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Travel to Tijuana for Dental Treatment
The trip worries people more than the treatment. We hear it every week: “How do I get there? Who picks me up? How do I get back?” The short answer is that you fly into San Diego, we meet you, and we take you back. Here’s exactly how it works.
William’s trip: from hotel pickup to a new smile
Full mouth reconstruction with implants · Tap to watch
$0
airport and border pickup
5 min
from San Ysidro
SAN
the airport we pick you up at
Medical Lane
ride home for full-arch patients
The short version
Your Trip to Smile 4 Ever Mexico at a Glance
The travel questions we answer on almost every first call.
- Flying in
- Book your flight to San Diego International Airport (SAN). It’s a domestic flight, and we pick you up there for free.
- Walking across
- Cross on foot at San Ysidro and we meet you on the Tijuana side, at Farmacia Roma, also free.
- Driving
- Torre 21 has valet parking for an extra fee. Your coordinator sends you the address and directions.
- From the border
- Our clinic is about 5 minutes from San Ysidro, in Torre 21, Zona Río, Suite 905.
- Going home
- Full-arch patients ride with our driver through the Medical Lane to San Diego airport. Other patients get a ride back to the San Ysidro line.
- Hotel to clinic
- Rides between your hotel and the clinic are included for every patient.
- Companions
- Welcome. They can ride with you and stay with you during your consultation.
- What to bring
- Your passport book or passport card (or SENTRI, Global Entry or NEXUS), your medication list and your flight itinerary. See all documents
Getting here
Three Ways to Get to Our Tijuana Clinic
Most of our patients fly. Some live close enough to walk across or drive. Pick the one that sounds like you.
Most patients
Fly into San Diego (SAN)
It’s a domestic flight, so no international ticket to Mexico. Send us your flight details and your driver will be waiting when you land. From the airport to the clinic is usually a short drive across the border.
Free pickup
If you’re already in San Diego
Walk across at San Ysidro
Cross on foot at the San Ysidro port of entry. As you step into Tijuana, we meet you at Farmacia Roma and drive you about 5 minutes to Torre 21.
Free pickup
From California or Arizona
Drive to Torre 21
Drive across and come straight to the clinic. Torre 21 has valet parking, so you don’t have to look for a spot. If you’re having sedation or surgery, bring someone to drive you back.
Valet: extra fee
Walking across?
Where We Meet You at San Ysidro
After you cross on foot into Tijuana, look for Farmacia Roma, the red-and-white pharmacy right as you step out. Your driver waits for you there and takes you about 5 minutes to our clinic in Torre 21.
Want to see it before you go? Ask your coordinator for a photo of the meeting point and of your driver.
Arrival day
What Your Arrival Day Looks Like
Nothing is left for you to figure out at the border. Here’s what happens, step by step.
- 1
Send us your itinerary
Once you book, send your flight or arrival time to your coordinator. We confirm your pickup and your first appointment.
- 2
We meet you
At San Diego airport, or on the Tijuana side of San Ysidro at Farmacia Roma. Your coordinator stays a message away on WhatsApp.
- 3
Straight to Torre 21
A short ride to the clinic in Zona Río, Suite 905. Elevator access from the lobby.
- 4
Check in at your hotel
After your first appointment, we take you to your hotel. Rides between your hotel and the clinic are included for every patient.
Going home
Getting Back Across the Border After Treatment
This is the part people worry about most, so here it is in plain words. How you get home depends on your treatment.
All-on-4, All-on-5, All-on-6, All-on-X and snap-on dentures
Our driver crosses the border with you through the Medical Lane and drops you at San Diego International Airport.
Included
Some multi-implant cases
Same as full-arch: Medical Lane crossing and airport drop-off, when your plan includes it.
Ask your coordinator
Single implants and other treatments
We drive you back to the San Ysidro line and you walk across on your own.
Included
Want us to cross with you, or go somewhere else near San Diego?
We can arrange it for any treatment.
Extra fee
What is the Medical Lane?
A border lane for patients coming back from medical treatment in Tijuana. It’s usually much faster than the regular line, often around 20 to 30 minutes, which matters when you’ve just had surgery.
Book your return flight last
Wait until your coordinator confirms your treatment schedule, and plan your flight for after your last appointment. Many patients fly home the next day; some fly the same day, always after their final visit. Your coordinator helps you pick the right time.
Passport and documents
What You Need to Cross the Border
Getting into Tijuana is easy. Coming back into the United States is where you need the right document, so check this before you book. If you’re not sure which one you have, send us a photo of it and we’ll tell you.
U.S. citizens, 16 and older
- A valid U.S. passport book, or
- A U.S. passport card, or
- A trusted traveler card: SENTRI, Global Entry or NEXUS, or
- An Enhanced Driver’s License, from the states that issue them
Green card holders and other visitors
- U.S. permanent residents: your green card (Permanent Resident Card)
- Canadian citizens: your passport or NEXUS card
- Other nationalities: your passport and a valid U.S. visa or other document that lets you re-enter the U.S.
