Treatments and results

Dental implants

Single implants, bridges and full-arch All-on-4 and All-on-6.

• Is implant surgery painful?

  Placement is done under local anaesthetic and most patients describe it as easier than an extraction. Mild swelling for two to three days is normal and is managed with routine painkillers.

• How many trips to Tirana do I need?

  Usually two: 3–5 days for the examination and surgery, then 4–6 days for the final crowns after three to four months of healing.

• Are dental implants in Albania safe?

  Yes, when they are placed by an experienced implantologist in a properly equipped clinic. At Dental Oasis Tirana every implant case starts with a CBCT scan, uses internationally certified implant systems, and is planned and documented exactly as it would be in the UK.

Veneers, bonding and smile makeovers

Porcelain and composite work, whitening and Hollywood smile questions.

• How long do veneers take in Albania?

  A full veneer case is normally completed in one visit of five to seven working days: digital scans and design on day one, a try-in in the middle of the week, then bonding of the final veneers before you fly home. Our laboratory is on site, which keeps the schedule tight.

• Composite bonding or veneers, which is better?

  Bonding is added directly to your own teeth in a single appointment and is reversible, so it suits small chips, gaps and edge repairs. Veneers are laboratory made, last far longer and handle colour and shape changes that bonding cannot. Many patients start with bonding and move to veneers later.

• What is a Hollywood smile?

  It is a marketing name for a full smile makeover, usually eight to twenty veneers or crowns designed together for even shape and colour. We plan it digitally and show you a preview before any tooth is prepared, so the result is agreed in advance rather than a surprise.

Choosing your treatment

• How do I find out what my treatment will cost?

  In line with Albanian dental guidelines we do not publish prices online. Share your case with us and we send a personal costed plan by email; the final plan is confirmed after your examination and CBCT scan.

• How many visits to Albania does treatment need?

  Most implant cases need two trips: 3–5 days for surgery, then 4–6 days for the final crowns after 3–4 months of healing. Veneers and crowns are usually completed in a single 5–7 day visit.

• Do you offer a guarantee on your work?

  Yes. Implants carry a manufacturer lifetime guarantee on the fixture and our clinical guarantee on the restoration, provided you attend the recommended check-ups and hygiene visits.

Single tooth implants

• Is a single implant better than a bridge?

  In most cases yes, because a conventional bridge means preparing the healthy teeth either side of the gap. An implant stands alone and preserves the bone under the missing tooth.

• How many trips to Tirana do I need?

  Two: a short trip for the examination and placement, then a second trip three to four months later to fit the crown. Immediate cases sometimes compress this.

• Does it hurt?

  Not Really! The placement itself is done under local anaesthetic and is usually more comfortable than an extraction. Mild soreness for two to three days is normal.

Implant bridges

• Do I need one implant per missing tooth?

  No. A bridge lets two implants carry three teeth, or three implants carry four to six, which reduces both surgery and cost.

• Bridge or separate crowns?

  Separate crowns are easier to clean, but a bridge is often the only option when bone or anatomy prevents an implant in every position.

• How long does an implant bridge last?

  With good hygiene and regular maintenance, implant bridges routinely serve well beyond ten years; the ceramic may need repair or replacement sooner than the fixtures.

All-on-4

• Will I leave Tirana without teeth?

  No. A fixed provisional bridge is fitted during the first trip, usually within 24 to 72 hours of surgery, so you fly home with a full set of teeth.

• Am I suitable if I have been told I have bone loss?

  Often yes, angled implants are designed to use the bone that remains. The CBCT scan gives the definitive answer, and we tell you honestly if grafting or a different plan is needed.

• How long does a full-arch bridge last?

  With good hygiene and six-monthly maintenance, implants routinely last well over ten years. The bridge itself may need repair or replacement sooner, particularly in patients who grind.

All-on-6

• Is All-on-6 stronger than All-on-4?

  Six implants distribute load over more support points and shorten the cantilevers, which helps in heavy bites. Both designs are well documented; the right one depends on your bone and bite.

• Will I ever be without teeth?

  No. A fixed provisional bridge is normally fitted in the same trip as surgery, so you travel home with a full set of teeth.

