Does the warranty cover dental services?

Almost everyone, without exception, has to go to the dentist, and on a regular basis, since teeth tend to deteriorate. So you need to undergo at least a routine examination every six months to a year (depending on who’s health). Today, going to the dentist is an expensive procedure, which is why interest in guarantees for treatment is growing. If they are provided, within a certain period of time, clients can contact a doctor so that he can correct the breakdown or his own mistake. Moreover, the elimination of the defect should be carried out, if not completely free, then at a significant discount.

What is the guarantee

The warranty period is the period after the installation of a filling or prosthesis, during which either the clinic or the doctor who directly performed the work bears responsibility for their quality . This guarantee is given for almost all services, but the duration of its validity depends on the dentist. On average, a tooth is under warranty for about 1 year. If something happens to the tooth during this period, the client may require the following:

• so that the defect that has arisen is eliminated free of charge;
• return of losses that a person had to incur to correct a mistake elsewhere;
• no longer use the services of a doctor who made a mistake, but demand financial compensation.

There may be no warranty period. In this case, a client who notices a defect can contact us within two years and everything will be corrected for free. True, doctors may refuse to work for free, but they will reduce the price.

Guarantee for fillings

A filling is one of the most popular services in dentistry , and quite often the filling is not of such high quality as to keep the tooth intact. But the warranty does not cover minor defects. For example, you will not be corrected for the following:

• if the filling does not fit tightly enough around the edges;
• if caries is found on the tooth near the filling;
• if the outer edge of the filling has changed color.

That is, defects that do not cause pain and do not interfere with the use of teeth (biting and chewing) will not be covered by the warranty. Free treatment may be offered if:

• the filling has fallen out or is moving;
• secondary caries appeared due to improper manipulation by the doctor;
• part of the crown broke off.

In this case, the doctor must help in accordance with the requirements of the law.

Guarantee for prosthetics

Prosthetics is a service that is mainly required by pensioners. And given the size of domestic pensions, many people of retirement age simply cannot afford to pay twice for the same service. Therefore, you should immediately ask whether there are any guarantees for dentures.

Of course, prosthetics can also be damaged due to the fault of the client. Such errors include:

• the patient did not wash the denture after eating;
• bit something hard (for example, nut shells, caramels, etc.);
• They went to the doctor less than once every six months to polish the prosthesis, which is why it became unusable.

In other words, if you don't take care of your prosthesis, it will break. An experienced specialist can understand at first glance whether the breakdown is his fault or whether it is the patient’s negligence. Accordingly, he will not compensate for losses or redo the work.

What to do if the doctor refuses to correct mistakes

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Have you found out whether there is a guarantee for a tooth filling in your case? What if it is available, but was refused? You can safely file a complaint with the management of the clinic. If they refuse, send it by registered mail with a receipt stamp and wait 10 days. If nothing happens, you will have to take the next step: file a claim in court. He will understand the situation.

Of course, this will take a long time, and it is unlikely that anyone will wait for a court decision with an unfinished filling or a failed prosthesis. It is possible to have your teeth treated in another clinic, and then be sure to keep the contract and receipt. If the court rules in your favor, the company that did its job poorly will reimburse the cost of re-treatment at another clinic.

Do dental clinics have warranty obligations?

Naturally, dentistry that provides services to people must be held accountable for their work. But for accuracy, all guarantees provided by the establishments in question can be divided into two large groups:

1. Which are given regarding the process of providing services.
2. Concerning the quality of the work performed and how durable it is.

Each group needs more detailed study.

What does the first group suggest?

The group under consideration includes all guarantees that relate to the safety of the client when he is treating a tooth. This is quite understandable, since most of the instruments and operations performed by a doctor are quite traumatic. Therefore, the clinic must guarantee the following:

• adhere to standards in the use of antiseptics and other medications, as well as observe safety precautions;
• have the required number of certificates for the use of all instruments and medications;
• the doctor must have education and appropriate qualifications;
• the specialist should not violate laws by providing services in quantities that do not harm the patient’s health;
• inform the client and begin work only after receiving consent to it.

In other words, the client should feel safe during the procedure, knowing that the doctor will not harm or deceive him. True, in this case, responsibility lies not only with the health worker, but also with the clinic.

Second type guarantees

Since the group under consideration involves the peculiarities of using and exploiting the results of the services provided, the patient should expect the following:

• the filling or prosthesis will serve for the specified period;
• the result of the dentist’s work will not harm the patient;
• all required functions will be preserved during direct use;
• the aesthetic and biological function of the product will be preserved.

