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Visiting the dentist has never been a favorite activity of ours, and doing it in Merida doesn’t necessarily make the experience any more attractive, other than the fact that it is más barato (cheaper). After many experiences in the dental chair, we have decided that our ideal dentist is detail-oriented, sanitary to a fault and has a great smile. Lots of diplomas on the wall are a plus as well. We are happy to share that we know a number of dentists who share those qualities here in Merida, and they speak English too!
After living here about six months, we made our first visit to a Yucateco dentist, who was recommended by an expat friend. The dentist invited us and our daughter into the examining room, where the dentist chair sat to one side of a large room which also held his instruments, his desk, a few chairs, a sofa and a television. That day, each of us received a checkup while the other two sat and watched a soccer game on TV. The family livingroom atmosphere bothered our sixteen-year-old daughter, who vowed never to return. We thought his work and prices were pretty good, so we continued to go to this dentist for a few years, and any work he did on us was professional and has held up well. Recently, however, we have elected to switch to a dentist who speaks English and is located closer to our office (we can walk there).
The new dentist we have chosen is Dr. Jesus Sánchez Ruz. (You will see him on the list of English-speaking dentists at the end of this article). Dr. Sánchez is a young man with a lot of diplomas on his wall, most of which are from UADY (Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan). He speaks great English. His small offices (see photo of the waiting room on the right) are clean and similar (though smaller and more humble) than what we would expect in the States. And yes, he has a great smile which he uses a lot.
As a rule, we aren’t afraid of the dentist, though we have been known to prefer a little nitrous oxide for the nastier or longer procedures. Nitrous oxide is not permitted in Mexico, however, so here we do without. We have been told that if you do have a fear of dentists or are going to undergo a painful procedure, besides novacaine, dentists can prescribe something to relax you, such as Valium or Xanax, or they can give you drops of a fast-acting sedative.
In the offices of Dr. Jesus, all the equipment is new and modern. We’re pretty sure most of the dentists around here have great equipment, because our neighbor across the street from our house is DOMS, a dental supply distribution company that has been growing leaps and bounds over the past few years. The same dentist chairs, trays, drills and other gadgets that are on display in the DOMS office can be found in the local dentists’ offices that we have visited.
Merida is the dental capital of southern Mexico and neighboring countries like Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Dentists we interviewed told us their patients come from all over the hemisphere and sometimes from around the world, because with the right dentist, the quality is excellent and the price is right.
Some dentists we interviewed cautioned us about dentists who advertise heavily to the gringo community, but are not very good at their craft. A norteamericano who comes down for a dental visit with a wallet full of dollars may end up a pescado (a catch), and the unscrupulous dentist will not suffer from bad word-of-mouth (pun intended). So if you are going to a new dentist in Merida, we encourage you to discuss your choice with people who have used that dentist before (or visit the fine dentists on our list and tell them we sent you!).
Prices for dental work are famously lower than prices in the States and Canada. We polled the dentists on our list, and prices for a checkup ranged from free to $300 pesos (about $30 US). Prices for a filling are between $350 to $700 pesos and $250 to $600 pesos for a cleaning. We know from talking with fellow expats that the prices of more expensive procedures like implants are somewhat lower than in the States, but the real savings is in crowns, bridges and orthodonture.
Unlike in the States, many dentists here do not have offices in upscale medical buildings. When we first moved here, we were a little uncomfortable about it. But one dentist explained that his less than fancy office makes it possible for him to keep his prices lower so that everyone can afford his services (he estimated that his clients are 50% Yucatecos and 50% extranjeros). He also told us that he is able to always keep one room and one dentist "unscheduled" so that people can get emergency treatment with very little notice. We have found that any dentist we called was able to give us an appointment within a week, and sometimes even the next day. Coming from California, where dentist appointments need to be made months in advance, this is a welcome change.
But perhaps even more important, it seems as if the level of care and attention paid by dentists here is a lot higher as well. For our one friend who had a series of implants, his dentist went to the various specialists appointments with him. He was on call any time for problems and he paid an unexpected (though welcome) amount of attention to our friend’s well-being and the outcome of the procedures. Another dentist told us that his number one rule is to treat every client as if they were a member of his family.
