treatment outcomes [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-3] | 0/2 |
| ✓ | No suspicious review patterns 96% five-star (not 100%), dates spread across years, mix of established and single-review accounts [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-16] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Active Facebook presence [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-17] | 1/1 |
| ✗ | TripAdvisor presence No listing found in a TripAdvisor name search, and no TripAdvisor link on the clinic's website [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-4] [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-18] | 0/0.5 |
| ✓ | Other review platforms Listed on WhatClinic with verified patient reviews [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-5] | 0.5/0.5 |
Medical Infrastructure
13 / 15
The range of publicly documented equipment and services. This measures documented availability, not clinical quality.
| ✓ | On-site X-ray [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-19] | 2/2 |
| ? | CBCT (3D imaging) | 0/2 |
| ✓ | Implantology Director registered as oral implantology specialist in the dental college directory. [s1] [s2] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Orthodontics Orthodontics listed among services; registered orthodontics specialist in the directory. [s1] [s2] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Oral surgery Surgical extractions and dental surgery listed. [s1] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Pediatric dentistry [nova-dental-escazu-deepen] | 1.5/1.5 |
| ✓ | Emergency care Emergency contact line published on the site; patients are told to call for emergencies [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-20] | 1.5/1.5 |
| ✓ | Works with international patients Dedicated USA/Canada phone line published. [s1] | 2/2 |
Communication & Service
8.5 / 10
How easy it is to contact the clinic, get answers, and book - especially for international patients.
| ✓ | WhatsApp / LINE available [s1] | 2/2 |
| ? | Response speed | 0/1.5 |
| ✓ | English spoken Entire site operates in English with a US/Canada phone line, not just an English version [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-21] | 2.5/2.5 |
| ✓ | Pre-visit consultation possible The clinic invites patients to request a free virtual dental consultation through a form on its site [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-6] | 1.5/1.5 |
| ✓ | Clear service explanations [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-22] | 1/1 |
| ✓ | Convenient opening hours Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (evening availability); weekends closed. [s1] | 1.5/1.5 |
AI & Search Visibility
5.5 / 10
Whether the clinic is discoverable when patients search - including via AI assistants. Checked with fixed queries: "best dentist Costa Rica", "English speaking dentist Costa Rica", "dental implants Costa Rica", "emergency dentist Costa Rica", "Costa Rica dental clinic for expats".
| ✗ | Mentioned for: best dentist Costa Rica Not present in the top web results for "best dentist Escazú" on 2026-09-25. [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-7] | 0/1 |
| ✓ | Mentioned for: English speaking dentist Costa Rica Own site surfaced in an English-speaking-dentist Escazú web search, 2026-08-17. [sq] | 1/1 |
| ✗ | Mentioned for: dental implants Costa Rica Not present in the top web results for "dental implants Escazú" on 2026-09-25. [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-8] | 0/1 |
| ✓ | Mentioned for: emergency dentist Costa Rica Clinic's own site ranks 9th for "emergency dentist Escazú" on 2026-09-25. [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-9] | 1/1 |
| ✗ | Mentioned for: Costa Rica dental clinic for expats Not present in the top web results for "Escazú dental clinic for expats" on 2026-09-25. [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-10] | 0/1 |
| ? | Structured data on website | 0/1.5 |
| ✓ | Google indexing quality Own domain ranks in top results for generic Escazú dental queries. [sq] | 2/2 |
| ✓ | Dedicated service pages [nova-dental-escazu-deepen-23] | 1.5/1.5 |
Licensing & Credentials
Whether the clinic publishes its operating licence and the dentists working there together with their professional licence numbers. A verified “not published” is recorded as a red flag; data we have not checked yet is shown as unverified and carries no penalty.
Clinic operating licence: not checked against public sources yet — unverified, no penalty
Dentists & professional licences
| Dentist | Specialization | Licence No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Luis Guillermo Obando Agüero [s1] [s2] | Oral implantology; medical director | 203401 | — |
| Dr. Paola Truque Rivera [s1] [s2] | Endodontics | 233503 | — |
| Dr. Silvia Pacheco Rodríguez [s2] | Orthodontics | 515914 | — |
| Dr. Javier Chavarría [s1] [nova-dental-escazu-doclic] [nova-dental-escazu-ccdcr-287305] | Prosthodontics | 287305 | Membership code in the public register of the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Costa Rica, membership of which is compulsory to practise dentistry; listed as active (checked 30 September 2026). |
| Dr. Lucía Baltodano [s1] [nova-dental-escazu-doclic] [nova-dental-escazu-ccdcr-614919] | Dental surgery and esthetics | 614919 | Membership code in the public register of the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Costa Rica, membership of which is compulsory to practise dentistry; listed as active (checked 30 September 2026). |
Red Flags
No red flags identified in the public sources we reviewed.
