Just received this note from Middle Son, Steve, through Skype, about his Dental Experience a couple of days ago and thought immediately I need to share it with my readers:

“Hi Mom, I wanted to send you a quick message about how happy I was about my 6 month check up and my last trip to the Gator Dental Group in Los Algodones, Mexico, near Yuma.

“I made my appointment with Rosalba, one of their receptionists, who speaks perfect English, earlier in the month at (928-377-4562).  I keep one of their Gator Dental Group business cards in my passport, both for ease of access and to remind me to take my passport with me.

“Since it is summer time, their business is kind of slow, so I had my choice of days and times.  I made the trip from Los Angeles in good time through the beautiful Imperial Valley again.

“I got an early start and arrived ready for yet another adventure in Mexico in the early afternoon.  After parking in the designated parking lot on the American side, and walking a short distance, I was heartedly greeted at the front door of the office by Leo, one of the young men who hand out the dentist’s business cards as you go by on the street, and who is a great translator and who also acts as a host for the Gator Dental office, My friend Leo greeted me and I was ushered straight in to the dentist’s chair.

“I had one little chip in the back of my front porcelain veneer and the dentist asked me if I wanted it replaced.  I thought it could just be patched so that’s what he did.  A quick patch and a clean exam and I was finished with the dentist in about 15 minutes. And I was only charged $30.  A fair price I thought for the service.

“Since I had the rest of the afternoon and didn’t have to meet my brother Chris until later that night, Leo took me next door to the Green Room Bar and Grill, where I enjoyed a couple of beers and many, many games of pool in the cool air conditioning!  I was careful and didn’t have too many beers because I did have to drive to Phoenix, plus in the heat, drinks can affect you differently, especially if you get dehydrated in the heat. So I drank bottled ice tea too.

“I had a great afternoon of playing pool with all of the guys who normally run the numerous businesses of the town, at the many dentists and optometrists in Los Algodones.  After saying my goodbyes to the guys and to my host Leo, I grabbed a sandwich, chips and cold bottled water and my allotted liter of Kahlua at the Purple Pharmacy on my short walk to the border crossing.  I was the only “Norte Americano” going back home that day in the heat so I had no waiting to cross – this is when you must have your passport – to enter the United States of America.

“So I had a great experience at Gator again.  Much thanks to Rosalba, Leo and Doctor Edgar, for another inexpensive dental checkup and fix.”

Additional from Barbie: there are many, many dentists and opticians in Algodones, and lots of pharmacies to boot…so plan on taking care of a couple of your needs with one trip if possible.  Every penny saved is a penny earned – and I don’t know about you, but it’s been a real long time since Dick and I got a raise in our Social Security – so – make those pennies stretch!  Here’s more info about Dental prices in Mexico:  Click here and Click here. 

Dentist Article by Barbie