• What if I do not have enough bone?

  Grafting or a sinus lift can rebuild the site, or angled and longer implants can avoid it. The CBCT scan tells us which route is realistic.

Bone grafting and sinus lift

• Is a sinus lift painful?

  The surgery itself is not, it is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards expect swelling and pressure for three to five days, controlled with standard painkillers.

• What graft material do you use?

  Certified xenograft or synthetic granules with a resorbable collagen membrane, and your own bone chips where they are available during surgery.

• Does grafting add an extra trip?

  Small grafts and crestal lifts are usually done at the same appointment as the implant. Larger lateral lifts need their own healing period and therefore one extra trip.

Dental veneers

• How long do porcelain veneers last?

  With good hygiene and regular check-ups, porcelain and lithium disilicate (e.max) veneers typically last 10–15 years, and often longer. Composite veneers usually need refreshing after 4–6 years.

• How many days in Tirana do veneers take?

  A typical veneer case is completed in one visit of 5–7 days: examination and digital smile design on day one, preparation and temporaries mid-week, then the try-in and final bonding at the end of the week.

• Do veneers damage my natural teeth?

  Modern veneers are minimally invasive. We remove only a thin layer of enamel, and in suitable cases none at all with no-prep designs, always after a wax-up and mock-up so you approve the shape before anything is prepared.

Composite bonding

• Is any tooth drilling needed?

  In most cases no. Bonding is applied to the existing enamel, which is why it is considered a conservative and largely reversible option.

• How long does composite bonding last?

  Typically three to five years before it needs refreshing, and less if you smoke, grind or drink a lot of staining drinks. Ceramic veneers last longer but require tooth preparation.

• Can bonded teeth be whitened later?

  Composite does not whiten, so any whitening is done before bonding and the shade is matched to the new, lighter colour.

Hollywood smile

• How many teeth does a Hollywood smile involve?

  Most cases involve the teeth that show when you smile widely, usually eight to ten per arch. We only treat teeth that need it. If four teeth deliver the result, we will tell you that rather than sell you twenty.

• Do my teeth get filed down to points?

  No. That is the aggressive crown preparation seen in some low-cost tourism cases and it damages healthy teeth. Veneers need a fraction of a millimetre of enamel, and where a tooth is healthy enough we will recommend bonding instead of any preparation at all.

• Will it look fake?

  Only if it is designed that way. You choose the shade and shape at the mock-up stage, and we photograph it so you can compare. Most of our patients choose a natural bright shade rather than the brightest available.

Teeth whitening

• How many shades will my teeth improve?

  Most patients see between two and six shades. Yellow-toned teeth respond best; grey tones, tetracycline staining and single dark teeth respond less predictably, and we tell you before you start.

• Will whitening change my crowns or fillings?

  No. Ceramic and composite do not whiten. If they are visible when you smile, they may need replacing after whitening to match the new shade, we plan for this in advance.

• Is whitening safe for enamel?

  Dentist-supervised whitening with regulated gels does not damage enamel. Temporary sensitivity is the common side effect and settles within days.

Crowns and bridges

• How long does a crown last?

  With good hygiene and regular check-ups, zirconia and e.max crowns commonly last 10–15 years and often longer. The tooth underneath, not the ceramic, usually determines the lifespan.

• Crown or veneer, which do I need?

  A veneer covers the front surface of a broadly healthy tooth for cosmetic reasons. A crown covers the whole tooth and is used when it is cracked, root-treated or heavily restored.

• Can it be done in one trip?

  Yes. Most crown and bridge cases are finished in a single 5–7 day visit. Cases that also need implants or root canal retreatment may take longer.

Braces and orthodontics

• How long does orthodontic treatment take?

  Mild alignment cases finish in 6–9 months; comprehensive cases with bite correction usually take 12–18 months. Your simulation gives an estimate before you start.

• Can I have orthodontics if I live abroad?

  Yes, and it is common. Aligner patients take several sets home and send photos for remote review, returning to Tirana every two to three months or less often when progress allows.

• Am I too old for braces?

  No. Teeth move at any age provided the gums and bone are healthy. A large share of our orthodontic patients are adults in their thirties to fifties.

