Updated August 2026 · Renova Smile Design, Zona Río, Tijuana.
Tijuana has hundreds of dental clinics competing for American patients, and Google will happily show you all of them. Price alone won’t tell you who to trust — a botched smile costs more to fix than doing it right the first time. Here is the checklist we would give a family member.
The 7-Point Checklist
1. Real before-and-after cases — of their own patients
Stock photos are a red flag. Ask to see full cases: the starting condition, the design, the result. Browse our gallery of real patients — every case was treated in our clinic.
2. An in-house laboratory
Most clinics outsource veneer fabrication to third-party labs, adding days and a middleman to your case. A clinic with its own lab controls quality, color-matching and timing — it is the single biggest operational difference between clinics. Renova runs its own laboratory on-site.
3. Brand-name materials, in writing
E-max (Ivoclar), 3M, Straumann. If the quote just says “porcelain veneer,” ask which brand. Serious clinics specify it in the treatment plan.
4. A written price before you travel
You should never cross the border to “find out the price.” Send photos, get a written plan with a final number. Bait-and-switch pricing is the #1 complaint in dental tourism.
5. Verifiable reviews
Google Maps and Yelp reviews with names and photos beat testimonials on a clinic’s own website. Read the negative ones too — how a clinic answers criticism tells you everything.
6. English-speaking clinical team
Not just the receptionist. Your dentist should explain your options, risks and aftercare directly to you in English.
7. Aftercare policy
What happens if a veneer chips in 6 months? Ask before, not after. Get the warranty in writing.
Red Flags That Should End the Conversation
- Pressure to pay a deposit before you have a written plan
- Prices dramatically below every other clinic — materials are where they cut
- No physical address or a “clinic” that books you into a shared office
- WhatsApp-only communication with no written treatment plan
Why US Patients Choose Renova Smile Design
We are a smile-design clinic in Zona Río — 20 minutes from the San Ysidro crossing — built around one procedure done exceptionally well: veneers and full smile makeovers, with our own laboratory, premium materials, and prices in writing before you travel. Start by reading our 2026 veneer price guide or check our packages.
Get Your Exact Price Before You Travel
Send us a photo of your smile and get a written treatment plan with a final price — no surprises at the border.