Dental Fillings And Inlays
Dental cavity solutions

Dental fillings are used to make small repairs to teeth that have been damaged due to tooth decay or fracture. They are normally relatively simple and inexpensive. For this reason very few (if any) people travel abroad for fillings.

However, fillings are often necessary as part of larger work, or the dentist may discover  they are necessary and it often make sense to get  fillings  done at the same time as other work.

You can browse a list of clinics that provide filiings and inlays here on RevaHealth.com. If you need any help deciding which clinic to choose, just ask us for help.

What is a Dental Filling or Inlay?

A filling is simply a material that is placed into a cavity in a tooth. The filling helps to protect against further decay and strengthens the tooth.
You might need a filling if:

• There is minor decay or a tooth
• You  have a small fracture in a tooth
• If you have a metal/amalgam filling that you want replaced with more natural looking filling
• Composite filling are often used for purely cosmetic purposes in cosmetic bonding

Things to look out for are

• Composite fillings are more expensive that amalgams
• Not all dentists are trained in composite fillings
• Amalgam filling contain mercury which is released to the atmosphere after death (if incinerated)
• There are some, although unproven long term  health concerns associated with amalgam fillings

What is the procedure like?

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Once the dentist has isolated and anesthetised the damaged area of the tooth, he will remove the decay with a drill or laser and cleanse the area of bacteria. The resulting cavity is roughed so that the resin will bond. It is then filled with an amalgam, composite or porcelain filling. In the case of composite fillings, the resin is applied in layers and hardened with a special light. Once the final layers have been applied the filling will be adjusted and polished.

What different types exist?

Amalgam – These are commonly referred to as metal fillings and can be quite visible. They contain mercury and although there have been ongoing questions about their long term safety there is no proof that they are a health hazard. However, it is becoming common for amalgam fillings to be replaced by composite fillings. Amalgam fillings have a lifespan of roughly 12 years

Composite/PorcelainComposite fillings can be made to match the coloration of your teeth. They are most costly and require specialized equipment and take longer to do.  More of the natural tooth can be preserved with composite fillings as the resin can be bonded in thin layers. Note that not all dentists can perform composite fillings.  Composite fillings have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years.

Inlays – If a large portion of you tooth is missing but a crown is not required then an inlay might be a good option.  An inlay involves a fabricated filling that is inserted between the cusps of a tooth – they can be made of gold, porcelain or resin. Inlays are considerably more expensive than fillings; however they are normally a replacement for a crown rather than a filling.

What affects the price?

• The dentist selected
• The position of the filling
• The number of tooth surfaces the filling has
• The number of fillings required
• The type of fillings and in the case of inlays the material used

Price Comparison (Amalgam)

Price lists should always be viewed with caution as many factors can increase or decrease the resulting price. The follow table gives some indicative costs for fillings across the world. Composite fillings tend to be twice the price of amalgam.

Dentists in Poland
Save yourself up to 70% on cosmetic dentistry in Poland

Poland is one of Europe's fastest growing dental tourism destinations. Prices are among the lowest you will find in the EU, with Polish dentists charging between 40% and 70% less than many of their European counterparts. A porcelain crown for example, which costs roughly £500 in the UK, is available in Poland for around €100. Not surprising then, that over 3 thousand medical tourists arrived in Poland from the United Kingdom in 2007.

Our three most popular dental clinics are:

About Dentists In Poland

Some medical tourist companies offer treatment packages to Poland which include cosmetic or dental procedures plus recovery and recuperation in first-class spa resorts. Our most popular destinations in Poland are currently Krakow, Wroclaw and Poznan.

Get A Quote For Polish Dentistry

Many Polish dental clinics are ISO 9001 certified and have accreditation with the international Quality Monitoring Centre. Prior to EU membership Poland already possesed the dental infrastructure to avail of a greatly expanded patient base. The opening up of borders and the assurance of EU monitored quality levels in materials and laboratories make Poland a highly competitive destination.

The Polish Medical Chamber's dental wing oversears the profession - providing an ethical base that includes compulsory adherence to the principles of continuing education. To continue being licenced to practice, Dentists in Poland must gain a mimimun number of training points - amounting to about 200 hours of further education every four years. In general, the healthcare service is considered on a par with the rest of Europe.

Polish Dental Treatment Prices

The following price guide indicates the estimated cost of Dentistry in Poland. Please note that this is a guide only and you should always check with your dentist directly.

*Exchange rates from 08/2007

Qualifications And Training For Dentists in Poland

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Poland follows the standard EU 5 year dental training programme. There are 10 dental schools with over 900 graduates each year. The standard of graduatees is high and many find employement in British and Irish clinics.

All dentists must re-register with the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists every 4 years. During this period they must participate in mandatory continuing education to ensure their dental techniques are kept to the highest standards. The system is monitored and dentists must acrue 200 credit points from authorized training courses in each 4 year period of practice.

Dentists in Poland - Additional Information

Organizations

All Polish dentists are registered with the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists. The chamber governs both dentisty and the larger medical field. Its duties include providing information for dentists and patients, supervison of clinical conduct and drafting of ethical standards. 23 regional divisions of the chamber apply its principles at local level.

The Polish Dental Association is the professional representative body for dentists in Poland. it is a full member of the European Dental Association. The Association promotes high standards in dentistry to its members. The association organizes continuing education courses. Membership is voluntary.

Dental Ethics

All Polish dentists must try to uphold their ethical code (agreed upon in 1993). There is additionally a European code of ethics that is supported by Polish dental organizations.

Both codes outline the duty to care of a dentist: That the patient's health should be foremost; that costs should be made clear as soon as a treatment course is outlined; that no unneccesary work should be carried out; that the dentist must respond to complaints and attempt to resolve the situation. A dentist who fails to comply to these ethical guidelines is subject to censure, suppension or removal of their licence to practice. Details of both codes are provided in the resources section below.

Complaints

Patients may address complaints to the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists. The make up of the complaints committees depends on the nature of the complaint and a dental complaint may be judged by a panel of dentists or by a group of independant advisors. The Chamber has a number of options open to it, including removing a dentist's right to practice.

Complaints may also be handled through the normal law courts.

Data Protection

Polish dentists must respect patient confidentiality. Data must be stored in paper form but may be backed up by electronic means.

Resources

Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists
00-764 Warszawa, ul. Sobieskiego 110
tel: +22 559 1300
email: sekretariat@hipokrates.org
website: http://www.nil.org.pl
code of ethics: medical code

Polish Dental Association
ul. Kuźnicza 43/45
50-138 Wrocław
tel: +48 71 342 42 16
email: paradont@stom.am.wroc.pl
website: http://www.pts.net.pl/