Every time we are done with a visit, Dr. Jesus takes us into his tiny office with its wall of diplomas and sits down behind his desk. He asks how we are and if we have any questions. He discusses our future treatment and makes an appointment if necessary. He gives us a bill and takes our payment. Dentists are usually paid in cash, but a local check is usually okay and some take credit cards as well.
The first time we had an appointment with Dr. Jesus, we learned two memorable things. First of all, when we tried to make an appointment on the 13th of the month, the good doctor told us that Mexicans are also superstitious about the 13th… but when it is a Tuesday, not a Friday. They have a saying, "martes trece, no te cases, ni te embarques" which means "Tuesday the 13th, don’t get married and don’t start a voyage". (Much more poetic in Spanish!)
The second thing we learned while looking at old photos on his wall. "Where were these taken?" we asked. He pointed out a young man with his foot on the running board of an old Model T. "That’s my grandfather when he was a boy. They took a picture because that was the first time they had seen a car in that pueblo." And what do you know? The men and boys from that pueblito were all dressed in white and looked just like a convention of… dentists!
Below is a list of dentists who speak English and who we have heard provide good service. If you have a dentist to recommend, please email us or leave a comment.
Dr. Felipe Mena
Telephone: 999-925-3606 or 3707
Address: Avenida Itzaes # 258-A x 29 y 31
English-speaking receptionist: No
English-speaking dentist: Yes
Emergency services: No
Specialty: General
Dr. Javier Cámara Patrón
Telephone: 999-925-3399
Email: drjaviercamara [at] hotmail [dot] com
Website: www.yucatandentist.com
Address: Calle 17 #170 x 8 y 10, Col. Garcia Ginerés
English-speaking receptionist: Sometimes. If not, ask for one & they’ll get her.
English-speaking dentist: Yes
Emergency services: Yes
Specialty: Rehabilitation and orthodontia
More: Dr. Patrón belongs to the American Dental Assocation and Federación Mundial de Ortodontistas. He is part of a dental surgeon association which has a clinic of 21 dentists, most of them English-speaking. They see approximately 10 patients each day from countries other than Mexico and have two offices.
Dr. Jesús Manuel Sanchez Ruz
Telephone: 999-924-9895
Address: Calle 53 #518-13 x 4 y 66, Centro
English-speaking receptionist: Yes
English-speaking dentist: Yes
Emergency services: No
Specialty: Rehabilitation and orthodontia
More: Dr. Sanchez’ wife is also a trained dentist and she practices orthodontia in the same offices.
Website: www.yucatandental.com
Merident
Telephone: 999-927-1271
Address: Calle 19 #115 x Prolongacion Montejo
English-speaking receptionist: One of them (ask for her: "Hablas inglés?")
English-speaking dentist: Yes
Emergency services: Yes
Specialty: Laser treatments
More: According to the receptionist, the dental laser treatments fix the same problems as traditional dentistry (i.e., cavities, etc.) but cause less pain. They are also un poquito mas caro (a bit more expensive).
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I just finished a set of dental appts. to get a crown put in. (I live in Guaymas,Sonora). Unlike you, I am terrified of the dentist but I have to say that the treatment I received was excellent. I believe that she said that she charges 400 pesos for a cleaning and my crown cost 1600 pesos. Her office has up-to-date equipment except that she does not have a x-ray machine there, which is kind of inconvenient. She is opening a second office where she will have one and explained that it is too expensive to have one in each place. Overall the care I had was equal to Canada.
You guys are the answer to our doubts and questions, great article (as always)! We already made contact with Dr Araujo, gastroenterologist mentioned in one of your articles, we mentioned your web site. We are moving to Merida in March and need dental work done, you have provided that too! You are a blessings!
I have had dental repairs done by Dr. Javier Cámara Patrón and I was quite pleased with his work. Dental offices in general, as you note, are more ‘family style’ than ‘up-scale,’ but my US dentist wasn’t aware of Dr. Camara Patron’s repair until I told him. (He repaired work of my US dentist!)
As usual, very informative. Perhaps in the future you could do an article about StarMedica. In our experience, a first rate medical facility.
Actually, Drew, we already did do an article about Star Medica. http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/yucatan-hospitals.htm
Glad to hear that you had good experiences there!
