Casino: Vacation Dental guests will spend two nights in a modern high-rise casino hotel near a new medical complex at the border.

New Business: John Edwards has launched Vacation Dental, a company that combines a vacation in San Diego with affordable dental work in Mexico.

While many have heard stories about going to Mexico for cheaper dental work, Glendale Chamber member and event planner John Edwards has done it. Now he has combined a San Diego vacation with a two-day trip across the border into Tijuana for dental treatments.

Travelers fly into San Diego and go directly to Tijuana to stay two nights in a modern high-rise casino hotel near a new medical complex at the border.

Modern dental clinics there provide examinations, x-rays and begin work immediately on root canals, crowns and implants. For example, Zirconia crown treatments that cost up to $1,500 locally may be only $525 because they are created overnight in their on-site laboratory. Implant work can be started during the visit but patients must return a few months later for final fitting.

Recently Edwards joined former San Diego natives Eric and Ryan Miller in Tijuana for dental work. He was treated for a broken front tooth, two crowns and a root canal for only $950.

While there they teamed up to create a “vacation/dental plan” to help others that need or have postponed cosmetic dental work.

Mexico clinics are less expensive, take credit cards and give a two-year guarantee. Prices are lower because Mexican dentists often have their university training subsidized. After four years of study, they must then serve one year in a state-run clinic before going into private practice. The dentists purchase and use the same equipment as American clinics. However, the office rent and employee overhead are much lower and they are not paying off college student loans.

While most speak English, all dentists have young assistants fluent in multiple languages. Following the dental stay in Tijuana, travelers return to San Diego for a few days of vacation before taking a non-stop Southwest Airlines flight home. They can enjoy Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, museums, golf courses and the Pacific beaches.

Vacation Dental will present evening seminars in January to provide details. They recommend checking on the cost of needed dental work locally. Then compare that to the cost of a Mexico dental treatment combined with a bonus vacation stay.

Call 720-364-5299 for more information and January seminar dates.