Almost everyone, without exception, has to go to the dentist, and on a regular basis, since teeth tend to deteriorate. So you need to undergo at least a routine examination every six months to a year (depending on who’s health). Today, going to the dentist is an expensive procedure, which is why interest in guarantees for treatment is growing. If they are provided, within a certain period of time, clients can contact a doctor so that he can correct the breakdown or his own mistake. Moreover, the elimination of the defect should be carried out, if not completely free, then at a significant discount.
What is the guarantee
The warranty period is the period after the installation of a filling or prosthesis, during which either the clinic or the doctor who directly performed the work bears responsibility for their quality . This guarantee is given for almost all services, but the duration of its validity depends on the dentist. On average, a tooth is under warranty for about 1 year. If something happens to the tooth during this period, the client may require the following:
- so that the defect that has arisen is eliminated free of charge;
- return of losses that a person had to incur to correct a mistake elsewhere;
- no longer use the services of a doctor who made a mistake, but demand financial compensation.
There may be no warranty period. In this case, a client who notices a defect can contact us within two years and everything will be corrected for free. True, doctors may refuse to work for free, but they will reduce the price.
Guarantee for fillings
A filling is one of the most popular services in dentistry , and quite often the filling is not of such high quality as to keep the tooth intact. But the warranty does not cover minor defects. For example, you will not be corrected for the following:
- if the filling does not fit tightly enough around the edges;
- if caries is found on the tooth near the filling;
- if the outer edge of the filling has changed color.
That is, defects that do not cause pain and do not interfere with the use of teeth (biting and chewing) will not be covered by the warranty. Free treatment may be offered if:
- the filling has fallen out or is moving;
- secondary caries appeared due to improper manipulation by the doctor;
- part of the crown broke off.
In this case, the doctor must help in accordance with the requirements of the law.
Guarantee for prosthetics
Prosthetics is a service that is mainly required by pensioners. And given the size of domestic pensions, many people of retirement age simply cannot afford to pay twice for the same service. Therefore, you should immediately ask whether there are any guarantees for dentures.
Of course, prosthetics can also be damaged due to the fault of the client. Such errors include:
- the patient did not wash the denture after eating;
- bit something hard (for example, nut shells, caramels, etc.);
- They went to the doctor less than once every six months to polish the prosthesis, which is why it became unusable.
In other words, if you don't take care of your prosthesis, it will break. An experienced specialist can understand at first glance whether the breakdown is his fault or whether it is the patient’s negligence. Accordingly, he will not compensate for losses or redo the work.
When is the patient wrong?
Doctors, in turn, are sure that talking about the clinic’s obligations to the patient alone is not entirely correct. After all, people who have undergone treatment do not always treat the doctor’s work with care. “There are nuances regarding the guarantee for treatment, and they should also be spelled out in the contract. So, for example, if a patient is negligent about his health, for example, opens bottles with teeth on which veneers are installed, as a result of which the enamel is chipped, then the responsibility clearly lies with the patient, and the clinic has the full right not to compensate for the damage. After all, it was not caused due to poor performance of her obligations,” says Natalia Kadkalova.
The dentist also notes that it is necessary to look at how the patient maintains oral hygiene, that is, simply put, brushes his teeth. “If a person who has undergone treatment has unsatisfactory oral hygiene, then the risks of recurrent caries or decementing of the orthopedic structure increase significantly. Naturally, the doctor cannot be held responsible for this,” explains Kadkalova.
And the teeth are intact, and he himself is fine. How to avoid getting infected in a dental clinic Read more
It is impossible to hope that no one will find out that a person is taking poor care of his oral cavity - after all, this is obvious to a professional. Yes, there are many special means that allow you to identify a defect, for example, poor cleaning, which preserves plaque. This plaque will become a stone in the near future, and it is also an excellent means for the active proliferation of bacteria that lead to caries.
If we talk about warranty obligations and responsibilities of patients, Natalia Kadkalova believes that you need to carefully read the contract with the clinic - everything is spelled out there, and this will avoid misunderstandings and empty disputes in the future.
There are contraindications, you should consult your doctor
Do dental clinics have warranty obligations?
Naturally, dentistry that provides services to people must be held accountable for their work. But for accuracy, all guarantees provided by the establishments in question can be divided into two large groups:
- Which are given regarding the process of providing services.
- Concerning the quality of the work performed and how durable it is.
Each group needs more detailed study.
What does the first group suggest?
