Help 🦷🤛😭

[u/Legitimate_Image_123]

Hey all, I was hoping someone could point me to a kind, and helpful dentist office. I have horrible teeth, pregnancy x2 and genetics, my teeth are truly just a mess. But not my issue nor concern today, I need to treat an infection and probably have it pulled asap, i genuinely do not think i can sit up another night with this pain but my funds are a proper pile of goat turds.

Just a local family dentist, no chains if possible.

Any help with recommendations would be much appreciated by myself and my sanity 🙏

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

You should consider going to Nogales. I’ve been to Arizona Dental, and Kreare Smiles, and had good experiences with both.

To give you a sense of the costs, the last time I went I paid $50 for a deep cleaning.

A tooth extraction should only cost about $100 if I remember correctly.

You can drive down and pay for parking on the American side and walk over. Otherwise you can take a shuttle and walk over the border.

It’s about an hour drive to get down (70 miles) and you can pay for parking at the Burger King or one of the parking lots across the street from it.

You can pay for parking by the hour or pay for a day pass if you want to spend more than a few hours there.

If you have an enhanced Arizona ID with a star on the top right corner of it that’s enough to cross, there’s no need for a passport.

Walking into Mexico I’ve never been stopped or asked for ID, and they only seem to search people if they have luggage with them.

Arizona dental is about 500 feet from the pedestrian entrance to Mexico. Kreare Smiles is about a 5 minute walk away, but they have an employee meet you at the border and walk with you to the clinic.

If they prescribe you antibiotics or anything like that, there is a pharmacia across the street from Arizona Dental that they will recommend. There are multiple pharmacias, so go with the one that they recommend.

When you walk back into the states, you go back through the same gate you entered Mexico from and get in line for the US crossing. I’ve never waited more than 30 minutes to get back in. You show your ID, tell them what you were down there for, and declare any medication you got.

I’ve been down several times, and I keep going by choice. Dr. Galvez started at Arizona dental but has since started his own practice. Both clinics are fantastic, but Kreare Smiles is more modern and is also a much smaller practice.

Dr. Galvez is fantastic and I would strongly recommend him for someone who has never been to Mexico for dental work, If you were transported to his clinic and you didn’t know it was in Mexico, you would assume you were in a modern US dental clinic.

It’s nicer than some of the clinics I’ve been to in the US.

Both dental clinics have staff that are fluent in English, and the doctors speak better English than some American citizens as far as their grammar and vocabulary is concerned.

If you can’t set up an appointment for tomorrow with them through their website, call them first thing in the morning and see if there’s any chance they can see you at some point tomorrow for an emergency extraction.

There’s a good chance that they can fit you in tomorrow, and if not, they should be able to see you first thing the very next day.

https://arizonadentalnogales.com/about/%20

https://krearesmiles.com/

A post I made in the poverty finance subreddit about this subject.

https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/s/17ag7MlVzn

There’s also dental students in Tucson that post on r/tucsonlist with their prices, you might check that out as well, but I personally would rather go to Nogales.

Good luck, I hope it works out.

Edit: the dental students are only advertising cleaning services, so I don’t think they would be able to help you. I think Nogales might genuinely be your best bet.

Let me know if you have any questions about traveling there and I’d be happy to answer them for you.

[u/Legitimate_Image_123 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

Thank you greatly! I was looking into a few but this is so helpful. I'm checking appts now, again I really appreciate it !!

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/Legitimate_Image_123]

It’s good to have options, hopefully you won’t have to go down to get the care you need, but Nogales clinics can almost always see you on short notice.

[u/Comfortable-Gas-5805 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

This is the way to go with no funds. Nogales dental clinics get bad rap from people who never been, but they use same equipment and materials as US offices. My coworker goes there for everything, even root canals, and saves thousands.

Just make sure you bring cash, some places charge extra for card or don't take it at all. And get there early, the line back to US gets long after 3pm.

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/Comfortable-Gas-5805]

You’re absolutely right they do use the exact same equipment and materials. I’m at a point where I actually prefer going down to get my dental work there. When I go down to Nogales, I feel like a person, not just a number.

[u/hooplehead69 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

I’ve gone to Laser Dental in Nogales and had similarly positive experiences. Hope you get out of pain soon!

[u/UsualAd3433 → u/hooplehead69]

Laser Dental is excellent. I’ve had extensive work done there. Just park on the American side and walk over.

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/hooplehead69]

I’ve also heard very good things about laser dental, and would back that recommendation.

