Last fact-checked: 25 July  2024

Find affordable high-quality dentists in Nogales, and a good excuse to hunt for some bargains while having your dental work for 50%-70% less than the cost back home.

Nogales, Mexico, is situated over the US-Mexico border with Nogales in Arizona. This vibrant border town has long been a popular spot for Americans and Canadians seeking affordable dental care and cheaper medical supplies. From busy malls to street vendors, it's a haven for bargain hunters–and after a day of shopping, you can relax and refuel at numerous friendly bars and restaurants, enjoying a burrito and a margarita.

Like many other Mexican border towns, Nogales is friendly, fun, and appealing to Americans seeking convenient access to high-quality dental care.

Nogales is easily accessible for U.S. residents, especially those from southern Arizona and California. You can fly into international airports in Nogales, Mexico, or Tucson, Arizona, which is about 60 miles away. Its convenient location makes it an important port of entry for U.S. tourists.

Nogales dental clinics are equipped with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic technology, offering care comparable to that in the United States. They also use the same world-renowned, branded materials as clinics across the border, ensuring high-quality treatment.

One reason treatments are considerably less expensive is due to the lower cost of living. For instance, operating expenses for a dental clinic, including rent, wages, and utilities, are much lower, resulting in reduced costs for patients.

Examples of the cost comparisons of our most popular procedures are below:

– Average cost of a single dental crown in the US $1,200; at a dentist in Nogales only $400
– Average cost of root canal (including post/core and crown) US $2,200; at a dentist in Nogales around $750
– Average cost of a dental implant and crown in the US $3,900; at a dentist in Nogales about $1,800

Hoeroica Nogales, as it is officially known, is on the US-Mexico border in the state of Sonora. To the north is the city of Nogales in Arizona, USA.

Where to Stay in Nogales?

Most visitors from further afield tend to stay over the US border, and there are a wide variety of different places to stay in Nogales, Arizona, including hotels, motels, and holiday apartments.

Is it Safe?

Thousands of people cross the border from the US into Nogales every day to work, as well as tourists, with no adverse effects–and these people will tell you it is safe. The US travel advisory recommends caution throughout the state of Sonora, although there is no specific advisory with regard to Nogales itself.

Do I Need to Speak Spanish?

No, all our partner clinics have English-speaking staff. Additionally, English is fluent throughout this border town, including hotel restaurant staff, and venues offering tourist amenities.

What Payment Methods Are Accepted?

Our dental clinics all accept US dollars, and most accept other forms of payment, including traveler’s and personal checks, bank transfers, and debit and credit cards. Our clinics list their accepted forms of payment under their listing on our site. Please be aware that most credit card transactions incur a small processing fee of 3-4%.

When Is the Best Time to Visit One of Our Dentists?

Nogales is easy to reach anytime time of the year and our dentists are open all year round, except for national holidays like Christmas Day and New Year's.

We have found dental care at the best clinics in Nogales, and throughout Mexico, to be just as good as the clinics back home–as long as you find a reputable quality-checked clinic.

At Dental Departures we pre-check all our clinics, performing legal and criminal background checks on dentists, as well as confirming qualifications, experience, and professional memberships. Many dentists in Mexico, especially those treating international patients, undertake specialist training in the US or Europe. Our dentists in Nogales are no different, and you will find dentists with memberships of, for example, the American Dental Association, or the American Association of Orthodontics. Hygiene and safety standards generally adhere to recognized international protocols, with many clinics being members of the International Standards Organization (ISO).

We also make on-site visits to our clinics, taking high-resolution photos, virtual tours, and, of course, real patient reviews from patients who have previously used the services. All gathered information is published in the clinic listing on our website, so you can browse, compare prices, and decide which dentist is right for you.

We've done the research to help you make an informed decision and help ensure a pleasant dental experience in Nogales.

What Happens if Something Goes Wrong? Is My Work Guaranteed?

All our dentists provide excellent quality care, offering warranties or guarantees on their work, as well as on the materials they use for carrying out the work.

However, nobody can guarantee any dental or medical treatment 100%, simply because each person’s condition is unique. You can maximize the successful outcome of your treatment by booking with a trustworthy and reliable clinic.