The group under consideration includes all guarantees that relate to the safety of the client when he is treating a tooth. This is quite understandable, since most of the instruments and operations performed by a doctor are quite traumatic. Therefore, the clinic must guarantee the following:
- adhere to standards in the use of antiseptics and other medications, as well as observe safety precautions;
- have the required number of certificates for the use of all instruments and medications;
- the doctor must have education and appropriate qualifications;
- the specialist should not violate laws by providing services in quantities that do not harm the patient’s health;
- inform the client and begin work only after receiving consent to it.
In other words, the client should feel safe during the procedure, knowing that the doctor will not harm or deceive him. True, in this case, responsibility lies not only with the health worker, but also with the clinic.
Second type guarantees
Since the group under consideration involves the peculiarities of using and exploiting the results of the services provided, the patient should expect the following:
- the filling or prosthesis will serve for the specified period;
- the result of the dentist’s work will not harm the patient;
- all required functions will be preserved during direct use;
- the aesthetic and biological function of the product will be preserved.
The clinic must provide the doctor with all the necessary materials, and the dentist’s job is to do everything to ensure that the above guarantees come true.
General provisions.
1.1 Dear patients, in accordance with Law No. 2300-1 “On the Protection of Consumer Rights,” the organization has the right to establish a warranty period for services. This provision defines the warranty period for medical services and the procedure for establishing them. The administration of the Dental Center informs you that all work and services are performed on the basis of a license, materials are purchased from certified suppliers, dental work is performed in a licensed laboratory. All materials are approved for use on the territory of the Russian Federation. 1.2 If you have any comments about the work or services performed, you can: • contact the medical registrar (by phone or in person) and, stating the essence of the comment, make an appointment for a free appointment with your doctor. • Make an appointment with the head doctor or express the essence of your comments in an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view it. Fulfillment of warranty obligations is free of charge for the patient. 1.3 Dear patient, please note that a full guarantee for all types of dental services is provided only if the “Rules for the use of the results of dental work and services” are observed. According to the law on “Protection of Consumer Rights”, an increased or shortened warranty period for work may be established. The dentist must inform the patient in advance about the reduction in the warranty period for work. A reduction in the warranty period must be noted in the outpatient card.
Warranty periods
The warranty period may or may not be established - this is a right, not an obligation. But doctors are obliged to guarantee the quality of their work. Therefore, if problems are noticed on a tooth after a filling, the patient may require:
- remove any defects free of charge;
- discount on services;
- re-do the work that was not done well enough;
- pay the amount that the patient paid to another doctor to correct errors.
But dentistry can only do all this if the problem occurred during the warranty period.
How to apply for a tax deduction for medical services?
— Collect the necessary documents;
— Draw up a declaration and application indicating the basis for receiving a refund of the paid tax and submit documents to the tax office.
List of documents for obtaining a deduction:
1. A copy of the contract for the provision of medical services, issued to an individual - provided by the clinic;
2. certificate of payment for medical services indicating the code - provided by the clinic ;
3. copy of the license - provided by the clinic ;
4. copies of receipts for payment of medical services;
4. declaration in form 3-NDFL;
5. 2-NDFL certificate from work;
6. copy of passport;
7. copies of documents on relationship, if you paid for treatment for your close relatives (parents, children, spouses);
If you have lost receipts (one or more) for medical services or they have, say, faded, then you retain the right to receive a deduction. The document confirming the fact of payment for treatment will be a certificate of provision of medical services, or we will prepare copies of receipts for you.
After preparing all the documents, you must submit them to the tax office.
The declaration with documents is submitted for consideration to the territorial office of the tax inspectorate, to the Federal Tax Service at the place of registration. You can do it in person, by power of attorney, or through the taxpayer’s Personal Account on the Federal Tax Service Inspectorate website.
3-NDFL with documents are submitted at any time during the year following the reporting year, verified within 3 months. A deduction can be obtained for treatment costs over the past 3 years.
How many times can you use the social tax deduction for treatment?
The deduction can be received an unlimited number of times throughout your life, but not more than once a year.
Execution of consumer rights
Whether consumer rights are enforced depends on the clients. Remember - it is always important to read the contract for the service provided. It spells out all the nuances of receiving the service, as well as how long the warranty period will last. But besides this, we’ll talk about which actions in which situation are more rational to perform in order to get the maximum result and spend less time.