The clinic must provide the doctor with all the necessary materials, and the dentist’s job is to do everything to ensure that the above guarantees come true.

Is a light seal included in the policy?

According to compulsory medical insurance in 2021, filling material is free for policy holders. However, there are nuances. Before placing a light-curing filling, you need to clarify whether it is included in the compulsory medical insurance in 2019.

Domestic filling material is provided free of charge. This is cement. It is no worse than other materials, quite strong. Composite or metal may also be offered.

Light-curing fillings are modern and quite expensive. They are not only strong, but also do not differ in color from the tooth. They are installed using ultraviolet light, which promotes hardening.

According to compulsory medical insurance, a light filling, like a chemical filling, can be placed free of charge.

This is stated in the Guidelines for paying for treatment through compulsory health insurance (Appendix 7). According to it, light seals are included in the compulsory medical insurance policy as a free service. The policy owner has the right to modern filling material.

However, the realities differ from the prescribed rules. Due to the lack of government money allocated for health insurance, light fillings are placed only when indicated, most often on the front teeth. In other cases, you should rely on paid imported reflective material. Installation of a photopolymer filling in a private clinic can be free if it is still under warranty.

Important! Due to lack of money in the healthcare system, light-curing material is rarely purchased.

Light fillings are considered the strongest and most resistant to damage, which is why clinics offer them for a fee. It is illegal. If the doctor insists on paying for light filling material that is included in the compulsory medical insurance list, you must immediately call the insurance company directly from the dental office.

Warranty periods

The warranty period may or may not be established - this is a right, not an obligation. But doctors are obliged to guarantee the quality of their work. Therefore, if problems are noticed on a tooth after a filling, the patient may require:

• remove any defects free of charge;
• discount on services;
• re-do the work that was not done well enough;
• pay the amount that the patient paid to another doctor to correct errors.

But dentistry can only do all this if the problem occurred during the warranty period.

Average treatment success rates in a medical organization

Endodontic treatment

The result of treatment in each specific case depends not only on its quality, but also on the general reaction of the body and the condition of the dental system as a whole.

Placement of implants

Complete implant engraftment is guaranteed in 97% of cases (service life of 5 years or more).

In all cases, the patient is guaranteed:

• examination and recording of the patient’s general health before implantation in order to identify possible contraindications to the installation of implants;
• use of certified titanium implants from leading foreign companies;
• painless installation of the implant;
• medical monitoring of the implant healing process.

Removal of a tooth

It is guaranteed that in all cases tooth extraction will occur:

• painless;
• with adequate surgical intervention.

Free elimination of possible complications in the postoperative period is guaranteed:

• inflammation;
• bleeding;
• edema;
• pain.

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Execution of consumer rights

Whether consumer rights are enforced depends on the clients. Remember - it is always important to read the contract for the service provided. It spells out all the nuances of receiving the service, as well as how long the warranty period will last. But besides this, we’ll talk about which actions in which situation are more rational to perform in order to get the maximum result and spend less time.

Replacement according to warranty terms

Most often, after the doctor has treated the tooth, after some time the filling or part of it falls out. If the warranty is still valid, it is best to contact the same dentist where you were treated before. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• call the reception desk and make an appointment with a doctor (tell us what happened);
• When you come to your appointment, take the contract and check with you (they should remind you of this at the reception, but this does not always happen);
• the doctor examines the filling and makes a verdict - whether this is a warranty case or not;
• if the doctor’s answer is not satisfactory, you can conduct an independent examination and even have the tooth treated by another doctor;
• bring the results of the examination to the dentistry, and also provide an invoice for the work performed so that the clinic compensates for losses.

Sometimes even the presence of an expert's opinion does not help. In this case, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer to develop a plan for further action. For example, make a claim or even send a lawsuit to court, which is especially important if the amount for poor-quality treatment was quite large or the specialists caused harm to health.

When does the warranty stop working?

Clinics may not operate under warranty in the following cases:

• If the patient ignored oral hygiene procedures. This item includes not only regular brushing of teeth, but also various rinses, ointments and gels. But only if the recovery period included the use of the funds in question, and this was recorded in the patient’s card.
• If someone else touched the filling. For example, after going to the dentist, a few days later the client went to another doctor, who, while treating a neighboring tooth, touched a controversial tooth (for example, he filed it a little).
• An influence of indefinable force was exerted. In particular, the client had an accident or fell, and because of this he knocked out/broke a tooth. Naturally, the doctor is not to blame for this and the patient has no right to demand compensation.

