The Ultimate Guide to Dentists in Cancun

Imagine saving at least 60% on your dental care - and then imagine getting your dental care in the surroundings of a luxury resort. Book an appointment with one of our quality-checked dentists in Cancun and make wishful thinking a reality.

Cancun – In Brief

Tourists and dental vacationers visiting Cancun will discover this well-known Mexican resort has a lot more to offer than merely its idyllic beaches and emerald oceans. In a little under 40 years Cancun has been transformed from a nearly uninhabited fisherman’s island to a sophisticated and modern world-class holiday destination.

For those who need to recharge their batteries by doing absolutely nothing, the miles of sandy white beaches, fringed with palms and lapped by gentle azure-colored waters are sure to do the trick. However, there are endless other activities to pursue, including snorkeling, diving and exploring Mayan culture. Ecotourism is also popular here, as residents are keen to maintain the beauty of the land amidst the influx of leisure tourism.

With all its natural wonders, Cancun offers all the amenities to satisfy modern vacationers, including impressive hotels to suit any budget, restaurants catering to all tastes, sophisticated bars and stylish clubs, along with glitzy shopping malls and chic boutiques.

Largely due to its high volume of leisure travelers (Cancun welcomed more than 6 million visitors last year), this destination has built a well-deserved reputation as a dental tourism hub as well. Over the past ten years dozens of clinics have established excellent credentials for high-quality treatment, including complex care such as implants and cosmetic dentistry. Working with dentists from all over the globe, Dental Departures can guide you in finding the best dentist in Cancun, for the best price.

Where is Cancun?

Cancun is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. One of the eastern-most points in Mexico, it is just north of the Riviera Maya – Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Cancun's central location to the US and Canada make for easy flights of 2-5 hours from most large North American airports. The large volume of tourism give rise to low airfares and discounts galor for accommodations of all price ranges.

Cancun is a favorite jumping off point for historic sites and resort destinations, including the ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza, diving destinations of Cozumel and Akumal, beach resorts like Playa del Carmen, and of course the country of Belize to the south.

Why Visit a Dentist in Cancun?

The dental clinics here are modern and safe with hygienic and state-of-the-art facilities to rival any clinic in North America. Similarly, dentists in Cancun are highly trained with specialist knowledge in their particular areas of expertise.

To meet the demands of patients traveling overseas for their dental treatment, clinics are extremely competitive, which ensures dental treatment here is generally of a high standard. Working with dentists on a global basis, we make sure our dentists are the best. Our patients can be confident all the clinics listed on the Dental Departures website meet our quality criteria and provide you with a superior service for a reasonable price.

With an abundance of nonstops from most major cities, Cancun is relatively convenient to travel to for North Americans. Multiple visits are a realistic option for patients requiring return trips. Even including accommodations and flights, the cost of dental treatment in Cancun may still be less than you would find at home. For more extensive dental work, the savings can be huge, saving you thousands, including the cost of a holiday.

Patients who wish to recuperate in a relaxing surroundings will savor Cancun's spectacular seascapes and vistas. Where else in the world could you be sitting in a dentist chair with a view to rival the Nichupte Lagoon?

How do Cancun prices compare to the United States and Canada?

Procedure:                           Cost in the US:                  Cost in Cancun:

Crowns                                 $1,200                                  $370

Dentures                               $1,800                                  $385

Dental Implants                     $3,900                                  $1,350

Where to Stay?

As a renowned tourist resort, Cancun offers a robust inventory of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes. From self-catering beachfront villas and condos to airbnb to a full range of hotels you will have no problem finding a great place to stay any time of the year.

Is Cancun Safe?

With rare exceptions, yes. Despite the social and political unrest that has at times visited Mexico tourism resorts, Cancun safely welcomed more than six million leisure, business, medical and dental travelers last year. If you follow the common sense rules of the travel road (and go easy on the late night Margaritas!), you are likely to be quite safe in this popular resort town.

For those who wish additional security, many of our best dentists offer airport pickup and drop-off, along with hotel shuttles to and from the clinic. Our Customer Care Team will be happy to help with these details.

Is the Quality of Care as Good as Back Home?

Yes – providing you choose your dentist with care – just as you would at home. This is where Dental Departures can help. Conducting background checks on prospective dentists is time-consuming; you will be one step ahead if you book an appointment with any of our pre-screened dentists. We have already performed extensive background checks on, for example, dentist qualifications and hygiene protocols, so you can be certain your dentist is qualified and the clinic adheres to internationally recognized safety procedures.

We also provide verified patient reviews, allowing you to gain insight into other people’s experiences. All these measures are designed to help you reach a decision with confidence before booking your appointment.

What Happens if Something Goes Wrong? Does My Dentist Guarantee the Work?

Yes – all our dental clinics carry warranties on both the procedures they perform and on any materials used, such as crowns or dentures.

While our best clinics provide the highest quality care, no dentist anywhere in the world can guarantee 100% clinical success. For the rare complication, Dental Departures will work on your behalf to solve any problems, if you have booked an appointment through us. Less than one percent of our patients experience any problems; in those instances  we work see any issues put right.

Do I need to Speak Spanish?

No. In Cancun, most people working in the tourism industry speak English. Although the official language Spanish, dentists and staff in our best clinics are fluent in English, and translators can be provided for German, French and Italian.

