Next to the shores of Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan highlands, once grew a tree. Bursting through the soil, it had a dream. A dream to be the tallest, most beautiful tree in the community of Cerro de Oro. For years it prospered, protected from the harsh elements by neighboring shrubbery, encouraged to reach for the heavens with the year round growing season. The sprout became a sapling, the sapling grew into a tree. A trunk nearly 2 feet wide in diameter supported this ambitious árbol. Its dream seemed to be coming true, but dreams and destiny don’t always converge. The tree was slashed, chopped down in its adolescence, leaving behind nothing but a scarred stump. But, is this the end of the tree’s story?

On December 31st, the QT guides made their annual pilgrimage to Lake Atitlán, closing up the office, filling the vans with cerveza, machetes, and fireworks. Spirits were high, the weather was beautiful, and everyone’s teeth were fully intact. The trip included countless shenanigans, including guide Hailey giving Ben a piggy back ride while running full speed downhill towards the lake. Her legs were strong, but her feet betrayed her, carrying her far from the path and onto a whole new journey…

It was dark. The tree stump was mildly aware of this, though it didn’t care. It didn’t have leaves anymore to feed off the sun’s light, so what did it matter that the sun was down? Who cares if around it booms American dance pop music? Are those fireworks in the distance? As its sensations turned back on, SLAM, something, no, a woman, collided with it. The stump faded again into the darkness, its part in universe’s story was done for now.

Hailey’s face made first contact with the ground, and it wasn’t friendly. Ben’s fall was luckily padded by Hailey’s body, and he rolled unharmed into the grass. Laughter covered them in the darkness, yet something was wrong. A part of Hailey, something small but precious, had fractured. Twenty-five year old Hailey still had a baby tooth, and that baby tooth was suddenly loose. With no adult tooth behind it, and with it unfortunately being located near the front of her mouth, the situation was dire. Was this sole remaining baby tooth her source of pun mastery? Could it explain why she was always so positive and happy? Possibly. Regardless, it was essential to maintain her perfect smile. 

While other guides were off getting bit by local dogs, having footballs kicked at their rear end, or cooking a variety of animals on the grill, Hailey waited patiently, only chewing on the right side of her mouth till she could figure this out. Little did she know, she was in one of the best countries in the world for dental care.

Dental tourism. What an odd phrase. Traveling across the world not just to see the sights and eat the food, but to get a crown, an implant, or root canal. With dental care prices being up to 70% less expensive than in the United States, travel expenses can easily be covered by the money saved on your procedure. Get a cleaning done, go see Tikal, and maybe even do a trek with Quetzaltrekkers. Now that’s a refreshing holiday! 

Hailey ended up going to Smart Dent, a dentist located right in Xela. With 155 reviews and a 4.9 average, she felt confident in the quality of the care she would receive. With a couple quick WhatsApp messages (doesn’t everyone WhatsApp their dentist?), she got an appointment the next day. A small waiting room behind a metal grated door is all she saw upon first arrival. What would be in the actual dentists room? Medieval hooks and screws dangling from the ceiling? Radiation blasting machines that would make your hair fall out? Was she going to leave with her tooth fixed, or would ALL of her teeth have to be removed?

The door opened. Dentist David showed off his very professional one room dentist office. A comfortable fully reclining chair. A flat screen tv showing all of the offered services and prices. His conversational English helped Hailey get into the chair for an x-ray. When the results appeared on the tv screen, it wasn’t good. A clear line separated the tooth from its roots. Only the gums were still holding it in place. The solution? A root canal first then rods to hold it in place, and finally a crown. 

Root canal. The words bring up thoughts of horrific pain and suffering. A childhood horror you feared would arrive sometime in your distant adult years. Hailey faced it bravely, with a large dose of novacaine to help. Quickly done, and back out on the streets, she arrived in time for dinner and managed to keep most of the food in her half numb mouth. The tooth feels a bit better for now, but the upcoming weeks and procedures will tell the full tale of what will become of her final baby tooth. Maybe come out for a hike with QT and see for yourself how it’s all going. Will it blend right in with the other teeth? Will it become black and rotted? Maybe she’ll get a sweet gold tooth with “QT” stamped into it. We’ll find out! 

https://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/xela/