Data We Could Not Verify
- Price Transparency: Consultation price listed
- Medical Infrastructure: CBCT (3D imaging)
- Communication & Service: Response speed
- AI & Search Visibility: Structured data on website
Unverified items score 0 points but are not treated as negative findings. If you can document any of them, please send a correction.
Contact Information
| Website | https://novadentalcr.com/ |
|---|---|
| Phone | +506 2228-0997 |
| +506 8424-6719 | |
| Google Maps | Map listing |
| Address | Plaza Itzkatzú, Escazú, San José, Costa Rica |
Contact details are provided for identification only and may change; verify with the clinic directly.
Sources
| ID | Source | What it supports | Accessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| s1 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | Plaza Itzkatzú Escazú location, phones (CR +506 2228-0997, USA/Canada +760-666-8227), WhatsApp, email, dentist names and specializations, services, indicative prices (implant approx. $800, full-mouth $20,000-$25,000), hours Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00. | 2026-09-25 |
| s2 | https://directorio.colegiodentistas.org/es/clinic/nova-dental | Official Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas directory entry: clinic listed with phone/email; active registration codes Obando Agüero 203401 (oral implantology), Truque Rivera 233503 (endodontics), Pacheco Rodríguez 515914 (orthodontics). | 2026-08-17 |
| sq | search:dental clinic Escazú Costa Rica dentist English speaking | AI/search visibility scout 2026-08-17. | 2026-08-17 |
| nova-dental-escazu-doclic | https://www.colegiodentistas.org/listado-odontologos/ | searched: 'Javier Chavarria' — CCDCR shows JAVIER CHAVARRIA POZUELO, PROSTODONCIA, código 287305, Activo, matches clinic's listed Prosthodontics specialization (2026-08-25). | 2026-08-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-sedation | https://novadentalcr.com/the-wand-dentist-painless-dental-anesthesia | describes The Wand as local painless anesthesia device only | 2026-08-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-refresh | https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nova+Dental+CR/@9.9436295,-84.146… | Google rating 4.9 (131 reviews) as of 2026-08-26 | 2026-08-26 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen | https://novadentalcr.com/dental-fillings | "Family Dental Plan: 4 Panoramic x rays, 4 diagnosis, 2 routine dental cleaning adults plus 2 routine dental cleaning children" -- bundle described with no price attached | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-2 | https://novadentalcr.com/dental-crowns | Crowns page describes the procedure with no price figure | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-3 | https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1279476198582918235&hl=en | Mowlawyzada Humaira (2025-08-13): "complete disaster from start to finish... Overpriced from the start" (root canal retreatment/crown); Muffi Hiss (2021-05-13): "I had three procedures done at Nova dental, none turned out well" | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-4 | https://www.tripadvisor.com/TypeAheadJson?action=API&query=Nova%20D… | TripAdvisor name search for "Nova Dental Costa Rica" returned only Portugal locations and generic Costa Rica hotels, no dental clinic | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-5 | https://www.whatclinic.com/dentists/costa-rica/san-jose/dental-impl… | WhatClinic profile "Dental Implant Costa Rica - Nova Dental Clinic" read 2026-09-25: Plaza Itskatzu Office 212, Escazú; 4 verified patient reviews naming Dr. Obando; rating 4.9 | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-6 | https://novadentalcr.com/news/cost-savings-of-dental-implants-in-co… | Clinic page read 2026-09-25: heading "Request Your Free Virtual Dental Consultation" above a request form (name, phone, email, subject, message); another post: "Schedule a virtual consultation today" | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-7 | search:best dentist Escazú | Web search on 2026-09-25: results 1–9 were facebook.com, goodnessdental.com (x2), whodoyou.com, placidway.com, medicaltourismco.com, dentaldepartures.com (x2), costaricadentalguide.com; the clinic's site and name were not among them. | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-8 | search:dental implants Escazú | Web search on 2026-09-25: results 1–9 were avenida-medica.hulilabs.com, goodnessdental.com, denscare.com, stardentalimplant.com, placidway.com, dentaldepartures.com (x2), costaricadentalguide.com, dentalavenuecr.com; the clinic's site and name were not among them. | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-9 | search:emergency dentist Escazú | Web search on 2026-09-25: result 9 — https://novadentalcr.com/, title "Nova Dental Costa Rica Dental Treatments Advanced Center", the clinic's own domain. | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-10 | search:Escazú dental clinic for expats | Web search on 2026-09-25: results 1–9 were gildentalclinic.com, goodnessdental.com, placidway.com, dentaldepartures.com, costaricadentalguide.com, denscare.com, americadental.com, costaricanbiodental.com, smilejet.app; the clinic's site and name were not among them. | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-11 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | Homepage carries own-hosted images named Doc.Obando-nova-dental-costa-rica.webp, matching director Dr. Luis Obando | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-12 | https://novadentalcr.com/dental-fillings | Fillings page explains materials (composite, glass ionomers, porcelain, gold alloys) at length but attaches no price to any of them | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-13 | https://novadentalcr.com/dental-fillings | "Family