How to have your teeth treated by a private owner and not pay a penny

Publication date: November 25, 2017 Update date: November 24, 2019 Number of views: 10373

Author: Kavalyauskas Vasily Anatolyevich Leading lawyer of the Legal Agency of St. Petersburg Articles written: 20

Dental treatment is an expensive pleasure. Many citizens deliberately put off visiting the dentist because they are sure that there is little choice. The treatment will be either bad and free, or good and expensive. The first is in a budget clinic, the second is at a private dentist. If there is no money for “good”, they endure it steadfastly. And in vain. A compulsory health insurance policy (CHI) allows you to receive high-quality dental services for free, including in commercial institutions.

To a private clinic - under the compulsory medical insurance policy

This is not the first year that the state has attracted private companies to work on compulsory medical insurance. Treatment centers submit applications for inclusion in the compulsory medical insurance register voluntarily. Participation in the program for them is a guarantee of a stable income: if the flow of paying clients for some reason becomes scarce, there are always plenty of people willing to be treated under the policy, and payment for patients comes from the Federal Fund without delay. According to Alexey Starchenko, head of the National Agency for Patient Safety, private dentists receive very decent funding under compulsory medical insurance. Therefore, confidently apply for free services to commercial clinics. Having an insurance policy gives you this right.

Timing of prosthetics

The entire process from diagnosis to installation of the prosthesis takes from 2 weeks (in the absence of inflammatory processes and the need to remove destroyed units) to 2-3 months.

The service life with proper wearing and care is different for each type of structure. It all depends on the material from which the prosthesis is made.

Prices

The cost of dental prosthetics is influenced by the type of structure and the material from which the prosthesis is made. For example, composite crowns look natural and are quite durable, but their service life is up to 7 years.

A metal crown can cost from 9 thousand rubles per unit.

Metal-ceramic crowns are in greatest demand. The cost is slightly higher (from 10 thousand), but the performance indicators are much better.

Ceramics are the most aesthetic prostheses. The cost for one tooth is from 13 to 16 thousand rubles.

The price for making bridges consists of the sum of the cost of crowns and depends on their quantity. The cost of the frame is also taken into account.

Compensation

At our clinic, we have a state compensation program for the cost of dental prosthetics for pensioners in St. Petersburg. If for any reason you cannot wait in line or the service you need is not included in the state program, you can make and install a prosthesis with us. To do this, you need to make a payment to a relative with a regular income. This person will be able to receive a 13 percent deduction from the cost of prosthetics.

After installing the structure, you need to provide the tax office with:

• a copy of the dental institution's license;
• income declaration;
• agreement for services provided by the clinic;
• payment receipts.

The MY ORT clinic provides appointments by appointment. To apply, please call. We are ready to help you solve the problem and replenish your teeth by installing a high-quality denture!

Will everyone be treated for free?

The holder of a compulsory medical insurance policy will be treated for caries, pulpitis, periodontal disease, a diseased tooth will be removed, a filling will be placed, purulent inflammation will be eliminated, and physiotherapeutic procedures will be performed. Anesthesia and x-rays for medical reasons will also be provided free of charge. Every six months you can come to the clinic for a preventive examination and have your teeth cleaned of tartar - mechanically, using a special bur (ultrasonic cleaning is performed for money). Children are provided with orthodontic treatment. Territorial programs of some regions may include additional services. Therefore, do not rush to take out your wallet - check first to see if your problem is being solved for free.

Prosthetics, implantation, teeth whitening, treatment with laser technologies and some other procedures are not included in the compulsory medical insurance program. The exception is the preferential category of patients, consisting of combatants, victims of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, and World War II veterans. Prosthetics for them are paid for from the state budget.

Kinds

The MY ORT clinic offers patients a choice of soft prostheses, metal-ceramic crowns and bridge structures.

Plastic structures often cause allergic reactions, so we do not recommend installing them. We advise you to consider other design options.

The following materials are used to make prostheses:

• acrylic (inexpensive dental prosthetics for pensioners made from acrylic) - strong, resistant to destruction, but the porosity of the surface allows it to absorb odors and moisture;
• nylon is a hypoallergenic structure made of a flexible lining on the gums on which plastic crowns are attached. Attaches to teeth using clasps. Set in case of loss of 3 or more units in a row.

Acrylic dentures are inferior to nylon ones in the following indicators:

• flexibility;
• comfort;
• care;

Clasp structures are a combined prosthesis made of metal and acrylic. It is distinguished by the greatest aesthetics, reliability and durability.

The advantages of such a prosthesis:

• naturalness;
• aesthetics;
• reliability of fastening;
• cleaned with a toothbrush.

Metal-ceramic structures are used for fixed prosthetics. They are separate bridges and crowns connected by a ceramic-coated metal base.

They are worn on living teeth (depulped and ground) or, in the absence of such, on titanium implants.

Consumables - unlimited

Patients may have legitimate concerns about the quality of services. Will the policy help in a situation that has become the norm for district clinics: “We can only install a cement filling for free, a more expensive and high-quality one - for money”? Will help. The rates at which medical institutions are paid include the cost of consumables. At the same time, the state guarantee program does not provide for any restrictions on their prices and types. This means that the dentist is obliged to provide the patient with everything that is required during treatment and is included in the compulsory medical insurance program, in accordance with modern standards. If a filling is necessary, you have the right to insist on using a light-curing filling as it is strong, non-toxic and durable.

