Leading specialists in the field of Novokuznetsk in the field of dentistry answer the most pressing questions of the townspeople.
Modern dentistry works wonders and is able to help everyone boldly smile at their reflection and those around them. However, there are no fewer issues related to treatment and prosthetics. Many are lost in the variety of dental services, clinics and prices. We invited experienced specialists from Novokuznetsk to answer the most pressing questions about dentistry.
We present the participants of the round table “The territory of a smile”, which took place in November.
Sergey Vladimirovich Chernenko, Honored Doctor of Russia, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Orthodontics of the Novokuznetsk Institute of Advanced Medical Education, Head of the Orto-Premier Dental Clinic
Anna Konstantinovna Klimenko, Executive Director,
Tatyana Gennadievna Zoteeva, chief physician, dentist, therapist of the highest category,
Andrey Viktorovich Yatsuk, chief physician, dentist-surgeon-implantologist-orthopedist-therapist, Ph.D., NovoDent network of dental clinics
Danil Mikhailovich Perkov, dentist-periodontist, clinical resident-orthodontist, network of dental clinics “NovoDent”
Lyudmila Rafaelevna Belenko, dentist, NovoDent dental clinic chain
Vasily Mikhailovich Wozniak, dentist, the network of clinics “New Dentistry”
What is the first thing to pay attention to when choosing a dental clinic?
In this regard, the principles of “closer to home” or “where it is cheaper” do not guarantee quality and professional medical services. Specialists of the Dental Association of Russia advise, first of all, when choosing a clinic, to inquire about the presence of a license for the right to carry out medical activities, which should be easily accessible to patients. The clinic must have separate permits for each type of dental care: therapeutic, surgical, orthopedic, orthodontic. The presence of a license implies both the availability of certificates for the specialists of this clinic, and the compliance of the clinic with sanitary, fire-fighting and other requirements imposed by state regulatory authorities for medical institutions.
The second rule is to make sure the clinic is reliable. The whole process of treatment, its timing, guarantee, cost of treatment, etc. are preliminarily negotiated and fixed in an agreement between the patient and the clinic, which must be carefully studied before starting treatment. It is desirable that the clinic has a full range of modern equipment required for diagnosis and treatment. Be sure to take an interest in the price list of several clinics, you need to focus on the average market prices. Too low prices should be alarming, as they can conceal dangerous savings on the quality and safety of treatment. A very important rule when choosing a medical institution is protection against infections. Of course, you should choose a clinic that uses disposable sterile instruments and accessories, personal protective equipment. The clinic is characterized by the presence of medical staff insurance against possible unforeseen doctor’s mistakes. This type of insurance is called professional liability insurance. This is an indicator of a serious attitude towards their reputation and care for the patient. And, of course, a good, reliable clinic usually has excellent patient reviews.
The clinic must have separate permits for each type of dental care
What are the requirements for dental professionals?
Specialists must have specialized education and valid certificates. But the basic experience, of course, is not enough to work at a high level with advanced technologies. Dental center specialists are required to complete certification cycles in a timely manner. In addition, doctors need to attend additional training courses and seminars every year that are required to work with new materials and modern equipment. We recommend that patients pay attention to certificates and other documents confirming the qualifications of a doctor.
Dental services are not cheap. What are the components of treatment prices?
Prices for services are not a doctor’s whim. It is determined by the equipment, technologies and materials used, which are already quite expensive all over the world, and in our country they also depend on the exchange rates. Plus, the cost of treatment includes such components as the cost of electricity, maintenance and repair of equipment, the salaries of nurses, orderlies, an administrator, and the compulsory costs of expensive training for doctors. But believe me, there is a tangible difference in professional experience between specialists who regularly practice and those who are limited only to basic education. Nevertheless, clinics try to meet patients’ needs, because our doctors live in the same conditions as their patients, and they perfectly understand the complexity of the situation. Therefore, today, despite the crisis, we try to keep prices at the level of previous years, and also offer patients discounts, installments, and carry out various promotions.
