In country like India people expect the best at a cheap price.This approach is good for products, it is not right for health care and definitely not for dental care.
Dentistry has come a long way in India,beginning from an additional service provided by barbers and other labourers.
There were people who provided dental treatments in unconventional ways without a formal education or practice.
There still exist people who are not willing to pay more than 100 bucks for extracting a tooth.
It is one of the reasons people are still reluctant to pay for dental treatments.
Many literate people also are not able to understand that dentistry has reformed in the past 10 years.
Dentistry is a skill,and the outcome of the skill is enhanced by using the appropriate materials and techniques.
In my dental practice I come across patients seeking simple treatment options,by saying simple they actually mean cheaper treatment.
Cheaper treatment can be provided only with cheaper materials.But using cheaper dental materials on a patient’s teeth is against ethical practice.
Cheaper materials used on patients will have side effects in the long term.People fail to realise they have to spend more after opting for cheap.
Some patients prioritise quality over cost, while others look for affordable options that fit their budget.
Dental clinics in Chennai offer both cheap and standard options, choosing the apt dentist is patients discretionary.
Some clinics are in hurry to finish their treatment rather than focusing on patient’ comfort
To achieve a painless treatment for patients it is essential to give time for anaesthesia to work, some clinics time is crucial because of the patient crowd.
People seldom realise the importance of taking an appointment at dental clinic.
With an appointment, the dentist can give you personalised attention and focus on your specific dental needs.
The dentist can spend more time with to discuss patient’s concerns and provide the best treatment possible.
With an appointment, the dentist and the ream can plan for patient’s visit, have the necessary equipment ready, and provide more efficient service.
This can help reduce the time it takes to complete the treatment and ensure that patient receive the highest quality care.
The difference between a general surgery and dental treatment in patients is under general anaesthesia for most treatments where the patient is totally unconscious and not aware of the treatment done.
Dentistry is more challenging because treatment procedures are done under local anaesthesia,where the patient is conscious, and completely aware of the treatment done.
Standard dental clinic give more emphasis on making the treatment as comfortable as possible.
Dentists don’t want patients to have any discomfort or pain during the procedure.
When a dentist has scheduled appointments, they can plan their day accordingly and ensure that they have enough time to focus on each patient’s needs.
Knowledge and skill acquired during academic education qualifies a dentist to practice dentistry, however professional and social changes constantly demand adaptation and extension of quality dental practices.
Patients generally compare the service they ‘experience’ with the service they ‘expect’. In case of mismatch of experience and expectation, there arises a gap.
Quality
Today, dentistry not only possesses a social and ethical commitment for the society but professional obligation for the members of the profession too
Therefore ,the responsibility for quality assurance lies in the hands of the dental professional.
Perspectives have changed completely due to patient’s high expectations from the outcomes of dental treatment, newer technology, cost containment and increasing demands for accountability of the members of the profession.
Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up in 1997 as an autonomous body by the Government of India jointly with the Indian industry to establish and operate the National accreditation structure for conformity assessment bodies.
Quality of Dental Care
Quality of dental care focuses on all the major components of providing dental services including diagnosis and treatment planning, technical skills, patient communication and organizational aspects.
These standards are basic tools needed for the evaluation of dental services, appropriateness of treatment and measurement of the outcome of care.
In combination with methods for the assessment of dental practices a realistic and effective quality assurance system should be designed.
Quality Assurance: Dental practices are expected to have a quality assurance system, which covers all areas of dental practice. The aim of quality assurance system is to maintain and improve standards of patient care and safety.
Quality assurance measures the quality of the clinical practice and aims at improvement of oral health thereby increasing patient satisfaction.
Government of India introduced Clinical Establishment Act in 2010 for all clinical establishments in the country with a view to prescribe the minimum standards of facilities and services provided by them.
Some basic criteria as required by the Act,
-Infrastructure requirements
Prominent board/signage displaying the services; name of the clinic/ centre with timings
The establishment shall be developed and maintained to provide safe, clean and hygienic facility for patients, their attendants, staff & visitors with standard minimum space requirement as per the scope of services.
Establishment shall have adequate equipment/instrument commensurate to the scope of services
To provide safe & secure patient care, establishment shall have indicative list of minimum equipments in dental hospital/ clinic with their maintenance plan.
The establishment shall also maintain adequate drugs including emergency drugs.
Human Resources requirements
Services provided by the dental professionals, registered with State Dental Council of India, shall be in consonance with their qualification, training and experience.
