After years and years of expensive treatment in the UK, this lovely couple looked for dental treatment abroad. They decided to have their smile fixed by VitalEurope, and after 18 long months the results are in. Check out their wonderful transformation, and see what they have to say about the VitalEurope experience in general.
When did you decide to have dental treatment?
Andrew: I think we decided together. I’ve always wanted my teeth and smile done. I worked in the music industry and had a hard life, so I needed some treatment. Eleanor needed some work done as well, so she went ahead and got some quotes in the UK. All of them were multiple thousands of pounds. It was at that point we said “Right, we are doing this together”. We made it like a project for both of us, so we could do it at the same time. That was 2 years ago, sometime in 2019.
Eleanor: I had a broken crown, and a tooth that cracked. I was quoted by my dentist £2,000 to extract them. We thought that was an awful lot of money, and decided to look somewhere else together.
Andrew: It’s been good actually, because it’s nice to travel together and share the experience. Also it’s nice to have someone waiting for you when you come out of the dentist as well. It’s been mutually beneficial in a lot of ways.
What were your initial thoughts after the consultation, after you’ve seen the treatment plan in London?
Eleanor: So after we had our consultation in London, my initial thoughts were “Wow, how professional is this company. They did the full X-ray of my jaw, and I was told quite categorically I didn’t need my bottom set done. Even though I planned to have top and bottom, they told me they don’t remove good teeth, they will just whiten them. On the top ones I needed some work due to age, so I was over the Moon to get a full written proposal. I could understand everything, what I needed to get done on my teeth, and why.
Andrew: As a very strategic person myself, I like to know where I’m going and what’s going to happen and why. I used to go to my UK dentist randomly and all of a sudden I had to have dental work carried out, which cost me thousands and was never explained to me. After the consultation at VitalEurope, it was clear that most of these previously carried out works were not up to standard. Two root-canals in particular, that needed to be extracted. Here, I received a full plan, and based on that I decided to have done everything, lock stock and barrel as a one off project. It was all mapped out clearly, no hidden details. All we had to do was to plan the actual timing of the travel and the logistics. I need that kind of confidence as a person.
Why did you choose VitalEurope?
Eleanor: I choose VitalEurope because I did an awful lot of research, and for me everything had to be perfect. I had to pick the right person to do the right job. I researched lots of companies, specifically in Turkey because a lot of people from the UK go there. Then I researched companies in Poland, and in Hungary. I came across VitalEurope reviews while looking at Hungarian clinics. I couldn’t find a single bad review. However, the main reason we picked them over anybody else, is because they are specialists here. They are not just a holiday dentistry, where you have all treatment carried out in a single day.
Was the treatment worse or better than what you expected?
Andrew: Obviously no tooth extraction is a pleasant experience. But just like in life, you have to go through the pain, to get the pleasure at the end of it. I had my extractions during the first trip, and it is what it is. Not a great experience, but it’s a step in the journey. During all of the treatments, the professionalism of the team has been amazing. You feel confident, you feel like you are in good hands. So you know it’s no in vain, you just got to get through it, in order to get to the goal. The final stage, the preparation, and the fitting of the crowns have been much better than I thought. No pain, or discomfort at all. I had a meal after the fitting, and everything was fine.
Eleanor: When I had my two extractions, from the minute I walked into the surgery, until I came out, I think it was 9 minutes. I remember Andrew saying “Oh, couldn’t they do it?” I said “No, they are done. The teeth are out.” It was that quick, and it was amazing. My dentist in the UK wanted £2,000 for 9 minutes of work. From then on, I had my entire top set done, I had root-canal, and I think my nerves were worse than the actual treatment. Everything has been absolutely brilliant.
What would you say to those, who are still considering starting their treatment?
Andrew: Just listen to what we are saying. We probably had the same reservations as anybody. There is definitely this perception in the UK that going abroad is a bit weird. People in the UK need to wise up: The skill level here, the professionalism, the atmosphere, the ambiance of the whole experience is immaculate. You are in amazing hands, it is proper healthcare system, and the cost is radically different compared to the UK. I’m left with the feeling sitting here how many years have I’ve been ripped off by my dentist in the UK. How many thousands or tens of thousands of pounds have I given to my dentist in the UK over the years for what now I regard as substandard treatment? What I have to say to people is this. Go to London, have the consultation, talk to a specialist, get a plan, and then decide.
Eleanor: Go for it. That’s what I say. Just go for it.
How did you like Budapest?
Andrew: Budapest is one of the greatest European cities. I love central-Europe; it reminds me of my years of touring with some pretty dubious rock n roll bands. I have always loved the architecture, the history, and what you get from Budapest right now is a real sense of a city in upward transition.
Eleanor: It’s just safe. I feel comfortable walking the streets at night. Public transportation is easy, and most people speak English.
Dr. Szaszovszky:
Andrew really wanted to sort out the aesthetics of his smile, but he was well aware that in order to achieve this, the functionality will need to be fixed as well. A diastema (gap between the front teeth) is considered as a sex appeal for some, but Andrew wanted to have it gone. He wanted to close the gap, and adjust the rest of the teeth accordingly. After the initial CT scan it was clear that the patient also had periodontitis. This is a gum disease that damages the soft tissue, and can lead to tooth loss. We had to remove a few teeth because of this. Many of the teeth were discolored, which also needed to be solved. In order to achieve the nicest smile we used metal-free zirconium bridges, that also closed the gap between the front teeth. The results speak for themselves, so does his smile.
Eleanor dreamed of a mesmerizing smile for many years. She was not aware of a large cavity on one of her teeth, which unfortunately had to be extracted. Another teeth required root canal treatment, which was carried out be an endodontist, using the latest microscopic technologies, and a fiberglass post. She had direct veneers on her upper front teeth, which did not seal properly anymore. Because of this, they were discolored and needed to be replaced. We replaced the complete upper arch, using zirconium crowns and bridges. Look at her smile, and decide if she is happy with the results 🙂