Dr. Sanchez is our dentist too. We are very happy with him and recommend him highly. I looked into the price of orthodonture work for my son and the total price was less than my deductable in California!!! My son had his wisdom teeth pulled, Dr. Sanchez had an oral surgeon come in to do them (one was impacted) it still cost less than having one tooth pulled in California. Even if it wasn’t so inexpensive, I would recommend him, the office is modern, the work excellant.
Dr. Jesus is my dentist as well, and I am happy to say, without qualification, that he is The Man. His equipment is all so new and modern that I had never even encountered it before, and his staff is professional and courteous. My initial examination (including prowling with a fiberoptic camera) was free, unheard of in the States, and my cleaning was $350 pesos. The real expense is going to be clear when I go in for my next round of work…getting about 10 fillings pulled out and replaced. Good times.
Hello.
I need extensive dental work and wonder if you recommend all the dentists listed or just some of them for the following: My American dentist says that all my teeth should be crowned and that I need dental surgery to expose more of my front teeth first(I have all my natural teeth with no crowns now). I know my teeth are bad and need the surgery and crowns on at least all the non-molar teeth. Any specific recommendations?
Thanks, John
John, we’re not dentists (although our mothers probably would prefer that at least one of us was), so we can’t recommend specialists. What we can suggest is that you contact one of the dentists above and they will make sure that you find a qualified specialist for your situation. Saludos!
Thanks for the great info. I have to have a crown (hopefully the existing root canalled tooth will last until I arrive in Feb.!) Do you know if Dr. Sanchez has an email address where I could possibly make an apptment before we leave Canada. Is there usually a long waiting period? Thx.
Thank you so much for this. I need implants and braces and even with my insurance here in the states, it’s really expensive! Would you have any ballpark figures on what those treatments would cost in Merida? This is great. You guys are doing a fantastic job.
I just came across your site while starting my research on moving to Mexico. I wish we could be there sooner but we’re not yet at retirement age!
We cannot remember what Dr. Jesús told us about braces. They did seem cheaper than what we remember paying in the States. The implants are cheaper, but not as significantly cheaper as crowns, bridges, fillings and other prosthetics. That’s our understanding anyway. Click on the ads above or contact any of the dentists on our list, and I’m sure they will be happy to give you a quote over the phone or in email.
I have two favorite dentists in Merida: Dr. Manuel Alayola and Dr.Miguel Dogre. They are excellent doctors and persons, and with Dogre you always laugh while he works with your teeth, he is funny and makes you forget where you are.
Dr. Alayola is one of the best dentists in Merida too, actually I should give him a call next time I go to Merida.
I just want to say, Dr. Felipe Mena is the best dentist in town!, Í’ve been with him several times, and he did a great long-lasting job! He and his wife, who is also a dentist, speak flawless english and make you have a good time. I highly recommend going with him, you’ll forget you are in the dentist, and you’ll walk out with a big smile!!
You can chek Dr. Mena´s web page:
http://www.geocities.com/dr_felipe_mena/
Our dentist in Mazatlan has a swimming pool as a waiting room. You haven’t lived until you have to get one of the kids out of the pool for their dentist appointment.
The office is also their home and we’re quite used to that.
My temporary crown came off (after 6 months of use; I was trying to wait to get back to Maz) and I just might make a long stop in Merida (en route to the Carribean) to get that taken care of. Hey, might just get the bridge I’ve been putting off and get exams for all the kids again.
Thanks for the great info!
For my son, the estimate on braces (for 10 months) was about 3800 pesos. Incrediable! of course prices vary acording to what your particular problem is, I think I was quoted 5000 usd for the work in California.
Theresa
My daughter needs a buildup on a tooth and a crown.
What would that cost there?
Martha,
Please send an email to one of the dentists on our list. They all speak English and can give you an estimate in email.
[...] Yucatan Dentists are listed here. (Please rate this article) Loading … [...]
How far is Merida from Cancun?
Driving on the 180 Autopista, Merida is 300 Kilometers (180 miles) west of Cancun. It takes about 3 hours by car and 4 hours by bus. There are two toll booths, so if you travel by car, bring about $300 pesos to pay the tolls. For more details, see http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/driving-in-yucatan.htm
How much would teeth whitening be??
Thx
If we remember correctly, teeth whitening was about 2000 pesos, which is less than $200 US.
