Smile Tijuana Dentist

I have been going to this Dentist for the last 3 months and couldn’t be any happier with the quality of the work they do. I initially went down to them for a second opinion after receiving a quote in the USA for over $ 5,000.00. After taking X rays and doing a full diagnosis they pin pointed the same problems that my dentist in the USA found, but quoted me less than a third of the total price.
I am thrilled with the quality of the work performed and have been referring all of my friends seeking affordable dental care.
Would rate 6 stars if I could!

Dr. Criss Melendrez is an incredible dentist! I am honestly extremely satisfied with the service I have received so far. If you are someone like me, anxious and extremely worried, I hope that this review will put your mind at ease. I have had 6 appointments with Dr. Criss so far, and I have nothing negative to say about her, her office or her staff. I had a terrible experience 7 years ago with a dentist, and as a result of that, I didn’t go to see anyone since that time. I was so anxious going down to Mexico, and getting work done there, that’s one thing, and coming to see a dentist after the hell I had gone through in the U.S. My first appointment with her, I was honestly sweating and hyperventilating. Dr. Criss used aroma therapy, I can’t say that it helped me relax too much, but she went above and beyond to make sure that I was ok. She allowed me to rest my mouth, we took frequent breaks, she took pictures and showed me what the problems were, she took the time to explain what she was doing and why. One of the bad cavities that she opened up ended up needing a root canal, so you can imagine my stress levels were through the roof. When I went back to get the post op, pin, and crown done, Dr. Criss opened up the tooth and she decided that it’s best not to do a crown, because my tooth had internal resorption, and if she were to grind around the filling that the specialist had done, she would basically open up the tooth, which would cause a fracture and the crown wasn’t the best option. I want to stress that the resorption wasn’t caused because of the root canal specialist, it was because of the wisdom tooth that had been pressing against that tooth for years. Anyways, my point is, she could’ve easily charged me 650 for the crown/​post up, but she didn’t. She chose to do a filling for that tooth, because she believed that that tooth has a better chance to recover, than if she opens it up further. So she charged me 100 for a filling rather than the 650. Every decision that she’s made so far about my teeth hasn’t been dictated my money, I don’t go to her office and feel like she’s doing things and procedures that I need just to get money out of me. I read a review from someone who said that she dropped a crown on the floor and didn’t even sanitize it. I honestly find that hard to believe, and I’ll tell you why. My very first appointment with her, she was doing a cavity, and I coughed and moved and saliva got on the tooth. No one’s fault, stuff like that happens, she started all over the cleaning process again, because she didn’t want to close a tooth that’s been exposed to bacteria from the saliva. Just some food for thought.
Some other notes about her office. It’s very clean, modern, well kept. It’s a small space, but they’ve made great use of it. There is music in the background, so that helps you relax. Lanna, the office receptionist/​assistant, is pretty amazing as well. She’ll go above and beyond to help you, whether that be give you directions, reply to emails or answer any questions that you might have. The office works with some American benefit companies, such as Aetna, you’ll still have to pay out of pocket, but if you have a PPO plan you might be able to claim the work done. Dr. Criss has great prices, it’s still WAY CHEAPER to get work done with her, than in the US with benefits :(The office is located about 5 minutes away from the border, there is a McDonald’s right there, so you can park your car and it’s safe. You can also walk over the border, take a taxi (like Taxi Libre) or even use Über. From the border to the office it’s 5 bucks for a taxi, 2 bucks with Über.
Dr. Criss Melendrez is very professional, knowledgeable, and most importantly understanding. I can’t keep my mouth open for very long, so she works with me, let’s me rest up in between procedures, take breaks. I can honestly say that my anxiety around the dentist is gone, I even laughed and joked around with her today. There is no pain during the fillings, pressure and discomfort yes, but you don’t feel her drilling around or poking or anything like that. I very rarely find a doctor that I really like, but honestly guys, she is very good at what she does. You will get way better service here than in the U.S. Her office is almost never late with appointments, maybe 5, 10 minutes, and that has only happened once. Dr. Criss will only spend her time on you, she’s not running from one room to another, and you are interacting with her, not the assistant. I highly recommend her and her team!

Very unprofessional practice. I was given unnecessary crown which caused infection due to the assistant who is also the receptionist who handles money, door knobs, who knows what else then without washing hands touches stuff that goes in my mouth where she cut my gums open. Criss dropped my crown on the ground and did not sanitize it at all, she keeps a dog in the office and her assistant was running back and forth helping 2 dentist at the same time cross contaminating. They never gave me antibiotics or responded to my emails concerning my infection. I had to miss work and go on treatment in USA. I still suffer from the poor work they’ve done. Please stay away I joined Unilocal just to warn people this was the worst dentist experience I’ve ever had in my life.

