‘People stop me in the street thanks to my Croatia teeth makeover’

A mum who spent her whole life being too self-conscious to smile now gets stopped by strangers and told how beautiful her teeth are after getting a dental makeover abroad.

Nicola Jones, a 47-year-old self-employed Slimming World consultant from Swansea, had long been uncomfortable and embarrassed by the noticeable gaps between her teeth.

Now, strangers often compliment the mother-of-three thanks to a “life-changing” dental transformation in Croatia.

A lifetime of self-consciousness

Nicola’s struggle with her teeth began in her teenage years. “I wore fixed braces as a teenager, but as soon as they came off my teeth spread back to their original gaps within 10 months,” she said. “It was an absolute waste of time and the fixed braces were painful.”

Despite these early interventions, Nicola continued to live with the gaps in her teeth, feeling increasingly self-conscious.

“I wasn’t comfortable with the gaps. I would use my hand to cover my mouth when I smiled,” she said. “I tried to get help from my private dentist here but he wasn’t interested and told me my teeth were too short to fill the gaps.”

Fraction of the cost of UK

Nicola’s breakthrough came six years ago when she was recommended to Dentum by a friend – a clinic based in Zagreb, Croatia, which treats 800 to 1,000 UK patients annually for both cosmetic and general private dentistry.

“One of my friends, actually my butcher, came into my Slimming World group one day with the most amazing teeth,” she said. “He told me about Dentum and I was desperate to close my gaps, but scared of UK dentists and their lack of expertise.”

Determined to improve her smile, Nicola took the plunge and travelled to Croatia for her dental work.

She said: “I had six veneers, my old black fillings replaced with white ones, a root canal, and gum reshaping to make my teeth longer and square.

“The total cost was around £2,800, including flights, which is a fraction of the £8,000 it would have cost in the UK.”

The experience in Croatia

Nicola describes her experience in Zagreb as transformative. “From the very first day, it was life-changing,” she said. “The staff at Dentum are absolute perfectionists.”

She added: “I now look forward to my annual check-ups, which are completely free. They pick you up from the airport and provide accommodation. Everything is super straightforward.”

Nicola’s transformation has profoundly impacted her confidence and overall happiness.

I get so many compliments now, it’s quite embarrassing sometimes,” she said. “Random people stop me in the supermarket or on a night out to tell me how lovely my teeth are. It’s quite bizarre but wonderful.”

‘Just do it’

Nicola has been enthusiastically recommending Dentum to friends and family. “If you’re considering it, just go and do it,” she advises. “You’ll feel comfortable and they won’t suggest unnecessary treatments. The professionalism and care are exceptional.”

Andrej Bozic, an oral surgeon at Dentum, said: “It’s truly uplifting to witness the transformative impact Nicola’s treatment has had on her confidence.

“We’ve noticed a growing number of British patients seeking various treatments, often due to lengthy NHS waiting times or the steep costs at private clinics in the UK.

“As we offer services at up to half the price and maintain a standard of care among the best in Europe, we’re honoured to serve around hundreds of UK patients annually.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to help individuals who have faced self-esteem challenges due to dental issues, providing them with the smile they rightfully deserve.”