How to choose a dentist and dental clinic

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Every person who cares about their dental health wants to find a good dentist.

But distinguishing a truly good specialist from a money-hungry charlatan can be very difficult.

Let's look at the main factors that you should pay attention to when choosing a competent dentist.

Basement or prestigious clinic

Dental offices in clinics and hospitals are not fundamentally different from offices in private practices on the ground or ground floor.

The main thing is that the premises comply with all state standards. Some of them are difficult to evaluate independently, for example, air speed (the norm is 0.2 m/s), but some can be assessed subjectively.

This:

Lighting, temperature and humidity;
Appearance of medical staff;
Cabinet decoration and modern equipment;
Availability of an assistant.

So, there must be natural light. The dentist's office cannot be in the basement! There may be sterilization rooms, storerooms, and staff rooms, but this is not a place for treatment.

Therefore, dentistry cannot be located in basement rooms with a depth of more than 1 meter. Blinds or tinting films can be installed on the windows to compensate for excess sunlight.

The temperature should not fall below +18°C in the cold season and should not be higher than +25°C in the warm season. Humidity should be between 40% -60%. This level of humidity is felt as normal, ordinary, that is, there is no feeling of stuffiness or “steam room”, and the throat does not dry out from breathing.

Staff must wear medical clothing or gowns; the dentist and his assistant wear gloves and masks.

The finishing of the office should be such that the room can be easily sterilized. To do this, the ceilings and walls are made smooth, all baseboards are tightly fitted to the floor.

If we are talking about surgical rooms, all walls should be covered with tiles. If there are two chairs in one office, then between them there must be a partition made of opaque material no lower than 1.5 meters.

The modernity of the equipment can be assessed by eye. If you see a chair that looks about 15 years old, you should find another place for treatment. Technology does not stand still, and modern chairs help the doctor work more accurately and painlessly for the patient.

A competent dentist never works with a patient alone. A nurse has a fairly wide list of responsibilities, including preparing a solution for a filling, preparing equipment, disinfecting instruments, preparing an office, etc.

If a doctor works alone and is distracted by all these things, he is simply not able to provide a quality service.

All these criteria apply equally to large clinics and small practices. The problem is that small dentists do not always have the same wide range of services as large medical institutions.

For example, not everywhere there is an X-ray room, a practicing dental surgeon or an orthodontist. The patient is then sent to see partners who provide these services.

It is much more convenient if all diagnostic processes and treatment are carried out in one place. Then the patient not only saves time, but also has to deal with the coordinated actions of doctors working as a team.

This cannot but affect the success of treatment, and is even more important when it comes to inpatient treatment.

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About foreign dentists

— How much can you trust foreign specialists working in Russian clinics?

— Unfortunately, many foreign dentists work with us without special permission, which is issued by the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education after passing special testing.

Only 4-5 doctors apply for such permits per year. But in Moscow alone there are already dozens of clinics with the participation of foreign partners. And not all of them are professionally honest.

Therefore, to be on the safe side, it is better to inquire whether the foreign doctor has such a document.

— How to understand the abundance of various certificates posted on the walls of the clinic?

- If they really hang in a visible place, then that’s good. Don't be lazy and read carefully:

license
and application

where it is indicated what types of dental care are allowed here:

therapy
orthodontics
orthopedics
surgery
children's dentistry.

Overpriced clinics are mainly for VIPs

You have the right to ask for a doctor’s certificate confirming that he underwent retraining no more than 5 years ago. Ask about its category. Ideally, it - second, first or highest - should be indicated on every plate with the doctor's name.

It is good if the clinic has certificates of training of doctors in new imported materials or treatment methods. After all, many of them require at least a short but mandatory training.

For example, pain relievers. They are not suitable for everyone. May occur:

and allergic reaction
and heart problems

In practice, there are even cases of death.

And if a doctor gives an anesthetic injection without being interested in any abnormalities in your health, then this is a reason to think about the professionalism and competence of such a doctor and refuse treatment.

It is possible that they just want to make money from you. And this in itself is dangerous.

Criteria for professionalism

When choosing a dentist, it makes sense to listen to the reviews of your friends. People around you may know dentists who provide services at the highest level, or, conversely, tell about a bad experience in a clinic.