Lovely office with all IKEA design. Friendly staffs Lanna, Angelica and my lovely dentist Silvia. Have my root canal and Zirconia crown done. Worth the 4 hours trip.

I am so happy to have found Smile Tijuana!
I live in San Diego, and have been looking for a good dentist for quite some time. Not only did I need to have a proper cleaning, but when I had dental insurance in the states, I was told by my dentist in Carlsbad, CA that I had periodontal disease and that they would not do a regular cleaning on my teeth~ that I needed to have all 4 quadrants deep cleaned~ a root planing. This not only scared me, but it was not affordable at all! They wanted to charge me over $ 800 per quadrant!
My first visit to Smile Tijuana was for a routine cleaning and a full checkup with xrays. I explained to them what I had been told by the dentist in CA, and they made an appointment for me to see a periodontal specialist. I returned the next week, and the specialist was very thorough and asked me why I was requesting a root planing procedure. When I explained, she told me that I did not in fact have any type of periodontal disease, and that my gums were in good health. She went further to explain that the «gaps» I had at the top of my teeth between my gums were not very large at all and that they were caused by the fact that I grind my teeth at night. Instead, she suggested that I get fitted for a night guard.
I was also told at my first appointment that I had the beginning of a very small cavity on one of my molars, but that I did not need to have it filled at that point, instead we should keep an eye on it and have it checked at my next cleaning.
The honesty and integrity of everyone who works there is one of the reasons that I will continue to use Smile Tijuana’s services. You can tell that they care about their patients. Not only the dentists that I have been seen by, but also the receptionist is extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and informative. I went in there requesting a more expensive procedure (which by the way, would have only cost me a small fraction of what they were charging in the states), but instead they explained to me what the real problem was, and told me I did not need the deep cleaning. They could have easily given me what I asked for a made a lot more money off of me, but instead they were honest and helpful.
I went in again recently for my next cleaning, and the small cavity is still fine and does not need to be filled. I will be making an appointment soon to go back to have some old, mercury fillings removed and redone, and to have a cap that was HORRIBLY done in the U. S some years ago redone here for ¼ of the price! I can’t wait to get my teeth in top shape!
In closing, for anyone looking for a great dentist, who is not out to take your money, and instead provides honest and exceptional work, I would recommend Smile Tijuana Dentistry. The office is clean and very modern. It is a quick trip across the border in a very nice area, and everyone in the office speaks perfect English. I go quite often to Tijuana (I take my dog to a great veterinarian down there as well), so I drive across, but it is easy to get to if you want to walk across and take a taxi. I have had great experiences with both Dr. Gonzalez, Lanna, and Dr. Melendrez. I will continue to use their services and to recommend them to my friends and family.

I have never smiled leaving a dentist office until I found Smile Tijuana. The name definitely reflects how you will feel after your experience here. Dr Criss and Dr Gonzalez and their whole team are the most caring, gentle, compassionate, positive drs and staff I have ever experienced. I have been to many dentists in the US due to my many dental issues and have never felt so comfortable. I’ve had multiple consultations with holistic dentists in LA who were rough, uncaring, and came up with dental plans that cost up to $ 40K. They scared me and I left their offices crying. Dr Criss’s plan was a fraction of the cost, making it worth the drive to Mexico and hotels. She broke down all the procedures I needed and the time line in a calm manner, no scare tactics, which made me calm and helped me see the light at the end of my dental work tunnel. :)
My boyfriend has been seeing them as well and found that some of the procedures the US dentist wanted to do were unnecessary. Thanks to the integrity of the Drs, they only fixed the issues he had instead of wanting to create more.
Parking has never been an issue, they always make sure we have a spot in front of their office. We make the drive from LA and entering/​exiting Mexico is easy, sometimes there is a long line at the border but only on the return to US.
Since I have been going to Smile Tijuana, I have been smiling more and actually look forward to seeing Dr Criss and Dr Gonalzalez. They make you feel comfortable and even sing while they are working, which makes it fun and relaxing for me. The office has positive words and quotes all over which is a reflection of their kindness and positive attitude and experience you will have.
I can not say enough positive things about Smile Tijuana. They are the best and they will make you smile! :)
Thank you Dr Criss and staff for making me smile and providing such a positive dental experience appt after appt! :)

I discovered Dr. Criss about 4 years ago and I have never been more happy with my smile. Dr. Criss and her staff actually saved me because my teeth were in such bad condition I thought I’d never be happy to smile again.
Now I smile with confidence but the important thing is I have healthy and happy teeth, all thanks to Dr. Criss.
I saved so much money and now six of my family members are saving money and are very happy with the care and quality of dentistry that Dr. Criss and her staff provide.
I will always refer friends and family to the best dentist I ever found… Dr. Criss.