Are there any peculiarities in the methods of treating children?
Yes, there is. And they start with a separate license, since not all dental clinics in the city have the right to treat children. There are special requirements for pediatric dentistry: you need special training of a specialist and, at least, a separate children’s office. It is unacceptable to treat children in adult rooms! The main task of a pediatric therapist is to provide a quality service as quickly and painlessly as possible. The material must be safe, harden quickly and adhere well to the tooth tissues. The child, as a rule, is impatient, it is difficult to keep him in a fixed position for a long time, so the skill of the pediatric dentist must be of the highest. Parents need to know that even in the absence of pain, children must be shown to dentists. It is children’s dentists who identify and cure pathologies that can later develop into a serious illness, deformity, etc. Prevention is always cheaper than treatment. For example, an uncut bridle in childhood will then lead to costly treatment.
Persuading a baby to be treated is not an easy task. How do specialists cope with this problem?
The professional qualifications of a pediatric dentist include the skills of a psychologist. Before the appointment, we make a psychological portrait of each little patient. Specialists regularly attend courses and trainings to teach how to work with children. There are many different psychological techniques and methods that allow you to set up a baby to work with a doctor, and this needs to be specially studied.
Do I need to treat milk teeth?
It is imperative to treat if you want your child to grow healthy teeth in the future. First, a bad tooth is a source of infection. Secondly, the problem with improper chewing can provoke the formation of an incorrect bite. Thirdly, under the unhealthy milk tooth, a permanent tooth rudiment is formed, which can grow already with caries. There are simple rules: an examination once every six months – if the child is healthy, and once a quarter – if there are any chronic diseases.
It is unacceptable to treat children in adult rooms!
How should parents prepare their child to visit the dentist?
Of course, parents should prepare the baby as much as possible. An excellent technique is to play games at home “show me your teeth”, “let’s count your teeth” – so that the child can open his mouth at the doctor’s office without fear. Just don’t have to promise that nothing will be done to him. There will be, and the child must be ready for this. In children’s dental offices, the atmosphere of a kindergarten is specially created: colored walls, toys, there are no white coats for doctors.
At what age should a child’s parents be concerned about bite problems?
The malocclusion problem is not only aesthetic. Crooked teeth are more likely to undergo caries, food particles falling between them lead to tooth and gum disease. Incorrect bite leads to increased abrasion of teeth, problems of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the jaw joints. Finally, an incorrect bite can lead to problems with prosthetics in the event of tooth loss with age. Therefore, if you see that your baby’s teeth are growing uneven, be sure to contact an orthodontist. And believe me, with the change of milk teeth to permanent ones, the problem will not disappear, but will only worsen. A signal to come to an orthodontist for a consultation can also be the absence of interdental space, even if the teeth are even. Permanent teeth are wider than milk teeth, which means they may not have enough room to grow.
What methods of teeth straightening are used in children with milk teeth?
In this case, removable “plates” and trainers are used. And already with the change of teeth, from about 11 years old, braces are used.
Another important issue regarding the beauty of a smile is prosthetics. Today, the most advanced method is implantation. How much has the technique justified itself?
Implantation is the only type of prosthetics when not only aesthetics are restored, but also fully functional teeth. If a person is missing one tooth, the only correct and safe method of prosthetics for adjacent teeth is implantation. Also, with the help of implantation, you can restore teeth with their partial or complete absence. However, despite the fact that implantation is really the most advanced type of prosthetics, we also use other methods. Firstly, implantation is not shown to everyone. Secondly, this business is long, not everyone can wait three to six months. Thirdly, this service is quite costly. Finally, the patient has the right to decide for himself what kind of prosthetics to choose, and the specialist’s business is to offer various ways to solve a particular problem.
Where should a patient go if he is not sure about the quality of the dental service provided?
If a problematic situation has arisen, first of all it is necessary to try to solve it with your attending physician, and in a disputable situation – to contact the clinic’s management. If the problem has not been resolved, the patient has the right to contact the regulatory and supervisory authorities.