Pay attention not only to reviews of recent treatment, but also to the results of the doctor’s work after some time. Has the filling fallen out, has the hole from the extracted tooth healed well, has the implant been successfully installed.

You should rely on reviews on the Internet with some caution; they may be fake. Having thus selected several specialists, you can continue to narrow the circle.

Supporting documents

Any dentist has both a higher education diploma in the relevant specialty and permission to practice medicine. This is understandable and goes without saying.

If the patient asks to see them, the doctor should not shy away from this. But in addition to the basic documents, a good doctor will have the following certificates :

On advanced training;
About upgrading;
About retraining;
About taking additional courses.

During advanced training, a specialist undergoes training courses in order to have the right to provide medical services. At the moment, any doctor must accumulate a certain number of points per year, which he receives for attending lectures, symposiums, webinars, etc.

This part of postgraduate education is mandatory; it extends the specialist’s rights to continue medical practice.

Upgrading the category, on the contrary, is not necessary. The higher the category, the higher the professionalism of the employee . There are only three categories; to obtain the next category, you need a certain amount of work experience, successful passing of an exam and an interview:

The second category – work experience of at least 3 years;
The first category – work experience of at least 5 years;
The highest category – work experience of at least 10 years.

A dentist who has more than one specialization will receive a certificate of retraining. For example, if a dental therapist also practices orthodontics or maxillofacial surgery.

The circle of such people is not very wide, but education in a different direction can give a specialist a new perspective on the disease and its treatment.

Additional courses are also not a mandatory part of postgraduate education. But by visiting them, a specialist will be aware of all the innovations in his field and will learn more new techniques.

The dentist may also have certificates and diplomas received in professional competitions. Such documents, as well as certificates, are often posted either in the lobby or in the office above the doctor's desk. Their presence indicates the doctor’s high interest in his field, and also gives an idea of his professionalism.

Initial consultation

Visiting the dentist is a very stressful experience for many of us. Therefore, understanding and support from a doctor can play a significant role.

It is much calmer to sit in the chair if you have confidence in the dentist. Therefore, a real professional will listen carefully to your complaints, try to calm you down if you are afraid, and treat your fear patiently and with understanding.

In addition, they will talk to you so that your eyes and the dentist’s eyes are at the same level. This criterion is important, since it is communication on equal terms that helps the patient feel confident and helps the dentist better understand the patient himself.

Universal human qualities are quite subjective; everyone evaluates them according to their own taste. In addition, the character of the dentist itself does not affect the quality of the services provided. It is much better to pay attention to the actions carried out during the first inspection, namely:

A new patient must have an outpatient card.
The doctor examines the entire oral cavity, and under his dictation, the assistant records the number and position of fillings and carious cavities.
The condition of the gums is assessed.

Of course, during the examination, the dentist must wear gloves and a face mask, and use clean, sterile instruments.

Part of the examination takes place when the patient enters the office. The dentist evaluates visible malocclusion, facial skin color, type of swallowing, abnormalities in the facial skeleton, and speech.

After the examination, the patient is given advice on oral care aimed at preventing possible diseases.

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Treatment plan

Once the cause of the patient's complaints is determined, the dentist proposes a treatment plan.

A competent specialist will offer the patient several treatment options, from which the patient can choose the option that is suitable for him, based on the cost of the procedures, as well as his own psychological comfort.

There may be a possibility that additional diagnostic tests will be needed, such as:

X-ray, computed tomography;
Making a diagnostic model of the jaw;
Making wax models of future dentures on jaw models;
Examination of the temporomandibular joint;
Consultation with colleagues: orthodontists, surgeons, etc.;
Consultation with non-dental doctors: ENT specialists, cardiologists, etc.

The most common examination is x-ray. It is taken quickly, the doctor has the opportunity to immediately evaluate the image and make a final diagnosis.

Why an x-ray may be needed:

Determine the exact size and position of the carious cavity;
Find malocclusions;
Find the cause of toothache;
Find inflammation of the gums, canals, tissues adjacent to the teeth;
Find pathological conditions (such as a cyst);
Determine how well the nerve was removed and the canals were cleaned;
Find out whether the filling/pin/implant is in the correct position.

