A Second Story about Going to the Dentist Abroad

Why go once when you can go twice?

Following our dental experience in Argentina, Shelby was still convinced there was something wrong with her teeth. She asked us daily — multiple times a day, in fact — to check her teeth. She said they were tingling and felt like they were loose. She was worried about them falling out. It sounds crazy, I know, but she was legitimately worried to the point she was hardly eating, in part because it increased the sensation. I promised her that when we got to Albania she could see another dentist.

And so I did as worldschooling parents do: I went into an expat group on Facebook, found a highly recommended dentist in Tirana and, while sitting in a cafe in Buenos Aires, scheduled an appointment for once we arrived in Albania. The dental office actually responded quickly and said they could seen Shelby that Friday (three days hence). Ha! I wanted to say, “We’re currently two continents away,” but I kept it simple and said we were traveling and could we come the week after. Honestly, there are moments in this year of travel where all I can do is chuckle at how wild our adventure is.

Anyway, here we are in Tirana. Shelby had been counting down the days to the appointment, worried as ever about her teeth. We took a taxi (no Ubers or Grabs here) and arrived 25 minutes early, so we went for a little walk up the street and back to check it out, as it was in a different part of town from where we’re staying. We still had 10+ minutes to spare when we got back to the clinic, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to just go in and wait.

Well, they checked us in and took us back right away! No waiting at all. When does that ever happen in the US?! The dentist saw Shelby first, since that’s what we were really there for. (My additional cleaning was really an add on.) She asked if there were any issues to be aware of and S described what she was feeling. Without missing a beat, the dentist said: Ah, I think I know what’s happening, but let’s get an x-ray to be sure.

While S was off getting an x-ray, the dentist explained to me that Shelby’s wisdom teeth are developing and putting additional pressure on her already narrow jaw. She’s got lots of crowding going on and, because of her age and gender, it’s quite common for her to be very sensitive to the changes happening in her mouth, especially at certain times of the month, if allergies are flaring, if her diet changes, and so on. Yeah, so she’s experiencing pretty much all of that!

Once the x-ray was back, it confirmed the wisdom teeth development and the crowding happening in her mouth. The dentist said the tingling would eventually go away in time and her teeth were otherwise quite healthy, though she needs to floss like a boss because of the crowding and she’s finally ready for braces now that her 12-year-old molars are in (yes, at age 14!). Well, one is still finishing coming in but it’s close enough now.

S was relieved to hear the reasoning for the tingling and nervous about it finally being time for braces. Until we settle somewhere, though, that’ll have to stay on hold. The dentist said she could wait until about 16 and do something like Invisalign, as she doesn’t have anything else that requires adjustment (i.e., no over- or underbite), though braces sooner might be better. So we’ll just have to see what the future holds for us. But in the meantime, we both got thorough cleanings. S also got a sealant put on one of her molars, which had deep crevices, as a preventative measure. (I’ve had them for years on mine.)

The cost for both of us — her x-ray, both of our cleanings, and her sealant — was about $125 USD. I’m so glad S has an answer for the sensation she’s been feeling. She loved this dentist (how lovely that both of the dentists we saw recently were women?), as did I. If you need a dentist in Albania, go to Dodbiba Dental Clinic in Tirana!