In addition, some types of fillings are not covered by guarantees at all. For example, this applies to temporary options.

When is the patient wrong?

Doctors, in turn, are sure that talking about the clinic’s obligations to the patient alone is not entirely correct. After all, people who have undergone treatment do not always treat the doctor’s work with care. “There are nuances regarding the guarantee for treatment, and they should also be spelled out in the contract. So, for example, if a patient is negligent about his health, for example, opens bottles with teeth on which veneers are installed, as a result of which the enamel is chipped, then the responsibility clearly lies with the patient, and the clinic has the full right not to compensate for the damage. After all, it was not caused due to poor performance of her obligations,” says Natalia Kadkalova.

The dentist also notes that it is necessary to look at how the patient maintains oral hygiene, that is, simply put, brushes his teeth. “If a person who has undergone treatment has unsatisfactory oral hygiene, then the risks of recurrent caries or decementing of the orthopedic structure increase significantly. Naturally, the doctor cannot be held responsible for this,” explains Kadkalova.

And the teeth are intact, and he himself is fine. How to avoid getting infected in a dental clinic Read more

It is impossible to hope that no one will find out that a person is taking poor care of his oral cavity - after all, this is obvious to a professional. Yes, there are many special means that allow you to identify a defect, for example, poor cleaning, which preserves plaque. This plaque will become a stone in the near future, and it is also an excellent means for the active proliferation of bacteria that lead to caries.

If we talk about warranty obligations and responsibilities of patients, Natalia Kadkalova believes that you need to carefully read the contract with the clinic - everything is spelled out there, and this will avoid misunderstandings and empty disputes in the future.

There are contraindications, you should consult your doctor

Guarantees for implants

Dental implantation is considered one of the most expensive dental services. Accordingly, guarantees are given under special conditions. Guarantees are provided not only by dentistry, but also by dental implant manufacturing companies.

• Premium class. This type of implant is guaranteed for the entire life of the person. Lifetime service is guaranteed, even if something breaks during use. True, this is unlikely, since such products cost a fortune.
• Middle price segment. Such implants can last a very long time, but they are covered under warranty for a maximum of 25 years (sometimes up to 10 years). The exact timing depends on the manufacturers. Moreover, almost always such teeth can not be changed until the end of life.
• Economy class. Despite the name, such implants can last quite a long time, and the warranty on them lasts up to 15 years. But this point needs to be clarified at the clinic where you are doing the installation.

In any case, if the implant turns out to be defective, it must be replaced. As a rule, defects (if any) manifest themselves already in the first year of operation. But the replacement will be carried out only if the patient followed all the rules and recommendations of the doctor.

Terms for protecting your rights

In Part 5 of Art. 29 of the Law of the Russian Federation No. 2300-1 “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” states what a guarantee is for dental treatment: 2 years are given to identify deficiencies in the work. After this period, you will no longer be able to apply for a free replacement of the prosthesis or repeated medical care. Dental clinics also offer longer coverage.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with: Late payment period under the contract

The World Health Organization recommends the following periods for use in European countries:

• for therapeutic treatment - from one year to three years;
• for orthopedic – one year;
• for the installation of dental implants - at least five years from the date of provision of medical services.

What is the legal warranty period for dental fillings?

• filling cements: silicate, phosphate cements, glass ionomer;
• polishing pastes;
• arsenic;
• cleaning brushes;
• consumables: dressings, sutures, burs, bandages, cotton wool, x-ray film;
• domestic anesthetics and antiseptics: Novocaine, Lidocaine, Trimecaine.

The doctor may offer the patient other anesthesia drugs, modern filling paste that “seals” almost instantly, and other higher-quality materials for an additional fee, but the patient has the right to refuse them.

Service life and warranty

First of all, you need to understand that guarantees for dental prosthetics and the service life of denture structures are different concepts. And if the clinic provided the patient with a guarantee for 2 years, this does not mean that after this period the prosthesis will have to be changed. The operating time of a prosthetic structure (that is, its service life) is usually much longer than the official guarantee, so the patient should not be afraid that the installed prostheses will only “last” for a year or two, and then they will have to undergo treatment again.