When a well-known Serbian influencer posted an imitation of Mane Ćuruvija, better known as Casper, the partner of singer Mina Kostić, at the beginning of the year, the video quickly attracted a great deal of public attention.
However, one comment particularly caught people’s attention: “You even got the color of the teeth right.”
Months later, it turned out that there was a much more serious story behind the smile that so many people had commented on. A story that begins in New York and ends at a dental clinic in Belgrade.
HE LOOKED FOR A SOLUTION IN NEW YORK AND FOUND IT IN BELGRADE
Mane has been living and working in New York for years, where the story began and which, months later, would bring him to a renowned dental clinic in Belgrade.
As he says, his dental problem was initially not cosmetic, but health-related.
“My problem was not cosmetic, but health-related, and I had to act quickly. I spoke with a large number of dentists, but Dr. Ana made the best impression. What was decisive was her high level of professionalism, enormous care and attention, as well as the advice she gave me. After our first conversation, I no longer had any doubts – I had to choose her. And I did not regret it,” Mane tells Serbian Times.
Interestingly, his treatment did not begin in Belgrade, but back in New York.
“I am a dentist, I am an implantologist, but above all, I am a doctor,” says Dr. Ana Tešić, founder of Aponia Dental & Aesthetic Center in Belgrade.
“When Mane contacted me, I advised him to undergo certain tests while still in New York so that we could assess his overall health. He started taking supplements in America, and by the time he arrived in Belgrade, based on the analysis of his scans, we had defined the treatment plan and financial details.”
“THERE WAS NO PAIN, NO BRUISING, NO SWELLING”
For Mane, perhaps the most important part of the entire story was precisely what he feared the most – the procedure itself.
“During the first visit, as unbelievable as it may sound, we performed a very complex surgical procedure. In the upper jaw, under analgesic sedation and in the presence of a renowned anesthesiologist, I extracted teeth that were in very poor condition and placed six implants.
Four were placed using the All-on-4 technique, while two implants served as additional support for the entire system. Within 24 hours, Mane received temporary fixed teeth with which he returned to America,” Dr. Tešić explains.
Mane does not hide the fact that he entered the entire procedure with a certain amount of fear.
“I myself was very skeptical about implants. What you read online, comments and other people’s experiences – all of that gets into your head and creates a great deal of fear.
The only way to ease that fear is through trust, and that trust comes from your doctor. When Dr. Ana told me: ‘You will get your teeth immediately and the procedure will be easy and painless,’ I could not believe that it would really be like that. But there was no pain. I didn’t even have bruising or swelling. I looked fantastic, as fantastic as a person can look after such a major procedure,” Mane says with a laugh.
EVERYONE COMMENTED ON THE COLOR OF HIS TEETH, BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS BEHIND HIS SMILE
The comments about his teeth did not escape Dr. Tešić either.
People were writing about unnatural Hollywood teeth, while the truth was completely different. It was an extremely complex and demanding procedure.
“In the upper jaw, unfortunately, I had to extract all of his teeth, and during the first procedure Mane received a temporary fixed All-on-X restoration, while in the lower jaw, although he suffered from periodontal disease, I managed to preserve his natural teeth and Mane received 14 zirconium all-ceramic crowns on his own teeth.”
The decision to preserve the natural teeth was, as the doctor says, one of the important parts of the treatment.
“Some of my colleagues would probably have opted for extraction and the All-on-X procedure here as well, meaning all teeth on implants. However, I believe that we should preserve our natural teeth for as long as possible, because as we lose our own teeth, we can also experience implant loss. So I can proudly say that we managed to preserve all of Mane’s teeth in the lower jaw.”
After his second visit to Belgrade and the completion of his complete smile transformation, Mane received a restoration of 14 ceramic teeth on six implants in the upper jaw, while in the lower jaw he retained 14 all-ceramic crowns on his natural teeth.
THE SECRET TO A NATURAL SMILE WAS – AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH
To make the new smile look as natural as possible, the doctor asked Mane for something very simple – a photograph from the period when he had his healthy natural teeth.
