A Good Dentist in Cebu City

If you’re in Cebu City and you need dental work done, I have a great recommendation for you. I recently had some work done at Bite Solutions, a small dental office on Juana Osmena between Baseline and Maria Cristina.

It’s a one-dentist office, Dr. Iris Rose Redulla-Salupan. Her work is outstanding and her prices are very, very reasonable (incredibly so, by American standards). I had five fillings done (two new ones and three replacements of old fillings) for 500 pesos (a little over $11) each. I also got two crowns at 6000 pesos (about $135) each. Total cost, 14,500 pesos. This is about $325-$330, half or a third of what one crown would cost in the US (I’m told they run $600 to $1000).

But much as I enjoy saving money, I’m of the opinion that low prices are meaningless if the work is inferior. Dr. Salupan’s work is excellent, her office professional, and her equipment very much up-to-date. And there was no pain. In addition, she is an extremely nice person and takes the time to get to know what her patient wants, even spending time just chatting (her English is excellent).

My visits to her office were the most pleasant dental experience I’ve ever had. OK, so ‘pleasant dental experiences’ is not a category with a lot of competition. Still, this was as close as visits to a dentist can get to being a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Before going to Dr. Salupan, I had visited a place called DentaLand, on a recommendation from another expat. It is in Ayala Mall, a high-end place frequented by expats. DentaLand cleaned my teeth and did an exam for a reasonable price (900 pesos), but then recommended several fillings – at 1500 pesos each.

That price was still very low by US standards, but I knew it was absurd for Cebu. I really resent being taken advantage of because I am a foreigner, and I thanked them and left. I cannot recommend DentaLand.

More detail on the office location: Coming from Mango/Maxilom Avenue, after you pass Baseline, the building next to it contains a beauty salon. Next to the beauty salon is Bite Solutions. If coming in the other direction, from Escario, on the corner of Maria Cristina is a pension, next to it is a residence, and then Bite Solutions. Should be no problem finding it.