Seven visits since the beginning of Sept 2014, I am still not complete with the critical work that needed to be done, but am finally on a path to healing long term dental issues.
Dr. Criss Melendrez has been an amazing dentist and I have had a couple of different endodontists perform the necessary root canals. They were both great and did some extensive work.
There are still big projects to be completed over the 2015 year and I am grateful to have found this wonderful dental office.
Here is my list of reasons why I will continue to return:
* I do not feel afraid.
Dr. Criss explains what is happening, she shows you images of your mouth using x-​rays, digital photos and mirrors. She acknowledges when there will be discomfort and does everything possible to minimize the effects. She provides you with choices if they are logical for the circumstance. Her English is excellent, you are understood and respected.
* The cost of the procedure is what it is.
Knowing the cost of my dental procedure ahead of time and having the ability to budget for it is very logical to me. I understand that her office accepts American Insurance, but this has not been useful to me at all. All of my payments have been paid in cash. To compare this with local S Ca dentists pricing and insurance incentives, transparent medical costs should be one of the gold standards of health care.
* The whole team authentically cares about my well being.
It’s as though you go back in time to an era where the care provider behaves as a confidant and friend. By listening to your health concerns they may better assist your healing. Dr. Criss has been incredibly supportive and creative with the possibilities for my dental healing. Specifically an area of bone that had been suffering an infection due to an incomplete root canal from my teen years. The area received a bone graft and will need additional structural support to be able to have an implant. The «specialists» that have been involved have all been stellar.
* They come to you… the «specialists» of any dental sort that you may need.
Dr. Criss has an extensive network of dental experts. Besides walking a couple of medical office buildings down the street to have a full scan x-​ray and walking upstairs in the same medical building to have my blood drawn for the bone graft, all other procedures have been performed and collaborated in her office. This is absolutely a missing piece to my US based previous dental health providers. The specialists were not collaborating with my primary dentist, my health issues were being prolonged and argued over between care providers.
* Safety First.
Every single one of my amalgam fillings had cavity decay underneath them. Dr. Criss uses a cavity indicator liquid dye that shows where there is still decay and allows her to SEE where to remove it. If a procedure is risky or potentially harmful to you or them, everyone is prepared with safety glasses, masks, oxygen etc.
* The office is clean and urban modern.
Very easy to get to and return home. The staff is brilliant, helpful and sweet.
I am working on a blog to assist newcomers in the adventure of crossing the San Ysidro — Tijuana border crossing. Ask Ruby at the front desk when you call and she can send it to you.

Smile Tijuana Dentist makes Larry Ellison look like Peter Pan. When I got into the chair armed with my Panoramic X-​ray I was expecting to get a cleaning and walk away happy, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Initially the doctor started by taking photos of my teeth and writing notes on my sheet to indicate where I had fillings in blue, and where I needed fillings in red. I have always enjoyed great dental health and when she showed me the diagnosis I almost fainted. She was recommending 17 fillings, in 16 teeth.
She gave me this horrible diagnosis without an ounce of sympathy and for the rest of the appointment I sat in shock, feeling devastated as she cleaned my teeth. She wanted to start drilling my teeth right away, but fortunately I had planned the day around a fun lunch in Mexico.
The next day I called my normal dentist and scheduled an exam for a second opinion. I suffered through two long weeks waiting and thinking that my mouth was rotten. My intuition told me that my teeth could not possibly be as bad as she described, but I waited to write this review until after I got the second opinion. Today I got the good news, I am cavity free!
There are only two things that come to mind when I look at the magnitude of this error.
1. They are completely incompetent
2. They intentionally lied to me to separate me from my money.
I have to go with option 2, nobody is quite that incompetent, and the absence of sympathy further supports this theory.
The implications of treating 16 perfectly healthy teeth are far worse than just theft. They were suggesting that I needed to take 4 days off of work to spend in the dental office. In addition to precious time and their charges, I would also lose out on my wages. I would be sitting in a very uncomfortable chair for a full 16 hours of painful and needless work to be done, add to that hours of transportation. And by far the worse implication is that the healthy mouth that I have always had would now be compromised with each perfectly healthy tooth that they ruined.
Smile Tijuana might have a clean office, but their service sucks. Do not get sucked into their oral Ponzi scam.