I just called Dr. Jesús Manuel Sanchez Ruz’s office THEY DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH
Dear Anonymous,
Dr. Jesus and his able assistant do indeed speak English. Perhaps today when you called, they were out to lunch and the person left in charge spoke only Spanish. We encourage you to try again. If you are faced with a Spanish-speaking person, try saying this:
“Por fah-VOR, PWAY-do ah-BLAR cone dock-TORE HAY-zoose?” (Please, may I speak with Dr. Jesus?). Or you can simply ask “AH-blass ing-LACE?” (Do you speak English?). They should put you through to someone who speaks English at that point.
Buena suerte (good luck) and let us know how it goes!
Many thanks for the dentist recommendations and feedback from web site readers. I hope to travel to Merida SOON for mucho dental work. While I’m there I would also like to have some cosmetic surgery procedures. Are any cosmetic surgeons recommened on this site? If not, do any readers have experience or insights to reputable practitioners in the area? Thanks, so much.
Hi guys I was born in Merida and they brought me to L.A. 29 years ago I am planning on returning one day. In the mean time I enjoy reading all the great articles that you guys write. My wife does not like the idea of going back to Mexico one day because she is use to all the stress in California I am taking all the information you provide us and helping me on my future plans thanks gringos
Can you highly recommend a dentist(s) that does dental implants in Merida?
What is the cost of dental implants by this dentist?
I am looking for Dr. Miguel Dogre and can’t find a number or address-I got work done with him four years ago and was very pleased-any contact information would be great-thanks
I am his client since I was a child. He has been in the same place, but last year when I saw him, he said he was going to move. I just know he is on calle 60. I am going to Merida next week. If you want I can get the phone number and send it to you later or just look on the internet. I am pretty sure you will find it there.
Jessica
Which way is better? To stay in Cancun at a timeshare (”free”) and drive to Merida? Or to stay in Merida at a hotel while getting dental work done? I need to get crowns and implants. Can’t yet decide whether to go to a dentist in Merida or to try the American Smile Clinic (Cancun). How old are these postings? 2-28-08
Thanks.
The dentists in Merida are, on the whole, really good and inexpensive in comparison to the US. Regarding the American Smile Clinic in Cancun, we have no experience. But we do have enough experience to know that there is NEVER a free lunch, especially in Cancun.
[...] celebrated its 175th birthday and Merida does tend to attract and retain the cream of the crop. Read Working Gringa’s article on Dentists in Merida or leave us a comment with the name of your favorite dentist in the [...]
I have nothing but words of praise for the professionalism and personalized attention I get every time I went to see Dr Jesus Sanchez Ruz, either for a simple cleaning or for a root canal or a crown. We call him the “painless dentist”; I recommend him for anyone fearing a dentist. He will change your perception of a dentists.
margaret leblanc, Dr Miguel Dogre´s Phone is 9236976, and his cell phone is 04499-91-000611,
Aloha from Maui!
My new husband (who is Mayan) will be traveling from Maui to Merida in September. I am looking for a biological and holistic dentist who will extract the mercury from my fillings and replace with a non-toxic substance. I am a bit nervous going to a ‘new’ dentist but feeling a bit relieved that I found this site. Can anyone recommend a dentist that has experience with this?
Many Mahalos!
Me-Shell Mijangos
I need two teeth extracted and replaced with implants. Who is the best and economical dentist in Merida or surrounding area to get this work done.
Thanks for all the good postings here.
Looking forward to an answer soon.
Bill
Bill,
Both the dentists that advertise on this page are great dentists. They both speak English and they have good prices.
You can call their offices and get quotes for the implants….or email them. If you don’t get a reply, let us know and we’ll help.
Me-Shell,
Again, both Dr. Camara and Dr. Jesus will replace old amalgam fillings. We just recently went to Dr. Jesus and he charges $500 pesos ($50 US) to do a filling.
