Medical Tourism: Dental Cleaning And Cavity Fillings In Bologna, Italy

I knew that getting things done in Italy could be a bureaucratic nightmare from living there previously, but I didn’t expect getting a dental appointment to be one of those things 🙂 .

Up to this point, I’ve had my teeth cleaned in several countries and Italy is the first one where getting an appointment took so much effort that I almost gave up.

So today I have a saga for you, but it does have a happy ending. I hope this helps if anyone else is trying to get dental care in Italy as a tourist. So let’s get into it.

My adventures in medical tourism continue! After enjoying my experiences with dentists in Central and South America, I finally explored Europe’s dental care.

If you’re curious about those previous experiences, reviews of those are below, but the TL;DR is that I’m having way better medical experiences abroad than I have had in the US and the cherry on top is that they’re way less expensive while being the same caliber of care if not better.

• Medical Tourism: A $22 Dental Exam & Cleaning in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Medical Tourism: A $32 Dental Cleaning in Mérida, México
• Medical Tourism: A $38 Dental Cleaning In Puerto Vallarta, México

The Research

Like all of my medical tourism adventures, this one began with a lot of research. I knew that during this European trip I would be visiting 3 countries: Switzerland, Italy and The Netherlands. I was curious to know which one would give me the best experience for my dollar and Italy won easily.

I learned that Italy is one of the cheaper countries in Europe to do dental work in without insurance and that The Netherlands seems to have higher rates that are set by the government, which include charging by the minute for cleanings, which just sounds stressful to me. I don’t want to be watching the clock or hoping my hygienist goes faster. I prefer set rates, which is another reason I prefer getting medical care outside the US – they can actually, definitively tell you costs in advance 🙂 .

So I looked into Italian dental care. One of the websites I stumbled across mentioned a site (MioDottore) where you can book Italian medical care and that shows reviews of different medical professionals. I fell in love with this website because they had all of that, but also most doctors had transparent pricing up front and an easy booking system. However, that booking system proved to be a challenge for my non-Italian self 🙂 .

Booking Attempts

The Website

The first way I tried to book this appointment was understandably through the MioDottore website. However, I encountered some problems because my Italian is not very good these days and for some reason the Google Translate button in the URL bar of my Chrome browser didn’t pop up to translate this website like it usually would.

And to be fair, even if my Italian was still up to snuff, I’d likely still need to use a translation tool because I never learned many medical or dental terms. So I went through the website myself, slowly without a translator. I identified a few dentists I would be interested in looking into further based on their ratings, location, English proficiency and reviews.

I then saw that one of them had a link to their Facebook page that I clicked through and a chat message box popped up. Since I was having trouble with the website, I decided to take a shot in the dark and send a message asking about costs and appointment times. I never received a response, but saw months later that my message had been read – on my. Remember that interaction for later because it comes back 😉 .

So I went back to the website and learned that I couldn’t make an appointment more than a few weeks in advance – the option for later dates wasn’t there. Alrighty then. So I put a reminder on my calendar to come back in a week to schedule my appointment.

Later my reminder popped up so I went back to the website and went through the steps to book it (all in Italian) only to discover…I could not confirm my appointment without an Italian phone number. This was curious to me because the form asks what country your phone number is from and includes the US (+1), but when I tried to use that US option, it wouldn’t work.

It turns out that they have to send a text to your number to confirm the appointment and the website (despite the form inputs) won’t text you unless you have an Italian number. I thought this might be user error 😉 so I reached out to MioDottore support and they got back to me shockingly quickly to say that they only accept Italian phone numbers. Well, fuck 🙂 .

I appreciated the quick response, but since the dentist I wanted lists MioDottore as the only way to book or contact them besides an Italian phone number, I decided to call when I was in the country since that was coming up anyway and I wanted to focus on my travels across Iceland and Switzerland instead of this headache 🙂 .

The Call

So I got to Italy and psyched myself up to have a call in Italian. I then made sure my phone was in Airplane mode with my Wifi on to make sure I was calling over Wifi only. Then I called the phone number on MioDottore and…it was an answering machine with a message understandably in Italian with no option to talk to a human person. Alrighty then.

At this point I was in the country and decided to just go to the office as a last attempt to book this appointment and if it didn’t work, I would try my hand in Amsterdam a few weeks later instead.

The Office

So I walked to the address listed on MioDottore during the open hours listed, and at this point was fully prepared to just write this off as my first medical tourism failure. I even thought of a title if I wanted to make a post about it: “Trying (And Failing) To Get A Dental Cleaning In Bologna, Italy.”

