Dental Tourism in Serbia Summer 2016
DENTAL TOURISM BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD YEAR-ON-YEAR
They Come, Fix Their Teeth, See Serbia and Save Money Europe are so much higher compared to Serbia, given the fact that almost identical materials and medical protocols are used. One of the reasons is that the cost of having a hiqhly qualified workforce in Serbia is far lower than in other countries. Also, healthcare costs in these countries are unrealistically high, while the quality is the same as in Serbia.
Compared to Serbia, dental services in Europe are up to three, five and even ten times more expensive. This is why for the past decade or so, foreigners – primarily Slovenians, Norwegians, Italians, Americans and Australians – have been coming to Serbia to fix their teeth, sightsee and then return to their homes, having saved a lot of money
T
his practice, known as dental tourism, is a fusion of something that is both enjoyable and useful.
INVASION IS COMING Dentists are usually at their busiest around the holidays and in the summer, when they frequently work longer hours, oftentimes because they have patients coming from abroad. In order to appeal to as many patients as possible, most dental offices have websites in several foreign languages and some even have special presentations for foreign tourists. In the last few years, there has a been a rise in the number of agencies that bring dental patients to Serbia while also offering them sightseeing.
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Dental Tourism in Serbia
Many dentists also provide free city centre accommodation, airport transfers, a professional guide and, if the patient wants, a personal taxi driver. They will also organise sightseeing of Belgrade for their patients, as well as recommending good restaurants, shops and tourist attractions. LOWER PRICES, SAME QUALITY Foreigners usually choose to use dental services here because they are among the most affordable in Europe. To compare, only Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Albania provide cheaper dental services. All other countries offer much more expensive dental treatments, which raises the question of why prices of dental services in Western
DIAGNOSIS VIA EMAIL Local dentists point out that the Serbian authorities still haven’t recognised the importance of this branch of tourism and dentists alone have to do all the marketing work. In Hungary, which is a dental tourism pioneer, there is even a border village which has numerous dental surgeries, while Italians are flocking to Croatia, usually by bus, because the dental prices there are three times lower than in Italy. In Hungary, the government provides dental subsidies for foreigners, while Turkey has a longterm dental tourism development strategy. Our dentists say that communicating with foreign patients via email is the best medium for establishing the first contact. Patients usually email a description of their dental problem, their wishes, expectations and questions, as well as a digital image of both jaws so that dentists could gain better insight into the health of their teeth and jaw bones. After that, a team of dentists performs a detailed analysis, determines further course of medical action, suggests different options, procedures and interventions, as well as timeframes for all of the suggested treatments and a detailed breakdownn of the treatment price. Contrary to popular belief, foreign patients are not only flocking to Belgrade for dental treatments. Many of them are also frequenting offices in Novi Sad, Subotica and Niš.
GERMANS IN AWE OF OUR EQUIPMENT When asked about typical patients, our dentists say that they have usually had long-term dental problems that prevent them from chewing or smiling freely. Although such patients have had dental problems for years, most of them cannot afford the treatment in their respective countries, due to the exorbitant prices. They usually come to Serbia for serious interventions, namely for prosthodontics and implant work. For instance, the quality of dental services in Serbia is tantamount to the Western one and sometimes even higher. Those familiar with the situation in Serbian dentistry say that many Belgrade dentists have the latest laser equipment and digital ultrasounds that use lasers to create dentures. Certain devices that Serbian dentists use are not even available in Germany, despite it being a far more developed country. Serbia does not lag behind in any of the dental segments. Some of the dental offices in Serbia use equipment that is worth a million Euros. NEW SMILE IN SEVEN DAYS If a patient does not require serious surgical intervention, Belgrade dentists claim that the required dental treatment can be completed in seven days. However, if surgery is required, the patient is advised to come back again in two months. For example, in Germany patients have to wait a month for dentures or crowns at best, and they even have to wait two weeks to even schedule an appointment to try the crown. Also, a second fitting is required, which again can last for months. In Serbia, all of this is done in a much shorter space of time. European patients who have national health insurance usually don’t come to Serbia, but rather travel to Croatia or Hungary, which are EU countries that also provide cheaper dental services. Nevertheless, a certain number of EU citizens do come to Serbia, because it is still more affordable for them to finance complete top quality treatment than to pay additionally for services that are not covered by their insurance. SERBS ABROAD HAVE NO DILEMMA Most dentists admit that Serbian citizens who live and work abroad are their most frequent patients and the reasons are obvious. In Germany, for instance, basic health insurance will cover only a cement filling, which dentists in Serbia use only as a temporary solution. If a German wants a composite white filling, he or she needs to pay €70 extra. Our people are not keen on doing that, because they can have three fillings done for that price in Serbia. Furthermore, our people living abroad don’t have to pay for accommodation in Serbia during their treatment. For them, there is no doubt in their mind – apart from the treatment, they only need to pay for transportation and while undergoing treatment they can stay with relatives and save money. ▪
Service* Price in Serbia Price in Germany Porcelain-Fused 80-170 400-1,000 -to-Metal Crown Metal Free Crown Implant Filling *prices in Euros
170-300 500-1,000 from 20
from 1,000 from 1,500 from 150
Located in the heart of Belgrade, C Dental Center is a state-of-theart dental centre in Belgrade. The idea behind opening C Dental Center was to create a space that is a one-stop-shop for all dental services. This is what separates C Dental Center from other dentist’s offices. The members of C Dental Center’s multidisciplinary team – dentists, specialists, assistants and technicians – are ready to meet any patient need. From conservative dentistry, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and prosthodontics to oral surgery, implants, and other kinds of dental services. In keeping with global trends, we have the latest 3D X-ray station (Soredex Crenex 3D), a dental- prosthetic lab with the modern CAD-CAM system 3D Sirona MC X5, used for making zirconia crowns and bridges, and a state-of-the-art dental office with Sirona 3D imprint scanners. The founder of the C Dental Center clinic started his extensive career as a prosthodontist at the Medical Military Academy
(VMA). Following his advanced training at the Vita Dental Academy in Germany in 2011, he earned the title of demonstrator while the lab received the VITA Masterlab certificate and officially became the first Vita laboratory in the Balkans. In 2013, the founder of C Dental Center continued his training at Bredent Dental Academy in Germany following which he became a professional consultant for complicated dental interventions using Bredent implant systems. Through regular participation in national and international conferences, seminars and courses, the Center’s multidisciplinary team has been perfecting their knowledge and skills with the
goal of providing even better, higher quality services. “Let wisdom guide our work, let our knowledge carry it out, and let our expertise make it whole.” This is a motto to which we adhere, while giving our undivided attention to each patient.
