The ultimate guide to Dental Implants in Mexico

Last fact-checked: 5 December 2022

Save up to 70% on dental implants in Mexico, with Dental Departures’ network of background-checked clinics providing the same high standards and quality of care as back home at a fraction of the cost.

In this guide, discover how much dental implants cost in Mexico, recommended destinations (like Tijuana, Los Algodones and Cancun), travel tips and information about how implants can be used to restore any number of teeth with the placement of fixed prosthetics, such as crowns and full-arch bridges.

Mexico Dental Implants Price vs USA:

Why Choose Mexico for Dental Implants?

Patients from the USA, Canada and even parts of Europe are traveling to Mexico for dental care in increasing numbers. Below, we outline the most popular reasons to ditch going private back home and instead choose one of our fully-verified clinics in this Central American country.

Lower Cost of Care: Patients booking through Dental Departures can expect to pay between 50% - 70% for practically any kind of procedure in Mexico; this can easily equate to savings of over $1,000 for just the placement of a single titanium implant, or more than $20,000 when traveling for full-arch restorations where four, five or six implants are used (per jaw).

Prices are lower in Mexico thanks to the reduced overhead costs for clinics–particularly in terms of office rental fees, staff salaries and other operational costs, all of which are relative to the country’s lower cost of living compared to North America.

Conversely, approximately one in three people put off seeing a dentist in the USA as a result of sky-rocketing prices, which are driven by higher salary demands in line with the rising cost of living. In addition, those fortunate enough to have dental insurance can still expect to pay extortionate premiums, with many plans only covering a small portion of the final bill.

Quality of Care: When using our site to find an implant specialist, the famously cheap dental implant prices in Mexico do not equate to inferior quality.

As we explain in more detail below, our strict verification process involves looking into dentist reviews in Mexico, checking qualifications, interviewing past patients and visiting each clinic ourselves.

The best dentists in Mexico for implants are highly trained, use state-of-the-art equipment and work with world-renowned dental brands, all while staying abreast of the latest industry trends. Many have international affiliations with professional organizations such as the American Dental Association and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Convenience: Mexico is the easiest-to-reach dental tourism destination for those based in North America; there are direct flights from most major cities across the US and Canada, while patients living in the southern states, like California, Arizona or Texas, often drive to the border rather than fly.

In addition, no formal visa is required to enter the country for American citizens planning to stay for less than 180 days–all that’s needed is a valid passport. Check the latest entry requirements here.

Other Reasons to Go to Mexico for Dental Implants:

• Dentists are generally nearly fluent in English, meaning you won’t face any communication issues

• It’s convenient to reach from all corners of the US and Canada; there are direct flights from most major cities, while patients living in the southern states often drive to the border rather than fly.

• Dentists offer guarantees and warranties on implants, as well as fixed prosthetic devices, like crowns.

• Success rates at the highest-ranked clinics are just the same as dentists back home, with implant survival rates over a 10-year period in line with global averages (close to 95%).

• Clinics offer free benefits when booking certain implant packages, such as free airport transfers, shuttle services around town, free hotel nights and more.

What Happens If Something Goes Wrong?

The best dentists listed on our site offer warranties and guarantees on their treatment and lab work. For example, if a crown fails within a certain period (eg. 5 years) and it’s not your fault, they will replace it for free.

If you book your appointment with us, Dental Departures is here to work on your behalf in the rare event you experience complications or have any other concerns. Our team can also assist with arranging travel and/or health insurance for your trip abroad.

Types of Dental Implant Treatment

The amount you save will largely depend on the type of dental implant procedure you are going for. As can be expected, a single dental implant to replace one missing tooth is always going to be a fraction of the cost of full-arch of full mouth restoration treatment with multiple implants.

• Dental implant (only): treatment involves the surgical placement of a single titanium post.

• Implant with crown and abutment: this two-stage treatment involves the placement of a titanium post into the jaw; after three or four months, a permanent crown is attached to the implant with an adjoining abutment.

• All-on-X: this full-arch restoration is for those with a mouthful of missing or failing teeth. Once any remaining teeth have been extracted, the first stage involves the placement of four, five or six dental implants per jaw. Once the implants have properly fused with the jawbone, the patient returns several months later for the final restorative phase, where a custom-made, full-arch prosthesis (sometimes referred to as a “fixed bridge” or “hybrid-denture”) is attached using abutments and coping cylinders, thus permanently restoring the function of the mouth. The most well-known provider is Nobel Biocare, which patented the popular All-on-4® treatment concept.