The costs for implants are much higher there than other parts of Mexico. I have a quote from a highly recommended dentist in Ensenada that specializes in implants. 10 implants including crowns, extractions, scaling, etc. She uses top quality materials, I have been researching this for several months. Her quote is $11,500 total, another highly reccomended dentist in Mexico near San Diego quoted $14,000. I have found a huge range in costs for the same procedures using highly skilled and recommended dentists. $10,000 in India to $30,000 in the US. One dentist specalizing in implants in Florida, Boca Raton quoted $12,500. pwfine@aol.com
Went to Dr. Jesus Sanchez Ruz last year for an extraction, posting of three front teeth and a bridge. Quote in Innisfil, Ontario, Canada was just under $4,000 CDN, and wonderful painless work done by Jesus cost $1,450 U.S. (three appointments with only a couple of weeks notice). I am so pleased. We are in the process of negotiating to have a casa built near Chelem and will look forward to using Dr. Sanchez for all our future dental work. As an aside, the publishers of International Living are also clients of his.
We can’t begin to thank you enough for finding wonderful Dr Sanchez for us!! He is indeed a very professional, patient, über-caring and thoroughly charming man. We just got back (to Vancouver) from a two-weeks visit to the Yucatan, and so far so good – we are very pleased with all the care we both received, not to mention the price for it all!
I badly needed to fix a painful molar I broke in Italy, a bridge recemented, a cleaning/whitening, and maybe changing some composite fillings: since I don’t currently have a dental plan, I was quoted extortionate amounts in Canada… An extensive search of several alternatives (amongst booming dental tourism destinations such as India, Thailand, Costa Rica, Hungaria, Croatia…) led me to Mexico, and to this site!
I emailed Jesus (don’t you love the sound of that?
) shortly before our trip, and he promply replied with quotes and a convenient appointment time: he is very patient and willing to fully and clearly answer any questions. Did I mention he speaks excellent English? His little-yet-impeccable business consists in his office, two rooms (his and his lovely wife’s) filled with modern equipment, and the waiting room, which is air-cond’ed, comfortable, and Massimo certainly enjoyed the color TV and remote to watch movies while he patiently waited for me during my visits! They are actually so busy, they will be opening another office soon.
I found on my first visit that my broken tooth was bad enough to actually require a root canal, so a specialist (Dr Rafael Hoyos) was called in to (painlessly!!!) tend to it the very same evening: the office is conveniently open from 9:30 am to 1:00pm, then from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm all week, 10:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays. It is in a quiet street easily accessed by foot from the centro (we were staying at Dolores Alba hotel). Obtaining a same-day visit from such a gentle, skilled dental surgeon in Canada would be simply unthinkable, not to mention paying only 170$ US total for the root canal he performed in two visits!!! And I mean it when I say painfree, I actually came close to falling asleep during his visits. To a patient such as myself, who happens to metabolize the “freezing” so fast I was literally traumatized by the painful dental experiences of my childhood, this was truly a blessing! I had to take antibiotics for a week to clear the root infection, but the clindamycin prescription cost less than 30$, and there are well-stocked pharmacies at every corner in central Mérida.
My bridge was actually cracked and so poorly recemented in my last visit to a flashy Vancouver dentist, that I had a large cavity under it… so I needed a new one. We settled for porcelain-fused to metal, since getting gold/porcelain would have required a little more notice. (Also turned out that this “bridge” I paid 2500$ for in 1999, was actually not even made of porcelain as billed, but some composite onlay… Imagine my displeasure, and you bet I’m looking into this and going after that crook. So much about Canadian dentists, he?)
After careful probing with his optic camera, Dr Jesus could clearly and conveniently show me on the overhead TV what was wrong and needed to be fixed (you can also watch movies or whatever you like on that TV during your visit, but I preferred the music he played… Andrea Bocelli was on the menu!
) His two lady assistants are truly gentle, discreet and eversmiling: I admired the fact that they were not afraid to give their opinion during the treatments, and that Dr Sanchez would actually ask for their input for such things as finding the right shade or angle!
Despite all my questions, the several hours-long visits required (squeezed into my 2-weeks trip) and his many other patients, Dr Jesus remained ever gracious, humourous and patient. My comfort was clearly important to him, did I feel any pain, was I too cold?… As mentioned in your article, the unusual level of care and warm attention we received felt very genuine, and is like nothing we experienced before, both in Canada and Italy. He gave us his cell number and insisted more than once that we could call him anytime, and about anything during our trip to Merida.
