Years ago, when I was inquiring about restaurants in the United Kingdom, a native advised me “a full house means good food”. Just commonsense, I guess, but worth remembering just the same. Accordingly, I surmised that a full dental office means good prices and good work, or the waiting room wouldn’t consistently have a standing room only crowd.

Conversations in the waiting room with various seniors confirmed the quality of their selection. An old guy with a fat Rolex watch laughed and flirted with the cute little receptionist. He pretended to be young and she pretended to be interested. A lady in the waiting room chair next to me gave me an education on selecting second homes and traveling in first class RV’s. Another described the incredible values they receive at a fracture of prices in the U.S.

I was impressed by the educational level of the people in queue for dental work. These weren’t people that had to sacrifice quality for the sake of price. These were smart individuals that had simply found quality work for better prices.

What kind of savings are we talking about here? Is it worth the trouble of taking a south of the border trip? Judge for yourself. For me it was substantial. Teeth cleanings at our recommended Mexican dentist were $10, deep periodontal cleanings were $20 (we were quoted $250 in the States), standard filings were $20, ceramic filings were $40, and crowns were $150 (compared to our quote of over $600). Other major dental work had even more impressive savings. Other dentists with less elaborate facilities were even lower. Other areas away from the border have even more dramatic savings.

What about the quality? Our experience was great. I couldn’t tell the difference between our ‘tried and true’ dentist and his Mexican counterpart. Now, to be fair, we weren’t able to watch the latest videos in a comfortable chair like we did at our Stateside dentist. In addition, we weren’t pampered by a smooth talking dentist with a new luxury car parked out back. But, considering the price difference, we were ‘wowed’ enough to return on a regular basis. The dentist and staff seemed quite proficient.

And, there were perks. Yes, perks aren’t just for Enron and World-Com executives. First, we were able enjoy a mini-vacation in McAllen and Progresso, Mexico. McAllen is very comfortable and reasonably priced with a warm winter climate that attracts ‘Winter Texans’ form around the country, including my own loveable Aunt Esther and Uncle Bob. They venture south from the frozen tundra each and every year to escape the severe northern climate. They find pleasure in the warm weather and camaraderie amongst other retires from varied locations across the continent, while enjoying a very low cost of living.

Then, there are the border towns, with Progresso being the cleanest and most user friendly. You simply park your car for a dollar in a well organized lot adjacent to the border, stroll across the Rio Grande under a covered bridge, and presto your in Mexico. No fuss, no muss.

The town is clean, neat and very safe. If you’re skittish at all about border towns, this town is for you. Americans dominate it. When you walk down the street, they’re in front of you, behind you and everywhere in between. You can’t help but trip over one darn near any which way you turn. In fact, you might even get tired of hearing English and yearn for a little more Spanish, just for a little extra flavor.