Dental Care--Who is better, the USA or Russia?

[visaveteran 1]

My Russian wife needs some major (and expensive) dental work done. She started getting some work done while still in Russia but ran out of time and came to the USA. It seems Russia might be the a cheaper dental service provider...but is it as sophisticated and top notch as here in the US?

My wife is returning to Russia in the fall for a pretty long visit, so she could get the work finished in Russia if that's is the best place.

[johnj 0]

Could you be a little more specific about what needs to be done; I know of a least one dentist that is active on the Russian forum; a few details would help with the advice.

Are we talking root canals, fillings, dentures, caps, reconstructive surgery, etc.

[visaveteran 1]

Could you be a little more specific about what needs to be done; I know of a least one dentist that is active on the Russian forum; a few details would help with the advice.

Are we talking root canals, fillings, dentures, caps, reconstructive surgery, etc.

I think it's called an upper partial plate. She needs a new one made.

[John24689 0]

I would say that Russia is less expensive, but for a partial plate, they need adjusting over time. They usually fit you with a temporary for up to a year to let the gums heal, then fit you for a permanent plate. That is if she has to have any teeth removed. If it is just a replacement, I would think she would still have to have it adjusted after she got it. Just my opinion. Good luck.

[mox 298]

It really depends. Does she have private insurance? Some of the basic private insurance coverages in Russia are better than the most expensive insurance here in the US. As with most things in Russia, top-notch service exists if you're able to pay. But if she's just getting the basic level of dental, and you have decent dental insurance, then I'd wait until she gets here.

Edited June 30, 2009 by mox

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

By coincidence my wife is a Dentist from Russia and she just got back from a visit, whilst she was there she had 3 crowns, a root canal, a bridge replaced, teeth cleaned etc. We paid just under $1500 for the whole shot. Russia is definitely cheaper and I believe from speaking to my wife that they tend to use more advanced equipment because the clinics are run by business people who are competing for patients not business dumb(not all) doctors who are trying to be good doctors and keep costs low. The advantage she had was she visited a former colleague who cut her a deal. Im sure it also depends on where in Russia she is getting the work done.

[mendeleev 68]

There are some excellent dentists in Russia -- and some who do not do very good work. Reminds me of someplace closer to home. My wife has dentists in both countries that she is very happy with.

[slim 1,530]

You should contact Neonred here on the forum. Both he and his wife (and soon his daughter too) are all dentists. You may have to go to Florida though!

[Neonred 3,575]

Yes, I am a dentist and my daughter is in dental school, but my wife is not although she works in the office. I also have a Uzbek trained foreign dentist working for me as a part time hygienist. We are working to get him into dental school so he can get a license in the US. We also have a very large number of Russian patients, many that are friends of my wife or our hygienist. I have seen a lot of dental work from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, etc. To put it mildly I am not impressed with anything I have seen. Really, most of it would have been considered malpractice in the US. Most of it is related to poorly done root canals and ill fitting crowns and lack of preventive dentistry. I have spent a lot of time trying to repair this work, and sometimes it just is not possible.

Years ago, when we first started dating, my wife lost a tooth to a poorly preformed root canal that the dentist tried to treat by continuously injecting antibiotics next to the tooth. Not an accepted treatment. I visited her dentist when in Russia and discovered they did not have an X-ray machine in that office because they could not afford it yet. Unacceptable when you are doing most procedures. I also visited and made friends with a very good dentist in Rostov-on-don. He has a very nice and fully modern office. He practices in Moscow most days but flies down to Rostov to practice there two days a week. He offered me a job and told me I could make as much as I am making in the US. He does quality work, BUT he charges similar fees as are charged in the US. He does not lack for patients because he is probably the best dentist in Rostov. Of course the name of his office is "American Dental Clinic"... astory for another day. He did tell me even in Moscow there are only a few dozen dentists he would consider excellent. He told me his biggest problem is getting quality dental materials, the materials for fillings etc, as the best materials come from the US and western Europe and are very expensive in Russia.

Of course most dentistry will be much cheaper in Russia, but be careful. As far as a removable partial denture goes you will probably be OK, and if it doesn't work out you can get another one in the US.

[johnj 0]

Yes, I am a dentist and my daughter is in dental school, but my wife is not although she works in the office. I also have a Uzbek trained foreign dentist working for me as a part time hygienist. We are working to get him into dental school so he can get a license in the US. We also have a very large number of Russian patients, many that are friends of my wife or our hygienist. I have seen a lot of dental work from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, etc. To put it mildly I am not impressed with anything I have seen. Really, most of it would have been considered malpractice in the US. Most of it is related to poorly done root canals and ill fitting crowns and lack of preventive dentistry. I have spent a lot of time trying to repair this work, and sometimes it just is not possible.

