Tips: how to choose dentistry and find a good dentist?

Clinic website Choosing a dentist Level of diagnostics Where do they save? Warranty obligations Importance of the laboratory Required documents Reliability of reviews
Most people strongly associate visiting the dentist with pain and discomfort. Only 2% of the population is not afraid of the dentist. Therefore, the question of how to choose a dentistry that will provide quality care and will not leave you with psychological trauma for life is very relevant.

You can go to the tiny clinic that we pass by every day. You can go to a luxury dental center.

How to choose a dentist

The first meeting with a doctor begins on the website. There you can find out about education, work experience, and qualifications. A personal meeting helps to understand whether this person is “yours” or not. It happens that there is no mutual understanding between the patient and the doctor. In this case, it is better to change the dentist. The level of stress will not cover all the doctor’s achievements.

Choosing a dentist is not easy. Particular attention should be paid to the process of continuous education. New techniques and current technologies appear every day. Having a well-known name does not guarantee familiarity with the latest achievements and the ability to apply them in practice. The best dentist is a practicing doctor who constantly improves his skills.

Premium dentistry

The high cost of services at VIP clinics is due to the use of high-tech equipment, advanced techniques, the latest consumables and a special attitude towards each patient. The cost of treating caries in them starts from 5,000 rubles.

Simpladent, known as one of the best implantology centers: its specialists are trained in Switzerland, directly from the implant manufacturer ROOTT. Doctors are constantly learning new techniques, including with the help of modern equipment installed in the center.
MegaStom uses Italian and German equipment. The technologies used include a 3D scanner, a 3D tomograph, and a KaVo turbine, which prevents tissue overheating during preparation and protects against vibrations.
DialDent. The center uses a German KAPS microscope. Thanks to him, the doctor has complete control over the process, which allows the clinic to focus on tooth-preserving procedures, even when it comes to problems in the canals.

A pediatric dentist should also be a psychologist

Diagnostic level

Expensive dental equipment is not purchased to show off. The accuracy of the diagnosis and the choice of treatment method depend on it. This is especially important now that the focus has shifted to saving every tooth. The “if in doubt, delete” approach no longer works. In order to restore a tooth, an accurate picture is needed. Devices for orthopantomogram (OPTG), targeted X-rays, and computed tomography (CT) help to obtain it. The more complex the case, the more detailed the examination should be.

The best pediatric dentistry according to customer reviews

A pediatrician must be not only a qualified physician, but also a teacher and psychologist. It is important that there is an appropriate environment - with a lot of toys, the opportunity to watch cartoons and fun furniture. All centers mentioned in the rating meet these conditions.

Jagged tooth. In addition to standard procedures, services are provided for children with disabilities, and child psychologists are involved in the treatment process if necessary.
RuDenta Kids. Specialization: adolescent dentistry, treatment of children with neurological developmental disabilities. There is a separate anesthesia department, which provides both long-term treatment and adaptation of children to dental interventions.
Dental Fantasy. The clinic provides a guarantee on installed fillings until the teeth are changed; therapy under anesthesia (in a state of medicated sleep) is possible.

If we are not talking about pulpitis with acute pain, it is better to spend time and visit several institutions. This will allow you to compare and finally verify the correctness of your decision.

What is inside?

The cost of the service is like an iceberg. We see only a small part - the price. In fact, there are many components here:

Materials and tools

I don’t want to scare you, but a common complication during treatment is the tip of the instrument breaking off. Do you think pieces break off more often on Swiss instruments or Chinese instruments? Dental clinics do not pay for the brand name. The name of the company that everyone knows is the millions invested in scientific development and product quality testing. This is confidence in service life and positive long-term prognoses.

A filling that costs more will last longer, but a cheap one will have to be changed so often that the savings will only be apparent.

Related equipment

People of the older generation, who have gone through all the circles of hell of Soviet dentistry, will not be intimidated by an uncomfortable chair. Young people are accustomed to comfort, and will not tolerate this. But a chair is not only about comfort. A quality chair is easy to adjust. The tilt angle provides better access and a good view. It is convenient for the dentist to work, and the patient will not have to regret choosing a specialist.