So I ended up getting a root canal, a porcelain fused crown and bridge, four composite fillings changed, a good cleaning and a bleaching (Opalescence). I was getting so excited about the possibilities, I also got two composite veneers on upper front teeth to even out my smile: there was no time left for other types of veneers, but the ones he made look great and natural. He even gently shaped and polished the canines I always found too vampirish-looking… Needless to say, I am very pleased with my healthy smile! I am still experiencing some sensitivity, but I’ll keep you posted. Massimo initially just wanted a good cleaning, thinking his teeth were just fine since he had a nice white smile with no brown spots and experienced no pain…but he was shoked by the bad news that he had several superficial cavities, and so also ended up getting composite fillings – 12 of them! Dr Jesus’ wife, Claudia, a tiny, serene and beautiful lady, took care of his mouth while I was in the other room. It was his first experience with Novocaine and needles, so he was very pleased to report feeling no pain at all…
The total cost for all this great work, for both? 29 600 pesos, or about 2800$ Canadian, billed to my Visa!!!! We would have paid several times that amount for half the work here, and even more in Italy. And even more incredible was that we were not charged for things such as impressions and models, several x-rays, the consultations, and Claudia even gave Massimo a night guard for free!
Needless to say, I am very, very grateful for our new favorite dentists – and for your blog! We love to travel, so the experience was even better since we could also explore the Yucatan and enjoy wonderful, safe and colorful Mérida between our visits… we can also soon afford another trip to Europe during the holidays with all the money we saved! We’ll definitely be back to see Dr Jesus, and will happily refer friends and family to him: I’ll shatter the misconceptions and clichés some people got after they heard I was going to Mexico to see a dentist… No, don’t imagine some shady sombrero’ed dude with dirty nails pulling teeth raw with rusty pliers, amongst chicken running in a dirty back alley… Dr Jesus is anything but!
… as if my previous email wasn’t long enough
, I forgot to add something important: the precision and meticulous attention to details both Dr Jesus and his wife displayed after each intervention. They spent a lot of time making sure the surface of each new tooth was shaped and fitted just right, careful about maintaining a comfortable bite… it feels great to finally be able to chew on the crown’s side!
Dr. Jesus,
I was led to Dr Jesus Manuel Sanchez Ruiz by the editor of the Mexico Insider a pub of International Living.
Wrote an email to Dr Jesus and got a prompt reply with estimates for 2 implants at 1900 USD each. I had an abscess on a a tooth and had to have it removed here in the USA before I went to Merida. I made arrangements for the trip and appointments with Dr Jesus after arriving in Merida. Was scheduled for the first visit to have a thorough examination, and X-rays of the site. Then scheduled for the big visit to have the implants placed. Everything went well in the office and he went all out to make sure that I was comfortable. The dental surgeon Dr. Rodrigo Flores Flores was there for the exam and he did the surgery for the implants. It was a pain free experience.
I was prescribed Clyndamycina (Antibiotic). I healed well and returned to the USA. This was in September and I returned in Nov to get the implants. Upon examination by Dr Jesus, Dr Rodrigo was called to come check me the same day. The implant that was placed in the space where the abscessed was extracted from did not heal. Dr Rodrigo removed the implant without pain for me and scheduled an appointment for a new site to be prepared and implanted. This being a single implant went even easier than the first procedure and seems to be healing better too. There was no charge for this second surgery. Dr Jesus told me that they were fully guaranteed for the quoted price and to placed successfully. I will return next year for the crowns to be placed on the implants. I am confident that it will be a short quick procedure.
I do enjoy visiting Merida as well as having dental work done by Dr Jesus. The personal attention I received there, is something I have not found in this country.
I am glad to hear of my Colleagues from Merida that are doing awesome work. I also studied in the dental school in Merida. I came back to the U.S. to specialize in Prosthodontics at Loma Linda. Hoping to return to Merida to continue practicing, but for now I set up shop in Tijuana, Baja California. If you are looking for a Yucateco dentist close to the San Diego border for treatment, feel free to contact me at 858-201-6460 or email drcervera@gmail.com
how is the cheapest way to get there and the cheapest place to stay close to dr jesus
I flew to Cancun and rented a subcompact for the trip to Cancun. You can fly from Houston direct to Merida and there are some connections through Mexico City. Cheapest flights are arranged well in advance.