Replacement according to warranty terms
Most often, after the doctor has treated the tooth, after some time the filling or part of it falls out. If the warranty is still valid, it is best to contact the same dentist where you were treated before. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- call the reception desk and make an appointment with a doctor (tell us what happened);
- When you come to your appointment, take the contract and check with you (they should remind you of this at the reception, but this does not always happen);
- the doctor examines the filling and makes a verdict - whether this is a warranty case or not;
- if the doctor’s answer is not satisfactory, you can conduct an independent examination and even have the tooth treated by another doctor;
- bring the results of the examination to the dentistry, and also provide an invoice for the work performed so that the clinic compensates for losses.
Sometimes even the presence of an expert's opinion does not help. In this case, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer to develop a plan for further action. For example, make a claim or even send a lawsuit to court, which is especially important if the amount for poor-quality treatment was quite large or the specialists caused harm to health.
When does the warranty stop working?
Clinics may not operate under warranty in the following cases:
- If the patient ignored oral hygiene procedures. This item includes not only regular brushing of teeth, but also various rinses, ointments and gels. But only if the recovery period included the use of the funds in question, and this was recorded in the patient’s card.
- If someone else touched the filling. For example, after going to the dentist, a few days later the client went to another doctor, who, while treating a neighboring tooth, touched a controversial tooth (for example, he filed it a little).
- An influence of indefinable force was exerted. In particular, the client had an accident or fell, and because of this he knocked out/broke a tooth. Naturally, the doctor is not to blame for this and the patient has no right to demand compensation.
In addition, some types of fillings are not covered by guarantees at all. For example, this applies to temporary options.
Regulations on the “Procedure for providing a guarantee for dental services”
This provision has been developed in accordance with the Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of Protecting the Health of Citizens in the Russian Federation”, the Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”, established industry standards.
- The procedure for providing a guarantee for dental services
1.1 General provisions
In accordance with the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”, the organization is obliged to establish a warranty period for services. This provision defines the warranty period for medical services and the procedure for establishing them. The administration of the dental clinic reports that all work and services are performed on the basis of a license, materials are purchased from certified suppliers, dental work is performed in a licensed laboratory. All materials are approved for use on the territory of the Russian Federation.
In case of any comments regarding the work and services performed, the patient must contact the administrator (by phone or in person) and, stating the essence of the comment, make an appointment with the attending physician. Fulfillment of warranty obligations is free of charge for the patient.
1.2 Warranty for certain types of services
1.2.1 Warranty obligations for prosthetics (orthopedic work)
A guarantee is provided for orthopedic work. The guarantee for preparation for prosthetics (therapeutic treatment) is defined in section 1.2.2 “Warranty obligations for therapeutic treatment”.
Permanent fixed orthopedic work includes:
· Metal-ceramic, metal-composite, and solid-cast crowns, including combinations of these crowns - bridge structures;
· Metal-free crowns.
The warranty for this work is 1 year.
Permanent removable orthopedic work includes:
· Complete removable dentures, partial removable dentures, clasp dentures (with micro-locks or clasps);
The warranty for this work is 1 year.
Temporary orthopedic work includes:
· temporary crowns;
· temporary replacement prostheses.
Permanent orthopedic work is guaranteed for 1 (one) year. Temporary orthopedic work is guaranteed until it is replaced with permanent structures, but not more than 6 (six) months.
The guarantee for permanent removable orthopedic structures is provided for the following items:
· Loss of artificial teeth from dentures, fracture of the plastic of the denture, destruction of micro-locks (attachments) and micro-hooks (clasps).
Please note that temporary orthopedic structures must be replaced with permanent ones. The recommended period of wearing temporary structures is determined by the dentist. If for some reason (outside the control of the clinic or the attending physician) temporary structures are not replaced with permanent ones, then further responsibility is removed from the dental center and the dentist. The guarantee for permanent orthopedic work begins to apply from the moment the warranty card is issued, which defines the scope of work performed and the warranty period. The guarantee for temporary orthopedic work begins to apply from the moment the temporary structures are installed in the patient’s mouth and is confirmed by an entry in the treatment card. At the patient's request, a guarantee card or an extract from the treatment card can be issued.
Possible cases of reduced warranty.
According to the law on “Protection of Consumer Rights,” a shortened warranty period may be established for orthopedic work. The dentist must inform the patient about the reduction in the warranty period for orthopedic work. The warranty period must be specified in the warranty card. Existing medical prosthetic methods do not allow for a full warranty period (1 year) in the presence of the following diagnoses or cases:
· Presence of tooth mobility. The warranty period is set by the doctor;
· Having a diagnosis of gum disease: periodontitis, periodontal disease. A mandatory condition for providing a guarantee is to conduct a professional hygiene course 2 times a year.