The dentist then suggests further therapeutic measures. Some procedures have no alternatives - destroyed roots need to be removed, some teeth cannot be saved.

But the patient can choose a filling: the materials for fillings are different, and some of them are noticeable on the teeth.

The patient can also choose the method of tooth restoration: using a pin (if possible), an implant or a prosthesis.

The patient also has the right to choose the material of the crowns for the implants; they have various properties, and, again, not all are the same color as the teeth.

The patient decides whether he would like to have anesthesia during treatment or not. Thanks to modern equipment, many procedures today are painless.

But there are patients who prefer anesthesia (it’s calmer). And some, on the contrary, decide on it only when absolutely necessary.

Clinic location and opening hours

First, decide where you will travel to the clinic from: from work or from home. In general, for dental care, clinics close to home are preferable. If a patient is about to have a tooth removed, an implant installed, in general, an operation after which he may not feel very well, the ability to quickly get home will be a plus. In addition, you can go to one clinic with your whole family, and this is both convenient and often profitable. Another argument in favor of going home is that if a patient suddenly needs emergency dental care at odd hours or on weekends, it is better to go to the same clinic where you usually get services, where the client’s history is already stored.

The argument for finding a clinic close to work is usually the clinic's opening hours. If you work late or live far from work, there is a chance that you will get to the clinic near your home just in time for it to close. Or after it. Then it makes sense to look for a clinic in the area where you work. There is also a compromise option - halfway between work and home. The choice is yours. Acceptable travel time to the clinic is up to 30-40 minutes. The distance here is not informative - you can walk to the clinic, or you can drive a car.

Questionable factors

Certain patterns of dentist behavior may indicate incompetence. For example, uncertainty about the outcome of treatment. If the doctor himself does not give any guarantees that the treatment will help and eliminate the cause of the complaints, you should look for another specialist.

The same should be done if the dentist suddenly begins to make non-dental diagnoses, and even more so if he begins to impose treatment on familiar specialists.

The dentist may prescribe medications, this is normal. For example, before removing teeth, the doctor may recommend taking a medicine that helps stop bleeding quickly.

But a professional will never prescribe strange pills for no apparent reason, especially those that are not sold in a pharmacy, but only from him - exclusively.

A good doctor will not impose expensive additional procedures such as teeth cleaning, but will first of all give advice on how to maintain oral health at home.

Useful tips when choosing a dentist

It is advisable to take care of finding a dentist for the whole family before emergency intervention is required. When choosing the right candidate, you can seek advice from friends or acquaintances related to medicine.

It is best to make an appointment for a scheduled appointment, where you can get to know the dentist and determine his professional skills. You should also familiarize yourself with the prices for certain types of services. If expensive treatment is required, all financial relationships must be documented.

Choosing a good dentist is not as simple a task as it might seem at first glance, so once you have visited a good dentist, get to know him better and make him your family doctor, whom you can always rely on.

Useful tips

Once you have successfully chosen the specialist that suits you, it makes sense to follow certain recommendations:

Before your first appointment, ask your friends or relatives for feedback. Their good or bad experiences can save you from trouble.
The best option is to see the whole family at one dentist. Then he will be able to understand the problems typical for the whole family and give individual advice.
If you are facing long and expensive treatment, it is better to keep financial records. It will be useful to you in case of attempted fraud or when the cost of treatment is reimbursed by the insurance company.
Follow all the dentist's requirements during treatment. By not following the rules prescribed by the dentist, you risk ruining the result of the entire treatment.

The video provides additional information on the topic of the article.

Rules for choosing a clinic

— What else are we not paying attention to?

- Because we are not told about the possible negative consequences of medical intervention. In some situations, for example, a filling may become cloudy over time. And you have the right to know about this and make sure that the doctor is familiar with all the nuances of using this or that material or technique.

If you need an x-ray, ask if the clinic is licensed to do so. Otherwise, you expose yourself to the risk of radiation due to the fact that the device is installed incorrectly and there are not sufficient protective equipment. Even completely harmless dental intraoral cameras can emit radiation.