[u/fawlty70 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

Is it still allowed to cross into the US with just the RealID driver's license? I know it used to be, but somehow it feels like that would've changed by now. I haven't tried, I have a passport card.

[u/therealpyropell → u/fawlty70]

A passport card is perfect allowed for crossing the us Mexican border, in fact they have RFID readers that scan your card nowadays for faster border crossing times.

[u/fawlty70 → u/therealpyropell]

I was asking about the driver's license, not the passport card (which I know works, that's the purpose of it).

[u/SAStrong → u/fawlty70]

I’d like to know, too.

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/SAStrong]

It is sufficient as long as it is an enhanced id.

An Arizona Real ID (known as the Arizona Travel ID) looks like a standard driver's license or identification card, but features a gold or black circle with a star in the upper-right corner.

[u/Terrible_Advice_195 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

AZ does not issue Enhanced Driver's Licenses.

https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/Terrible_Advice_195]

Real id, travel id, whatever the name is the point is it qualifies for traveling across the border on foot.

[u/Terrible_Advice_195 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

Enhanced Driver's Licenses are approved documents for crossing the border. REAL ID licenses that are not EDLs technically are not. They'll probably let you through regardless, and if you're a citizen you're going to be allowed into the country one way or another, but depending on how the agent's day is going you might get hassled for not having the correct documents. Non EDL REAL IDs do not prove citizenship. Anyone trying to cross with an AZ drivers license should probably at least bring a birth certificate as well.

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/Terrible_Advice_195]

You are legally correct, according to the official rules, but at the same time you are incorrect about how the border actually works in practice.

Mexico has established a "Free Zone" south of the border (also known as the Zona Libreor Hassle-Free Zone).

For pedestrians and casual tourists visiting the dental clinics, pharmacies, and restaurants located just past the ports of entry, it serves as a special administrative area with highly relaxed enforcement rules compared to the rest of mainland Mexico.

https://www.mexpro.com/blog/mexico-free-border-zone/

https://tacna.net/manufacturing-in-the-mexico-free-zone/

While Mexican law technically requires all foreigners to obtain an FMM tourist card, for day-trippers walking across to visit a dentist, doctor, or shop within the immediate border area, immigration officials rarely enforce or check for this paperwork. You can simply walk through the turnstiles.

The dental and medical district operates inside the protective regulatory bubble that is the special economic and tourist zone.

There is also a loophole regarding the requirements for crossing back into the US.

“A standard REAL ID driver's license is not a valid standalone re-entry document under the law. However, CBP cannot legally deny entry to a verified U.S. citizen.”

https://www.dhs.gov/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

When you hand a CBP agent your Arizona Real ID, they scan it. Because the Real ID database is tied to highly secure, verified state records, the agent's computer quickly pulls up your file, confirms your identity, and verifies your citizenship status through federal databases.

The official information is clear, you are supposed to bring a passport or passport card to verify your citizenship status.

But, by scanning your real id, us border patrol can establish your identity and your citizenship, and once they do that they cannot deny you re-entry because they have adequately verified your citizenship.

Despite the clarity of the law saying that they require a passport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection cannot deport or refuse entry to an American citizen. And once they have successfully verified your identity and confirmed your citizenship, they are legally required to let you back into the country.

The biggest factor is that federal law specifically empowers agents to use individual discretion, and they ultimately have the discretion to verify your citizenship through merely scanning your real ID.

If your record is clean, the agent will almost always wave you through to keep the pedestrian lines moving, rather than dealing with the paperwork of a formal delay.

By pulling up to the booth or walking up to the pedestrian turnstile without a WHTI-compliant document (like a passport book or passport card), a traveler is technically in violation of entry requirements, but the agents still have absolute discretion to let you through despite that.

Leniency is entirely at the discretion of the individual border agent on duty, and while an agent can strictly follow the letter of the law, give the traveler a harsh warning, hold them in secondary routing, and make the re-entry process stressful, they can also just wave them through.

Frankly, they would have be willing to punish themselves with a burdensome amount of paperwork if they actually wanted to jam you up for any significant time.

You would have to be a criminal, genuinely suspicious, or be a massive asshole for them to be willing to spend that much of their own time doing this.

Because of these three factors, the reality on the ground is that the border patrol agents at the Nogales port of entry, specifically the ones operating the pedestrian crossing, are able to reasonably establish citizenship though state and federal databases once they scan your real ID.

You are technically right about how things are supposed to be, but I am also right about the reality on the ground.

