Please e-mail me and I will give you a lot of info. I am a dentist and I think the post Jet is refering to was mine from several months back. There are many levels of dental treatment in Russia. Public health clinics, not too expensive dentist with questionable equipment (my girl's dentist did not have an X-ray machine but was doing things that really required it. That is why she lost her molar from a poorly done root canal), and there are some highly skilled "American Standard" dentists, but the best charge the same as in the US. I know because I've checked this out. I have met with several Russian dentists and even had some offers to work there, but....
Any way drop me a line and maybe include your phone number. I am in SW Florida and I'll tell you everything I know.
Thunder, sorry, absulute crap. You know, in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine still most of the medical help is given to people on the social basis = for free. You don't need to have insurance, just need to be a citizen of a country. State pays for everything and state is not so stupid to pay much, so during the soviet times doctors were getting less than let's say bus drivers. And I would not say that much has been changed in Ste Medicine except for really big investments in the equipement. On the other hand the last years gave birth to the medicine type you are used to - private. Many European type medical centers are opened now but still the prices there are limited 1) by laws 2) by the ammount of money people can afford to pay. Such centers can hire best specialists because they pay about twice more than state clynics but this "twice more" would still make you laugh. This is the main source to save not the recycled syringes(don't make me laugh - it is the wildest rummor I have heard about this part of the world).
You must know, that what you get in the US in fact costs not just several but sometimes dozens times cheaper than you pay for it.
Have you ever thought how much a filling of a tooth can cost in fact? The money they charge you for this make me think that the fillings are made of diamonds at least. What is your first thought when someone tells "This guy is a dentist!". I guess you think that the guy is pretty rich. But believe me that it is not because he does not save on the recycled syringes, this is because you come to him and he asks you to pay several thousands for what in fact costs several hundreds.
Thunder, the stories you are telling here stay in one row with "Russians always drink vodka and dance with bears in the streets".
Forget about this. Last week they have opened a Children Surgery Center in Minsk, best American surgeons invited there to make some operations told that such centers are not present in the US. I have seen the interview myself. The Cancer Center which is in my city is the leading center in Europe.
If you are ready to pay enormous money for something it does not mean that it costs them.
I think you are a little out of touch. All medical and dental in Russia is free??? State pays for everything? Don't make me laugh. We know better.
You need to get an idea about business...how much does that filling material cost?? How much does that paper cost that the attorney charging $300 an hour cost? In US it takes 8 years of university to become a dentist, attorney, or MD (plus residency) not to mention outrages costs for education...try $20,000 a YEAR or more at some medical and dental schools, then...start up costs of several hundred thousand dollars......
Neon.
I didn't say all. I just told that you have a choice to get your tratment on the free basis or on the paid basis. I can get ALL kinds of medical treatment including dental care for free. Why then use paid services, you ask? Better quality, no need to wait in a queue for your turn. For example for making dental proteses the queue is around 3 months.
Lately some servises are really made for some people only on the paid basis. For example if a person comes and asks to make an x-ray scanning, ultra-sound research of different organs without any serious complaints he will pay for this. But again you will laugh at the costs. Just to compare, my brother and mother are doctors and my mother as well works at a big private clynics, a vacume abort costs around 25$ there, like the price?:-)
To become a doctor here takes 6-7 years. But you know even now 60% of students do not pay for studying at the University and even get some help from the state(small of course), then the graduates are though required to work 2 years where the government sends him to. It may be an isolate village with some 30 people only living there. I got my first diploma for free, the second was obtained on a paid basis but still I guess the maximum you pay is around 2.000$-5.000$ a year.
So you see where they save. If a person is smart enough he would use these advantages. Why not? Only if you an absolute patriot.
I am a dentist here in the US, and on a few of my trips to Russia I met with some dentists there. There is a wide range of quality and cost of dental services in Russia. There are public clinics for those with very limited funds, but it is not free. There are "regular" dentists that charge the "normal" local fees, and then there are a few good quality dentists that charge the same fees as here in the US. Most of them are in the biggest cities where people have more money.
I saw the lack of quality first hand when I went to visit my girls dentist. What a shock to learn that her dentist did NOT have an X-ray machine! I then understood why my girl was having so much trouble with a tooth that had previously had a root canal. It was a terrible job, and she has since lost that molar. I took my girl to the clinic in town and requested a full mouth set of x-rays so I could see what condition her mouth was in, as this had never been done. They gave me such a hard time about taking X-rays on teeth that didn't have obvious decay. I tried to explain why I wanted them, but it was difficult because I just don't speak the language well enough. I did get them to take some X-rays, but not all the ones I wanted.
I guess they don't have a problem with malpractice! People just won't, or can't sue.
I understand the medical treatment is also not much better.
I decided to check into this thread again and see what developed. I really appreciate the input especially from Felicidate and NeonRed.
I will write to you Neon.
Ptitchka
I am going anyway what is the harm? She has no problem helping me. I would help her if the shoe was on the other foot. As for paperwork I don't consider a visa much paperwork. Could be much worse.
Neon
I had a loose bridge and my teeth have worn down to a chisel like profile on the bottom.
This dentist wants to replace the bridge with a new one. Then crown all the remaining teeth in the bottom to bring the height up. That is $15,000 alone. My company will pay $2,000.
