Crowning Glory: Dentist Shines in New Country

By Carol Cortright

Hearts pounding, the family entered customs at the Paris airport. Trying to project an outward calm, their tense demeanor betrayed them. Although the Slovenian passports looked satisfactory, the customs official could tell something was amiss. Pulling the family’s then-20 year old daughter aside, the official gave her two choices: go to the police and sort things out or go back to wherever they came from.

Today, Dr. Xhoana Gjelaj (pronounced “Joanna July”) runs a thriving dental practice in Tarpon Springs, offering state-of-the-art care and hi-tech convenience. Dr. Gjelaj is a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Academy of Laser Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and one of the few dentists in Tampa Bay to offer all-porcelain chair-side restorations in one appointment.

She follows in the footsteps of her parents, both dental technicians in their home country of Albania.  Xhoana recently recalled the hardships they faced during their pursuit of a better life in the United States. “It wasn’t easy to leave Albania,” she said. “You build your whole life there and then you have to pick up and leave, not knowing the language or customs of a new country.”

Albania is located on the Eastern European coast, just across from the “heel” of boot-shaped Italy. The war in neighboring Kosovo  and continuous  political unrest in her homeland, including riots and the collapse of state institutions, caused Xhoana’s father to make preparations to move his family to a safer place in the late 1990s.

Though it took two tries and digging deep into life savings, the family was successful in acquiring political asylum in the United States and joined her father’s cousin in New York.

Back in Albania, Xhoana had been a third year dental school student, a path she intended to pursue in her new country as well. As a child, her parents told her that she would be a dentist some day. As she got older, she realized that she actually did enjoy the science and medical fields. As soon as her immigration documents were secured, she picked up her studies again, attending the City University of New York (CUNY), where she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology as a Magna-Cum-Laude.

Growing up in a socialist country that was all but cut off from the rest of the world, Xhoana had a lot of catching up to do when it came to American culture. Albanians “were not allowed to watch foreign television or even talk about American capitalism. We were not familiar with how the rest of the world functioned,” she said.

Working part time in a video store and as a dental assistant  helped bring her up to speed and also paid for the expenses of undergrad and the new-found freedom life in the U.S. afforded.  Another big difference she’s adjusted to is the freedom women have in America. In patriarchal Albania, women and girls often are accompanied by male relatives wherever they go.

Xhoana weighed the pros and cons of several dental schools after graduating from CUNY, choosing Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in sunny Ft. Lauderdale. She didn’t know a soul in Florida, but her outgoing charm and friendliness took care of that.

When she graduated from Nova in 2008, Xhoana’s parents naturally wanted her to return to New York, but it was too late—she had fallen in love with the sunshine state. She also discovered a sizeable Albanian population on the west coast, stretching from Sarasota to New Port Richey, which cemented her decision to stay down south.

A St. Petersburg dentist with retirement on the horizon wanted a partner to buy in and eventually take over her practice. While it seemed a great opportunity for Xhoana to learn the ropes, the partnership ended within months. She tried working for dental corporations, but realized she didn’t like their philosophy on patient care.  The failed partnership and negative experience with dental corps (clinics) was the final push toward realizing the dream of having her own practice.

With true entrepreneurial spirit, she knew buying her own practice would be the only way to provide the exceptional service that would satisfy her high standards. “That was scary,” she said of purchasing an existing Tarpon Springs practice and hanging out her shingle in January of 2009. “My parents were worried. Here I was a new dentist within six months of graduation, with limited business knowledge, in the worst economy ever. I never expected to have my own business so soon. I just decided ‘it’s gotta be done!’”

She offered this bit of advice to anyone who’s thinking about starting her own business: “If you wait for that perfect time, it may never come. You have to jump at the opportunities and have a good attitude. Above all, you have to have the confidence that you will succeed. Just waiting—,” she shook her head, “—No. The biggest obstacle is getting used to being in your comfort zone. I wanted to take the risk, and I haven’t regretted anything.”

Xhoana’s ability to relate to a variety of people and her gentle care helped her retain the majority of the previous dentist’s patients as well as double the number of patients in her first year of business. Internal marketing has contributed the most in expanding her patient base. “People like the way they’re treated here, so they bring in friends and family,” she explained. “Our referral program and targeted marketing strategy have proven very effective, while keeping costs manageable.”

Another strong factor in her successful transition is Pinellas County native and hygienist Donna Bryce, who’s been with the practice for years. “Donna is very good at what she does. She’s friendly and the patients like her a lot,” said Xhoana. “She’s an important member of my team.”

