Personal Advice, Personal Care
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Mexican Dentist in Nuevo Progreso Mexico
I and my familiy have used Mexican dentists in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico for years. Choosing a dentist in Mexico is tough. I recommend only Mexican dentists I personally know, or who were recommended t
o me by people I trust. I've recommended Universal Dental Clinic since 2006. Dr. Barajas is the good-looking guy in the pictures. I am the old guy. The beautiful lady in the photo top right is his wife, Dr. Karina.
Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas is on the Texas-Mexico border, near Weslaco, TX.
I can honestly recommend Universal Dental in Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas. I use them. My family uses them. I have sent many strangers to them. What else would you want in a recommendation? Before you write, please read on. No, they do not have a web site. I am their representative. Dr. B. would rather I do the pre-patient interaction and he do the dentistry. Lots of dentists have web sites and a lot are slicker than this one. I am not slick, but down-to-earth and treat you like family. Yes, they do implants.
If you need a same-day or next-day appointment, I do not do that. Otherwise, please read on.
Dental care in Mexico costs about one-third or less of what dental care in the U.S. costs. (Root canals and crowns cost less than $200). There are scads of dentists in every border city, but I only work with one across from Donna/Weslaco, TX, in Nuevo Progresso. The correct spelling is Progreso, but gringos often spell this town on the Texas / Tamaulipas border, Progresso.
If our smiling faces have convinced you Dr. B. is right for you, please write for an appointment, otherwise, please keep reading. Should you decide to make an appointment, please let us help you with the link below. Please see the prices page before you write and ask me what your work will cost. If you are trying to get an appointment for today, please do not write. I have worked very hard to squeeze people in only to find that they stand us up or find another dentist.
Is Nuevo Progreso Safe?
Yes, Nuevo Progreso is probably safer than wherever you live. Please read what I wrote before you write. I go to Nuevo Progreso regularly with my family. What happens in Reynosa or Matamoros or Laredo has nothing to do with this small town.
Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas is safe. Period. Yes, you hear news stories about "shoot-outs" between drug cartel members and the Army in Reynosa or in Matamoros (both cities about 40 miles West and East of Nuevo Progreso) and Cd. Juarez (about 600 miles away). Yes, something COULD happen in Nuevo Progreso, but something COULD happen anywhere in the USA and does every day. Bombers target Christmas tree lightings in Oregon. Gunmen go into McDonalds, Post Offices, Wal-Marts etc. everywhere. Schools everywhere are targets for gunmen. Carjackings are common in most USA cities.
So don't tell me you are worried about walking 1 1/2 blocks across the bridge to the dentist. No gang of thugs is waiting to grab you and run. They have bigger fish to fry than some old people trying to save their money by going to the dentist in Mexico. Trust me - they could do better. I go over monthly. I have friends who either live there or visit weekly. I send dozens of patients to Progreso every month. I cannot say anything more about safety. If you accept what I said, then please write for an appointment. If not, then don't bother. Nothing I say will change your mind. And I don't want to change anyone's mind, just to present the facts and let them do what is right for them.
And don't say, "I am especially worried because I am a gringo." The one thing I wish people would understand is that gringos were never the targets for violence. You are less likely to have troubles than a Mexican citizen.
If you would rather believe the negative press than me, that is fine. Just don't write me to argue with me. You are entitled to your opinion.
Where To Stay
Although Universal Dental is in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, most people stay in Weslaco, Harlingen, Pharr or McAllen, Texas. You do not drive across to Mexico. You park your car in Progresso, Texas and walk the block to the dental offices. There is a link to Hotels.com on the top of every page to make a hotel reservation in Texas. I send you a map and directions when you make your appointment.
There is no dentist in Nuevo Progreso that does sedation dentistry. No dentist, Mexican or from any country can absolutely guarantee that you will experience absolutely no pain from a dental procedure. However, when you read the testimonials, most patients happily commented on the lack of pain after seeing Dr. Barajas or any dentist at Universal Dental Clinic.
