Braces Los Algodones

Very professional dental work done and clean and efficient personnel and office. I highly recommend the services of the Smile Shoppe. Dr Roberto Arce is a high-quality dentist and very gentle with everything he does. He explains the procedure from beginning to end.

Staff very qualified and friendly. The doctor explained everything he was doing throughout the procedure. I am Happy with all aspects of this clinic. Will use their services exclusively, they do great work.

Very tiny dental office. Four chairs and a couch crammed into a reception area along with a reception counter. The receptionist seemed knowledgeable about the policies and procedures of the office. Both my husband and I had appointments for a consult. We were first seen by a very young general dentist. He seemed knowledgeable. He poked and prodded and took the dental X-rays. He then told me what he thought I needed based on his exam. I then saw the implant specialist. He sent me across the way to have a panoramic X-ray before finalizing his treatment plan for me. (The panoramic X-ray cost me $150. I reasoned that I could use it for all the consults I had scheduled. Turns out the second dentist did a more in-depth 3D scan but didn’t charge me. We’ll see if the third dentist uses it.). In the meantime, the dentist saw my husband, who had requested an implant for a missing tooth pulled this past summer. My husband jumped in with both feet and accepted the offer to get an implant right then and there. He had his teeth cleaned for $30 and an implant inserted for $900 in about a half-hour. He will return in several months to have the crown put on the implant (additional charge). He was given a prescription for antibiotics and pain pills, which he filled next door at a pharmacy for about $15. Oddly enough it was the receptionist who wrote and signed the prescription. My treatment plan was more complex. It involved several implants for long-missing teeth, a sinus lift, new crowns for several front teeth. Some of the work they would do right away and some after months of healing took place. I declined to have anything done as I had appointments with two more dentists for consults. I left with an estimate for $7700, which is a whole lot better than the plan from back home of $22,000. The two things that I was not particularly comfortable with was; 1) When I paid the bill with a personal check, I was asked not to fill in the “payable to” section. I inquired as to the reason for that. I was first laughingly told by the receptionist that it was so she could go shopping. 2). The two exam rooms are barely big enough for a dental chair, the dentist and a dental tech are connected. It’s actually one bigger room set up exactly the same on both sides of a separation wall. You can hear everything that is being said and done on the other side of the wall. But I don’t believe Mexico has a HIPPA law! I believe there was a third small exam room located next to the tiny bathroom. This is just not the office for someone with claustrophobia or privacy concerns. Communication was not an issue, as all staff I had interaction with spoke English. I also observed good hygiene practices. Three of the patients I spoke with while waiting were repeated patients. They seemed pleased with their past results. My husband’s implant seems to be healing well. It required nothing for pain after the first 24 hours. Dental Departures facilitated this visit and sent us several appointment reminders.

I went to Dr. Valenzuela years ago. I was treated so well. Not like the dentists in the states. I had 27 teeth extracted and immediate dentures. Never ever have I been treated so well in any doctor or dentists office. Great prices too and I have told many many people about him and that they should make a trip and see him. I live in Oregon. How could I go wrong with a name like Jesus? We emailed several times before I went down and got the work done. I would do it all again if I had to. I am thinking of going back to get new dentures.