And of course the day I headed out was the first day it rained in Bologna since we arrived. So by the time I arrived I was sweating from the humidity and wet from walking in the rain (even with my umbrella and lots of portici to protect me).

When my Partner and I got to the address, it was a locked building with intercoms and I didn’t see the name of the dentist I wanted, but saw the names of dental colleagues that I knew were at the same location. So I buzzed one. No response.

At this point I was about to give up because I was wet and tired of it already (I know I’m a bottle of sunshine 😉 ), but my partner said to try one more time. So I did and the door buzzed opened. Alrighty then.

I wasn’t sure what level of the building they were on so I tried looking at the mailboxes within the building, but they didn’t say. My Partner looked back outside and the level was shown on the buzzer. So we headed to Level 3 in the elevator.

When I arrived on that level, I expected to see all the dentists listed in one practice. Nope! Just one. I went up and down one floor and it seemed like there were only residences there. Curious.

So I tried to buzz the locked door of this other dentist, realizing that the name looked familiar (we’ll come back to that 😉 ) . Someone in the waiting room opened the door quickly and then closed it. I thought that meant “go away”, but apparently not.

I tried to see if I could turn the knob and I could so I went inside and there were a total of two people in the waiting room (one who had tried to help me by opening the locked door), but no one at the desk.

I had dragged my partner all over the place in the rain at this point so I said we’d wait 3 minutes and then if no one came, we’d go to the grocery store and get something fun for dinner. With about 10 seconds to spare an employee appeared.

After learning my lesson about trying to speak the local language in a dental office in Argentina, I just started out with Google Translate on my phone and decided to go with what the employee did next (speaking in Italian or English).

The employee started talking to me in a mix of Italian and English, but luckily I understood it. I asked for an appointment with this dentist this month any time they’re available.

We settled on a time that was less than 24 hours later. She asked for my name and phone number and I wrote it out to help avoid confusion, even adding +1 to my phone number since it’s a US number.

The employee then gave me a card with my appointment date and time and the number of the dentist to call in case I can’t come. Success! I then asked how much the cleaning would cost and she said €100. And I’m glad I asked because unlike my top choice dentist, this dentist’s profile doesn’t list the cost of everything, but I heard that dental cleaning costs are pretty standardized across Italy unlike in the US. So I’m glad I checked, but I was less worried about it than if I had been messing around in America.

In the end, this is the dentist I booked an appointment with:

Dott. Ivan Scalzo
Via Guglielmo Marconi 1, Bologna
https://www.miodottore.it/ivan-scalzo/

When I arrived home I realized why the name sounded so familiar: this was the dentist that was one of my top picks that I tried to Facebook message and heard nothing back from. So I guess don’t try to book with them through a Facebook chat.

However, I was happy to confirm that he was one of my top choices given his fluency in English as well as his stellar reviews and high ratings. The main reason I had chosen one of his colleagues who was supposedly somewhere else in the building, was because she listed all prices upfront and he did not, but it seems they’ll easily tell you when asked. So I curiously awaited my appointment to see what would happen next.

The Cleaning Appointment

I once again arrived at the dentist’s office and buzzed the gate. I was about 10 minutes early, but luckily the gate buzzed opened the first time I tried it this time (maybe because I actually had an appointment 😉 ).

I then went up the elevator and tried the door on the right before trying to buzz that door as well. Luckily it was unlocked. Then an employee came out, I said my appointment time and then they asked me to fill out a form in Italian.

I must admit that my Google Translate app got a workout though there was one thing I couldn’t figure out in time: CAP Apparently it’s shorthand for an Italian zip code (codice di avviamento postale). I included my Airbnb’s address as my current residence and that was accepted, though when I had to pay, someone explained what CAP meant to me and I was able to fill it in.

I was then gestured back by my dental hygienist Sonya. She asked me something in rapid Italian that I didn’t catch and then asked (in Italian) if I prefer English – I sadly said yes, but I’m really glad I did because her English was perfect.

She told me that she was a dentist in the UK until a few years ago and because of the lack of language barrier and her friendliness, I asked a lot of questions while we were going through the cleaning and exam process and her answers were very helpful.

At the start of the appointment she asked me why I was there. I said for my every 6 month cleaning (though it’s been longer this year because of a US dentist cancelling on me at the last minute) and also that one of my teeth hurts sometimes. She asked if I wanted to have x-rays to check that out and at this point I already really liked her and this office so I said yes.