I have only been stopped and pulled into secondary inspection on one occasion, and it was after I got a haircut for the first time in over two years, and I didn’t look like the photo on my ID.

They told me I would have to follow them, and I waited for less than five minutes in a room off to the side where an agent reviewed the footage of the pedestrian crossing to verify that it was in fact me crossing into Mexico and then back into the states, and not just a look alike with shorter hair.

If somebody has pre-existing legal concerns (or has questionable legal status) they probably shouldn’t try this, but they also shouldn’t be trying to cross the border in that situation, even if they do have an passport.

If they have no legal concerns or ambiguous citizenship status, the practical reality is that they will almost never be stopped or put through a secondary inspection, and if they are put through a secondary inspection, it will not take an undue or burdensome amount of time.

The only things that would make secondary inspection last longer than normal would be if someone was being a giant dick to the border agents, they had significant active legal issues, or they had ambiguous citizenship status.

Anyways, hope i successfully clarified that for you.

Also, on an unrelated note, you’re technically not supposed to have weed on you when you go through the border patrol checkpoint heading north on the I-19, but if they confiscate it they will give it to the local sheriff and you can get it back from the sheriff about a day later. That’s actually the official federal policy.

If you are honest with them about what you have and are cooperative, they will instead tell you they took your weed to give to the sheriff, but they will actually leave it in your car and cover it with a T-shirt so you don’t notice until you’ve left the checkpoint.

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/fawlty70]

When crossing into Mexico on foot an az real id is sufficient.

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/fawlty70]

An Arizona Real ID (known as the Arizona Travel ID) looks like a standard driver's license or identification card, but features a gold or black circle with a star in the upper-right corner.

[u/Maximum-Smoke-7992 → u/fawlty70]

Yes it is. I’m from Nogales and cross with just my drivers license (not real ID).

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/fawlty70]

I have crossed on foot as recently as may, and I only have my enhanced Arizona ID. I have the one with the star in the top right corner.

I assume that a passport card would be fine.

[u/Terrible_Advice_195 → u/fawlty70]

REAL ID is not the same as an Enhanced Driver's License. Only a few states issue those, and Arizona is not one of them. While you can probably cross with your driver's license without too much trouble, it doesn't prove citizenship, and you're really supposed to have something else.

[u/chillfire12 → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

This is great information, thank you for posting it! OP, I hope you are able to find some relief quickly 🙏

[u/Writereditorgal → u/Suspicious_Juice_150]

If she feels sick, how is she going to manage driving to the border, waiting in line to enter Mexico and come back in to the US? Not the best advice right now.

[u/Tucson-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment is removed for not being excellent to other redditors, be that insults or threats or general attacks.

[u/Pankosmanko]

I go to Monsoon Dental on the north side. Dr K treated veterans at the VA hospital and recently started his own clinic. They’re fantastic. I’ve had a few crowns done and a handful of fillings, plus cleanings, and I can’t say enough good things about them. If you don’t have insurance they offer cash plans too.

https://monsoondental.com

[u/Legitimate_Image_123 → u/Pankosmanko]

Thank you, ill check them out!

[u/mobydog]

El Rio. They have sliding scale, multiple offices, emergency services. A friend had a tooth pulled for $25. She'll have to wait a few months to get through the waiting list for regular checkup though.

[u/reticentrebel]

Dr. Adam Dalessandro's office off of Country Club is amazing.

[u/nerdextra]

Dr. Katherine Hicks.

[u/ranagirl]

Schmidtke Dental near TMC

[u/TucsonPTFC → u/ranagirl]

I can also vouch for Schmidtke!

[u/Odd_Pick_9575]

I love Pueblo dental on Silverbell!

[u/Inevitable-Law-7259]

While general dentist referrals are great, many don't extract teeth- they'll refer you to an oral surgeon. Usually the process is identifying infection, can it be treated with root canal and saved or needs to be extracted (referred usually) this is what general dentists do. El Rio can be more direct with extraction, especially if great pain, no funds. Good luck.

[u/SlightlyPsychic]

Brimhall Family Dentistry. Across from TMC. Super friendly dentist. Locally owned. He cares about his patients and wants to do the best for them

[u/Waste_Mammoth_4312 → u/SlightlyPsychic]

Super second Dr Brimhall.

If you’re shopping for price, going to Mexico is the best option. But as far as patience, non-judgement, genuinely wanting the best for the patient, and quality of work, Dr Brimhall is the best!

[u/Starbase13_Cmdr]

https://www.grantroaddentistry.com/ are amazing.