Dear old dad helps out too. “It is great to have available someone with my dad’s experience as a dental technician,” she says, noting that his presence and expertise assists with her elderly patients who need complete or partial dentures.

It’s also good to have a “jack of all trades” on the team—Xhoana’s husband, Dr. Piro Varfi. Piro, also from Albania, helps with the administrative side of things, including marketing and her web site. He’s also a Doctor of Theology and the pastor of a small Baptist church in Davenport.  He recently resigned from his position as Academic Dean of Emmaus Baptist College to help more actively in the dental practice.

Although Xhoana’s practice retains a small-town feel in a comfortable setting, she’s all about keeping up with the latest technology in the dental field. “When I graduated from dental school, I realized that I actually knew very little. They teach you the basics,” she said, “so I went looking for more advanced studies.”

She found it at the prestigious Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne. Pankey provides a well-rounded experience for its students, offering everything from how to treat the most complex cases to a supportive mentoring network. “They teach you to treat the patient as a whole, not just a case,” she said, “and to provide superior dental care, you have to provide the latest in dental technology.”

Xhoana attributes much of her confidence in the philosophy of comprehensive dental care to her colleague and mentor, Dr. Brian Beirl, who is a Pankey Scholar. They were partnered up as part of the educational process during her Advanced Education Courses at the Pankey Institute. “I have learned a lot from his expertise and commitment to patient care” said Xhoana about her mentor. “I am very fortunate to have had his encouragement in the beginning of my career.”

She admitted that the newest dental technology can be expensive, but vowed she’ll find ways to do it. For example, she’s proud to describe the new machine she uses to make crowns. Using CAD/CAM technology—which eliminates the impression material once used in making dental molds. The patient’s mouth is scanned and turned into a virtual 3D model. The computer then designs a near-to-perfect fit using an all-porcelain product—“no metal,” she said. “There is no risk of alloy allergies and the aesthetics are remarkable.”   And amazingly, crowns now can be done in one hour, start to finish.

“We’ve also invested in laser technology,” she said. “It’s less invasive and it allows us to treat a number of gum issues quickly and effectively. It’s also a great tool for surgical and restorative procedures.”
Xhoana’s patients can choose from a variety of cosmetic procedures like whitening, veneers, and adult braces. She even treats TMJ issues by building appliances like splints or guards that help reposition the jaw muscles.  Most rewarding are the aesthetic cosmetic treatments: “Patients notice the instant results right away and it builds their confidence.”

The philosophy and care provided by Dr. Gjelaj is geared towards the whole family. Kids, teens, adults, and the elderly are cared for with the latest tools and methods available.

Her ability to speak five languages makes dental care an accessible option for some patients who might otherwise shy away from taking care of their teeth when communication becomes a barrier. It’s not uncommon for Europeans to learn more than just their native language, since countries are so close together and easy to travel to, she said. She speaks Italian and Spanish in addition to English and Albanian, and is learning French as well, “because it’s a very musical language.”

Xhoana can’t stress enough how much dentistry has changed—for the better—over the years. “You can’t blame people who have the concept of going to the dentist as a painful experience: the old-fashioned belt-driven drill heating up and causing excess pain? Who wants that? Now tools are quiet, they spin faster and incorporate cool water—it makes a huge difference in comfort.” Even the anesthesia is advanced. A computerized machine delivers the pain medicine more effectively.

Future plans include investing in the education needed to learn how to place dental implants.  Her next acquisition will be a 3D panoramic imaging machine that will make implant placement and restoration a in-house, one-visit procedure. By incorporating technologies that are cutting-edge, the patients will benefit in both time and quality of care.

While she is still working at building her business and making sure the practice stays up with the latest trends in modern dentistry, Xhoana and husband Piro have an idea on the back burner. They’d like to create a mobile unit that would provide free dentistry to people who are in need. “It will require mobile units, chairs and extra equipment,” she said, “but that’s one of our next projects.”

Xhoana Gjelaj has come a long way in the last decade, from a country torn apart by political turmoil to establishing her own successful dental practice. She’s a shining example of the possibility that exists in America, when someone with ambition, drive and the willingness to take risks can create her own future on her own terms.

Dr. Gjelaj’s web site offers a variety of useful information, including a look at some of the high-tech tools used in making patient visits as comfortable as possible, payment plans, and answers to common dental care questions. Check it out at: www.tarponspringsdental.com .