Daily life of private dental clinics: the myths and the truth

Usually, when we write about dentistry, we talk about dental hygiene, tooth decay, modern prosthodontics, bite problems and the part of dentistry that deals with them: orthodontics. We discuss the vitally important topic of doctor-patient relationships far less often. But in fact, the success of the treatment largely depends on how those relationships are formed.

Can you get an appointment faster at private clinics?

Currently, commercial medicine is in the same situation as public medicine, which is partly or fully funded by the sickness insurance fund. Until a few years ago, patients coming to a private dental clinic were sure that they would be seen immediately. Now the private clinics have queues as long as the public clinics.

Leonīds Velkovičs, an experienced doctor and a member of the SIA Svenata dentistry board, reveals that it is one of the most common myths that in private practice you can get an appointment faster and solve all your problems within a few days.

Leonīds Veļkovičs also says that in his clinic, as well as in dozens of other European clinics in Latvia, it is not so easy to get an immediate appointment. Similarly, the clinics often cannot provide all the services a patient needs within a few days.

Patients often irresponsibly miss or arrive late to appointments

A member of the SIA Svenata dentistry board says that he often has to deal with quite paradoxical cases – patients make a timely appointment but then do not show up, and do not inform the clinic. The patients are also often late for their appointments. Leonīds Veļkovičs reveals that when discussing this issue with colleagues working in clinics in other European countries, it turns out that they pretty much do not have these problems at all. In contrast, approximately half of Latvian patients not only do not follow the doctor's prescriptions, but also are late for or even skip appointments.

Can money buy everything?

Leonīds Veļkovičs, an experienced stomatologist, tells us about another myth that is very common among patients of private dental clinics. That is, that if you pay money to a clinic, you can get anything you want. A member of the SIA Svenata board reveals that medicine in general, and dentistry in particular, impose certain restrictions. The doctor, as a rule, recommends several treatment methods to the patient – hygiene, tooth filling, or restoration. There are several aspects to these recommendations: the medical utility, the patient's financial situation, and the fact that a doctor cannot do everything a patient wants, no matter how much they pay. For example, if the size and structure of the patient's jawbone does not allow implants to be placed to support an artificial tooth or denture, there is no way the specialists can do that. Doctors may offer to do that over a longer period of time. The jawbone will be prepared accordingly, and the problem can be properly returned to, let's say, after a year. And this is the practice of all sensible professionals because it is the doctor who is responsible for the work they do and the consequences that may follow.

Can a private dental clinic always be expected to provide guarantees?

Leonīds Veļkovičs reveals that another popular myth among patients is to ask for unrealistic guarantees from the clinic. What is forgotten is that in medicine, guarantees are generally very limited. They depend not only on the quality of the materials and instruments used, the qualifications of the doctor, dental technician or assistant, but also on the patient's general state of health, which can change unpredictably at any moment. In dentistry, the guarantees also depend on how the patient looks after their mouth or dentures and whether they follow all the doctor's recommendations.

A member of the SIA Svenata board says: ''I will never forget the answer of a well-known German professor to a question about guarantees: “If a patient has not been able to keep their natural teeth, how can I guarantee that they will treat his false teeth with care?”

''We are all experts in sport, economics and politics. Many also in medicine, especially in the high-tech dentistry it has become in the last two decades. However, unfortunately (actually, in my opinion, fortunately) it is better for the patient to accept the idea that he has to trust their doctor a little bit, both in the choice of the treatment method and in the subsequent recommendations, as well as in the advice on which dentures to choose. ''The patient has the right to choose, but only from what the specialist offers. This is based on a good doctor-patient relationship and mutual trust. Health is the fruit of a common effort.''

It should not be forgotten that a doctor treats their work very responsibly: they not only risk their reputation and years of careful work, but there are also financial and legal implications. They are responsible for the quality of their work and put their diplomas and certificates on the line. It is that which provides the patient with some security.