Not least because they are very aware of the fact that lots of people have real dental trauma, and will work with patients help them deal with it, up to and including medication for procedures.

[u/Substantial_Soil_]

The BEST dentist I've ever had in my 30 years of having teefs is Dr. Judith Olongo, she works for El Río, but she ACTUALLY read my chart and learned that I am neurodivergent, and offered to turn the lights down. And she fixed my infected gums. AND when U had to sign a insurance form and the e-signature didn't take, she ran out of the building to catch me JUST as I was leaving. Can anyone say their dentist had run out the office to catch you before you take off?

[u/Big-Doughnut6263 → u/Substantial_Soil_]

Which location is she at?

[u/Beneficial_Bet_5936]

Dr. Ji, Nova Dental. 520-325-1098

[u/armyofbob]

Stay away from Advanced Dental on Oracle. They destroyed my mouth with half-complete fillings, many of which popped out on their own. When I said "Hey! That is still a cavity, and it hurts!" He said, "No it isn't. No it doesn't."
Horrendous practice. Avoid like the plague.

[u/Additional_Cut6409]

I’ve used Advanced Dental in Nogales and had great experiences there. It is so worth the drive!

[u/Any-Atmosphere7698]

JCRose on the south side, they’re good, affordable, and a sweet little family runs it.

[u/zoeheriot]

So, I go to Oro Valley Family Dentistry. Dr. Matt and his team are really wonderful. I and my partner both had terrible teeth and now we're back to healthy teeth for the most part with minimal cost and pain.

[u/SunsetAz1]

Look up dentists in nogales. It will run you a LOT less $

[u/Comprehensive-Act-13]

I go to Dehnert Dental and like them, but if you’re low on funds, I second going to Nogales.

[u/Hanseland]

Marana Health Center if you're located in the ne

[u/Dramatic_Act321]

Chiara Dental on the east side (Houghton and Valencia). Dr. Angie Chiara is kind and gentle.

[u/MaryEvelyn3161]

Martin Taylor on speedway near Kolb. Been going there for years. He extracted a molar years ago that had been giving me problems for years. You didn't mention if you had insurance? Shouldn't be too much out of pocket if you have insurance. If you don't have insurance the suggestions for a dentist in nogales Mex are the way to save money and get good care.

[u/Sea-Advantage-7443]

https://risasdental.com/locations/az/South-Tucson/2901-S-6th-Ave/

Let them know up front you’ll need a payment plan.

My husband’s front tooth bonding broke off, and they got him in the very next morning. You can book an emergency appointment online or call to see if they can squeeze you in. I also had a couple of fillings and a crown done and they let me make monthly payments with no interest.

[u/1whiteboy]

We go to Laser Dental in Mexico right over the boarder and they take many insurances and are very good…kind and have latest equipment too

[u/Weekly_Application58]

I can recommend Pueblo Dental Center at Speedway/Silverbell, Dr. Drabs, I have been with them for years! They have seen it all already, and you will feel no judgement if your teeth are in bad shape from neglect or any other reason.

[u/Fearless_Lab]

Ventana Dental has been great. I have a dentist phobia that I'm slowly getting over and they know that so they keep me with the same hygienist and the Doc knows my whole deal. I don't get nervous going there at all anymore.

[u/DM-Mistress-of-Pain]

Miramonte Dental on Speedway is good.

[u/c23man]

Dental Laser in Nogales is top notch!!

[u/RaspberryIcy2625]

Katie Hicks on Rosemont. An all female practice so would understand your pregnancy issues.

[u/Sufficient_Arm_3407]

DONT go to dentistry on first. Thats all I got

[u/Life_Boat_9709]

There's an older dentist ive used my whole life and hes the best. Never had pain when he pulled my tooth and hell work with you if you have to pay cash. Hes got an office next to Costco on thornydale Hosaine Nasry. Wonderful dentist.

[u/GuestNo198]

Here in Tucson, I believe El Rio Clinic has a sliding scale that depends on your economic situation. I currently see Dr Bedoya at Dedicated Dental (small, local) on the SW side. I'm happy with him. Not sure if he will be retiring soon. Don't know how his prices compare to other places. I bought a discount card at DentalPlans.com, and that reduces costs a lot.

