A mum who has spent her whole life being too confident to smile is now being stopped by strangers to tell her how beautiful her teeth are after having her teeth reshaped abroad.
Nicola Jones, a 47-year-old self-employed Slimming World consultant from Swansea, has long felt uncomfortable and embarrassed by noticeable gaps between her teeth.
Now, strangers are often complimenting the mother of three thanks to a “life-changing” dental transformation in Croatia.
A life of self-awareness
Nicola’s struggle with her teeth began in her teenage years. “I wore fixed braces as a teenager, but once they came off my teeth spread into their original gaps within 10 months,” she said. “It was a total 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 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 cover the gaps.”
A fraction of the UK cost
Nicola’s breakthrough came six years ago when she was recommended Teeth from a friend – a clinic based in Zagreb, Croatia, which treats 800 to 1,000 UK patients a year for both cosmetic and general private dentistry.
“One of my friends, actually my butcher, came to my Slimming World group one day with the most amazing teeth,” she said. “He told me about Dentum and I was desperate to get my gaps closed, but I was scared of British dentists and their lack of expertise.”
Determined to improve her smile, Nicola took the plunge and traveled 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 shaping to make my teeth longer and squarer.
“The total cost was around £2,800, including flights, which is a fraction of the £8,000 it would cost in the UK.”
The experience in Croatia
Nicola describes her experience in Zagreb as transformative. “From day one, it was life-changing,” she said. “The staff at Dentum are absolute perfectionists.”
He added: “Now I’m looking forward to my annual exams, which are completely free. They pick you up from the airport and provide accommodation. Everything is super simple.”
Nicola’s transformation has had a profound effect on 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 great my teeth are. It’s quite strange but wonderful.”
‘just do it’
Nicola enthusiastically recommends Dentum to friends and family. “If you’re thinking about it, just go and do it,” he advises. “You will feel comfortable and you will not be recommended unnecessary treatments. The professionalism and care is excellent.”
Andrej Bozic, oral surgeon at Teethsaid: “It’s really heartwarming to see the transformative impact Nicola’s treatment has had on her confidence.
“We have seen an increasing number of British patients seeking various treatments, often due to long NHS waiting times or high costs in 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 are honored to serve around hundreds of patients in the UK each year.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to help people who have faced self-esteem challenges due to dental problems, giving them the smile they rightfully deserve.”