Universal Dental Clinic in Nuevo Progreso does not do Zoom whitening. Dr. Barajas is not the lowest-cost dentist or the highest-priced dentist in Nuevo Progreso. There are others who charge a little less; some who charge much more. Dr. Barajas and I do not negotiate or discount his work. It is fairly-priced as it is. If you want to barter, please choose someone else and good luck to you.
These Are Your Doctors
There are four dentists at Universal Dental: Dr. Barajas, Dr. Karina (his wife) and Dr. Zambrano graduated from dental schools in the state of Tamaulipas. Dr. Manuel Bazan is an endodontist, or root canal specialist. Even though he looks young, he has 14 years as a dentist and 5 as an endodontist. He graduated from dental school in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.
Let Me Help You
Letting me make your dental appointment does not cost you a cent. You pay the same price as if you found the doctor on your own. Dr. Barajas prefers it this way because I take care of your questions and his office staff concentrates on dentistry. Dr. Barajas or his wife Karina see many patients, but there are also two other qualified dentists at the clinic.
Dr. B. also does implants. The rough estimate is that they will take a couple of months for 4 visits for the work and the healing time between. Cost is roughly $1,500 to $2,000 per tooth. If you know you are a candidate, that speeds up the process.
Please look at the price list before writing. If you need something else, please ask. Please write for an appointment. If you are trying to get an appointment for today, please do not write. I have worked very hard to squeeze people in only to find that they stand us up or find another dentist by the time I get back to them.
Please read these testimonials about Mexican dental care experiences from people who have used my personal dentist in Nuevo Progresso. I put these testimonials up to reassure people who don't know me or Mexican dentists. If that, or the style of my writing do not reassure you, there is nothing else I can do to win your trust. Thank you for looking and I hope you find someone to help you.
Write for an appointment Tell me what you think you need done, when you want it done. Please read the wait time for crowns or dentures or bridges. Prices on next page.
Why I Do This - My Personal Story
You can pick a Mexican dentist in Progreso by who has the flashiest web site, but wouldn't you really rather have the security of a personal recommendation? I feel this is a real service to people like me who cannot afford dental care in the USA. I wish there had been somebody like me to save me from my bad Mexican dental experiences. That's not a negative slur. There are many good Mexican dentists. Nuevo Progreso has 90 registered dentist offices and probably 100 total dental offices. I just hit two that were probably very good dentists, but a little greedy.
A few years ago, I picked a dentist in Nuevo Progresso by how fancy her web site was. Her office was really nice and had a big sign on the main street. She spoke English. She told me I needed 3 root canals. This could have been true, but since she charged $400 a tooth. I was hesitant to invest the Nelson family fortune. A friend referred me to a dentist who didn't think I needed a root canal and suggested we wait and see. I still don't need those root canals. During a visit to Nuevo Progreso recently, I noticed that she no longer has offices there. Maybe her greed did her in.
Not all dentists were created equal, in Mexico just as in the United States. Some dentists chant, Drill baby, drill. I went to one dentist who said I had 17 cavities. "Lo me dudo," (I doubt it), I said. I went to another Mexican dentist who said I had gingivitis. He was right. Learn from my mistakes.
So, I decided to help other gringos avoid my experiences. But my dentist is not the only good and fair dentist in Nuevo Progreso. There are probably more honest ones than not, but how are you, a stranger, to know? That's where I come in.
All I do is make the appointment. You pay the doctor. Cash, check or credit cards (AE, MC, VI) are accepted. But add 3% for using a credit card, since this is what the dentist gets charged.
Yes, he will fill out the forms for your dental insurance, but does not bill them. You pay him then get reimbursed from your insurance.
So Where The Heck Is Nuevo Progreso?
There is a map to Nuevo Progreso below. Nuevo Progreso, Mexico is near Weslaco, Texas in deep south Texas. You can fly into Harlingen or McAllen if you do not want to drive to the Rio Grande Valley.
All American and Canadian citizens need a passport to get back into the USA. You can fly into McAllen, TX or Harlingen, TX. It is best to rent a car, rather than take a taxi.
If you are coming from far, far away and getting a crown, dentures or other procedure that takes 5, 6 or more days, here is a link to book a hotel. The closest town is Weslaco. You may also consider Harlingen or the beach resort of South Padre Island.