There was pop music playing in the office and when I was getting ready for the cleaning, she asked me to take off my in-ear headphone (that I use to listen to podcasts during a cleaning) because said they would get wet – that’s the first time that’s happened, but I appreciate them looking out after my electronics and that would have been true. The cleaning was amazing and intense with water flying a bit given how thorough it was.

I was given glasses to wear and then she got started on the cleaning and asked if I wanted a numbing agent – hell yeah! I’d never been offered that before, but I’m all about avoiding pain. She just wiped it on my gums and I felt them going numb immediately. AMAZING!! The numbing also wore off surprisingly quickly after the cleaning was done. I could feel everything in my mouth before I left the office. What is this magic?!

Even outside of the magic numbing agent, I was very impressed with their equipment – the dentist chair was like a transformer. My hygienist would push a button and a sink would move towards me, fill a cup with water and move my seat towards it. Fancy!

In no time at all she finished the cleaning and moved on to polishing. She put the polish on my teeth with her gloved finger and then used a brush to move it around like I’m used to. Then she did the usual flossing. Then she had me rinse with fluoride for 1 minute like I do at home and then put fluoride directly on my teeth for 10 minutes.

X-Rays & Consultation

Then based on what I said at the beginning of the appointment, she said they would take a few x-rays now. They took 2 after asking if there’s a chance I could be pregnant (Nope!)

• No, I’m Never Having Kids.

She then looked at my x-rays and brought in a colleague to look as well while waiting for the dentist. They said they saw 1 cavity outside of where I said it hurts – well damn! A previous dentist had told me that I had genes that would give me cavities no matter what I would do to try to prevent them – how lovely 🙂 . However, I’m glad they flagged it so I have more info.

Then Dott. Scalzo came in, introduced himself and then spoke in English while making a joke and after saying I do have a cavity where I have pain. He put some color filter thing over the x-ray on the computer screen to show it more clearly. He also confirmed he was seeing a cavity where Sonya said she saw one as well.

Scheduling

At this point they said I needed fillings and I told them I’m totally flexible on scheduling, but I’m leaving Italy in 3 weeks. They asked where I was going and they talked about how I could probably get this done in Amsterdam (where I was headed) as well, but that they could probably schedule me in since I’m totally flexible.

And that flexibility worked out well because they could see me 3 days later for 2 sessions – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Cool – I’m walking distance away (well all of downtown Bologna takes only 30 minutes to walk across on foot, but you get my point 😉 ). So we had a plan!

Payment

I went back to the receptionist desk to pay and then things got interesting 🙂 . Apparently I’m the first tourist to find this dental office because they didn’t know how to charge me without me providing an Italian tax number, which I don’t have because I’m just a tourist.

However, Sonya continued to be super helpful and went to ask the dentist for advice, which was to call their tax office and ask what to do. She called and they said they would call her back soon so she said that I could just pay when I come back to get my cavity fillings. So kind!

I walked out and when I was getting my umbrella out of my bag before heading down the stairs, Sonya called me back in. Their tax person had called back and told them how to do it. I just had to sign a form and then they can charge me without a tax number.

I was then given a printed out receipt that they put in an envelope for me – fancy 🙂 . The costs were as promised: €100 for the cleaning, €50 for the x-rays/consultation and there was €2 listed as “bollo” which are the taxes. I paid easily with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

I then asked how much the cavities will be. Sonya went to ask the dentist and immediately came back to tell me €250 each. Cool – I saw that other dentists in the building listed similar costs. So I left happy that I could easily pay with a card and once again curious to see what would happen next.

The Cavity Filling Appointments

Appointment #1

I arrived 10 minutes early and buzzed the front door to be let in and that worked on the first try. I had to buzz twice outside the office to be let in, but now I knew the drill 🙂 .

They don’t have a set receptionist, but only people who are assisting procedures or doing cleanings, so a little patience is necessary. No worries.

The door to the office seems to be unlocked at times, but not this time. I’m not sure what the official protocol is there.

Anyway, one of the assistants let me in and asked me, in Italian, to wait on the couch, so I did. They gestured me back right on time and I settled into another transformers-looking chair, but in a different room this time. Dott. Scalzo explained in English which tooth they were going to work on and what was going to happen.

He then numbed me with a tool I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. It clicks and doesn’t just look like a needle (like I’m used to from US dentists) and I didn’t feel any pain when he injected my gums with it. WTF is this magic?!?