Then he wants to go to work on the top. A 4 piece bridge replacement more crowns and finally a sinal lift operation (~$,4000) plus 2 implants and the abutments and bridge.
Fortunately I have subsequently discovered that my company will pay for the sinal operation and the implants. As we slide into 2006 I would get another $2,000 towards everything. So some of the problem is solved. I am still holding the baby for at least $20,000 or so. It might as well be $2 million it is never going to happen. I can probably get all those bottom crowns done for about $2,000 in Russia. Same materials same job but $10,000 cheaper.
So far I have had one American dentist drop a piece of tooth into my sinal cavity and cause me to have a full anaesthetic operation in a hospital. That doctor performed an unnecessary operation on me while he was at it and grabbed the money. A second American dentist wanted to give me a root canal on the spot. I self diagnosed and said just prescribe me some antibiotics. That tooth is fine and it has been at least 4 years now. Just a few pills.
'03 I had a neurosurgeon operate on my spine to remove a spur that was crushing my spinal cord. Imagine my surprise when it still hurt a year later. Second neurosurgeon had to go in and actually remove the spur! The first one just cut me up for fun. The 2nd doctor couldn't understand why the first one hadn't done anything just fused my vertabrae.
So before we go criticizing the Russian medical community I think we should take a long hard look at our homegrown industry. Unnecessary operations, glaring unbelievable mistakes and insurance company milking on a scale I can't imagine. I love those office vists at $15 a pop copayment. God knows how much the insurance company is billed.
"Morning Steve how is the foot/neck/whatever?"
"Fine"
"OK pay on your way out and make another appointment"
I am going to give a good Russian dentist a chance. I want just an examination to get started with that is all that will happen. I am going to scope out the situation just as I do with American dentists.
I work everyday with many Russians, Belorussians, Rumainians, Ukrainians etc. I have asked them about dental care in FSU. They have all said the same thing it is excellent. Sometimes you have to visit several offices to get xrays etc but overall it isn't a problem. The dentists seem to be ok it is a problem with equipment.
If this doesn't work out I will take a trip to Colombia or Mexico. I cannot afford the American dentist under any circumstances.
I thank you all for your comments and advice.
OK, Izzi...you win.
Next time my right hyperentended knee ligaments start bothering me I'll think of you and keep my mouth shut instead of whinning like a baby...:)))
Toad,
That is a wise idea. Or alternatively if you do decide to do something about it research like crazy about everything from anaesthetics to anatomy so you have an idea what is going on. Then don't allow the guy to take control. It is your body you are in charge. That is a foreign concept to most of them. Get your knee done but go into it with some education.
Newhere, felicedate.. this is directed to you.. medical tourist question.
if you are still on the forum, I could use some advice. I am planning a trip to
minsk for dental work. I was at the same private clinic in 1995/1996 and had a grand
total of 10 crowns and other root canal work done. This time my wife Sveta
will have some more and I will too. Simply they had an excellent clinic and 1/10th
the cost. Of course the trolleybuss for 2 hours each way is kind of exhausting.
Do you have any information on dentistry in this area. It has been 8-9 years and
you seem to have a good grasp of the differences. Thanks for anything
Peter
Ok I am ressurecting this thread with an update.
Firstly the old lady doctor who gave me a lirttle operation and stitched me up cost $18 and did a pretty good job I think.
Secondly I went to a dentist there. She was a known quantity because Marina had been using her for years. All I wanted was to touch base with a dentist, get the feel of it and an examination.
I had to wash my hands and don surgical booties just to enter the office!! The place was spotlessly clean and just as modern as any American dentists office.
She took a look and said that the American dentist was wrong I just needed 6 crowns. Before she would touch it though I needed to have the 3 missing teeth at the back on the top addressed. Otherwise my bite would be wrong and the new crowns would be affected. Made sense to me.
So I will start the process of implants here and then return for the crowns. Timing is an issue but I can see I am going to be an Ekaterinburg commuter for quite a while into the future.
The total cost of the 6 crowns was $350. Yes you read that correctly $350. The office visit was $3.
Somebody said (one of our Russian lady friends) that this would spoil the romance of the trip. Rubbish, Marina was only too happy to help. She is concerned about my welfare and that includes dentistry.
The whole cost is so reasonable that if you had to add together the cost of flight, apartment etc etc it would be worth doing just for that.
Folks don't worry about Russian dental care it is fine. Save yourself some money.
A LOT OF MONEY !!
Call me whatever, but I have benefited from the first hand experiences of so many people in this and other forums that I see taking advantage of the Izi's new dentist's services.
I have over $25,000 worth of US dentist estimated work to be done in my mouth.
My dentist is a great guy, he is also a client of mine, but there is no way I am going to pass this one up.
The two bedroom apartment I rented in E-burg cost $65 per day. others are available for $40-50.
I am going to get my dentist to give me the chart of what I need done and have Lena translate it to send it or bring it to Izi's dentist so she can have an idea of the kind of mouth situation she'll be working with.
I know I need 4 new crowns, a double bridge, root canals, a few hundred cavities, etc, etc,etc.
Izi, wre you able to communicate with the doctor? English or Spanish spoken?
I need .... a few hundred cavities
&
how to communicate
Toad, international mime will do, quite traditional. Take a glove, slap it in her face, and agree on a shotgun with birdshot as the weapon of choice.
Should sort out comm's as well as the cavities ;-)