Clear aligners

• How many trips to Tirana do I need?

  Usually two: one for records and fitting the first aligners, and one at the end for refinement and retainers. Progress between those is checked remotely with photos.

• Are aligners as effective as fixed braces?

  For most crowding and spacing, yes. Complex bite corrections, large rotations and some extraction cases are still handled more predictably with fixed braces, and we will say so at the assessment.

• Will anyone notice I am wearing them?

  Aligners are thin and clear. Small tooth-coloured attachments may be needed for certain movements, but they are far less visible than brackets and wires.

Root canal treatment

• Is a root canal painful?

  The treatment relieves pain rather than causing it. The tooth is fully anaesthetised, and most patients say it feels like having a large filling.

• How many visits does it take?

  Many teeth are completed in one visit. Infected or previously treated teeth may need two appointments a few days apart, which still fits inside a short stay in Tirana.

• Do I really need a crown afterwards?

  For molars and premolars, yes, a root-treated tooth is more brittle and cuspal coverage dramatically reduces the chance of fracture. Front teeth can often be restored with bonding alone.

Oral surgery

• Will I be awake during surgery?

  Most procedures are done under local anaesthetic while you are awake and comfortable. Sedation can be arranged for anxious patients or longer surgeries.

• How long is recovery?

  Simple extractions settle in two to three days. Impacted wisdom teeth and grafting typically involve swelling for three to five days, with normal activity resumed within a week.

• Can I fly after oral surgery?

  We normally advise waiting 24–48 hours after a straightforward extraction, and longer after a sinus lift. We plan your travel dates around the procedure at the consultation.

Dental emergencies

• Can you see me the same day?

  We keep emergency slots each working day and prioritise swelling and severe pain. Message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you the soonest realistic time.

• I am a tourist in Tirana, can you treat me?

  Yes. We treat visitors regularly, consult in English and Albanian, and provide a written report you can take to your dentist at home.

• Will the tooth have to be taken out?

  Not usually. Most painful teeth can be saved with root canal treatment or a restoration. Extraction is discussed only when the tooth cannot be restored predictably.

General dentistry

• Can I have a check-up while visiting Tirana?

  Yes. An examination with radiographs takes around 30 minutes and we can usually treat simple fillings during the same trip.

• Do you replace old amalgam fillings?

  We replace them when they are cracked, leaking or decayed underneath. We do not recommend replacing sound amalgam fillings for cosmetic reasons alone without discussing it with you first.

• What if I need more than a filling?

  You get the full picture in writing, including whether an inlay, a crown or root canal treatment is the better long-term option, and how many days it needs.

Hygiene and cleaning

• My gums bleed when I brush, is that normal?

  No. Bleeding is the earliest sign of gum inflammation and it is reversible when treated early. Left alone it can progress to bone loss and loose teeth.

• Can I have hygiene treatment on the same trip as other work?

  Yes, and we usually recommend it. A clean is scheduled at the start of the trip so crowns, veneers and implants are placed on healthy gums.

• How often should I come?

  Every six months for most patients, and every three to four months if you have treated gum disease, implants or smoke.

Dentures

• Why does my lower denture move so much?

  The lower jaw offers far less suction than the upper. Two implants with locator attachments are the most effective, and often the most affordable, way to stop the movement.

• How many days do dentures take?

  A conventional denture normally needs three to four appointments over about a week, which fits comfortably into a single trip to Tirana.

• Can I upgrade a denture to implants later?

  Often yes. An existing well-fitting denture can sometimes be adapted onto implant attachments, which we assess with a CBCT scan.

Guides and research

• Who writes the articles on this site?

  Every article is written by the Dental Oasis Tirana clinical team and reviewed for accuracy before publication, with clinical detail and timelines that match how we actually treat patients.

• Why don't the articles show prices?

  Albanian dental guidelines do not allow clinics to advertise prices publicly, so costs are shared privately instead, by email after you request an estimate, or in a written plan after your examination.

• Can these articles replace a dental consultation?

  No. They are general educational information. A diagnosis needs a clinical examination and imaging, which we can arrange in Tirana or discuss first over WhatsApp.