I love Dra Melendrez and Dra Gonzalez! After a recommendation from a friend and an expensive diagnoses from a dentist in Escondido, I took a chance to try out smile Tijuana and now 3 years later I’m still going back. Not only is it ¹⁄₃ of the price but the quality of care is amazing! I’ve had some terrible experiences with untrustworthy and incompetent dentists in the us and my experience with criss has been the opposite. She is friendly, super nice, and always explains everything that she is doing in my mouth. I initially had a crown and a root canal performed in her office. We had trouble getting the crown to seal properly and I had trouble refraining from eating taffy, so alas my crown did Pop off and to be even more irresponsible, I didn’t make it back to criss to get the crown placed back on for over a year. After that long of a time, my teeth had shifted and the crown no longer fit so criss has to set the mold the crown over again and have it sent off to the lab to be re made. Bad me! The amazing news though is that even though it was my fault for waiting a year to come and have it corrected, Criss re did all of that work and did not charge me for it! Amazing! I feel well taken care of there.

When I tell people I go to the dentist in Tijuana I get varied looks of concern and unease. But I assure them that it is the best dental experience I have ever had. I did a lot of research before coming to this place and let me say that my expecations were far exceeded and beyond anything I could have imagined. With allt the 5 star reviews, they speak for themselves and every bit is true.
The dentist was never the most fun place to go for me growing up, and as such, I neglected to take care of my teeth as well as I should have (I am now paying the price, litterally and figuretively. Lesson learned). However, Dr. Criss and team of staff put me at ease with their kindness, care, and cleanliness. They are holistic in their approach to dental work and do not like to do any unecessary procedures, which I prefer and agree with.
I came in wanting to get my amalgam out (silver filings with mercury), fix a cracked crown, cleaning, and anything else that was necessary to get my teeth healthy and prepared for orthodontic work. After taking x-​rays of my teeth she went over all the procedures that needed to be done with the corresponding prices. They are honest in their work and some procedures were not required, so they did not perform them, which saved me money, time, and peace of mind.
I can’t stress how amazing this place is to go to. I tell all my friends about it and now telling the world here on Unilocal.Go here, you will not be dissapointed.

I have been looking for a dentist in the U.S. for so long but no good results. Thankfully I found Smile Tijuana. Dr Criss and her team are the best. Dr Criss walks you through what she’s going to do and gives precise detail while she’s working on your teeth. And to add because of her my teen daughter has a perfect smile now after having braces for about 2 years. My daughter did not enjoy going to the dentist at all before we stepped foot in Dr. Criss’ office. After the first visit with Dr. Criss, she did not mind at all. They are highly skilled professionals and no pain whatsoever. Hands down to her and her team. Will not be going to any other dentist from now on.

I went to Smile Tijuana because I had an old filling of mine crumble and break in my mouth. She found that I needed a root canal. A process that would bankrupt me in the states and sounded terrifyingly painful. The cost was totally reasonable and I payed in payments each time I made a visit. The staff are so friendly and even the doctors were so gentle and great at what they do I couldnt feel a thing throughout the whole process. Not even the needle! Everytime I have ever went to a dentist at home it has been such a painful and horribke experience. The office is walking distance from the border too so thats a plus for me! I wil never go to an american dentist again. Smile Tijuana totally has me for a lifelong customer.

I took my father to Smile Tijuana for major dental work (pulled 6 teeth, had new partials created) all this year and we were very pleased with the service and results! He has emphysema so we drove across from San Diego instead of walking and we never had any difficulty getting there on time. Sometimes the border wait on the way back took a while but it was well worth it for the quality and price. Were he able to walk further distances I would park on San Ysidro side and then take a quick taxi to smile Tijuana just a few minutes away from the border. The staff speak English (which is good because I know minimal Spanish), the office is clean and any initial hesitations from going south of the border were quickly gone. They are also responsive via email which we really appreciated. All in all a great experience and highly recommended!

dr criss and the girls are the greatess dentist I know I had many many things done with dr criss 8 root canals 2 wisdom interfering with my sinus pulled and was told in the states had to pay 3700 for the pulling of both wisdom cause neeeded surgery dr criss charged me 500 and no problems this office are great great dentist and very good prices love you guys thanks joe

If you’re looking for a holistic, clean professional and knowledgeable approach to dental care, look no further than Dr. Criss Melendrez and her team. Having access to dental insurance in the states but I was not satisfied with my dentist, service and cost, so I decided to look south of the border. Happy to say that after much research Dr. Criss and her team were at the top of my list. After a detail consultation by Dr. Criss, we created a plan to remove toxic fillings and enhance my smile. I highly recommend Dr
Criss and her team, even though the drive can be inconvenient the service is well worth it.
Thank you Dr. Criss

This is my favorite dental office! They have a team of highly skilled professionals. The scheduling is very easy. The office is nice and clean. Very happy with the service.