From a dreamy girl to a dental clinic: my story
For as long as I can remember, my parents took me to appointments with Dr. Raymond Pauly Sasso, a well-known pediatric dentist in Costa Rica. His office was filled with diplomas from foreign universities, and I watched him with enormous admiration: this tall, slightly stooped man who seemed to know everything about teeth. Every time he examined me, he explained what each instrument was for. He made me feel like part of the process, not just a little patient with cavities.
From then on, the first thing I noticed about people was their smile.
Through all my school years, I never doubted what I wanted to study. In 1984 I entered the University of Costa Rica to study Dentistry, and from that day on, I knew I had found my place.
My first encounter with orthodontics
When I finished my degree, I went to Cañas, Guanacaste to do my social service year. That’s where I met the man who is now my husband, with whom I’ve been happily married for over 30 years.
After finishing that year, I had the opportunity to specialize in Mexico. The idea excited me, but I didn’t know which specialty to choose. Everything interested me — except endodontics, which I found monotonous. To find my path, I started visiting practices of different specialists.
Periodontics: too invasive for my taste. Pediatric dentistry: I loved working with children, but something felt missing. Until a trip to Panama changed everything. I met my husband’s orthodontist, who invited me to observe his practice for several days, and that’s where I fell in love. I saw people walk in with dimmed smiles and leave radiant, confident, transformed. I saw how “simple appliances” gave them back their self-assurance.
Right then I knew: my calling was transforming lives.
Studying abroad — with a little help from above
The orthodontic specialty didn’t exist in Costa Rica at the time, and I didn’t have the resources to study abroad. But something wonderful happened: I received a full scholarship to the best orthodontic university in Latin America, the Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City. Almost three years of hard work, deep learning, and profound gratitude. I completed my Master’s degree in orthodontics and came back to Costa Rica ready to make a difference.
Back home, building something of my own
I opened my practice in San Pedro. Little by little, through word of mouth from my own patients, the schedule filled up. I was invited to present cases at National Congresses. I was appointed director and founding faculty member of ULACIT’s new orthodontics postgraduate program — which I built from scratch, designing the curriculum and hiring the faculty. I wanted Costa Rican dentists to be able to specialize here, with the same quality I had experienced in Mexico.
More than 150 professionals have graduated from that program. It’s one of my proudest achievements.
I also served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Academy of Orthodontics, organizing conferences for colleagues across the country.
But something nagged at me about traditional braces: patients complained about difficulty brushing, food restrictions, and wires that sometimes irritated their cheeks. I wanted more for them.
When invisible aligners arrived
In 2008, Invisalign launched in Costa Rica. I was among the first orthodontists to get certified. At first the results didn’t win me over — they only worked well for straightforward cases — and I gradually lost interest.
Then in 2017, I learned that Invisalign had completely reinvented their technology. New materials, new software, new engineering. That changed everything.
I dove in headfirst: courses, books, conferences, a Master in Aligners with renowned specialists in Portugal. I started treating cases that other orthodontists refused to handle with aligners, and the results surprised me. I learned how to customize treatment plans, sequence tooth movements precisely, and anticipate every outcome.
Today I can show you on a screen exactly how your smile will look before you even start. Everything predictable, everything personalized, everything designed for you.
Why invisible aligners captivate me
Because this technique is here to stay. Just as analog telephony gave way to digital, traditional braces are gradually ceding ground to aligners. People want to improve their smile without anyone noticing they’re in treatment — and that’s completely valid.
For me, aligners were a professional renaissance. They renewed my passion. I wake up every day wanting to learn more, improve more, and see more smiles transformed.
That’s what we do here at MG Ortodoncia Invisible: transform lives, one smile at a time.
Have questions or want to know if aligners are right for you? Book a consultation and let’s talk.