CAD-CAM TECHNOLOGY
The era of new technology has permeated all segments of our lives and has become an integral part of dentistry too. Thanks to the latest computer processing, we can use CAD-CAM technology for making crowns and bridges. The CAD-CAM (Computer Aided-Design, Computer Aided Manufacture) technology has set new standards in dental
Cvijićeva 130, 11000 Belgrade Tel: +381 11 275 284 9 Tel: +381 69 130 130 1 Tel: +381 63 802690 7 Email: info@cdentalcenter.rs cakandental@gmail.com www.cdentacenter.rs https://www.facebook.com/CDentalCenterBg
medicine. The speed of work, precision, and improved aesthetics are the main benefits of this advanced technology. When you come to our offices for the first time, we will make a virtual model of your teeth with the latest 3D scanner APOLLO DI. With the help of design and milling software, we will use the most advanced materials to make a prosthetic restoration that will put smile back on your face. The CAD-CAM APOLLO DI device scans upper and lower jaw with a digital camera, an integral part of the system. The entire procedure lasts 15 minutes and causes no discomfort to the patient. The Sirona MCX5 and APOLLO DI scanner are the most advanced systems in the dental industry. They make dental work easier both for dentists and patients who will need only one or two appointments for that perfect smile. Long experience in using the CAD-CAM system and thousands of happy patients set us apart from our competition and make us the leaders in this segment.
Prof. ALEKSANDAR TODOROVIĆ, DDS, MD, MS, PhD
European Standards at Much Lower Prices T
he basic idea behind the clinic is for understanding and meeting particular needs of our patients to become the trademark of our dental office, because satisfied patients are our only and our best reference. We try to be flexible, accessible, accurate, friendly, professional, modern, accommodating, jovial, informed, diverse and inventive. SERVICES AND TREATMENTS The first step is a free dental check-up that involves a professional and comprehensive evaluation of the dental status. After an accurate analysis and diagnosis, we suggest a plan for the therapy and its length. The implementation of the therapy protocol is harmonized with the fundamentals of modern dentistry. Dental implants are one of
The AdenT dental clinic was founded more than twenty years ago, and today has become a specialized dental, implantology, CAD/CAM centre, located in Vračar, in the heart of Belgrade, widely recognized for the implementation of modern technology, new materials and its professional team of doctors from all areas of dentistry the most common reasons for patients coming to us. Our clinic is certified by Nobel Biocare, one of the most renowned manufacturers of implants in the world. Why is this so important for foreign patients? Because by having these implants, they also get a lifelong guarantee. In terms of the prosthetic reconstruction of teeth or implants, we can make all kinds of both mobile and fixed dental implants from top quality materials. CAD/CAM or computer technology is synonymous with speed, accuracy and quality, and it is also our trademark. AdenT is one of the first dental offices in the region to start using medical
CAD/CAM systems. Today, our clinic has the latest CerecAC (Sirona, Germany) CAD/CAM technology with which we can make several types of ceramic implants – be it inlays, onlays, crowns, endocrowns, facets or bridges with up to three components – during a single patient visit and in only few hours (the length of the appointment depends on the type and the number of indicated implants). THE QUALITY OF SERVICES Our professional team of doctors regularly attends and follows different kinds of education seminars that take place in Europe and on other continents.
We are very proud to say that when it comes to quality of our services, equipment and materials, we don’t lag behind global standards. All of the materials that we use to make prosthetic implants are biocompatible. THE PRICES AND HOW AFFORDABLE ARE THEY COMPARED TO THE PRICES ABROAD Based on the past comparisons, our prices are between four and six times lower than in Europe and worldwide, and we would also like to underscore that the quality of our materials and equipment is in line with the global standards. ▪
Cara Nikolaja II 33, 11000 Belgrade Phone +381 11 24 39 416 Mobile Phone +381 63 77 59 741 E-mail: adent.bg@gmail.com The AdenT dental clinic is located close to the heart of old Belgrade, in Vračar, 33, Car Nikolaj II Street, on the first floor. You can reach us by trolleys no. 19, 21, 22 and 29, the bus no. 83 or by taking a leisurely stroll from the St. Sava Temple that takes between 7 and 10 minutes. If you are coming from abroad, we can provide accom-
modation at the Garni Hotel Allegra (phone no. +381 11 241 5600 and +381 65 241 5600). We would also like to recommend to our patients that they visit cultural monuments and beautiful locations in Belgrade between therapies, because many of the sightseeing attractions (like the Temple and the St. Sava Small
Church) are in the close vicinity of the clinic. They should also try our traditional dishes, restaurants and vibrant nightlife in many nightclubs. Visiting neighbouring towns like Novi Sad, Aranđelovac and Topola can also be quite enjoyable, especially for the lovers of good local wines, rakija and tasty food.