Chris Sparks wrote:

Well I think you can feel confident about going to see Dr Popadic.
 
I found him via the web and like you contacted somebody who had been to see him. You don't know who this guy is or what standard of treatment he provides or what the surgery is like although there are some photos on the web site. My wife and work colleagues thought I was either brave or foolish. I have only had one implant done on a front tooth but like you I had a denture. I was quoted £2500 in the UK for this implant and my total bill so far is about £1300 and I've had an implant a large crown and 3 white fillings done.
 
Two of my work colleagues came with me on my first visit and were suitably impressed. The surgery is very nice and the standard of equipment is far superior to anything that my local dentists surgery has. Dr Popadic speaks better english than me and the two receptionists Jelena and Petra also speak good English and are very welcoming.
 
I must admit I did feel a bit apprehensive before the start of the procedure but Dr Popadic was very reassuring and told me everything that he would be doing. I found the worst bit was when the actual implant was being screwed in. There was no pain it was just the noise. As you would expect there is some pain when the anaesthetic wears off but I think I only took paracetamol for the first day and that was only as a precaution. I had the implant done in May and I can now eat Granny Smiths apples with out any problems. I had the final abutment and crown fitted last week and as I said to Elvis (one of the other dentists) it feels like one of my own.
 
Rovinj is a very pretty seaside resort and the accommodation that Jelena has arranged for us has been very good. There are some nice bars and restaurants and everything is reasonable priced. Ryanair fly from Stansted to Pula and the flights are pretty cheap. Jelena can arrange a taxi from the airport to Rovinj and back if you don't wish to hire a car. I've not seen much of the area around Rovinj but I can say I'd give Pula a miss.
 
I hope I've enlightened you a bit and that you feel reassured about the quality of treatment provided. I'm not employed by Dr Popadic nor do I get any discount for suggesting him to you but I do feel he provides a very good service which is certainly value for money.

Chris Sparks

Please see below my experience with Dental treatment in Croatia:
 
After suffering for over 10 years of teeth problems because of lack of bone in my jaw and reseeding gums my only option from my dentist in the UK was having dentures or implants. Being a 38 mother of 3 young children, the last thing I wanted was to have 'false teeth'. The thought of having to take them out every night filled me with dread, and as far as I was concerned it wasn't an option!
 
So I sought for help at an implant specialist in my town of Darlington, Co Durham. I was quoted £32000 to have a bone reconstruction (bone taken from my hip) on my top jaw and implants inserted £26000 and to have mini implants for my bottom jaw at a total of £8000. Bone grating alone would have taken a long time to heal before the implants went in, and obviously I didn't have £32000! so it looked like my dreams were dashed unless I could win the lottery.
 
Then I was watching GMTV one morning and listened to a man who had gone abroad to get dental treatment done and had saved a fortune, so I looked into it.
 
I searched the internet for information and came across Dr Popadic, so I emailed him for information and a quote. I couldn't believe the response I got, the quote for my top set would be €7000, also I wouldn't need a bone reconstruction and it would be done the same day! My dreams were restored!
 
I  booked for an appointment after sending Dr Popadic an x-ray of my jaw in Feb of this year. His surgery is of the highest standard and my husband and I had a warm welcome from Dr popadic and his staff who all speak perfect English. He put me at ease straight away. (which is a good thing as I was a very nervous patient and have a very low threshold to pain!)
 
I had my top teeth took out and had 6 implants fitted around my top jaw with a fixed full bridge of 12 teeth.
 
The surgery went well and I was completely amazed by the results, my confidence was restored. and after spending just 2 nights there, we flew back home. I am due to go back in a couple of weeks to have my bridge relined as my gums have gone back to normal after a little swelling.
 
 I am also planning on going back early next year to get my bottom set of teeth done in exactly the same way.
 
For the cost of my treatment so far for my top jaw, (including flights and accommodation for myself and my husband)  it was about £5,500. I have yet to pay for my permanent bridge to go in.
 
The amount I have saved is unbelievable, and without drastic bone reconstruction. I have felt so over overwhelmed at what has happened to me that I wanted to share my experience with people who had no idea that you can get your perfect smile without remorgaging your home, so I went onto a discussion forum on the internet and posted my message across.
 
