Complete Guide
How thousands of Americans save 60-70% on dental care at verified clinics in Mexico — without compromising on quality.
See What You'd PayAn end-to-end walkthrough of the process, from research to recovery
You don't need to travel to get started. Upload photos or X-rays online, describe what you need, and receive a treatment plan with exact pricing from verified clinics. This step is free and happens entirely from home.
Review your options, compare clinics and pricing, and ask any questions. Once you decide, you pick a date and the clinic confirms your appointment. No deposit is required until you're ready to commit.
Border towns like Los Algodones and Tijuana are a short drive from Arizona and San Diego. For Cancun, a direct flight from most US cities takes 2-4 hours. Many clinics offer pickup from the border or airport.
The clinic performs your procedure using the same implant brands and materials available in the US. Everything is documented — X-rays, treatment notes, materials used — and uploaded to your patient portal in real time.
Your records are in your HIPAA-compliant portal, accessible to any dentist you visit at home. MxSmiles coordinates follow-up care with a dentist near you before you travel, so there's no gap in care when you return.
Real price ranges across the most common dental procedures. Even after travel costs, the savings are significant.
| Procedure | US Price | Mexico Price | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Implant | $3,000-5,000 | $800-1,500 | ~70% |
| All-on-4 (full arch) | $20,000-30,000 | $7,500-12,000 | ~63% |
| Porcelain Crown | $1,000-2,000 | $300-600 | ~65% |
| Veneers (per tooth) | $1,000-2,500 | $350-600 | ~68% |
| Root Canal | $800-1,500 | $200-400 | ~71% |
| Bone Graft | $800-3,000 | $300-800 | ~65% |
The cost is lower because overhead is lower — not because the materials or training are worse
Our partner clinics use Nobel Biocare, Straumann, and BioHorizons — the same brands your US dentist uses. The implant is identical. The price difference comes from lower operating costs, not lower quality materials.
Many dentists at our partner clinics completed residencies or advanced training at US or European universities. They hold specialization certificates in implantology, prosthodontics, or oral surgery.
Digital X-rays, 3D CT scans, CAD/CAM for same-day crowns, and laser-assisted procedures. Our partner clinics invest in technology because they compete for international patients on quality, not just price.
We check credentials and university degrees, inspect sterilization and infection control protocols, verify implant brand sourcing, review patient track records and outcomes, and only partner with clinics that meet our standards.
Not every clinic in Mexico meets these standards. That's exactly why vetting matters — and why we do it for you.
Three locations, each with distinct advantages depending on your procedure and where you live
Known as "Molar City" — the world's most concentrated dental district. Over 350 dental offices in a few walkable blocks, just 7 miles from Yuma, AZ. Walk across the border in 30 seconds, get your treatment, and walk back.
Implants, crowns, veneers, root canals. Ideal for patients in AZ, Southern CA, or anyone who prefers driving over flying.
Drive to Winterhaven, CA. Park on the US side ($5/day). Walk across the border — no car needed in town.
Just 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. Tijuana has larger, more specialized clinics — many with dedicated surgical suites, on-site labs, and multi-specialist teams for complex cases.
All-on-4, full-mouth restorations, complex multi-implant cases. Best for patients in Southern CA or anyone comfortable with a quick border crossing.
Take the San Diego Trolley (Blue Line) to San Ysidro, then walk across. Most clinics offer pickup from the border.
Combine dental work with a vacation destination. Cancun's dental clinics serve international patients with modern facilities, and the Hotel Zone provides comfortable recovery with all-inclusive resort options.
Multi-day procedures (All-on-4, multiple implants) where you need recovery time anyway. Great for patients on the East Coast or Midwest.
Direct flights from most major US cities (2-4 hours). Clinic transportation from the airport is typically included.
Not all dental tourism is the same. Here's what actually matters.
| Going Alone | Dental Departures | MxSmiles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic vetting | You're on your own | Listing site (self-reported) | Verified credentials, inspected facilities |
| Treatment plan before travel | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Exact pricing upfront | ✗ | Estimates only | ✓ |
| HIPAA-compliant records | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Records portable to US dentist | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Follow-up care coordination | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dedicated patient coordinator | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
You find a clinic on Google or Facebook, hope the reviews are real, show up without a treatment plan, pay whatever they quote you on the spot, and have no records to bring home. If something goes wrong, you have no recourse and your US dentist has no context.
A listing site — clinics pay to be listed, reviews are self-reported. No treatment plan before you travel. No patient records system. No follow-up care. No coordination. You're still essentially on your own, just with a fancier directory.
Get a treatment plan and exact pricing before you travel. Your records are HIPAA-compliant and accessible to any dentist. We verify every clinic. We coordinate follow-up care near you. A dedicated coordinator handles logistics so you can focus on your health.
Compliant patient records that travel with you
Every clinic inspected for credentials and standards
Treatment plan and exact pricing before travel
Post-treatment care coordinated near your home
Straight answers to the most common questions about dental tourism in Mexico
Yes — when you choose the right clinic. Mexico has thousands of qualified dentists, many trained in the US or Europe, using the same implant brands (Nobel Biocare, Straumann) and modern equipment (digital X-rays, CAD/CAM) as top US practices. The key is vetting. MxSmiles verifies every partner clinic's credentials, sterilization protocols, and patient track records before you travel. The border towns where most dental tourism happens (Los Algodones, Tijuana's medical district) are safe, well-traveled areas with hundreds of American patients visiting daily.
Most patients save 60-70% compared to US prices. A single dental implant costs $3,000-5,000 in the US versus $800-1,500 in Mexico. All-on-4 costs $20,000-30,000 in the US versus $7,500-12,000 in Mexico. Crowns, veneers, and root canals follow similar patterns. Even after factoring in travel expenses (which for border towns can be as low as the cost of gas), the savings are substantial — especially for major procedures.
Look for dentists with verifiable credentials (university degree, specialization certificates), clinics that use name-brand implant systems (not generic), modern diagnostic equipment (digital X-rays, CT scans), and documented sterilization protocols. MxSmiles handles this vetting for you — we verify credentials, inspect facilities, review sterilization standards, and track patient outcomes for every partner clinic. You'll see the clinic's credentials and verified details before you commit to anything.
No. Dental clinics in border towns like Los Algodones and Tijuana cater primarily to American patients — staff speak fluent English, and all paperwork is in English. Clinics in Cancun also have English-speaking staff. MxSmiles coordinates everything in English, and your treatment plan, records, and follow-up instructions are all provided in English.
This is the biggest risk of going alone — and where MxSmiles is different. We set up follow-up care with a dentist near your home before you travel. Your HIPAA-compliant records (X-rays, treatment notes, materials used) are accessible to your US dentist through our patient portal. If something needs attention after you return, your local dentist has full context on what was done, what materials were used, and what the treatment plan looks like.
Start by submitting a free consultation request. Upload photos or X-rays of your teeth, and we'll send you a treatment plan with exact pricing from verified clinics — no travel required for this step. Review the plan, ask questions, and decide on your own timeline. If you move forward, we coordinate the clinic, logistics, and follow-up care.
Get exact pricing for your case. No commitment, no pressure — just the number you need.
Upload photos or X-rays and we'll match you with verified clinics.
See What You'd Pay