Years ago, when we first started dating, my wife lost a tooth to a poorly preformed root canal that the dentist tried to treat by continuously injecting antibiotics next to the tooth. Not an accepted treatment. I visited her dentist when in Russia and discovered they did not have an X-ray machine in that office because they could not afford it yet. Unacceptable when you are doing most procedures. I also visited and made friends with a very good dentist in Rostov-on-don. He has a very nice and fully modern office. He practices in Moscow most days but flies down to Rostov to practice there two days a week. He offered me a job and told me I could make as much as I am making in the US. He does quality work, BUT he charges similar fees as are charged in the US. He does not lack for patients because he is probably the best dentist in Rostov. Of course the name of his office is "American Dental Clinic"... astory for another day. He did tell me even in Moscow there are only a few dozen dentists he would consider excellent. He told me his biggest problem is getting quality dental materials, the materials for fillings etc, as the best materials come from the US and western Europe and are very expensive in Russia.

Of course most dentistry will be much cheaper in Russia, but be careful. As far as a removable partial denture goes you will probably be OK, and if it doesn't work out you can get another one in the US.

Thanks Neonred, I was hoping to read your response

[visaveteran 1]

Yes, I am a dentist and my daughter is in dental school, but my wife is not although she works in the office. I also have a Uzbek trained foreign dentist working for me as a part time hygienist. We are working to get him into dental school so he can get a license in the US. We also have a very large number of Russian patients, many that are friends of my wife or our hygienist. I have seen a lot of dental work from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, etc. To put it mildly I am not impressed with anything I have seen. Really, most of it would have been considered malpractice in the US. Most of it is related to poorly done root canals and ill fitting crowns and lack of preventive dentistry. I have spent a lot of time trying to repair this work, and sometimes it just is not possible.

Years ago, when we first started dating, my wife lost a tooth to a poorly preformed root canal that the dentist tried to treat by continuously injecting antibiotics next to the tooth. Not an accepted treatment. I visited her dentist when in Russia and discovered they did not have an X-ray machine in that office because they could not afford it yet. Unacceptable when you are doing most procedures. I also visited and made friends with a very good dentist in Rostov-on-don. He has a very nice and fully modern office. He practices in Moscow most days but flies down to Rostov to practice there two days a week. He offered me a job and told me I could make as much as I am making in the US. He does quality work, BUT he charges similar fees as are charged in the US. He does not lack for patients because he is probably the best dentist in Rostov. Of course the name of his office is "American Dental Clinic"... astory for another day. He did tell me even in Moscow there are only a few dozen dentists he would consider excellent. He told me his biggest problem is getting quality dental materials, the materials for fillings etc, as the best materials come from the US and western Europe and are very expensive in Russia.

Of course most dentistry will be much cheaper in Russia, but be careful. As far as a removable partial denture goes you will probably be OK, and if it doesn't work out you can get another one in the US.

Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful. I wonder if you might have a ball park estimate on replacing an existing upper partial plate? My wife calls it a bridge but it's removable which I guess makes it a plate?

Thanks again.

[chili74 0]

Wow, very interesting, thanks!

My husband has root canals poorly done in Russia that we are now getting repaired here in CA and it certainly isn't cheap with a basic employer-provided insurance plan.

[Neonred 3,575]

Yes, I am a dentist and my daughter is in dental school, but my wife is not although she works in the office. I also have a Uzbek trained foreign dentist working for me as a part time hygienist. We are working to get him into dental school so he can get a license in the US. We also have a very large number of Russian patients, many that are friends of my wife or our hygienist. I have seen a lot of dental work from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, etc. To put it mildly I am not impressed with anything I have seen. Really, most of it would have been considered malpractice in the US. Most of it is related to poorly done root canals and ill fitting crowns and lack of preventive dentistry. I have spent a lot of time trying to repair this work, and sometimes it just is not possible.

Years ago, when we first started dating, my wife lost a tooth to a poorly preformed root canal that the dentist tried to treat by continuously injecting antibiotics next to the tooth. Not an accepted treatment. I visited her dentist when in Russia and discovered they did not have an X-ray machine in that office because they could not afford it yet. Unacceptable when you are doing most procedures. I also visited and made friends with a very good dentist in Rostov-on-don. He has a very nice and fully modern office. He practices in Moscow most days but flies down to Rostov to practice there two days a week. He offered me a job and told me I could make as much as I am making in the US. He does quality work, BUT he charges similar fees as are charged in the US. He does not lack for patients because he is probably the best dentist in Rostov. Of course the name of his office is "American Dental Clinic"... astory for another day. He did tell me even in Moscow there are only a few dozen dentists he would consider excellent. He told me his biggest problem is getting quality dental materials, the materials for fillings etc, as the best materials come from the US and western Europe and are very expensive in Russia.

Of course most dentistry will be much cheaper in Russia, but be careful. As far as a removable partial denture goes you will probably be OK, and if it doesn't work out you can get another one in the US.

Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful. I wonder if you might have a ball park estimate on replacing an existing upper partial plate? My wife calls it a bridge but it's removable which I guess makes it a plate?

Thanks again.

It depends on a few things such as where you live and what type of partial you want to have made. Of course in many large metropolitan areas (Boston, New York, etc) the cost will be much higher than in, perhaps rural midwestern locations. There are several variations on partials too.

