I’m an American and Get All My Dental Work Done in Tijuana

(Originally Published in Fodor's)

Getting our teeth fixed in Mexico started as a money-saver and ended as a sightseeing adventure.

We were shocked! My husband Stu’s estimated dental bill was $33,800, not one penny covered by Medicare or insurance. Our New Jersey dentist’s plan included five extractions, two root canals, sixteen crowns, and whitening to match the color. We were familiar with medical tourism, so we wondered about dental tourism. Was there such a thing? Would it really save us money? How would we go about it?

A brief Google search yielded Dental Departures, a free dental tourism concierge. We contacted its founder, Paul Taggart, who explained that his service ranks dental clinics through an algorithm based on years in practice, volume of business, continuing U.S. education, English-speaking competency, and ease of doing business. Dental Departures also publishes patient reviews. The search also turned up a bewildering array of dental practices in other countries, as well as The Dental Tourism Association, a coalition of individual practitioners.

We decided to use Dental Departures to winnow down the choices and get a price quote—and so, the process began.

Selecting a Tijuana-Based Dentist

It was much simpler than we anticipated. After answering online questions about the countries we could visit, the needed work, and our city of departure, we honed the venues down to Costa Rica or Mexico–specifically Tijuana and Los Algodones, which has been dubbed Molar City as it’s stuffed with 400 dentists. We opted for a dentist in Tijuana because our children live in L.A. and we could meld a family visit with Stu’s dentistry.

Dental Departures sent us the contact information for three Tijuana dental practices. We called all three and chose Washington Dental Clinics because they answered the questions posed by our home dentist regarding what materials they use for crowns and bridges, and their anesthetic routine. We disclosed our plan to our home dentist, who gave us guidance in making our final choice.

Next, we held our breath and asked the price. The work would cost $9,000—a $24,800 saving. Dentistry in Tijuana is typically 50–70% of the price in the U.S.

With dental tourism, you are likely to make several visits, so factor in the cost of airfare and hotels to be sure the expenses do not exceed the savings.

Dental Tourism in Tijuana Is a Well-Oiled Machine

We felt relieved and set a date to arrive. A vacation was the furthest thing from our minds, but we needed a hotel for recuperation. The clinic suggested Ticuan, a staple in the group of dental hotels. Even the complimentary breakfast offers soft foods and fast service. Washington Dental, like most offices, covers the taxi to and from the border or your hotel to the office.

We arrived with apprehension, but soon relaxed.  Everyone spoke English, including the receptionist, dentists, and hygienists. We were assigned a “handler,” Edgar, our point person in the office, and our contact when we returned home.

My husband Stu is “dental-phobic,” which is what got him into this fix in the first place. So, praise coming from him means a lot. “I was impressed by the technology,” he said. “Particularly the state-of-the-art X-ray machine and the speed at which the work progressed. The temporary crowns looked as good as the permanent ones. Our handler explained everything to me, so I knew what was happening at all times.”

Dental offices in Tijuana open at 8 a.m. and have hours every day except Sunday. Many do not take appointments. It’s first-come, first-served—arrive early and have the day to explore.

And Now for the Surprise Vacation

By the third day, Stu’s ability to chew returned. He wanted to eat! We made a beeline to Cesar’s Restaurant, where Chef Cesar Cardini originated the famous Cesar Salad in the 1920s. Caesar’s still uses the same made-at-your-table method to create the best Cesar salad you’ll find anywhere.

Weeks after the surgery, we returned for Stu’s permanent work and planned three extra days for sightseeing alone. We started on Avenida Revolución, the central street, a lively mix of buskers, street art, and knick-knacks. On Avenida Benito Juárez, we found the bustling Juarez Market and the exquisite Catedral De Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe.

Our favorite site was the Tijuana Cultural Center, CECUT, founded in 1982 and topped by “La Bola,” the IMAX dome. CECUT, just minutes from the US border, covers 8.6 acres and hosts 1.5 million people annually. It offers a botanical garden, aquarium, performance and art spaces, and the Museum de Las Californias.

Today, Washington Dental has become our family dentist. And while there, we take advantage of all that Tijuana offers. We mix dental visits with a day or two in Valle Guadalupe, the growing wine region an hour and a half from Tijuana.  After routine checkups, we often visit a beach hotel in Rosarito or jewelry shop in Ensenada.