Mrs Rachel Horn

 Dentistry in Rovinj, Croatia

My wife is in her 50’s and had become what is commonly regarded as ‘long in the tooth’.  This vivid expression is related to age in horses and whilst not wishing to make such a comparison with my dear other half, a hijacking of a substantial amount of her natural calcium by bearing our three children and a lifetime of daily chomping had eventually reduced her upper compliment of teeth to only seven and the front gums had receded enough for her to fit the description.

She had tried a couple of semi dentures to fill some of the obvious gaps  that had appeared over the years and it soon became apparent that a very sensitive ‘gagging’ condition would prevent her from ever having the usual common type of false teeth that family dentists fit.

We had heard about fast implants and all in one procedure whilst in the United States. Prices varied but in New York we were quoted $20 - $26,000.
This was too high a price for us so we started to look closer to home.
Our own dentist in the UK said that he was unable to do the work required and that it would probably cost around £1500 per tooth to do.
This would also involve a six month wait after each extraction before fitting an implant then a further wait to fit the false tooth.
Further enquiries whilst holidaying in Spain resulted in similar price estimates but one particular dental practitioner suggested a series of metal bridges and splints which sounded quite cumbersome. He did however take a full X-ray of my wife’s jaw which proved useful later. This cost us around £30.00

We then started seeing adverts for all in one procedures n the national press which seemed to offer the perfect solution, a quick procedure with an almost instant result.

  After further investigation and comparing prices with the various dentists offering this service we found that nearly all wanted a consultation fee of an average of £80 - £100 and that the best price we could find for the complete job was around £11 - £12,000. Whilst this was slightly cheaper than US options it still was a substantial outlay.

One evening whilst surfing the net I came across Dr.Popadic’s website and decided to make further enquiries.
I emailed the Doctor and received some very encouraging and enlightening replies.
The X-ray from Spain came in very handy and I emailed a scanned copy to Dr. Popadic.

Everything Dr. Popadic explained fitted perfectly with what my wife wanted.
What was most pleasing was the price the Doctor quoted and that fact that it could all be done in just a few days.

Going all the way to a country we knew hardly anything about, trusting a complete stranger with a very complex procedure in an environment we imagined that could be rather different to UK standards were all doubts that we ran over and over again in our minds.
Eventually after much deliberation we decided to make the decision to have the work done and make the trip to Rovinj.

We live in the North West of England and I investigated the various options of travel to Rovinj from our local and national airports.
I came across a website for a modern ferry service direct to Rovinj from Venice and my local airport, Manchester, had direct late morning flights direct to the Italian city.

Our flight took just under 2 hours and within another hour after leaving the airport we were at the ferry terminal.
The sailing was late afternoon in a superb fast catamaran with full service facilities and we arrived in Rovinj in the early evening.
There were no taxis about but a friendly policeman pointed out the Park Hotel that had been recommended by Dr. Popadic and a pleasant 10 minute walk took us to the front door.
The Park is a superb modern hotel with full room services including a very well fitted bathroom comfy, clean beds and Cable TV. Most have a balcony and there are views to the ocean and harbour. Our evening meal was great with a huge choice.

The next day (Monday) we made the short walk to the Doctors surgery.
This was very easy to find just a couple of streets away.
We were still very apprehensive and we had prepared ourselves to do a quick about turn if we didn’t like what we saw.

We couldn’t have been more wrong in our preconceptions.

The surgery is very modern with state of the art equipment and absolutely spotlessly clean much better that any I have seen in the UK. The staff are extremely friendly and my wife and I were both impressed at their efficiency and professionalism as they went about their various duties.
While we waited in the reception area we couldn’t help but notice a wall that was covered in framed certificates that displayed the credentials and various training courses etc that Dr. Popadic had undertaken. These were from all over the world including the USA. Most encouraging were the many that related to implants and cosmetic dentistry.

When we eventually met the doctor he proved to be a charming young man with a very re-assuring manner. He speaks better English than I do and understood all the anxiety and concerns my wife had about her forthcoming ordeal.
The doctor explained everything in detail to both of us, before, during and in-between the various stages.