A modern unit (what we usually think of as a drill) is multifunctional. The more features, the higher the price. But all manipulations can be carried out in 1 session.

And also autoclaves, refrigerators - many mechanisms and devices that ensure reliable and safe operation.

Dentist work

The more complex the manipulation, the higher the qualifications the doctor should have. But experience is not only the number of teeth pulled out or braces installed. These are minimally invasive, gentle methods, innovative restoration technologies, and modern implantation methods. Keeping up with the latest advances in medicine requires a lot of investment. This includes constant participation in trainings, master classes, seminars, and conferences. This is a subscription to scientific journals, podcasts and educational channels.

Staff payment

We want to come to a clean, sanitized room, talk with a competent administrator and chat online. We also pay for this, but not directly.

This is where the contradictions begin: you want service at the highest level and the same quality, but it’s expensive. Consider the issue from a long-term perspective: change the filling every six months to a year or once every 10 years. Carry out prosthetics every 5 years or install an implant and not think about the crown on it for 20 years. Save the living tooth for another 3-4 years, or even longer, or pull it out, and then regular prosthetics again.

The best dentists in Moscow with an average price category

In the middle price category there are clinics that offer patients additional services, modern equipment or a special level of service. The approximate cost of caries treatment in them is 3-4 thousand rubles.

Spectra is a multidisciplinary dental center that includes a rehabilitation center where additional services are available, such as physical therapy. German equipment and laser technology are used.
Avanstom treats caries using innovative materials from Europe and Japan, they are provided with a 2-year guarantee. In some cases, therapy without preparation is used.
Center for Aesthetic Dentistry, repeatedly recognized as the best dental clinic. Unites several institutions with a narrow focus (for example, an implantology center). Treatment under general anesthesia is available.

Warranty

When it comes to the question of which dentistry to choose, the issue of warranty obligations is not the least important.

All well-known brands provide a guarantee for their products. For implants it is unlimited; for orthopedic structures and filling materials, it is generally 1-2 years.

These are the obligations of the manufacturer. Convenient if, for example, you have moved. Obligations are not canceled if dentists in this city or country work with such brands.

The clinic’s obligations are a guarantee of high-quality work by doctors. Only high-quality dental centers take on such responsibility.

The best dentists in Moscow with low prices

Of course, the most budget-friendly option that allows you to treat your teeth for free is to go to a public clinic and undergo all procedures under the compulsory medical insurance policy. However, such treatment is not always of high quality, and you will still have to pay for some additional services (for example, installation of a light-curing filling).

The alternative is to go to a place where the quality of work is combined with its affordable cost.

Nova Dent, Akademicheskaya metro station. The average cost of caries treatment is 1900 rubles. Patients rate surgical services especially highly: surgeons give injections almost painlessly and remove teeth without complications.
DentoMedService is a network of clinics, the average cost of therapeutic treatment is 1800 rubles. Patients highly appreciate the level of staff, noting that the institution provides a guarantee for its services.
ActiveStom, cost of therapy – from 2000 rubles. According to patient reviews, the doctors are very attentive, and the atmosphere in the institution is pleasant and inviting.

The cost of caries treatment in VIP clinics starts from 5,000 rubles

Documentation

License for all types of activities

As soon as a scandal unfolds over poor quality work, it immediately becomes clear that dentistry had problems with permitting documents. It's better to make inquiries right away.

Product certificates

These documents guarantee the originality of materials and tools.

Doctors' certificates

For all types of services, for new treatment methods, for working with a certain brand of implants - all documents must be visible.

Service contract

The more expensive the procedure, the more detailed the contract.

Medical card

It is very important that the dentist fill out a medical record. It is equally important to provide truthful information about yourself. When drawing up a treatment plan, it is important for the doctor to take into account the medical history, medications that the patient is currently taking, and record the manipulations that he performed.

What should you be wary of?

When choosing a dentist, the patient should be wary of flashy, bright advertising, which often indicates the low quality of the services provided.