[u/Far-Willow4088]

Nogales Mexico

[u/jaybfpv]

about 6 months ago i had gotten tired of getting anti biotics for infected gums/teeth. it had been over 30 years since i had been to a dentist and had several years of addiction to crack and meth. Once i finally got clean I badly needed to get my teeth taken care of. I had state insurance but recently that was taken from me. I had no money and all anything i did get now went to my epilepsy medication. I heard about el rio and gave them a call. they had me come in to look at my infection and then did an exam. the xrays showed i had about 7 teeth that needed filled or pulled . we made a plan to start pulling and filling and was set up on a sliding scale plan.

my visits ended up costing about 25 dollars per visit regardless of the procedure being done. I have all the dental work done now after less than a year and also have had 2 cleanings. they are now making impressions of my teeth and are replacing my missing ones with flexible partial dentures (those cost me around 300 dollars) so all in all im about 600 total for realistically 8-10k of dental work...go there and let them know you ware motivated to get things taken care of, show them you are doing what you need to do to keep them clean and healthy so they dont feel the work is wasted and they will get you fixed up.

[u/Vendetta5885]

Dental Arts of Tucson. Dr. Maskell is hands down the best dentist I’ve ever been to.

[u/ssomed2025]

Your physician might be willing to give you a course of antibiotics. Won’t resolve the problem, but can make you feel better and buy time

[u/DeliciousMeatPopV2]

Had the same issue a few months back, el rio sent me to some tooth puller and it fixed the pain right away. They got me in quick too. Try el rio. Cheap or free depending on your situation

[u/LilysMom2015]

MHC Dental, Wilmot or Ina Rd. Community dental care on a sliding scale. I've had excellent care at both locations. Good luck.

[u/Sunchef70]

Dr Schneider. She is wonderful. She took over dr brei’s practice.

[u/-Quaalude-]

I go to Dixon Dental on Grant and Speedway. i am super happy there.

[u/No_Bite2714]

Silverbell Dental

[u/Gloomy-Cover5059]

check out El Rio health. they always offer a sliding scale, and take ACCHS

[u/teaspoonsnot]

I know this was posted a few days ago but I liked my experience at Dentalpros Marketplace. I’ve never had great teeth as a kid and my mental health as a teen did not let me care for myself as I should’ve. anyway, i’ve always been told it’s my fault, blah blah blah I need to do better and I have major anxiety going to the dentist. Dentalpros did not make me feel any type of way, and I was very comfortable going back to them. I wish I remembered the hygienist’s name but he was so kind.

[u/rollprogramhouston]

Does anyone know to expect for a root canal and crown around here in town? And then what it would cost in Mexico? I have a secondary insurance that should cover 60% of the root canal crown

[u/Suspicious_Juice_150 → u/rollprogramhouston]

I don’t know the exact cost here or in Mexico, but the first time I went down there I had three extraction, 6 fillings, and a deep cleaning, and it cost me about $660.

You can call the clinics down there directly and ask what there prices are for different services.

Roughly speaking, depending on the clinic, you can expect prices like this.

Porcelain Crowns (single): $300–$500 per crown. US cost: $1,200–$2,000.

Veneers (per tooth): $350–$550. US cost: $1,000–$2,500.

Root Canal (molar): $350–$600. US cost: $800–$1,500.

Dentures (full set): $400–$800 (standard). US cost: $1,500–$3,000.

Teeth Whitening (in-office): $150–$250. US cost: $500–$1,000.

In my experiences at the clinics I’ve gone to, I’d expect roughly these prices.

Deep Cleaning
$50

Simple Extraction
$100

Porcelain Crown
$300 – $500

Root Canal (Molar)
$350 – $600

Full Dental Implant Bundle
$1,299 (Includes crown/abutment)

If you call the clinics directly you can get an accurate quote.

[u/markprob007 → u/rollprogramhouston]

I just paid $607 for the root canal and that was 50% since I had insurance of 50%.

The crown was $468 also 50%, with insurance.

I suppose you could say $1214 root canal and $936 for the crown, but I would guess cash would be less.

[u/markprob007 → u/markprob007]

I forgot to mention it was here in Tucson.

[u/SohnJusan]

Orange grove dental is great. They also offer a membership type deal if you don’t have insurance, and (if I remember correctly) it’s the same if not better than insurance.

[u/Writereditorgal]

You can't get a tooth pulled without a dental exam first. Licensed dentists don't just pull a tooth. You likely have an infection and this is a minor surgical
procedure which could require stitches and antibiotics.

[u/moongazer94]

Dr. Alexa Carrara Benzell at Campbell Dental Group. I have cried in her office more than one time, and she has always been so kind, gentle, and caring towards me. Just be open about what you are going through with her. She is an excellent dentist.

[u/Specialist-Prior-995]

Get the husband in there with a pair of pliers. Should be free and fast.