• 3-on-6: Similar to the above-described procedure, this treatment instead uses 3 separate bridges that link together to form a brand-new set of teeth. Each partial bridge is fixed to two implants, hence the name, 3 (bridge) on 6 (implants).

• Zygomatic implants: These specialist implants are used for patients who have suffered bone loss in the jaw or in cases where bone density is not high enough for traditional implants. Zygomatic implants are longer, and instead placed into the zygomatic bone, rather than the jaw. For this treatment option, four are typically used to support a full arch of replacement teeth (fixed bridge).

Image by macrovector on Freepik

Costs of Different Types of Dental Implants in Mexico

To give you an idea of the low cost of dental implants in Mexico, take a look at the below comparing average figures with prices in the USA:

Single Dental Implant with Crown + Abutment:

• $3,000 - $4,000 in USA
• $1,000 - $2,000 in Mexico

All-on-4 (per arch)

• $25,000 - $30,000 in USA
• $8,000 - $12,000 in Mexico

3 on 6 (per jaw)

• $19,000 - $25,000 in USA
• $7,000 - $11,000 in Mexico

Note: The above prices are average figures provided by our network of partner clinics, with averages calculated at the time of writing.

Read More: Ultimate Guide to 3-on-6 in Mexico

Top Locations for Dental Implants in Mexico

You will discover dozens of towns, cities and resort locations (perfect for a beach break)  dotted across Mexico where it is possible to find high-quality dental care.

Geographically, our network of implant dentists in Mexico can roughly be divided into four categories:

• Western Mexico border towns – such as Los Algodones, Mexicali and Tijuana

• Eastern Mexico border towns – such as Nuevo Laredo, Juarez and Nuevo Progreso

• Southern Mexico resort destinations – such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cabo San Lucas

• Central Mexico cities – such as Mexico City and Guadalajara

Should I Drive or Fly?

These can also be split up into “drive-to” and “fly-to” destinations; for example, patients based in Southern California often choose to drive to the southern border, from where there is easy access to hundreds of top clinics once through customs.

Fly-to destinations are those that simply aren’t practical to reach by car when traveling from North America, like Cancun and Mexico City.

Another option is to combine a domestic flight to a US airport close to the southern border, like San Diego, Tucson, El Paso or San Antonio. From there, you can continue by rental car or taxi, while some clinics may offer free transfers for certain treatment packages. This is a great option for those looking for dental implants in Mexico near the Texas border, as well.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Dental Implants in Los Algodones

Traveling From Outside North America – Advice for Patients in the UK & EU

Seeing a dentist in Mexico can make great sense for those based in the UK, EU and the Middle East who plan to make their trip into more of a dental holiday – seeing the sights of this stunning, diverse country (or just lazing on a beach) while undergoing treatment. Direct flights are even available from a number of major European cities to places like Cancun and Mexico City.

However, if the sole purpose of the trip is simply to save money (rather than for a combined holiday), we’d suggest considering alternative dental tourism destinations a little closer to home.

To save money on airfares, patients based in the UK, Germany or Israel might want to take a look at our implant dentists in Turkey, Croatia or Spain, where similar savings of up to 70% can be made compared to clinics back home–no long-haul flight needed!

Finding the Best Clinic & Dentist For You

Dental Departures helps thousands of patients every year to find affordable, safe and effective dental implant treatment in Mexico, with hundreds of clinics to choose from across more than a dozen top locations.

Verification Process of Clinics

Before any clinic, medical center, hospital or dentist is listed on our site, we carry out a strict verification process; if we see anything that does not live up to the same high standards as you’d expect in places like London, New York, LA, Zurich, Berlin or Sydney, you won’t find their name listed on our site.

Our verification process involves:

• Investigating dentists’ professional and educational background

• Carrying out legal audits into the clinic, making sure that it is not operating under a new name following any previous problems

• Verifying clinic licenses and certifications

• Checking dentists’ memberships with professional boards in Mexico and internationally

• Interviewing past patients

• Visiting each clinic ourselves for inspection

• Ensuring clinics have the necessary, up-to-date technology to carry out accurate diagnostics and evaluations, such as digital 3D/panoramic imaging and CT scanners.

• Looking at pre-existing online reviews

All of this information is available on our clinic listing pages.

Why Book with Dental Departures?

As well as providing free access to our global lists of background-background checked dentists, we provide a range of other services and benefits to ensure your dental trip is both cost-effective and hassle-free, including

• 24-hour customer support, here for you in case of any issues before, during or after your implant treatment in Mexico.

