An Australian patient has told how he flew half way round the world to get his crooked teeth fixed in Croatia.

John Park, from Melbourne, had abandoned the idee of getting his teeth fixed at home where there is virtually no state funded dental care.

And even after taking the costs of flights into account. John reckons he’s spent just a third of what the treatment would have cost at home.

Painstaking John interviewed dentists from all over Europe before chosing a surgery in Split.

He explained: “I found possible solutions in different parts of Europe.

“But then I took months to have video calls and chose the right place.

“I know it’s unusual to travel that far to make a new smile, but I wanted an ideal one, and not too expensive.

“And even if I count the flight and accommodation expenses, the whole treatment is three times cheaper than in Australia.”

Dentist Martina Karlo, who performed the ops, said: “He has nice teeth, but he wanted them perfect and we did just that.”

She added: “People want a safe service and we use world best materials, but we are still much cheaper then our colleagues in many countries.”

John, he says, is delighted with the results.

He said: “I will certainly recommend Croatia and dentist Martina Karlo, everything was at a highly professional level, and I am very satisfied with her work.”

In Australia, a single crown can cost more than GBP 1,000 and just one implant costs around GBP 2,100.

Some patients just can’t get enough of Dr Karlo’s treatment.

Earlier this year, local rapper Zuvi even released a hit music video to pay tribute to her work.