There is the "flipper" which is all acrylic and without clasps or clips around any teeth to help hold it in. It is the cheapest and usually only used as a temporary solution to replace one or two missing teeth.

There is the all acrylic partial with wire clips around a few teeth. These can replace multiple teeth. Stays in better but is a little bulky and may break. I try not to do these too often, but when money is a big factor, or the patient is likely to loose more teeth in the future (easy to add more teeth to) or we just need to do something temporary it's OK. Cost is usually in the $600 to $800 range.

All acrylic flexible partial. It's made of a different nylon based acrylic that is said to be unbreakable. They even make the clips out of this material and they just look like the gum around the tooth. These are made much thinner too. Not a bad alternative, but usually about the cost of a conventional partial.

The conventional partial which is primarily metal with metal clips cast in one piece and teeth held on to it with pink acrylic (plastic). This has been the standard quality partial and I suspect what your wife may now be wearing. These are, depending on the case, primarily supported by surrounding teeth and put less pressure on the gum tissue and hopefully produce less sore areas and require less adjusting. The acrylic variations above are supported strictly by the gum tissue so when the patient is chewing all forces are transferred to the underlying soft tissue. More chances for soreness. The conventional partial usually costs at least $1100 or more. A lot of my patients wear these (I'm in Florida and I'm sure you know the population base here) and these partials last for a very long time.

I hope this wasn't too confusing or boring. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[visaveteran 1]

Yes, I am a dentist and my daughter is in dental school, but my wife is not although she works in the office. I also have a Uzbek trained foreign dentist working for me as a part time hygienist. We are working to get him into dental school so he can get a license in the US. We also have a very large number of Russian patients, many that are friends of my wife or our hygienist. I have seen a lot of dental work from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, etc. To put it mildly I am not impressed with anything I have seen. Really, most of it would have been considered malpractice in the US. Most of it is related to poorly done root canals and ill fitting crowns and lack of preventive dentistry. I have spent a lot of time trying to repair this work, and sometimes it just is not possible.

Years ago, when we first started dating, my wife lost a tooth to a poorly preformed root canal that the dentist tried to treat by continuously injecting antibiotics next to the tooth. Not an accepted treatment. I visited her dentist when in Russia and discovered they did not have an X-ray machine in that office because they could not afford it yet. Unacceptable when you are doing most procedures. I also visited and made friends with a very good dentist in Rostov-on-don. He has a very nice and fully modern office. He practices in Moscow most days but flies down to Rostov to practice there two days a week. He offered me a job and told me I could make as much as I am making in the US. He does quality work, BUT he charges similar fees as are charged in the US. He does not lack for patients because he is probably the best dentist in Rostov. Of course the name of his office is "American Dental Clinic"... astory for another day. He did tell me even in Moscow there are only a few dozen dentists he would consider excellent. He told me his biggest problem is getting quality dental materials, the materials for fillings etc, as the best materials come from the US and western Europe and are very expensive in Russia.

Of course most dentistry will be much cheaper in Russia, but be careful. As far as a removable partial denture goes you will probably be OK, and if it doesn't work out you can get another one in the US.

Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful. I wonder if you might have a ball park estimate on replacing an existing upper partial plate? My wife calls it a bridge but it's removable which I guess makes it a plate?

Thanks again.

It depends on a few things such as where you live and what type of partial you want to have made. Of course in many large metropolitan areas (Boston, New York, etc) the cost will be much higher than in, perhaps rural midwestern locations. There are several variations on partials too.

There is the "flipper" which is all acrylic and without clasps or clips around any teeth to help hold it in. It is the cheapest and usually only used as a temporary solution to replace one or two missing teeth.

There is the all acrylic partial with wire clips around a few teeth. These can replace multiple teeth. Stays in better but is a little bulky and may break. I try not to do these too often, but when money is a big factor, or the patient is likely to loose more teeth in the future (easy to add more teeth to) or we just need to do something temporary it's OK. Cost is usually in the $600 to $800 range.

All acrylic flexible partial. It's made of a different nylon based acrylic that is said to be unbreakable. They even make the clips out of this material and they just look like the gum around the tooth. These are made much thinner too. Not a bad alternative, but usually about the cost of a conventional partial.

The conventional partial which is primarily metal with metal clips cast in one piece and teeth held on to it with pink acrylic (plastic). This has been the standard quality partial and I suspect what your wife may now be wearing. These are, depending on the case, primarily supported by surrounding teeth and put less pressure on the gum tissue and hopefully produce less sore areas and require less adjusting. The acrylic variations above are supported strictly by the gum tissue so when the patient is chewing all forces are transferred to the underlying soft tissue. More chances for soreness. The conventional partial usually costs at least $1100 or more. A lot of my patients wear these (I'm in Florida and I'm sure you know the population base here) and these partials last for a very long time.

I hope this wasn't too confusing or boring. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Excellent information. Many thanks.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Wow Neonred I think Im almost ready to take the boards myself. hehehe

J/K Dentist's are awesome thats why I married one.