He waited a few minutes for the anesthesia to kick in, I put in one headphone to listen to a podcast while he worked, and everything was done in 30 minutes. He mostly used tools I knew from US dentists, but some items were more high-tech like a mouth stretcher I’ve only seen abroad and a few things that felt like he was building scaffolding in my mouth. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all – just cool to see.

And through it all – I didn’t feel a thing. I am LOVING this place. After everything was done, the dentist made a few jokes in English and then it was over. And that was hands down the best cavity filling experience I’ve ever had. And I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve had a lot of cavity fillings (yes even though I rarely eat sugar #BadTeethGenes).

I was let out of the chair and the dentist said he’d see me in a few hours. I walked home and chilled for a bit before heading back to the dentist’s office. It was gonna be a productive dental day 🙂 .

Appointment #2

A few hours later, I returned for my second cavity filling appointment (I seriously love my schedule flexibility in retirement 😉 ). I got there in 15 minutes and the waiting room was busy. I had a 3pm appointment and was called back at 3:08pm.

This cavity was deeper and bigger so I did feel anesthesia from that magic wand that’s apparently hiding a needle device, but it wasn’t bad at all – more uncomfortable than painful. The dentist again waited a little bit for the anesthesia to take hold and then started drilling.

This time I felt some pain and was about to raise my hand to tell him when I guess he noticed something in my expression and he asked if I felt pain. I nodded and he stopped and gave me more anesthesia. After that I was good to go. They didn’t use the mouth stretcher thing this time, but did look like they were constructing a building in my mouth while I listened to a podcast.

And then I was done. Apparently the anesthesia was a little too good because when they asked me to wash my mouth out, I drooled all over the place – fantastic 🙂 . They kindly gave me a napkin and I was out of the room a little before 4pm.

Payment

This time they were all good with me paying without a tax number and I paid €250 for each cavity plus tax for a total of €502 on my credit card. They once again gave me my invoice in a fancy envelope. Then the dentist told me to call or come back in if anything feels amiss after the anesthesia wears off so he can fix it. Nice!

The Review

Looking at my budgeting software YNAB, the €654 or $709.45 USD I paid for a dental cleaning, x-rays, consultation and 2 cavity fillings without insurance is less than I paid WITH INSURANCE for the equivalent in the US. And obviously I was paying monthly dental insurance payments on top of that out-of-pocket cost. My mind is blown.

I’m really glad I decided to follow up and go to this dental office in Italy. I loved the people and equipment in the office so much after my amazing dental cleaning with them that I was excited to have them do more work on me even though I could have gotten it done even cheaper elsewhere in the world. I also didn’t want to sit on cavities since they just get worse.

I also much prefer the practice of seemingly every country but the US of being able to tell you the cost of a dental or medical procedure before you do it. It’s wild that you just have to make choices and cross your fingers in the US that it’s covered or face a large, surprise bill at checkout, which I often did before I retired and started traveling the world.

After my cleaning here, I was also super curious about their other processes since their dentist chairs look like fancy transformers and they have new techniques to make patients more comfortable that I’ve never experienced before, such as that awesome numbing gel! I can’t go back to not having that sweet gel 🙂 . All that to say, I was very impressed with the care at this dental office.

In fact, after my cavity fillings, I raved about my love for this random dentist office in Italy so much that my Partner (who still works and has health insurance through his job that pays for free cleanings in the US) decided to go to this dentist instead even though he had to pay out of pocket for the privilege. We’re hooked! He had a great experience and the dental hygienist actually told my Partner that the last people who cleaned his teeth (a US dentist in a major city) didn’t do a good job. Wowza!

So if you’re looking to visit this dentist, I would suggest waiting until you can go in person to book an appointment if you have a flexible schedule and can take any openings they have. Overall they seem way less booked solid for months like US dentists in my Partner’s post-pandemic experience.

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Conclusion

And that was my experience getting dental work done in Italy! It was my first time doing so in Europe and I’m really happy with the outcome. It was challenging to get an appointment before I arrived in Italy, but since I’m totally flexible with my time, it was very easy to get on their schedule quickly and have everything I needed done before I left.

The staff was wonderful and most spoke better English than I did. Their equipment was like something from the future and their prices were less than I paid with insurance in the US. My Partner and I had a great experience and will definitely be stopping by their office if we’re ever back in Bologna.

Have you had dental care outside your home country?