Working Remotely During Your Dental Trip

Medellín is one of the world's most popular digital nomad destinations. Great weather, excellent WiFi, affordable cost of living, and a thriving remote work scene. If you can work remotely, you might be wondering: can I keep working during my dental tourism trip? The answer is yes—with some realistic expectations.

The Time Zone Advantage

Medellín is on Colombia Time (COT), which is GMT-5—the same as US Eastern Standard Time. This means:

• East Coast: Same time zone (EST) or 1 hour behind (EDT during daylight saving)
• Central: 1 hour ahead of you
• Mountain: 2 hours ahead
• Pacific: 3 hours ahead

For most US-based remote workers, this is ideal. You're not waking up at 4 AM for meetings or staying up until midnight. Normal business hours mostly align.

When You CAN Work

Days without appointments: Your treatment will have gaps. Lab days (while crowns/veneers are being made), recovery days, and buffer days are all work-friendly.

Before and after appointments: Most appointments are 2-4 hours. You can work in the morning before an afternoon appointment, or vice versa.

Light work during recovery: Email, async communication, and non-demanding tasks are fine even when you're sore.

When You CAN'T Work

Procedure days: Expect the entire day to be consumed—prep, procedure, recovery, numbness. You won't be productive.

Day after surgery: After implants, All-on-4, or surgical extractions, you'll be swollen, medicated, and not in work mode.

When you need to talk: Video calls with a numb mouth, visible swelling, or pain medications don't project professionalism.

Sample Work Schedule (Veneer Trip)

WiFi and Connectivity

Hotel WiFi: Most El Poblado hotels have decent WiFi. Ask about speed before booking if reliability is critical. Some hotels have "business centers" or quiet lobbies for working.

Speed expectations: 20-50 Mbps is common at good hotels. Sufficient for video calls, file transfers, and normal work.

Backup options:

• Mobile hotspot (local SIM with data)
• Coworking spaces (see below)
• Coffee shops with reliable WiFi

Coworking Spaces in El Poblado

Medellín has excellent coworking options if you need a dedicated workspace:

Selina (multiple locations): Trendy, reliable, good community. Day passes available.

WeWork (El Poblado): Familiar format if you use WeWork at home. Day passes or short-term access.

Tinkko: Local Colombian chain, well-equipped, affordable.

Atomhouse: Popular with digital nomads, strong community, good events.

Day pass pricing: $10-25 USD typically

Coffee Shops for Working

El Poblado's café culture is strong. Good options:

• Pergamino: Great coffee, work-friendly, WiFi
• Al Alma Café: Quieter, good for focus
• Café Velvet: Multiple locations, reliable
• Starbucks: Familiar, consistent WiFi (yes, they're here)

Café etiquette: Buy something every couple hours if you're camping out. Don't take phone calls at shared tables.

Managing Expectations with Work

Be honest with yourself and your employer/clients:

Option 1: Take PTO

The simplest approach. Use vacation days for the trip. No juggling, no stress about meetings while your face is swollen.

Option 2: Reduced capacity

Tell your team you'll be available but at limited capacity for a week. Handle critical items only. This works if your job allows flexibility.

Option 3: Strategic scheduling

Block your calendar for procedure days. Schedule important meetings around your appointments. Works if you have control over your calendar.

What doesn't work: Pretending you'll be fully available when you'll clearly have procedure days, recovery days, and reduced capacity. Don't set yourself up for failure.

The Video Call Problem

Can you take video calls during your trip?

Before procedures: Yes, absolutely.

Same day as procedures: No. You'll be numb, potentially drooling, and not presentable.

Day after minor work: Usually fine. Slight swelling isn't noticeable on video.

Day after surgery: Probably not. Visible swelling, bruising, and you won't want to.

Camera-off option: If you must attend a meeting during recovery, camera off is acceptable. "Having some minor medical work done" is a reasonable explanation.

Medications and Work

Be aware that post-procedure medications can affect your work ability:

• Prescription painkillers: May cause drowsiness, reduced focus
• Anti-anxiety medication: If prescribed for dental anxiety, will affect cognition
• Antibiotics: Usually fine, no cognitive effects
• OTC pain relievers: No issues with ibuprofen/acetaminophen

Don't take calls or make important decisions while on medications that affect your judgment.

Extended Stays for Remote Workers

If you're fully remote, consider extending your trip:

• Longer Airbnb stays are cheaper per night
• More buffer for recovery
• Time to enjoy Medellín once you're feeling good
• Less rushed, less stressful

A 10-day trip crammed with work and dental appointments is stressful. A 2-week trip with the same dental work plus buffer days is manageable.

The Digital Nomad Play

Some remote workers turn dental tourism into a longer digital nomad stint:

1. Fly to Medellín
2. Get dental work done in week 1-2
3. Work remotely for weeks 3-4 while fully recovered
4. Explore Colombia on weekends
5. Fly home with a new smile and a new country experience

This turns a "medical trip" into an adventure—and you're still saving money on the dental work.

The Bottom Line

Working during dental tourism is doable if you're realistic. Plan for reduced productivity, block procedure days completely, and don't schedule important meetings when you might be swollen or medicated. Medellín's infrastructure supports remote work beautifully—the question is whether your dental recovery does.

The most successful approach: plan for the dental work first, then fit work around it—not the other way around.