What Payment Methods are Accepted by Cancun Dental Offices?

US cash is the preferred payment method accepted by most dental offices, although other methods of payment are now accepted, including major credit cards, traveler's checks and even personal checks. Please note that a small processing fee of around 3-4% is usually charged on credit card payments.

Is my US or Canadian Dental Insurance accepted?

Although Cancun dental clinics will not bill your insurance company directly, you may be able to claim your treatment costs once you have returned home. If you carry dental insutance, you'll want to contact your insurance provider before you book your appointment to ask them if they reimburse for out-of-network care. If they do, ask them to provide you with the forms or documents to take with you for completion by your overseas dentist.

(Image by: Jeremy T. Hetzel)

When is the Best time to Visit One of Our Cancun Dentists?

Cancun’s tropical climate makes it good to visit at any time of year, as temperatures average 80°F (26°C) all year round. Cancun's off-season is May through October, where temperatures can rise into the nineties, althought offset by evening sea breezes. During these months, you can find great bargains on airfare, lodging and shopping, along with special seasonal discounts for your dental needs.

Is Cancun Wheelchair Friendly?

Mexico generally has a ways to go before access for people with disabilities is easier, although in some areas there is progress. The Hotel Zone has new sidewalks throughout, with ramps in some areas. Some shopping malls, including Plaza La Isla and Plaza Las Americanas, are reasonably good for wheelchair users, with elevators, level walkways and ramps. The older downtown area is more challenging. Most of the newer, established hotels offer good wheelchair access.

Taxi drivers are generally very helpful for getting around and some of our clinics provide pickup and dropoff services to and from your hotel. Ask us if you have any questions or concerns about accessibility; we will do our best to help.

What is the Downside? What Should I Know About Visiting Cancun?

Timeshare sales representatives will try to get you to a presentation with free offers or discounts. Unless you don’t mind spending a couple of hours on a hard sell, quicklyl move on from the salesmen with a firm but polite "no gracias."

Depending on the season your visit, ocean currents may be strong. Check the colored flags planted on the beach. Lifeguards are only found within beaches at the hotels, so make sure you stick to the hotel beaches if you are not a seasoned swimmer.

While all our dentists offer local anesthesia, full sedation is not offered as standard in Mexico as it is in the US and Canada. Some clinics do offer full sedation with advance notice. This service costs around $400-$600. Patients who suffer from anxiety and who require oral sedative medication, such as Valium, will want to put in a request prior to your visit, or pack it with you on your trip.

What Else is There in and Around Cancun?

Dental patients will be pleased to know that Cancun offers activities to suit all interests and abilities. While it is one of the ultimate places to relax, for the energetic there are also plenty of things to do.

Mexico has embraced golf’s popularity and Cancun's links now rival the Caribbean’s finest golfing destinations. All of Cancun’s golf courses are open to the public. Look out for special discounts for hotel guests or other offers for playing after 2pm, for example.

Surrounded by so much water, it is not surprising that water features heavily in recreational activities – from sedate trips in a glass-bottomed boat to jungle tours on an exhilarating jet-ski or speedboat. Diving, beginner to advanced, is popular due to the coral reefs just off the coast here and in nearby Cozumel. For experienced divers, cave-diving in the sinkholes (cenotes) of the Yucatan peninsula or the Cave of Sharks (Cuevas de los Tiburones) is something not to be missed.

For culture vultures there is much to see in and around Cancun, including museums, galleries and Mayan sites such as El Ray, in the Hotel Zone in Cancun. Slightly further afield scattered throughout the Yucatan peninsula are other archaeological sites, including Chichen Itza and Tulum.

For night owls, Cancun has an extraordinary nightlife. Sophisticated hotel bars and restaurants serve cocktails and live music. There are plenty of other bars, clubs and discos catering for all musical tastes open throughout the night until dawn.

Cancun also offers an inexhaustible array of shopping for all tastes. For Mexican crafts La Casa del Arte Popular Mexicano is a good place to start as is Mercado Coral Negro, an open air-venue next to the Forum By The Sea shopping mall. This is the only mall located on the ocean.

Flying In?

One of Cancun's best attributes as a dental travel destinations is its easy accessibility from most North American international airports. Nonstop flights abound, and competition for tourism dollars drives reasonable airfares year around. Patients requiring multiple visits will find Cancun an excellent choice.

The nearest airport is Cancun International Airport (CUN) and it receives daily flights from around the world, including the US and Canada. Flying times (nonstop) from typical metro airports:

• Atlanta: 2.5 hours
• Chicago: 3.75 hours
• Houston: 2.25 hours
• Los Angeles: 4.5 hours
• Miami: 2 hours
• Montreal: 4.5 hours
• New York: 4 hours
• Toronto: 4 hours
• Vancouver: 6.25 hours

(Image by: Jeremy T. Hetzel)

Driving Distance to Cancun from Airports and Other Mexico Cities

• Cancun International Airport: 12 miles, 20 minutes
• Playa del Carmen, Mexico: 43 miles, 1 hour
• Tulum, Mexico: 82 miles, 1.5 hours
• Chichen Itza,Mexico: 125 miles, 2 hours
• Progreso, Mexico: 213 miles, 3.5 hours
• Campeche, Mexico: 300 miles, 5 hours

(Main image by: Dennis Jarvis)