Types of prostheses

The variety of materials and technologies allows you to select the optimal type of replacement system, both from a medical and aesthetic point of view, while staying within the budget allocated for treatment.

Acrylic dentures

A popular option, characterized by low cost and high structural strength, made of acrylic-based plastic. The only drawback of these models is the increased susceptibility to moisture and odors caused by the porous structure of the material. It is also worth noting that before installing a prosthesis, it is necessary to clarify the body’s susceptibility to allergenic factors - if there is a predisposition, the plastic system can provoke a negative reaction.

Nylon dentures

Products made on the basis of nylon are a structure that combines a soft gum lining and plastic crowns, fixed to the supporting units using clasps. As a rule, the technique is used in situations characterized by sequential edentia, that is, the absence of several teeth located in the same neighborhood.

Compared to acrylic, nylon models have a number of advantages, including:

• Design flexibility, reducing the likelihood of mechanical damage;
• Ease of use, including removal and installation of the prosthesis;
• Simplicity of hygienic processing and care of the product;
• Duration of use is on average 5-7 years.

The manufacture of such systems requires that the clinic have an appropriate certificate.

Clasp designs

Clasp-type dentures are used to replace several elements of the dentition, and externally they are crowns connected in a sequential structure, fixed to the jaw using steel clasps. This technology provides high functional and aesthetic performance, is distinguished by durable fixation and ease of maintenance. In terms of price-quality ratio, clasp dental prosthetics in St. Petersburg is one of the most profitable options for pensioners, allowing you to get excellent results for reasonable money.

Refused? Call the insurer

If the dentist attempts obvious extortion and ignores your arguments, dial the number of the insurance company that issued the policy. The insurance agent in such situations is your consultant and lawyer. His duty is to protect the patient's right to receive quality medical care. It happens that a doctor uses a visit from a free patient as an excuse to impose additional paid services. If in any doubt, call the phone number indicated on the policy. It is very unprofitable for medical institutions to come under the scrutiny of insurance companies. This is fraught with serious inspections and large fines.

Popular questions

Let's look at a few frequently asked questions.

Where are pensioners accepted under the compulsory medical insurance policy?

Dental prosthetics, like almost any other type of dental procedure, are carried out free of charge exclusively in public clinics. Some private medical centers also operate under the compulsory medical insurance policy, but their number is extremely small.

A list of all clinics that install prostheses under compulsory medical insurance is issued by social security authorities. You can receive such a list simultaneously with submitting documents for free prosthetics.

What benefits can you expect for prosthetics?

As mentioned earlier, pensioners and beneficiaries who exercise their right to free dental intervention can count on the installation of exclusively domestic dentures. If desired, applicants can ask doctors to use imported materials, but the cost will have to be paid out of their own pocket. Also, the “package” of free procedures will include all preparatory medical work - getting rid of gums from periodontal disease, sanitation of the oral cavity, getting rid of caries, etc.

Which dental clinics provide treatment under the compulsory medical insurance policy?

If you have a question about the possibility of treatment under the policy, you can contact the registry of the selected institution or look for information on the official website. Private companies from among the program participants are required to post information about the provision of services within the framework of compulsory medical insurance (with a list of types of assistance provided) in the public domain. Cases of violations of this requirement can be reported to Roszdravnadzor. You will find a complete list of commercial companies willing to provide services for free in the register of medical organizations on the website of the territorial compulsory medical insurance fund of your locality.

What benefits are provided for pensioners for prosthetics?

Fully/partially free dental prosthetics is possible only in budgetary institutions. The government cannot oblige commercial dental centers to introduce preferences for pensioners. However, many commercial medical centers provide additional discounts for seniors . As a rule, the amount of these discounts is quite insignificant.

Federal and regional programs

According to the legislative framework of the Russian Federation, only those pensioners who receive a pension for an army officer, law enforcement officer, or civil servant can get free dental prosthetics.

Russians who worked in private companies and are not associated with the military/government service do not have a federally guaranteed right to receive preferences for the installation of dentures.

At the level of regional legislation, dental prosthetics for pension recipients is carried out taking into account the standards that have been adopted in addition to existing federal programs. Regional preferences are aimed at implementing social support measures for pensioners who are not eligible to receive federal benefits.

The policies of different regions of the Russian Federation in terms of defining such norms vary greatly. Among the common points in the structure of legislative norms that regulate preferential dental prosthetics for elderly people in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation is the establishment of groups of persons entitled to preferences.

A similar benefit is provided (except for “federal” beneficiaries - former military personnel and government employees):

• WWII veterans;
• employees of the armies of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation who participated in military conflicts;
• persons who suffered from repression;
• disabled people
• labor veterans.

Benefits may be as follows:

• the opportunity to visit the dentist without waiting in line;
• reduced cost of dental restoration;
• free installation of a prosthesis;
• free repair of installed prosthesis.