Vitebsk dentists will take 3D dental scans

– Thanks to close ties with leading global manufacturers and clinics, our specialists are familiar with the latest developments, – says Vasily Varganov, Chief Physician of the Regional Polyclinic and Chief Freelance Dentist of the Vitebsk Region. – Foreign specialists note the high professional level of training of domestic dentists. But technology does not stand still. We need to constantly learn, master, and implement promising methods. Today, we have access to the same modern materials and medical equipment as in Western Europe or America. But all this, of course, is not cheap.

According to Vasily Vasilyevich, there is no mass production of dental materials and equipment in Belarus: the import component in this area of healthcare is about 90%. Although, for example, most modern effective analgesics used in domestic dentistry are Belarusian.

– It is obvious that in conditions of high competition and a relatively small market, domestic production of dental equipment is unprofitable, – believes Vasily Varganov. – We purchase a lot from Israel, Great Britain, Italy, and Germany. Large companies train our doctors abroad and organize master classes in Belarus. About ten of our doctors and dental technicians go for training abroad annually. Subsequently, they themselves conduct seminars for their colleagues in Vitebsk. Also, the best doctors of the regional polyclinic visit all districts according to a schedule: they consult patients and train local specialists in advanced technologies.

Thanks to the training of dentists at the VSMU, the Vitebsk region is almost fully provided with specialists. In addition, modernization of dental polyclinics in Lepel and Glubokoye, and dental departments in Senno, Beshenkovichi, and Tolochin has been carried out, and the construction of a dental polyclinic is being completed.

in Dokshytsy. The fleet of dental units for tooth treatment has been significantly updated: more than 50% of them have a service life of up to 10 years.

High-tech operations for the installation of plate implants have long been performed at the regional dental clinic. Today, they have been replaced by a new generation of structures that are implanted directly into the site of a removed root or missing teeth in the jaw. This eliminates the need to grind adjacent healthy teeth, and their aesthetic appearance is significantly better.

In Vitebsk, new methods for treating severe forms of periodontitis have also been successfully mastered – 80 operations were performed last year alone. Thanks to the use of bone substitutes, which are meticulously implanted into the jaw, patients' teeth are saved and their chewing efficiency is restored.

Since last year, two modern piezoelectric surgical units have been installed. Their main advantage is that in complex cases of tooth extraction or maxillofacial surgery, hospitalization is no longer required. The innovative instrument minimizes pain, causes less trauma to the gums, and healing occurs faster, reducing the number of days of disability.

In a few months, another new device will be operational – a cone-beam radiography apparatus in 3D projection. This will significantly improve diagnostics, treatment, and prosthetics.

– We dream of therapeutic and surgical laser units, – says Vasily Varganov. – Treatment with them is more effective, but the equipment is expensive. Although it should be understood that dentistry, not only in Belarus but everywhere, is not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, I want to remind you once again: effective prevention is the key to dental health and a reliable way to save your money. Unfortunately, many people still endure toothache until the last moment, and this is fundamentally wrong.

Alexander Kutynko. Photos by Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye Vesti".