Ray Thomas

I am 75 years old.   I lost a number of teeth in my thirties and forties.   My NHS dentist recommended me for implants in the 1990s when I was in my early 60s, but I was turned down by the dental hospital without any reason being given.   By 2004 I had a collection of ten dentures that I had kept as souvenirs of my history of tooth loss.  My second set of upper dentures had already become ill fitting.  My, now non-NHS, dentist recommended me to an implantologist in Northampton. For a full course of treatment over an eighteen month period I was quoted £30,000.   

I enquired of services in Budapest but my enquiry also went to Dr Popadic in Croatia.   There were email exchanges about courses  and treatment.  I asked Popadic for details of a patient of his who I could contact.  My enquiry got a very positive email from Marion Norton (not her real name) in Australia who also told me about Rovinj where Popadic practices and made recommendations as to where to stay.

Then there was a remarkable coincidence. I discovered a neighbour who was born in Rovinj who told me a few more things about the town.    That happy coincidence helped me come to a quick decision.   At his request I emailed Popadic a copy of a panoramic X-ray of my jaw.

I got a cheap flight to Trieste and took a bus to Rovinj early in July 2005.  Popadic quickly gained my confidence both in the implant technology and in his knowledge and skills.   He quoted me 20 thousand Euros for a new set of teeth.   I came back from that trip with six implants in the upper jaw covered with a temporary bridge that gave me what my wife described as a Hollywood smile.    I returned in early September for implants in the lower jaw and late in November I got 28 permanent new crowns.   More teeth than since my 20s.

My course of treatment was not the lowest cost solution.  The 14 new crowns in the upper jaw are supported by six implants and by seven natural roots.   Implants were only a part of the treatment.  The treatment also required preparing the natural roots for a set of crowns (including a bridge) computer designed to fit on the implants and the existing teeth and of course to fit exactly together. 

It is difficult to describe the recaptured pleasure from having a full set of teeth that are able to easily chew anything and that don’t have to be taken out for cleaning.   I now enjoy a great variety of food and have become an agitator in favour of the NHS encouraging the use of implants.  I’ve reached the conclusion that the high prices in the UK are largely the product of inadequate training and inadequate practice among members of  the British dental profession.

An unexpected bonus for me has been the reaction of the rest of the world.  People are more likely to say ‘Hello!’ to me.  Young women smile at me.  Young men look at me with respect.  My colleagues still in employment no longer treat me as a has-been, but ask for my views.   I’ve just had a book published and I am really looking forward to the possibility of a TV interview.

A lot could be said about Rovinj.  It is a pleasing holiday resort with an ancient walled centre, many islands, rocky beaches and clear blue water ideal for snorkeling, naturist and non-naturist sun-bathing and camping areas, and miles of coastal pathways and cycleways through well groomed woods. 

The classy way to get to Dr Popadic is to fly to Venice and take a ferry across  the Adriatic direct to Rovinj, but I have not tried that.   EasyJet are starting flights from Luton to Rijeka in July.

Ray Thomas

Ray submitted a memorandum to the Select Committe on Health in 2005 regarding the use of implants in UK dentistry which makes interesting reading click here