Make sure your U.S. status allows you to leave and come back before you travel.
Traveling with children or a companion
- Every traveler needs their own document, including your companion
- U.S. citizen children under 16 crossing by land can use a birth certificate
- Traveling with a child without both parents? We recommend bringing a signed consent letter from the other parent
For your flight home
- Your passport book or passport card also works at airport security
- If you use your driver’s license to fly, it must be REAL ID compliant (with the star)
- Keep your documents in your carry-on, not in your checked bag
Don’t have a passport yet? A passport card is cheaper than a passport book and works for crossing by land. Apply early, because processing can take several weeks.
U.S. passport information →Border rules can change. Always check the latest requirements with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov) before you travel.
How long to stay
How Many Days to Plan in Tijuana
It depends on your treatment. These are typical plans; your coordinator gives you exact dates before you book anything.
Cleaning, whitening and fillings
Often done in one or two appointments, so a short visit is usually enough.
Cleaning and whitening →Veneers and crowns
Often finished in one trip, with a few appointments for prep, try-in and final placement.
Veneers in Tijuana →Single dental implants
Usually two trips: one for the implant, one for the crown after healing.
Dental implants →All-on-4 and full arch
Two trips. Most patients stay 4 to 5 days on the first one.
All-on-4 in Tijuana →Where to stay
Our Partner Hotels Near the Clinic in Zona Río
Staying in Tijuana keeps you close for your appointments, follow-ups and any adjustment you might need. We have agreements with three hotels a few minutes from Torre 21: Real del Río, right across the street from the clinic, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and City Express. Wherever you stay, rides between your hotel and the clinic are included.
Ask your coordinator which one fits your plan and budget before you reserve. If you’re coming with a companion, mention it so we can suggest the right room.
Our clinic
Find Us in Torre 21, Zona Río
We’re on the 9th floor of Torre 21, a modern medical building about 5 minutes from the San Ysidro border, with elevator access and valet parking.
Smile 4 Ever Mexico
José María Velasco 2440, 9th Floor, Suite 905
Torre 21, Zona Urbana Río, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico
Monday to Friday 9 AM to 6 PM · Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM · Sunday closed
Before you travel
Your Pre-Trip Checklist
Print it, screenshot it, or send it to whoever is coming with you.
Before you book
- Confirm your treatment dates with your coordinator
- Book your flight to San Diego (SAN)
- Wait to book your return until your schedule is confirmed
- Ask which hotel and transportation apply to your plan
What to pack
- Passport or passport card (and your companion’s)
- A list of your medications and doses
- Your X-rays or dental records, if you have them
- Comfortable clothes and, for surgery, soft foods for the first days
The day before
- Send your final itinerary to your coordinator
- Save our WhatsApp: +1 (619) 844-9107
- Charge your phone and keep your passport handy for the crossing
FAQ
Travel Questions Our Patients Ask Before They Come
Still unsure about something? Ask us. A coordinator will answer personally, within one business day.
Do you pick me up at San Diego airport?
Yes, for free. Send your flight details to your coordinator once you book, and your driver will be waiting when you land. If your flight changes or is delayed, just message us.
Where exactly do you meet me if I walk across at San Ysidro?
On the Tijuana side, at Farmacia Roma, right as you step into Tijuana after crossing. Your coordinator confirms the time and, if you’d like, sends you a photo of the meeting point so you know exactly where to look.
Does your driver cross the border back with me?
For All-on-4, All-on-5, All-on-6, All-on-X and snap-on dentures, and some multi-implant cases, yes: our driver crosses with you through the Medical Lane and drops you at San Diego airport. For other treatments, we take you back to the San Ysidro line. If you’d like us to cross with you or take you somewhere else near San Diego, we can, for an extra fee.
What is the Medical Lane?
A lane at the border for patients coming back from medical treatment in Tijuana. It’s usually much faster than the regular line, often around 20 to 30 minutes.
Can a family member or friend come with me?
Yes, and we recommend it. Your companion can ride with you in our car and sit with you during your consultation. They’ll need their own passport or passport card too.
What documents do I need to cross the border?
U.S. citizens 16 and older need a valid U.S. passport book, passport card, SENTRI, Global Entry or NEXUS card, or an Enhanced Driver’s License to come back into the United States by land. Green card holders need their green card.
Can I drive to the clinic?
Yes. Torre 21 has valet parking for an extra fee. If you’ve had sedation or surgery, plan for someone else to drive you afterward.
When should I book my return flight?
After your coordinator confirms your treatment schedule. Always book it for after your last appointment: many patients fly home the next day, and some the same day once their final visit is done.
Is Tijuana safe for dental patients?
Your visit stays between the airport or the border, your hotel and Torre 21 in Zona Río, with our driver. We always suggest checking the U.S. travel advisory before any trip. Read our full guide.
Plan your visit
Let Us Plan Your Trip With You
Tell us when you’d like to come and what treatment you’re considering. A coordinator will help you choose dates, set up your pickup and suggest a hotel close to the clinic.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 (619) 906-7481 or message us on WhatsApp.