What It's like to Go to a Dentist in Malta

I had loved my previous hygienist because she would really numb my gums with that good-tasting topical stuff before cleaning my teeth. Even then, there were a few moments when brief but horrible pain would come when she hit a spot.

So-despite my dental trepidation, I got a referral from a Maltese who really liked her dentist. I had no idea what to expect. When I got to the office-one of several practices in a large old Maltese stone building, I had to be rung in. That was surprising, and made me feel like I was back in the US. Well, so far, so good.

The office was very dentist like-clean, professional, nicely decorated, drill sounds going. And I felt sick to my stomach as soon as I smelled the dentist office smell. But there was a difference.

First, the receptionist was sitting at a desk right in the middle of the waiting room. She wasn't secluded by glass; there was no sliding glass window like back in the US. You could sit next to the desk and peek over at the records if you want-which I tried to do but they were in Maltese. A Maltese woman came to pay her bill and smiled at me. There was the second difference-someone smiling in the dentist office besides the dentist. The receptionist said, "Five hundred Euros, please," and I almost fell off the chair. I was hoping that this woman had some real big work done for $500 Euros; it wasn't for some routine cleaning and filling, was it? She paid 500 Euros in cash. Immediately, I panicked and interrupted the transaction and asked if I could pay by debit card-and I could.

Next thing I know-it's my turn. How was it? Here are the differences between treatment at a dentist office in Malta and the US.

-The doctor introduced herself and asked me to call her Michele. Wow-most dentists in the US call themselves doctor (if not G-d)-and will expect nothing less from you.

-She first examined my teeth, probed very, very gently with that probing instrument and said everything was fine, and I just needed a cleaning. Wow-I've had dentists back in the US almost stab me with that probing thing-looking for a cavity or--trying to make one.

-She was surprised when I asked her to first numb my gums with that gel stuff; no one had ever asked her to do that before. Nevertheless, she did it. And then she proceeded to clean my teeth with a drill. Lucky for me, Michele and her assistant knew how to treat a person in shock. I couldn't believe they use a drill for cleaning, but she said that it was faster and easier on the patient. She was actually surprised that hygienists in the US cleaned teeth by hand.

It was over relatively quickly, and I it turned out really good for a dental experience. And now for the "best" part. The cost: $35 Euros for cleaning and exam--at least 1/3 what it would be in the US--if you don't count for the exchange rate. Even if you count the bad USD, it's still less by a lot.

And other things like crowns? A regular crown costs 250 Euros; a fancier one with a porcelain border costs 350 Euros. Again, that's half what you would pay in the US.

So if you if you need a good dentist while you're in Malta-either living or traveling here--I've got one for you: Michele Demajo: +356-2134-4346/7

Ilene Springer is author of the blog An-American-in-Malta.com