I had an implant done with Dr. Pelcman one year ago. It cost 600 USD for the implant and 550 USD for the crown (there were other charges for Xrays and an extraction that added to the cost as well). I heard many good things about him from this sight, but I did not have a good experience with him or his son. I found the office completely chaotic and the dentists and staff very unfriendly and overworked, among other issues.
I'm glad to hear what you paid. Some of the prices I quoted are wrong. Your prices make way more sense. Mine included extra surgeries - commercial bone grafts, bone spreading and sinus lifts that are included in the prices I gave. (These surgeries were necessary, not cosmetic.) These surgeries go for roughly $US1000 each in North America as any of you who've had a dental bone graft there knows. My implants often involved one or other of those surgeries, or two.)
I'm shocked to hear that you had problems with Dr. Pelcman and his office. That's a shame. I've suffered long wait times sometimes there but I wouldn't go to anybody else but him so I'm very patient. (I moved to France since then and am using a big-city dentist. I haven't the money yet to stay in in BA because I'm living on retirement income. Otherwise, I'd be going to BA for 12 weeks which I sorely want and put myself in Dr. Pelcman's care again.)
People from all over Europe and the Americas have him as their implant and crown dentist. His technicians are very highly trained. He appreciates them. With him, you get a hand-made crown, not one off the rack re-modelled. He has improved many people's lives tremendously, mine included. His practice serves both portenos and foreigners. Some of the patient care he gave me was so good that my own doctors at home were stunned. Plus, restorative things they said were impossible to do, he did without finding them difficult. When a dental practice in California has a patient with a problem that they cannot solve, Dr. Pelcman is on call to fly there to deal with that patient and fix his problem. He's qualified in BA and California.
His implants are made by Parke-Davis, NY, not in Argentina.
Btw, whether an implant is made in the US or Switzerland or France, they're ALL equally good. You would not believe how little one costs when it's sold to dentists -wherever they're made (outside Arg, if any are even made there!). It's almost nothing. Don't let any dentist fool you by saying he uses the 'best' brand of implants. 'Best' means the best for your particular dental situation, that's all. My French dentist in a top area of town uses an US brand.
The only thing you have to ensure when you have an implant and crown done is that you have both done in the same country. The reason for this is that BA, North America, Brazil and different European countries each have their own way. Some put the pin onto the crown. Others have the pin attached to the implant. That's saying it non-technically, very roughly - just to warn you and give you an idea. Which way used makes no difference functionally but an implant and crown must be compatible, match. A dentist in one country can't crown an implant done in another country unless he has in his hand the crown made by the dentist in that country to insert after a patient's foreign implant surgery heals over 3 or more months back home. Most dentists don't know any other country's method and conclude ignorantly that all other methods than that used in their own country is weird, even perverse.
I have implants done in 3 countries. All of them work and are fine, touch wood. One implant bridge is nearly 20 years old. More important is what happens to the bone in your mouth as you age: is it still holding the implant firmly, ie.
I got quoted 5000 pesos for an implant about a year ago, that's why I was so shocked hearing 25,000 pesos. I'm sure he's good but those prices seem to be targeted towards expats.