At our clinics, it's rare for patients to experience any issues, and when problems do arise, they are usually minor. Rest assured, we and your dentist will work diligently to resolve any concerns. We are also more than happy to act as your advocate and communicate with the dentist on your behalf.

Is My US or Canadian Dental Insurance Accepted?

Your dentist in Nogales will probably not be able to accept your US or Canadian insurance directly. However, if you have coverage that allows for ‘out-of-network’ expenses, you may be entitled to claim back your costs once you have returned home–and you will certainly get more for your money in Nogales.

 It’s a good idea to contact your provider and discuss the matter with them before your trip. Make sure that they provide appropriate forms and documents to bring with you if they do allow you to reclaim your charges.

For dental patients, it’s worth knowing that the standard method of pain relief in Mexico is a local anesthetic, rather than sedation dentistry. If you do need sedation, many of our dentists provide this as an additional service, but an anesthesiologist has to be booked in advance. You will need to pre-book this with your dentist and it usually incurs an additional charge of around $400. Other prescription medicines, such as Valium, will also need to be ordered in advance.

Additionally, border crossing times may take longer during peak times or seasons.

It’s no secret that Americans primarily come to Nogales to shop, and one of the most popular and colorful places to pick up some good deals is in the Pasaje Morelos. This alleyway has been converted into an open-air shopping strip and is lined with street vendors selling an array of goods to large crowds. Even if you’re just browsing, it’s a fun and vibrant place. You can get everything here at low prices.

Inexpensive items include leather goods, jewelry (especially silver), prescription drugs, pottery, perfumes, liquor, quilts/throws, clothes, and hand-crafted goods. Many of the items have found their way from all over Mexico.

Those looking for something a little less touristy will find plenty of other shops selling luxury goods. More upscale and perhaps less authentic, the Nogales Mall is the premier destination for shoppers from both sides of the Border.

Nogales is fairly small and you won't find many tourist attractions apart from the shopping. Outside of Nogales is the stunning desert scenery of Sonora, and interesting little towns, such as Magdalena, which has a crypt and monument to Father Eusebio Kino, a missionary who worked in the area.

Driving

Between Phoenix and El Paso, take the I-10, and from further north take the I-19 south from Tucson. Many people park on the US side of the border and walk over as parking and traffic are congested in Nogales. There are plenty of shuttle buses to take you from the border crossing into town and back.

Flying

There are two international airports nearby–Nogales on the Mexico Side, and Tucson on the US Side, about 60 miles away.

Distance from Nogales to Airports and Other Areas of Interest

– Nogales International Airport: 14 miles (22 km) 20 mins

– Tucson International Airport, Arizona, USA: 65 miles (105 km) 1 hr 11 mins 

– Magdalena: 55 miles (89 km) 1 hour  

– Santa Ana: 66 miles (107 km) 1 hr 18 mins

– Sonoyta: 224 miles (360 km) 4 hrs

– Puerto Penasco: 279 miles (449 km) 5 hrs

You can book your appointment with our dentists in Nogales directly on our site at any time of the day or night, at no charge to you. Or if you prefer, contact our Customer Care Team on our toll-free number. You can also use our online chat to talk directly to our team. 

Find and book your dentist with Dental Departures. We guarantee you the best prices and the highest-quality cross-border care.

(Main Image by: Charles Harker)

Sources:

American Dental Association Website accessed: 25 July  2024. https://www.ada.org/en 

ISO. Website accessed: 24 July 2024. https://www.iso.org/home.html

Medical tourism: Nogales residents feel safe, will continue to cross border for treatment. Website accessed: 25 July  2024. https://www.kold.com/2023/03/09/medical-tourism-nogales-residents-feel-safe-will-continue-cross-border-treatment/

Visiting Nogales, Mexico: What You Need to Know. Website accessed: 25 July 2024. https://jauntingjen.com/2023/05/18/a-day-in-nogales-mexico-what-you-need-to-know/

American Association of Orthodontists. Website accessed: 24 July 2024.  https://www.aaoinfo.org

Pasaje Morelos–Nogales Mexico Tourism Districts. Website accessed: 25 July 2024.  https://planetnogales.com/nogales-mexico-border-zones/pasaje-morelos/