Find out if you are covered by professional malpractice insurance. Such a policy can be had by either an individual doctor or the entire clinic as a whole. Unfortunately, this insurance is optional. But if it exists, then any controversial situation should it arise will be much easier to resolve. And be sure to conclude an agreement that will indicate:

rights and obligations of the parties
cost of treatment
guarantee.

— Will you become too picky a patient if you fulfill all these requirements?

- No, because you pay money. And considerable ones. Bowing from the waist is appropriate only for free medicine.

Before you go to a private clinic, you need to thoroughly study your rights. And they say that the patient has the right to choose a doctor and to informed consent to medical intervention.

If you need an x-ray, then ask if the clinic has a license for this.

You have the right to receive all the necessary information about the doctor, the clinic and the upcoming treatment.

— What to do in case of unresolvable conflicts?

— Each district has a chief district dentist. He should become your first authority. It can be found through the County Health Department.

Facts of unsatisfactory treatment can be reported to the Medical Inspectorate. Controversial cases are resolved through an examination at the Moscow Medical and Dental University and at the Central Research Institute of Dentistry.

Reviews

Much has been said here about the importance of reviews. Leave your impressions of visiting dentists under the article, share your experience or recommend a really good specialist!

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Cost of services

You can simply compare prices on websites, but there is a risk of missing out on interesting opportunities: promotions, family treatment plans, a point accumulation system. You may have insurance that covers the cost of dental treatment. In this case, you need to choose clinics from the list of your insurance company.

The sites themselves will be useful to you for something else: they are a showcase of the clinic. Seeing the website, you can evaluate the approximate level of the clinic. On the website you can find out which doctors work in the clinic, what services they provide, what equipment is available, and what materials are used. Will they be able to take a 3D photo of you or will they send you to another clinic? Do the clinic have orthodontists or only dentists?

After studying the sites, it would be a good idea to call the clinics you like and compare prices for dental services, ease of making an appointment, and also ask clarifying questions. For example, does the clinic accept bank cards, or are there special family programs? It happens that a telephone conversation in itself discourages you from enrolling in this clinic. And here we move on to the next, very important point.

Professional qualifications of doctors

Information about doctors’ qualifications, their diplomas and achievements is usually available on the clinic’s website. Reviews on the Internet will also help with this - you should not rely entirely on them, but the experience of people who have already been to the clinics of your choice may be useful to you. If the clinic is close to your home, you may be able to get recommendations from people in the area. Of course, you can’t ask your neighbors, but, for example, if your child goes to kindergarten or school, you can consult with the parents of his friends.

Positive points

A good dentist will ask the patient about his state of health and, during diagnosis, will take the necessary radiographs if the patient does not have pre-made photographs of normal quality. Systematic examinations allow problems to be detected in a timely manner and help to avoid expensive manipulations in the future.

Often, the results of high-quality treatment are stored for a relatively long time. Low-quality treatment is fraught with difficulties that appear several years after its completion. But the high price of treatment is not a characteristic of its quality. There is significant value in the dentist's time spent performing treatments that require meticulous attention to detail.

Before agreeing to treatment, the patient must consider what needs to be done and what consequences should be expected. It is necessary to analyze several variations of treatment, since there are several ways to achieve the goal.

How to choose a dental clinic

Tip of the week No. 2 from Alexander Dolgalev

How to choose a dental clinic.

One of the decisive factors when choosing a clinic is the availability of the necessary package of documents regulating the work of the medical institution. These are, first of all, licenses to provide all types of medical services. Also, each doctor in the clinic must have diplomas and specialist certificates. According to the consumer rights law, all documents must be freely available so that anyone can familiarize themselves with them.

Before sitting in the dental chair, a service agreement is signed with the patient. The contract stipulates the obligations of the parties, terms, price, quality of services and warranty obligations. In this way, the patient is legally protected.

Another indicator of a good medical institution is experienced employees and minimal staff turnover. Doctors must be aware of any new treatment method, know and practice modern medical technologies. It is good if the clinic employs dentists of all specialties and is equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment. This makes it possible to quickly make an accurate diagnosis and develop an optimal treatment program.

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