Dental Plan: 4 Panoramic x rays..." listed with no price for the plan or the X-rays | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-14 | https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1279476198582918235&hl=en | Google listing: newest read review dated 2026-09-02 (5 stars) | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-15 | https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1279476198582918235&hl=en | Owner reply to a 2017-12-19 review, dated 2018-01-10: "Hola Andrea, gracias por su comentario. Un placer haberla atendido." | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-16 | https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1279476198582918235&hl=en | Histogram 1★ 4 / 5★ 128 of 133; newest reviews dated 2026-09, 2026-08, 2026-04, 2026-03 and 2017 | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-17 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | Site links to facebook.com/NovaDentalCR | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-18 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | None of the 162 pages of the clinic's website (per its sitemap) links to TripAdvisor; read 2026-09-25 | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-19 | https://novadentalcr.com/dental-fillings | "Family Dental Plan: 4 Panoramic x rays..." documents on-site panoramic X-ray equipment | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-20 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | Homepage: "reach us anytime for emergencies" with an "Emergency Contact" line; service pages carry an "Emergency Call" line; patients-area page: "In case of any doubt or emergency, just give us a call, email or Whatsapp" | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-21 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | All service and patient pages read are in English; a dedicated USA/Canada phone number is published alongside the Costa Rica line | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-22 | https://novadentalcr.com/dental-fillings | Page explains multiple filling materials (composite, glass ionomers, resin ionomers, porcelain, gold alloys) and their properties in detail | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-deepen-23 | https://novadentalcr.com/ | Separate pages for Dental Implants, Bridges, Cosmetic Dentistry, Endodontics, Dental Crowns, Dental Surgery, Dental Fillings, Root Canal Therapy, Orthodontics, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening | 2026-09-25 |
| nova-dental-escazu-ccdcr-287305 | https://www.colegiodentistas.org/listado-odontologos/?data_search=2… | Public register of the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Costa Rica (Listado de Odontólogos), search by código 287305: one record — JAVIER CHAVARRIA POZUELO, specialty PROSTODONCIA, status Activo (active). | 2026-09-30 |
| nova-dental-escazu-ccdcr-614919 | https://www.colegiodentistas.org/listado-odontologos/?data_search=6… | Public register of the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Costa Rica (Listado de Odontólogos), search by código 614919: one record — LUCIA BALTODANO VALENZUELA, no specialty listed, status Activo (active). | 2026-09-30 |
Change History
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2026-09-25 | Search visibility checked on 2026-09-25 for four Escazú queries: present for "emergency dentist Escazú"; not present for "best dentist Escazú", "dental implants Escazú", "Escazú dental clinic for expats". |
| 2026-09-25 | Re-read on 2026-09-25: the clinic's treatment pages (crowns, fillings, implants, surgery, endodontics), its patients-area, contact and blog pages, its Google listing and its WhatClinic profile. Recorded: on-site panoramic X-rays and a family plan covering adult and children's cleanings; an emergency contact line; an English-language site with a dedicated USA/Canada line; a free virtual consultation offered through a request form; detailed explanations of filling materials; dedicated pages per procedure; Facebook presence; a WhatClinic profile with verified reviews. No price was found for cleaning, fillings, crowns or X-rays. Google reputation: newest review September 2026, one older owner reply, two independent reviews describing unsatisfactory treatment outcomes, no signs of manipulation. Not found on TripAdvisor. Still unverified: cone-beam CT on site and the fee for an in-clinic consultation. |
| 2026-08-26 | Re-verification 2026-08-26: this record on file entry is the same physical clinic and Google Maps listing as 'nova-dental' (same phone +506 2228-0997, same novadentalcr.com site, same Plaza Itzkatzu address). Confirmed website live, address/phone unchanged, clinic open on Maps. Recorded first Google rating 4.9 (131 reviews), Maps place URL and coordinates. |
| 2026-08-25 | Re-verification 2026-08-25: this record shares the same live website (novadentalcr.com) and phone (+506-2228-0997) as slug 'nova-dental', verified via a single fetch of that site today; name and address (Plaza Itzkatzu, Escazu) match stored data, no corrections. Google Maps rating/review count not re-captured this cycle (Maps place page unrenderable via available fetch tools; browser automation unavailable); no prior value was stored for this slug so none is added. |
| 2026-08-25 | Recorded sedation / general anaesthesia availability (informational): not documented in public sources. Same site as Nova Dental; only 'The Wand' local anesthesia documented, no sedation/GA |
| 2026-08-25 | License verification 2026-08-25 against CCDCR: filled in the two previously-null doctor licenses (Chavarría, Baltodano) for this clinic; clinicLicense and the other three doctors were already verified in a prior pass. |
| 2026-08-17 | Imported from the city-tier dataset. |
A question or a correction?
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