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Paid twice
In early May, Elder Eduard had a piece of his front tooth cut. The oldest discovered that it could be stuck. “This was also confirmed by my dentist. I was glad because I couldn’t smile or eat properly at the time. I asked how much such a bond would cost. The dentist said: € 20 of bonding and another 20 euros that I will have to pay for the protective equipment.” . “I count every euro. Wherever you go, man, I still went to the dentist and paid the full amount,” Eduard said.
According to the superior, in the dentist’s office he had to wear a disposable suit, wear booties and a disposable hat. The dentist wore a mask, an additional top protection suit. “No matter how I calculate, 20 euros for those additional tools are not obtained. After all, dentists have used masks before. Also, it is difficult if they change those masks and disposable suits after each patient,” said the Kaunas resident.
The boy did not need protection.
Victoria said she married her eight-year-old daughter to dentists a few days ago. “During the previous quarantine period, when the dentist’s office was not working, the daughter had toothache. She had to go to the emergency room because the pain did not stop for three days. It turns out that the tooth has rotted.” We went to the dental clinic after she resumed her work; I expected the tooth to fill immediately, but it turned out that due to quarantine it was open for too long; filling was not possible, the dentist only dispensed the medication. I paid 10 euros for the measured tooth “, – calculated the young mother.
Victoria pointed out that the girl did not need any protection measure. And the dentist and his assistant wore a very thin extra gown in their usual work clothes, such as sewn from a net, a plastic apron, as well as a net cap, plastic booties, disposable gloves, respirators, and a plastic face shield .
Interviewees are convinced that the high rate for additional protective equipment is an attempt by dentists to make a profit at the expense of patients.
Call for tax exemption
How much do dentists actually pay for the protective measures used during this quarantine phase? The FFP3 protective mask can be purchased online for € 5 and a pair of disposable gloves for € 0.60. A package of 100 plastic booties costs almost 3 euros (or a pair of booties: 0.06 euros). Face protection: a sealed face shield that covers the entire face costs from 3 to 6 euros, airtight glasses, around 6.50 euros. Long disposable bathrobe with a long waterproof apron: around 2.60 euros. There are also many more expensive plastic disposable coveralls, but they are not mandatory for dentists.
A disposable protective suit for the dental patient is an excessive requirement. The patient may wear an astronaut suit, but will still have to remove the space suit from the dentist.
Alvydas Šeikus, Chairman of the Council of the Chamber of Dentists of the Republic of Lithuania, stated that due to the effective requirements for the use of personal protective equipment, the Chamber urged dentists not to apply additional fees. “However, the State Tax Inspection has clarified that it is fair to collect such taxes. In addition, each dental company establishes its own prices, we, the Chamber of Dentists, cannot interfere much,” said the interlocutor.
It did not assess whether a fee of € 10-20 was justified for the protective equipment used by dentists. “I can only say that I do not charge any additional fees at my clinic and the services have not become more expensive as a result. Much depends on the owner of the dental office. Some of them are not dentists, but for-profit entrepreneurs,” said A Šeikus.
However, the Speaker of the Chamber of Dentists noted that the price of the protective equipment tax also includes the waste disposal tax. “Waste recycling companies charge very high fees: they are several times more expensive. And that waste is now generated a lot because the requirements are, for example, that the top layer of the protective suit must be changed after each patient. These are state requirements and therefore “According to A. Šeikaus, some dental clinics include a fee for protective equipment in the price of the service.” For example, in euros, the price of a stamp is more expensive. Others charge a separate fee. That fee may differ due to the fact that dental offices purchase protective equipment independently and at different prices. “
According to the interlocutor, according to the third level of safety that applies to dentists, they must use an FFP3 respirator. It is unclear if it can be used for four hours as described in the product description or if it should be changed after each patient. “If the manufacturer declares that these are disposable masks and goggles and as a general rule there are now disposable goggles on the market, they can only be used once. And, for example, in the case of a respirator it is that once, four hours or a patient, “Not yet cleared.”
According to A.Šeikaus, the requirement that some dental offices wear a protective suit by a dental patient is excessive. “You don’t need to prepare anything extra. A disposable protective suit is a prerequisite for the dentist. The patient may wear an astronaut suit, but will still have to remove the suit. The dentist works 15-20 cm from the patient’s mouth with air “, according to the interlocutor, no protective measure will protect the patient if the dentist does not use the protective equipment, there will be no effective disinfection and management of patient flows after each visit.
The ministry cannot prohibit it
We asked the Ministry of Health (SAM) to evaluate whether the introduction of a fee of 10-20 euros for unique protection measures by private dental offices is not a way to make profits at the expense of patients. Neringa Mikėnaitė, advisor to the Press Service of this ministry, recalled that no medical institution that has signed an agreement with the Territorial Health Insurance Funds (TCA) has the right to charge the patient for any fees related to medical protection measures (Contracts with ICDs are generally held by state or municipally funded medical institutions, primary health care centers, and many private family clinics, ed.past.)
“If we are talking about private institutions that do not have a contract with the ICD, it cannot be avoided that they request additional payments. It is up to the medical institutions to decide whether to separate them or include them in the service fee. How much do dentists need, especially if Are they private? In any case, the price of the product depends on the quantities ordered. Dental offices are not supplied centrally, they have to buy the necessary products themselves, “said N. Mikėnaitė.
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