Some dentists resort to using unscientific treatment and diagnostic methods. Avoid dentists who:

advise nutritional supplements and vitamins;
it is recommended to replace amalgam restorations or eliminate pulpless teeth;
“familiarized” with methods of treating headaches and other types of pain;
they convince that fluoridation of teeth is harmful;
go beyond the scope of dentistry and make diagnoses that are not related to teeth;
position themselves as “specialists” in the field of “holistic” or “biological” dentistry.

The administrator is the face of the clinic

First impressions count for a lot. The psychological mood depends on how they greet you, whether they give you complete information, whether they try to help you or kick you off. Do not be alarmed if the administrator cannot answer the question, but consults with a doctor. This speaks of responsibility. An efficient administrator will always give advice and help you decide on an appointment time, tell you how to get there and answer most questions.

Useful recommendations for patients

Do not wait until your tooth hurts, because in an emergency you will have to contact any available specialist. Choose a dentist while your teeth are fine. This can be done during preventive visits 2 times a year.
During your first visit, try to establish contact with the doctor, ask questions, listen carefully, and show respect. Try to understand how comfortable you are with this person, whether you can find a common language.
Do not be content with verbal agreements with the dentist, carefully read the contract with the clinic, try to see the pitfalls, especially in the section with treatment prices.

Comments

I had an appointment with an orthopedist; I want to get a bridge installed, since one sixth chewing tooth is missing. But he doesn’t want to get dentures right away, first he sends me to remove a wisdom tooth, which hasn’t even come out completely and doesn’t bother me at all...

Galina (02/21/2021 at 00:11) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (02/21/2021 at 09:34) Reply to comment

Hello, I have a question. My mother had removable dentures, which were attached partly to her teeth, partly to the crown (this is how she explained it to me). Now all the fasteners have become unusable. She can't chew anything hard. Please advise what is the best way to proceed in this situation: repair of existing crowns or complete replacement?

Daria (03/04/2021 at 09:57) Reply to comment

Hello. I am planning to do quite a lot of work on my teeth. And removal and implantation and prosthetics. Tell me, is it better to have one doctor or to have a separate surgeon and a separate orthopedist? How can this affect the success of the work?

Ekaterina (03/04/2021 at 11:07) Reply to comment

Hello, is it better to immediately go to a private clinic, as a rule, the doctors there are better? Or can you try to find a good orthopedic dentist at the municipal office?

Daria (03/04/2021 at 11:11) Reply to comment

This is how, with an “integrated” approach, they will charge you a million rubles for all the jaws, although you only need to install 2 implants, and there was no alternative option. It’s also a shame how you can have such teeth in your youth. I still think that a good implantologist will not offer to cover all teeth with crowns, and I ran into a swindler. But if this is really a competent approach, then we should all be toothless...(((I don’t have extra millions

Nastya (08/24/2021 at 01:05 pm) Reply to comment

I need a crown on one tooth. My regular doctor says that first this tooth needs to be built up (restored) and only then it should be placed. And another doctor told me that this is not necessary. Who to believe?

Mikhail (09.24.2021 at 11:02) Reply to comment

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Before you decide, consult several doctors

Today, many clinics provide the opportunity to undergo a free initial consultation. Therefore, if you need an orthopedic dentist, then do not take advantage of this offer.

Before visiting the clinic and making an appointment, do not be lazy to go to the dentist’s website, look at information about specialists represented in the industry you are interested in, read reviews, look at the portfolio, study skills and regalia. It’s good if on the doctors’ personal page you see certificates and licenses indicating high professionalism.

During your consultation, pay attention to the thoroughness of the orthopedic doctor. The dentist should conduct a thorough diagnosis of your condition. At the first examination, at a minimum, a visual assessment of the situation should be performed, an x-ray should be taken, and better yet, a computed tomography scan. A good specialist will definitely ask about your health status, find out possible contraindications, and find out about the presence of allergic reactions. And will also be able to convey information to you in simple and understandable language. Naturally, the doctor must win over and create emotionally and psychologically comfortable conditions for the patient.