“I asked him for a photograph from when he still had all his healthy teeth, so that I could restore the natural, former appearance of his smile.”
Mane says the result exceeded his expectations.
“She fulfilled not only my expectations, but also those of my entire family and friends.”
When it comes to the color of the teeth, the choice is always individual, Dr. Tešić says.
“Living in America also brings the influence of its aesthetic standards, where the so-called Hollywood smile is an unavoidable trend. Since this trend is becoming increasingly popular here as well, in agreement with Mane we decided on a darker shade that suits him best.”
She adds that when choosing the color, the natural teeth that remain in the mouth should always be taken into consideration.
“When matching ceramic teeth with natural teeth, the choice of shade always depends on the color of the remaining teeth in order to achieve the most natural harmony possible.”
HOW BIG IS THE PRICE DIFFERENCE REALLY?
One of the reasons why patients from the diaspora are increasingly inquiring about dental treatments in Serbia is the difference in prices.
According to publicly available price lists from New York dental practices, complete treatment with fixed teeth on implants can cost tens of thousands of dollars per jaw. Ceramic crowns in New York are often charged additionally per tooth, while extractions, scans and other procedures may be billed as separate items.
For the scope of work required by Mane, the total price in New York, according to official price lists, could range between $45,000 and $70,000, depending on the treatment chosen and what is included in the price.
In Belgrade, according to him, the entire process – including airport transportation, accommodation, anesthesiologist, scans and medications – cost several times less.
Mane believes that his experience was worthwhile, especially because he was able to receive the complete treatment plan before even coming to Serbia.
DR. TEŠIĆ REVEALS WHY SHE ACCEPTS ONLY FIVE INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS A MONTH
Dr. Ana Tešić has been running her practice in Belgrade for more than 20 years, and more than 2,500 patients from different parts of the world have passed through her practice.
As she explains, the name Aponia comes from an ancient Greek word meaning life without pain.
“That is not marketing, it is the basic rule of the practice. It even happens that people who are afraid of visiting the dentist become so relaxed that they fall asleep during the procedure,” she says.
There is a special protocol for patients coming from abroad.
“I accept no more than five international patients a month, because I personally handle every step, from the treatment plan to the final restoration. I want to be able to give every patient my complete attention.”
For implant procedures, two visits to Belgrade are planned.
“During the first visit, the patient receives teeth within 24 hours after surgery and stays in Belgrade for five days. The second visit lasts seven days and ends with the placement of the final restoration, while also taking into account the time needed to adjust to the time difference.”
“If the aesthetic smile transformation is performed with zirconium crowns on natural teeth, both jaws can be completed in ten days during a single visit. Of course, this depends on the individual case.”
So that the patient knows what to expect even before purchasing a plane ticket, most of the arrangements are handled remotely.
“The client contacts me by message and sends a panoramic scan and photographs of their teeth. After that, they receive a treatment plan, an estimated price and a video consultation before purchasing their ticket. When they land, transportation and an apartment five minutes from the practice are waiting for them. And when they return to America, I will be available via WhatsApp for any questions.”
FOR CLIENTS COMING FROM AMERICA, EVERYTHING STARTS WITH ONE MESSAGE
For anyone considering dental treatment in Serbia, the first step is an online consultation. The Aponia Dental & Aesthetic Center can be contacted via WhatsApp or Viber at (+381) 65 555 62 95. When contacting the practice, it is enough to state that you are coming from America and when you are planning your next trip to Serbia.
For patients who are just considering implants, Dr. Tešić has also prepared an e-book “Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Dental Implants,” where they can learn about the procedure and find out who may potentially be a suitable candidate for implants.
Due to the limited number of international patients, it is recommended that consultations be scheduled at least two months in advance.
More information can be found on the Aponia Dental & Aesthetic Center website, as well as on the Instagram profile @aponia.by.dr.ana.
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Source: PR · Photo and video: Aponia Dental & Aesthetic Center
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