Dental Costs, U.S. vs. Mexico: What the Evidence Does and Does Not Show

The short version

• No single reliable, current “average price” of a dental treatment in Mexico exists. We did not find a peer-reviewed study measuring current U.S.-to-Mexico savings.
• Prices differ with the clinic, dentist, materials, city and what the quote includes. U.S. prices also differ widely by region and by whether a general dentist or a specialist does the work.
• The only fair comparison is between two or three itemized written quotes for the same treatment, plus the true cost of the trip.

Looking for the cost of implants or All-on-4 in Tijuana?

We publish no price for dental implants, All-on-4 or any other treatment in Tijuana or anywhere else in Mexico, because we found no reliable, current, sourced figure. What we can show you is what to put in a written quote and how to compare quotes fairly. See dental implants in Tijuana and All-on-4 in Tijuana for what each quote should itemize.

One published comparison, and why to be careful with it

A 2016 systematic review in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (Dhama and colleagues) included a table comparing Mexico and the U.S., in euros: crown, 140 vs. 1,000; root canal, 110 vs. 375; implant, 1,000 vs. 2,000; bridge, 350 vs. 1,450; veneer, 300 vs. 1,100; filling, 35 vs. 75. We show it only to illustrate that such comparisons exist, not as a guide to today’s prices.

• The numbers come from a single 2010 conference paper, so they are about sixteen years old.
• The review does not explain how the prices were collected, and the review itself says there are few scientific studies of dental tourism.
• Currencies, materials, inclusions and exchange rates have all changed since.

What a national survey does say

Authors from the CDC analyzed a U.S. health survey of 93,492 adults in 11 states and territories (2016 data). About 0.55% of respondents reported traveling abroad for planned care in the previous year. Mexico was 41% of the trips reported and dentistry was 55% of the treatments reported. Five percent of those who traveled (24 of 517) reported an unexpected or undesirable outcome, and 67% of those (18 of 24) sought care after returning to the U.S.

The survey did not ask about savings. Its authors note that the answers are self-reported, that it cannot compare outcomes with care at home, and that it has little detail on dental care. It also covers all medical travel, not only dentistry.

Why headline comparisons mislead

• Different scope: one price may be for the implant post only, another for post, abutment and crown.
• Different materials and brands, which a clinic’s quote may not name.
• Imaging, extractions, bone grafts, sedation and temporary teeth may or may not be included.
• The price after an in-person exam can change a lot from the price quoted by email.
• Travel costs, lodging for every night of treatment, time off work and return trips for staged treatment.
• Possible costs if something needs to be redone or treated at home. Ask what the written warranty covers and where.
• Exchange rates between the dollar and the peso change.

How to compare

1. Ask for an itemized written quote from each clinic you consider. Our line-by-line quote checklist lists what each treatment’s quote should itemize.
2. Get a quote or at least an estimate from a dentist at home for the same treatment, and ask them what they would charge for the same list of items.
3. Add the full trip: transport, lodging, meals, time off and any return trips.
4. Ask for the warranty, redo and aftercare terms in writing, and check what they cover and who performs them.
5. Be wary of unusually low prices, deposits demanded under time pressure, and quotes that do not name the dentist.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Dhama K et al., “Global Tourist Guide to Oral Care: A Systematic Review,” J Clin Diagn Res, 2016 (price figures originate from a 2010 conference paper)
• Stoney RJ et al., “Population-based surveillance of medical tourism among U.S. residents from 11 states and territories” (CDC authors), Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2022