• Best Price Guarantee, meaning if you find a better price online, we’ll match it

• Exclusive promotions, including free hotel stays and airport transfers at discounted rates

• An easy-to-use online booking platform–no credit card details required!

• Facilitating remote video consultations with your chosen dentist before you travel, if necessary

• Hotel advice and booking assistance

• Travel tips, including guidance on required documents and visas

Top Clinics in Mexico for Dental Implants

First, you can see our full list of dental implant clinics in Mexico here.

For a breakdown of our top-rated clinics across the most popular places in Mexico for implants, take a look at the list below:

> Dental implant dentists in Tijuana

> Dental implant dentists in Los Algodones

> Dental implant dentists in Mexicali

> Dental implant dentists in Cancun

> Dental implant dentists in Playa del Carmen

> Dental implant dentists in Mexico City

Alternatively, go straight to one of our top listings with these handpicked clinic selections:

• RamLanz Dental (Mexicali)

• Sani Dental Group (Los Algodones)

• Dr. Dalia Dental Care (Tijuana)

•  All on 4 Cancun (Cancun)

In Brief: Dental Implant Procedure Stages

A typical crown-on-implant treatment package comprises two stages: the placement of the implant itself, as well as an adjoining abutment and a crown (replacement tooth) approximately 4 months later.

Dental Implant Treatment Stages

Stage 1: The dental implant procedure begins with x-rays and CT scans to assess the bone and other structures in your mouth; impressions of the mouth (so the implant and crown are tailor-made to fit).

The surgery, which is usually carried out under local anesthesia with the option of sedation, involves the implant being inserted into the jaw bone; this acts as an artificial, stable tooth root.

Stage 2: Your next trip will take place between three and six months later. This is so the bone and implant fuse together in a process called osseointegration, which provides a stable base for your crown.

Using an adjoining abutment, the crown is then attached, acting as an artificial tooth (made from ceramic, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal (PFM) or full porcelain), created to match your other teeth in shape and color. 

How Long Will Treatment Take?

The length of time to complete an implant procedure depends upon

• The type of procedure you are having; full-arch restorations will require significantly more preparation time and further evaluations compared to single-tooth replacements.

• Whether you require any tooth extractions.

• The strength and density of the bone in your jaw; if not sufficient, other treatments, such as bone grafting, may be required.

• The time required for your bone to fuse with the implant, which can differ from patient to patient.

What About Same Day Dental Implants in Mexico?

Genuine “teeth in a day” or “same day implant” procedures (where the final fixed prosthesis is attached on the same day of surgery) are rare, as they require highly-specialized implantologists and are only suitable for those with excellent jawbone density.

In most cases, the term “immediate teeth” is used in reference to the fact that a temporary crown or lightweight denture is attached on the “same day” as the implant surgery; in reality, this does not mark the completion of the treatment, as patients will need to return several months later for the temporary teeth to be swapped out for the permanent, heavier and more durable ones (final fixed prosthesis).

Brands of Dental Implant

Our network of implant dentists in Mexico work with only the highest-quality providers, with these world-renowned dental manufacturers typically based in Europe.

Popular dental implant brands include:

• BioHorizons®

• Hiossen® (Osstem Implant

• Nobel Biocare®

• MIS®

• Straumann® (Neodent)

• Dentsply Sirona®

• Zimmer Biomet®

Am I a Suitable Candidate?

It should be noted that not all patients are suitable candidates for dental implants, particularly mouth restorations with four implants. 

However, due to the unique placement and longer length of the titanium implants in certain systems, patients with bone loss or diminished bone density (who have previously been told they need a bone graft for traditional implants) may still be viable candidates for full-arch replacements.

Advanced techniques, like high-tech surface modification of titanium implants has been shown to enhance osseointegration in such cases, as well.

Patients should also be in good overall health and quit smoking several months before the surgery. Age is not generally a determining factor, although certain pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes should be taken into consideration.

A provisional assessment can be made by your chosen dentist in Mexico before you travel. Dental Departures can assist in this process by sending through your digital x-rays, which can be taken at a local dentist’s office for a nominal fee. Your local dentist may also be able to assess your suitability. 

Above: Ancient Mayan ruins, a popular sightseeing attraction for international visitors in Mexico.