What questions should you ask your orthopedic dentist?

Do not hesitate to ask a specialist all your questions, even if they are inconvenient. This way you can collect as much information as possible and check how objective, correct, competent, and patient the doctor is.

“A couple of years ago I needed a good dental orthopedist. My friends couldn't recommend anyone. I searched the entire Internet to find it. I read reviews about everyone who was interested. I still couldn’t decide. For example, everything is fine about one person, and immediately this is somehow alarming. You come across at least one negative review about someone else, and you’re immediately afraid to go. But you can't choose that way. Only after a personal meeting can any final conclusions be drawn. I went through three before I decided. Yes, not quickly, but the services of these specialists are not cheap, and the result in a hurry can be disastrous.”

Mama_Makara, review from woman.ru

Give preference to orthopedists who support an integrated approach

An orthopedic dentist creates beautiful dentures that will allow you to smile without shame or embarrassment. But the main task of a specialist is to solve functional problems, improve your standard of living due to the quality of the work done, normalize bite relationships, restore the proper functioning of the maxillofacial joint, and allow you to chew without pain. Otherwise, after prosthetics, you may very soon notice a deterioration in the situation and feel discomfort. If the work is done poorly, the structures themselves will quickly fail.

An unscrupulous doctor may simply put veneers or crowns on you, despite bite pathologies, the presence of bruxism and caries, periodontitis, or the absence of neighboring teeth. Or install dentures only on one jaw, without taking into account the fact that the opposite one is missing an antagonist tooth or has no teeth at all. In this case, the restorations will be short-lived and non-functional.

According to research, in recent years, many people with bite pathologies and long-missing teeth have been seen by orthopedic dentists (as well as other specialists). Such patients want to fill the “gaps” in the mouth, restore aesthetics and functionality with different types of dentures. However, in the very near future it turns out to be impossible for an orthopedist alone to fulfill this desire. Why? Due to displacement and curvature of teeth, lack of space on the jaw. In this case, the specialist must effectively collaborate with the orthodontist1.

Even if there are no direct indications for consultation with third-party doctors, before prosthetics, a specialist must refer you to a doctor such as a dental therapist (or hygienist) who will conduct professional oral hygiene. This will minimize the risks of poor-quality results and the occurrence of infectious and inflammatory processes under structures. Only after this the orthopedist will be able to begin his part of the work.

It is better to have a consultation after professional oral hygiene

Of course, in addition to the main specialization, a dental orthopedist can also have the skills of a surgeon, therapist and even an implantologist. And this is undoubtedly a plus for him. However, it is better for a highly specialized specialist to be responsible for each stage of the work.

Look for doctors in licensed and well-equipped clinics

A professional orthopedist, like a dentist of any other specialization (therapist, implantologist, surgeon, periodontist, orthodontist, hygienist), is unlikely to work in an institution where conditions are unsuitable, there is no necessary equipment and license for the services provided, as well as certification for materials, with which you have to work with.

This is a specialist who, for quality work, needs not only hands and practical skills, but also good equipment, innovative software and the latest tools, because the industry is constantly improving. For example, today, to create comfortable dentures that function and feel like natural teeth, some dentistry uses complex digital diagnostics, and this requires modern equipment.

Did you know that in innovative clinics the patient can literally try on his future smile in advance and see the final result? All this is possible thanks to special programs, for example, Digital Smile Design. With their help, you can decide on the color and shape of the restorations, and create them in harmony with your appearance.

It is very important that the clinic where you go has its own dental laboratory where dentures are created. After all, then the doctor, who is called an orthopedic dentist, will be able to work closely with dental technicians (this is very important!), quickly and effectively coordinate with them any nuances concerning your future restorations.

When choosing, you need to take into account the availability of a dental laboratory

Clinics where they work with the latest technology also compare favorably with others in that they can offer highly aesthetic, hypoallergenic and extremely wear-resistant materials for creating prosthetics. For example, zirconium dioxide, the processing of which in dentistry requires high-precision milling machines and 3D software.

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.