The Dental clinic/centre shall have basic minimal essential manpower as applicable
- Dentist
- Dental Hygienist,
- Dental Assistant/Auxillary,
- Dental Technician,
- Multipurpose worker
6.Others – anesthetist, general physician, general surgeon on call, as required.
Reception & billing counter with availability of tariff list.
In house or outsourced diagnostic services – which shall comply with the applicable law and regulations.
Facility for sterilization & cleaning instruments and bio medical waste management including mercury waste management as per rules.
The minimum medical records to be maintained in physical or digital format.
The establishment shall maintain health information and statistics in respect of National program.
Medication procurement, dispensing, Prescription, Administration, documentation and monitoring
Processes of Safety and Security for patients, attendants, staff and visitors o Quality indicators for continuous quality improvement.
Quality control of Dental Materials
In India there is no quality control for dental materials i.e materials used in dentistry for patient.
Dental materials are generally materials used by dentists for the patient,on the patient and also in the patient.
To understand the above statement better, there are materials that are used in the clinic to avoid infection, materials that are used and applied in the patients tooth or oral cavity. Materials used to replace the natural tooth or tissue.
No matter whatever the dental material be, it is important that dentist use the safest material on patient. In countries like India there is no proper guidelines to assess the quality of dental materials.
Therefore few dentists prefer to use material that have Quality Assurance from European and or American countries.
Quality assured dental materials carry FDA (Food and Drug Administartion) by U.S, European Medicines Agency (EMA) by European countries,CE marking .
These Quality assurance are very important in dentistry and for patients.
Products that are quality assured are expensive compared to the ones that are not quality controlled.
Patient’s objective is only cheap treatment not quality treatments. This is the reasons some patients feel dental treatment is expensive.
Some patient compare the charges of patients on cost rather than quality.
Dental Clinic – Cheap
Cheap dental clinics offer dental services at a lower cost.
They use low-cost materials and equipment, which can affect the quality of the treatment in the long term.
The dentists in these clinics may have limited understanding in regards to the dental materials used in their practice.
These clinics have limited resource and access to standard dental materials.
However, cheap dental clinics can be a good option for people who have a limited budget or need basic dental care.
These clinics seldom have sterilisation protocols
Some cheap dental clinics are easily accessible to people with low income.
Standard Dental Clinics
Standard dental clinics in Chennai offer quality dental services at a cost.
Dentists use reliable and standard materials to ensure better accuracy, comfort, and durability.
The dentists in these clinics have easy access to best dental materials and resources.
Standard dental clinics have different protocols can provide a wide range of services, from routine checkups and cleanings to complex procedures like root canal treatments and dental implants.
Standard clinic has access to different consultants for the different speciality.
Reasons why you should choose standard clinics
Sterilisation.
People understood the importance of sanitation and sterilisation during Covid.
It is a very basic rule that all instruments used in dental clinics should be sterilised.
Manpower is essential to check on sterilisation protocols. The cost paid by the patient at these clinic include the charges for sterilisation to ensure safety from cross infection.
Materials.
Dental Materials used in dentistry are mostly imported from various countries.
These materials undergo strict quality control and are often expensive compared to the products provided without quality control.
FDA,EME,CE,FDI marking are important in dental materials that is used for patients.
Patient comfort is vital in standard dental clinics. To provide a comforting and relaxing treatment time is essential.The dentist has to spend more time for a patient.
Which Is Right for You?
Choosing between a cheap and standard dental clinic depends on patient’s priorities, budget, and dental needs. For patients with limited budget basic dental care like fillings, extractions, or cleanings, a cheap dental clinic may be a good option. However, patients with complex dental issues like missing teeth, gum disease, or misaligned teeth, patients benefit from the advanced technology and expertise offered by a standard dental clinic.
Moreover, if patient is concerned about the quality of the treatment, it’s better to choose a standard dental clinic.
Standard dental clinics use high-quality materials that are safe and long-lasting. They also follow strict sterilization protocols to prevent the spread of infections.
In contrast, cheap dental clinics may compromise on the quality of materials and sterilization, which can put your dental health at risk.
Another factor to consider is the experience and qualifications of the dentist. Standard dental clinics have dentists with specialized training and certification in various areas of dentistry.
They also invest in continuing education to keep up with the latest trends and techniques in dentistry.
Cheap dental clinics, on the other hand, may have dentists with limited experience and training, which can affect the quality of the treatment.
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