1. The dental work involved filing down all of Lisa‘s remaining upper teeth ready for her permanent bridge and took four days.

2. All questions were translated through an interpreter. ‘When it was finished, the dentist gave me a mirror and I thought "Wow". I was delighted with my new smile.‘ Lisa‘s only concern was a niggling pain in her upper teeth, but the dentist explained some pain and sensitivity was normal for up to 14 days.

3. It reminded me of advice The Moscow Times gave to an actress in Boston who had to do "The Cherry Orchard" and needed help with names like "Boris Borisovich Semyonov–Pishchik." The reply from a bilingual reporter was very thorough, discussing not only specific letters ("in pronouncing t, d and n, the tongue must touch the upper teeth, not the alveolus like in English"), but the preferred mindset ("perhaps because we tend to be lazy, the mouth muscles are not so tense as in speaking English"). I speak Russian and tested some of the prescriptions and found that I never touch the upper teeth with my tongue nor anything that comes up when I google "alveolus." The lazy part?

4. Eating and speaking has become very difficult; I feel close to tears every time I think of what‘s happened.‘ After reading about dental tourism, Lisa and Mark had contacted a UK–based Hungarian dental travel company. ‘When we spoke to the managing director he was very helpful, reassuring us that the dentists in Hungary were highly trained and follow–up care was always provided.‘ Lisa was quoted 3,500 for a full bridge for her upper teeth – this would include preparation of her existing teeth, tooth whitening and replacement of five mercury fillings. ‘Mark knew how much I hated my smile, so unbeknown to me he took out a 3,500 loan.‘ On August 12 the couple flew out to the Hungarian town of Szombathely for treatment.