I stay at a little hotel run by an older couple about 4-5 blocks from Dr. Sanchez’s office. Nice room with breakfast runs $25-30. Quiet little place too. Hotel El Jardin, Calle 70 between Calle 61 and 63. Odd streets run east and west and even number streets run North and South. This location is about 3 blocks from El Centro part of Merida. Suggest Yucatan Today for other information. It is a tourist publication and pretty thorough in guiding you around Merida with maps and information. Enjoy.
I stayed at lovely, safe, yet cheap Dolores Alba hotel, wich is close to the central park and everything… walked everywhere, including to see Dr Jesus. It’s only $ 460 MX Pesos a night to start for a double, so about 40$ CAN for the room! You can Google their website and book online, and find reviews of the place (and many other Mérida hotels) at traveladvisor.com.
We flew to Cancun for less than 450$ return fom Vancouver, and the excellent air-cond bus took us from the main bus depot there to Mérida in about 3-4 hours I think, for less than 25$ a pop.
Hi Can anyone give me Dr Ruz email address
Thanks
You’ll find that info if you click on his link with a big smile above, just before the answers begin….
Sophie, why did you end up choosing dental care in Mexico vs. Thailand? I have been doing a lot of research and it appears that prices in Bangkok might be less expensive. Your experience with Dr. Ruz sounds awesome.
I am going to Merida within two weeks, to get some medical test done. Another inexpensive place to stay is the Mucuy which is on Calle 57 about 1 1/2 blks E of Calle 60. I haven’t been to Merida is a few years, but both the Moon and Rough Guide still list it as a great deal, very quiet, with the owner speaking good English. The 2009 books say the current price for a single is $18.50. Cheap! The front area by the street is the lobby with the rooms running back away from the street, so it’s quiet. They have a gate that they lock up at night (you get a key) so no worry about someone who doesn’t belong there prowling around.
MARY. I don’t know why Sophie didn’t go to Thailand, but I can tell you why I chose not to go there. Even though I really can’t converse in Spanish I can at least read the signs, get my bus tickets, my rooms, order my meals, ask basic directions, etc. Not a chance of being able to to anything in Thai:) If I were going only for an adventure I wouldn’t mind, but since I need some medical test Merida just seems a whole lot easier. Also, the airfare is a lot less, and I won’t have to spend 14 hours in the air.
Well, there were many factors to juggle… Thaïland is on my ever-growing list of future travel destinations, but when I’ll invest the time and money to get there, it will be for more than a few weeks – and that’s about the time we reasonably had back in november, with work and all… I’ve already been to the Yucatan, and felt it was the right choice at the time: very cheap ticket from Vancouver, shorter flight, cheap accomodations, great food, lovely locals, perfect weather/time of the year to go, safe, things I wanted to see but missed on my previous visit, etc. As Bob mentions above, it’s also much easier for me to navigate in Spanish for a short trip! And I pretty much paid for my teeth what the ticket to Asia might have cost me, all in all….
A friend/co-worker of mine recently returned from a few weeks of a second visit to Isla Mujeres, which I initially recommended to him… and he also went to see Jesus! He’s very pleased, he got an old graying fake tooth replaced in the front, I’ll ask him to write a comment here as well. I’m also trying to convince another co-worker to go get a broken tooth fixed in Merida!
I have recently ( March 9, 2009 ) returned from Merida Mexico . Went there to have my missing teeth replaced. I could not have been happier with Dr. Felipe Mena who replaced 9 crown, cleaned and filled 3 teeth. His service was excellent and I plan on returning as soon as I can win the lottery. Dr. Mena himself is the most patient, nice gentleman I have ever meet, his work outstanding. I could not be happier. I am looking forward to going back to Dr. Mena in 2011, I would never choose a another Dentist anywhere. He also speaks english and is most helpful in anything.
Hello,
Does anyone know if any of the Dentists in the area use the CEREC system for crowns?
This is a computer milling system that allows the dentist to fabricate the new crown immediately after the tooth is ground.
I have several in other Mexican cities on the Pacific coast, but Merida sounds like more fun. We just returned from Mazatlan and there were none there either.
If you ever want to read a reader’s feedback
, I rate this article for four from five. Detailed info, but I have to go to that damn yahoo to find the missed bits. Thank you, anyway!
