I had a positive experience as a two-time dental tourist to Serbia. Here’s what I learned and all you need to know to plan your own smile upgrade.

Here is that story – the why, the what, the how, and the how much. I hope this helps you and those around you who might be suffering (likely not in silence) with dental pain.

Was it worth it?

Oh and to cut a long story short — I highly recommend it. When faced with the potential of a large medical bill on the local public health service, considering the option of “the best private healthcare nearby for less” is sensible. Especially within Europe. Especially if you could save thousands.

Why do it?

Dental work is expensive anywhere and certainly in the UK, New Zealand and Australia, the countries I know best.

Dental work is relatively cheap in other countries, such as Chile or Serbia, both of which I’ve experienced. And in both cases, the cost was lower, yet the time spent per procedure and the quality of the work was higher. A lot higher.

Why? Because the good people in the failing health service in each of the commonwealth nations mentioned above just don’t have the funding or the time to put in. It’s not their fault, so rather than complain about it, I suggest looking for alternatives.

Why Serbia?

In my case, I followed a referral from a Belgrade-trained dentist in NZ. Just like finding a good mechanic, it’s best to start with a referral from someone you trust. This particular clinic is the private practice of our Kiwi dentist’s former university lecturer at Belgrade University.

• Serbia is in Central Europe and has a high standard of healthcare (I’ve heard it called “German standard of work and care at half the price”
• It’s nearby. Serbia is only a 3 hour flight from London
• Accommodation is very reasonably priced (half the cost per night in UK)
• Belgrade is an interesting capital full of history and museums
• The food is international and amazing (and cheap)

Planning the trip

This is the end to end planning process, step by step.

1. Made a plan with my local dentist for what I needed to have done.
2. Emailed the practice in Belgrade to enquire about pricing and availability (see contact details at end of article)
3. Booked the first appointment at the clinic in Belgrade
4. Booked the annual leave off from work
5. Booked the flights (tip: if you can fly from Heathrow, direct flights to Belgrade are worth paying for, else you spend the day travelling each way)
6. Arranged AirBnB accommodation for 2 weeks in Belgrade centre (using Google Maps to stay within a 15 min walk of the dental practice) we liked the Waterfront for brand new apartments with Aircon and just South East of the clinic also.
7. Can we get money out? Ensured our Nationwide FlexPlus joint account Visa cards work in Serbia, noting that withdrawing cash from any ATM globally carries no Nationwide fee and a fair exchange rate. Also noted the global travel insurance the account includes – we were all sorted. 😃

The 2 week itinerary

1. Day 1: Fly to Belgrade and settle
2. Day 2: First appointment and X-Ray
3. Day 3: Second appointment, work started (moulds taken of teeth, teeth prepared, temp caps put in place)
4. Days 4–7: Touristing. The Nikolai Tesla museum is great, the Belgrade fortress and a day trip tour to see Lepensky Vir archeological site and castle nearby are highly recommended.
5. Day 8: Test crowns for fit, send back to lab if any adjustments are needed
6. Day 9: Fit crowns, do any fillings “while you are here”, done.
7. Day 10–13: Buffer (in case more work was found to be needed, such as a root canal). More Touristing.
8. Day 14: Fly home

How much did it cost?

Here are the costs as they totalled up in 2022 when the most recent trip occurred. This will give you a starting point when considering if it is worth doing.

Price for two adults, for 2 weeks:

• Flights: £400
• Accommodation 13 nights: £1,000
• Dentistry: ~£1,600 (16 crowns plus extras at £100 per porcelain crown)
• Food: Free (same cost as 2 weeks of food in the UK)
  — — — — — — — — — —
• Total: £2,000
• Savings: ~£12,000 😺

Would I recommend it?

Yes. Yes, yes, yes. The online and offline community in the UK is full of examples of people who have travelled to a range of countries nearby, in order to resolve medical issues into their own hands. As someone who was not a stranger to the dental chair (it runs in the family), my quality of life has been greatly improved by upgrading from many fillings to fewer crowns.

But, I’d suggest starting by asking around for recommendations, then reading Google Maps reviews of a clinics you are considering, then discussing matters clearly with them, before pulling the trigger and booking flights.

How to arrange it, step be step

Identify the need. Is it dental? Or something else? Have you been to the dentist and seen an issue develop over time? Have you sought a second opinion? Are you convinced of the need? What does the do nothing alternative look like? What would it cost at home?

Ask around. The modern world works just the same as the ancient, because both are full of people. So ask people you know, anyone you meet, if they know anyone who has done what you are considering. Note down countries and medical practices.

Research the options. Contact friends of friends where possible, ask them what it was like, what they’d do differently next time. Check out Google Maps reviews of potential clinics. Read blogs like this. Build a shortlist. Serbia and other Central and Eastern European nations would be my suggested range.

Contact the clinic. Suggest email so you can supply the exact details and get clear replies. The team are really helpful and speak great english.

Run the numbers. Price up what it would cost to get it done locally. Visit your dentist, get a quote for those crowns, implants, etc (and wince). Compare this to the cost at your potential clinic abroad including flights and accommodation.

Decide if it is worth it. Based on the cost saving, and the reviews you find (the best private clinic abroad may have more time to look after you than the public health service at home). Is it worth the effort? Can you take the time off? Can you work remotely while there?

And all the best with it. I treat my teeth like my health — just like servicing a car. When the mechanic says it needs work, consider the options and just plan it in. This way, you get many years of trouble-free motoring. 😃

Some general tips

1. It’s better with a partner/friend/family member. Having medical work done, while abroad, requires support. It’s important to have a familiar face and someone to look after you if you need it.
2. Consider the weather. First trip to Belgrade was in Summer (August) and it was hot, red hot. This time, we got wise and opted for Spring (May) — and it was lovely, continental weather.
3. Mix in some (gentle) fun. Both trips had a buffer at the end, in case we needed a few more days for the treatment. We didn’t both times, so we touristed a bit. And I’m so glad we did. It gave me something to look forward to and added a warm glow of photos and memories to the experience.
4. Belgrade is European. Despite growing up with folks from all of the former Yugoslavian nations, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the city and the country. And it’s very, very European. Think a well ordered city centre, very walkable and with a cafe or three on every corner. It’s a capital, so has museums and art galleries. It’s at the crossroads geographically so it has an amazing history (Belgrade has been attacked some 43 times). People are polite, educated and helpful. The general level of English is high. But, like any major city there are those who are not either of these things, but no more than in the UK. Shopping is good, so save space in those suitcases.
5. Work with your local dentist first. I had a frank chat with my excellent NHS dentist about upcoming work and the options. They initially suggested planning a set of crowns, and the option of looking overseas for a lower price and a dental holiday. Once I found the dentist below, requesting medical records and taking these along with us was just an email and a follow up away. Once we returned, my NHS dentist checked the work and gave it “5 stars”. This added a layer of comfort to the experience.

Clinic contact details

Here are the contact details of the dentist referred to above. I highly recommend them for a range of cleaning and hygienist, x-ray, filling and crown procedures.

Dr Marković Dental Practice
(Stomatološka Ordinacija Dr Marković)
Email: ord.markovic@gmail.com
Address: Balkanska ulica, br.10. Belgrade (Google maps)

Conclusion

I hope this has been helpful and please share it around.

Here’s to healthy teeth for all!