Visiting Mexico as a Dental Tourist

Mexico is the most popular country for Americans traveling abroad, with 25 million international arrivals over the first five months of 2022. Thus, North American patients traveling here for dental care have the option of fitting in plenty of vacation activities in one of the country’s sunny resort cities, such as Cancun or Puerto Vallarta.

For Americans in Southern California, Texas and Arizona, Mexico’s vibrant border towns, like Los Algodones, Tijuana or Mexicali, also offer the opportunity to sample some local culture, relax at a spa or visit some fascinating cultural or historical sites. 

Is Mexico Safe?

More and more tourists keep heading to Mexico, one of the most important metrics that shows just how safe the country is for international visitors. Along with those seeking more traditional beach vacations, the number of people visiting the country for medical treatment also keeps on rising–a fact that simply would not be true if Mexico was an unsafe place to visit.

On average, more than 1 million people visit Mexico every year for the purpose of medical travel, which includes dental procedures–with the majority of them flying or driving in from the US and Canada.

Visiting the US-Mexico Border

The US-Mexican border runs for some 1,969 miles (3,169 kilometers) from Imperial Beach, California and Tijuana, Baja California in the West to Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas in the East. With around 350 million crossing each year it is the world’s most frequently-crossed border.

Dotted along its length are a plethora of border towns, with many dedicated to welcoming patients seeking low-cost dentistry, such as Algodones, that have no more problems with drug-related violence than any US town has, and, as such, are just as safe to visit.

Even cities such as Tijuana, while having a bit of a bad-boy reputation, have a US advisory only to exercise caution, particularly at night – which is something most people would do in any unfamiliar place. Also, with crime rates dropping, Mexico’s most famous border town now has a ‘new cool’ about the place with a burgeoning art, music and restaurant scene. In fact, looking beyond the headlines, you will discover a wealth of stories recommending Tijuana, even from US citizens that have moved there.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Dentists in Mexico

Above: US-Mexico border wall leading into the Pacific Ocean, near Tijuana and a short drive from San Diego, USA.

FAQs

Q. How much do dental implants cost in Mexico?

A. A single titanium starts at approximately $700 in Mexico; prices for a full arch restoration on 4 implants start at around $8,000.

Q. Do dentists in Mexico speak English?

A. Yes, all clinics listed on our site work with English-speaking dentists, or qualified translators.

Q. Where are the best places in Mexico for dental implants?

A. Border towns like Los Algodones, Mexicali and Tijuana are home to dozens of world-class implantologists, while those seeking a beach holiday can opt to fly to places like Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.

Q. How do I book an appointment with a dentist in Mexico?

A. Using Dental Departures, a trusted third-party booking site, makes it easy to arrange an appointment with a background-checked dentist in Mexico–for free.

Q. How many trips will my implant treatment involve?

A. Most implant treatments involve patients making two separate trips to Mexico, around 3 or 4 months apart.

Getting Started with Dental Departures - Book an Appointment Today!

While dental implants are a significantly more costly tooth replacement option than dentures, they are a permanent solution that look, feel and act exactly like your own teeth once your crown or bridge is attached. At a third of the price—or less—in Mexico, the trip (and even the return visit) is worthwhile for many patients.

To book your implant treatment in Mexico, get in touch with our Customer Care Team; our representatives can provide you with a personalized, no-obligation quote for your dental treatment at one or a number of our listed clinics. 

Alternatively, leave us your details and we’ll get back in touch at a time convenient for you, at no extra charge. 

Sources:

International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Website accessed: 1 September 2022. http://www.icoi.org/membership-credentials/

More than 25 million international tourists visit Mexico in the first five months. Riviera Maya News. 13 July 2022. https://www.riviera-maya-news.com/more-than-25-million-international-tourists-visit-mexico-in-first-five-months/2022.html

Wedell, K. Why 30% of Americans haven't been to the dentist since before the pandemic. USA Today. 19 August 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/08/19/reasons-americans-avoid-dentist-dental-insurance/10348042002/

Tricio J, Laohapand P, van Steenberghe D, Quirynen M, Naert I. Mechanical state assessment of the implant-bone continuum: A better understanding of the Periotest method. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 1995;10:43–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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Shin, Y.C., Bae, JH., Lee, J.H. et al. Enhanced osseointegration of dental implants with reduced graphene oxide coating. Biomater Res 26, 11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40824-022-00257-7

Why Medical Tourism in Mexico? Medtourpress. 25 August 2020. https://medtourpress.ir/en/why-medical-tourism-in-mexico/

Mexico. Travel.State.Gov. Website accessed: 1 September 2022. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Mexico.html