Many people considering visiting these dentists are also wondering
what is the safest way to travel there and where to stay, including
transportation from the airport to the doctor’s office. Are there
any recommendations for the trip? This is especially important due
to the widely reported violence and other criminal activities that
could impact foreign travelers in Mexico.
Thanks to anyone who can offer some safe travel recommendations.
Continental Airlines flies directly to Merida from Houston. Taxis at the airport can take you to your hotel or guest house or any other location. Taxis and public buses are “safe.”
There is no widespread violence in Merida, Yucatan or even Mexico.
There are pockets of trouble — at times — mostly in border regions. The US border. The US is the largest supplier of weapons, ammunition and money to the drug cartels. Maybe the US could clean up it’s act so Mexicans could live in peace?
There is almost zero violence impacting foreign travelers to Mexico, unless they are involved in rival drug cartels.
For Ron: I don’t know about the CEREC system, but crowns are actually manufactured for American dentists in Merida. The molds come in via FedEx and the crowns go out via FedEx with a normal turn-around of less than a week.
Need recommendation for a reliable, English speaking Dentist in Merida…..need crown work…and fillings….will be in Meida in December….
Please send your suggestions.
Thanks.
Best dental work I have EVER received – Best Dentist I have EVER gone to!! Worth the flight down and thousands less than U.S. for all the dental work I had.
Thanks for the great information on this site. I have been to Merida and love the place. I am planning another trip and wanted to know if there are any Holistic Natural Dentist who remove mercury fillings using the huggins protocol or something similar to detox the body afterwards? Plesae let me know. I dont want to go to tijuana…lol. j/k.
Thanks again!
I have two phone numbers for a dentist but no name.
Can anyone help me find a name, address, WEB site
011529999480632
011529999264289
Thanks
Buenas noches amigos,
I had the good fortune of growing up in Mexico from the time I was eight until I was sixteen. I am so glad that Spanish is another “native” language to me!
I hope to retire to Mexico in six years, as I will turn 60 in about two weeks. I have been reading everything I can about Merida and it seems to be the best place in the world to retire. My wife is Colombian by birth, so language will be no problem for us. I have always loved the Mexican people and yes, I know that “tomorrow” may not be 24 hours later!
I plan to spend a couple of weeks in Merida, after looking to buy a rental property in Cozumel for the extranjeros.
I enjoy your website very much. Please keep up the good work and keep us all up to date!
Gracias,
Lee
I have had 4 root canals, multiple cavities and 7 crowns by Dr. Javier Cámara Patrón.
I’m going again soon because of my cursed mouth!
He’s really nice and oversees a dental team (that will probably do the work under his approval). Plan to return 5 days later for finished crowns. Great Mayan sites and the coast at Tulum should keep you happy in the meantime. A small page listing his prices should be online…..
hello I need a dentist close to playa de carmen
Thanks
Our fellow expats in that area say they don’t know of a good dentist in Playa, but Mauricio Grassi is a dentist in Cancun who speaks English, Italian, Spanish and maybe French.
Clinica American Smile
SM-25, Mza. 22, Lote 13
Calle Nance #17
The phone number is (998) 887-4521.
Mercado 28 area
And here’s one from Heather in Playa del Carmen:
Dr. Jorge Armenta, Avenida 30 con Calle 6bis
Phone: (984) 873-2816
Cell: (984) 137-2949
I’ve sung Dr. Armenta’s praises many times on this forum, but I don’t believe that I’ve ever mentioned the reasons I visit him when I need dental work. First, he’s extremely gentle, professional, and charges fairly for his work. Second, he goes out of his way to accommodate one’s schedule, and is available at all times for emergencies. Finally, Dr. Armenta donates his time and expertise to Angel Notion (a local clinic for those who cannot otherwise afford care).
I need 5 implants, and crowns, can you give me a price on that, and also a price on a bridge for 6 teeth. Jim Brogan
Jim,
We suggest that you send an email directly to one or more of the dentists listed above and get their estimates on your dental work. If that doesn’t work for you, our second suggestion is that you contact Yucatan Expatriate Services (www.yucatanyes.com) and ask them to assist you. They will charge a little bit for their time, but you will get the result you are looking for.
Good luck!