The first part of the procedure was impressions and aesthetic then it was straight onto the extractions and implants.
The doctor had recommended 6 implants which was actually more that the UK dentist had suggested which would have also increased the original £12,000 estimate.

By lunchtime my wife’s teeth had all been removed and six implants were firmly in place. Amazingly my wife had suffered no pain whatsoever and apart from feeling a little tired and fatigued from having had her mouth open for some time and of course the physical work that she had endured during the extractions and implant procedure she was in fact in pretty good shape.
 
A short nap in the afternoon back at the hotel and she was ready and hungry enough to tackle a bowl of soup, some soft bread and a few glasses of wine.
The aesthetic had worn off and she was in no pain or discomfort whatsoever.

The following morning her face was slightly swollen and there was some very faint yellow bruising, however she had slept very well and there was still no sign of any pain at all.

Back the surgery it was time for the first fitting of her new teeth.
After a couple of tweaks from the doctor it was decided that they might be a little prominent. Doctor Popodic then summoned the technician who agreed they needed altering back at the workshop.
That afternoon we enjoyed a pleasant stroll around Rovinj which is a beautiful little fishing village with lots of seafront bars, coffee houses and great restaurants.
Prices are extremely reasonable, portions are generous and the people are some of the friendliest I have ever met. Anyone thinking of combining a holiday here with a visit to the dentist couldn’t make a better choice.

That evening my wife enjoyed a light meal of cooked meats and salad and a delicious Istrian soup followed by ‘holiday’ quantities of excellent local wine.
There was still no pain or any discomfort whatsoever.

The next morning we reported back to the surgery for the final fitting.
Just a couple more adjustments and my wife had a perfect new smile and she was absolutely delighted.
The same afternoon we were back on the ferry back to Venice catching the evening plane. The whole process had taken just 3 days as originally promised by Dr. Popadic

And the final cost including, travel, accommodation and of course the fantastic treatment?
Less than half we would have paid for the cheapest option in the UK

My wife now has a beautiful smile, bags more confidence and is absolutely delighted with the end result. It took her very little time to get used to her new dentures and just a few months after her treatment she now says they feel completely natural.

We will be going back to see the ‘doc’ this year as my wife wants to have her lower set done and I am thinking of having some bridge work.

We are delighted we found Dr. Popadic and would have no hesitation at all in recommending his services to anyone who is searching for a professional, superb service which is also terrific value for money


Tony & Tammy Williams
Thornton Cleveleys
UK                                                                                                             January 2006


(notice: Mr Tony Williams is one of the founders of the rock group Stealers Wheel and the bass player in the Jethro Tull)

 Ray Thomas testimonial:

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 exisitng 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 noe 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

 The story of John Mott:

When Mr John Mott attended his British dentist with pain in his front teeth they were quickly removed and crowns put in their place.  Eventually he was advised to have a further tooth removed and two teeth filed down either side to form a bridge.
Hundreds of pounds later the two teeth holding the bridge broke away under the pressure and the quality of his life during this year long treatment to regain front teeth was indescribable, especially as Mr Mott felt no support from his dentist.
 
Mr Mott decided to look into dentistry abroad.  With just two visits to Dr Popadic in Rovinj, at half the cost, he had his front teeth replaced with implants and the quality of his life returned.   Mr Mott said:  “Dr Popadic’s workmanship is of the highest level and the treatment surgery is very modern and kept meticulously clean with very helpful friendly staff”.  
 
Mr Mott paid €20 euros per person per night for accommodation and return lights cost £30.  On his first visit Mr Mott got four implants (Nobel Biocare implants) and the fixed acrylic bridge on these implants (upper jaw) which cost €5,000. In the second visit he got three implants in the lower jaw for the price of €2,400 and in total he paid €7,400 for seven implants and one fixed acrylic bridge.  He will return to finish the implants treatment on the lower jaw where he will pay a further €1,455.
 
In addition Dr Popadic managed to perform wonderful results on Mr Mott’s son who has had a phobia of needles and dentists all of his life.   “As a family we are all going to continue having further treatment with Dr Popadic as we no longer wish to go back to our British one.  Many people have asked where we had treatment as they are so impressed with what they see and hear”.