The warranty period is set by the doctor depending on the severity of the gum disease; In the absence of clear medical indications for performing certain types of prosthetics and the patient’s desire to perform the work according to a certain scheme, the dentist has the right to establish a warranty period for the orthopedic structure of 1 month, having previously notified the patient about this. All alterations (design changes, therapeutic preparation of teeth for prosthetics) are performed at the patient’s expense.
Important note. Until the patient is issued a warranty card for orthopedic work, the patient has every right to demand rework/correction of the work for the following reasons:
· the work performed does not meet aesthetic requirements (the color, size or shape of the tooth is not done correctly);
· the work performed does not correspond to what is specified in the prosthetics plan (treatment plan).
Compliance with the operating conditions of the orthopedic structure (use of special pastes and toothbrushes, cleaning tablets, etc.). To facilitate the timely detection of complications and to avoid aggravation (deterioration) of health as a result of orthopedic treatment, the patient agrees to undergo a control (preventive) examination at intervals established by the doctor, but at least once a year. The patient is aware that possible complications that are detected in a timely manner (during a follow-up examination) and properly determined by the dentist (i.e., according to accepted methods) will not cause harm to health. If the patient's follow-up examination is delayed by more than 3 months, the warranty will expire.
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1.2.2 Warranty obligations for therapeutic treatment
Therapeutic treatment includes treatment of diseases of caries, pulpitis and periodontitis (the last two are associated with root canal treatment), cosmetic dentistry (restoration or change of the original shape and color of a tooth without prosthetics, replacement/adjustment of fillings), preparation (treatment) of teeth for prosthetics. The guarantee begins to apply from the moment the treatment of a particular tooth is completed. Signs of the end of treatment are:
· in the treatment of caries - a permanent filling is placed;
· in the treatment of complications of caries (pulpitis and periodontitis) - a permanent filling and permanent filling of the root canals.
1 year warranty
The specified guarantee applies to a specific object, namely:
· the placed filling does not break or fall out. It is possible to change the color by 1 tone (toward lightening or darkening), which is corrected by a dentist during a follow-up examination, for smokers (subject to professional hygiene 2 times a year);
· when treating caries, tooth decay is stopped, secondary caries does not occur (a black stripe around the filling);
· to restore the coronal part of the tooth using pin structures (fiberglass and anchor pins) without further prosthetics;
· for primary treatment of root canals if complete patency and permanent filling of the root canals with gutta-percha pins is possible;
· for the absence of destruction of the filling during the treatment (retreatment) of teeth, a guarantee is given for the filling (including using a pin) without the need for further prosthetics;
· on the correct choice of treatment method and the correct initial diagnosis.
Reduced warranty. Combined warranty. Disclaimer of warranty.
Due to the difficulty of clearly predicting the outcome of treatment, it is possible to provide a reduced guarantee in the following cases:
· for the treatment of a tooth that has direct indications for further prosthetics (covering with an orthopedic crown), a guarantee is provided for a period of 3 (three) months. Destruction of the tooth crown (partial or complete destruction of the filling, tooth, loss of the filling) is redone free of charge during the warranty period;
· in case of repeated treatment of root canals (endodontic treatment) and the impossibility of patency of the root canals for reasons: strong curvature, inability to completely unseal, partial possibility of passage (it is not possible to pass part of the canal to the required length) - waiver of warranty. The seal can be guaranteed in full (i.e. for 1 year).
· Removing hidden fragments of an instrument, closing a cut (perforation) of the root canal wall during treatment in another medical institution - waiver of warranty. The seal can be guaranteed in full (i.e. for 1 year).
If there are limiting conditions for providing a full 1-year warranty, it is possible to provide a combined warranty: separately for root canal treatment, separately for the supplied filling.
The guarantee for work and services in therapeutic dentistry begins from the moment of completion of treatment (i.e., installation of a permanent filling). In cases of replacement of temporary therapeutic filling of root canals, a temporary filling with a permanent filling, in another medical institution (unless otherwise agreed with the doctor and not recorded in the outpatient card) is not a basis for providing a guarantee for treatment by the dental center. The patient will be denied consideration of such comments.
If a temporary filling is placed for a certain period of time (determined by the dentist) until the next scheduled visit, and missing a visit to replace the temporary filling with a permanent filling for more than 5 days may lead to the need for repeated root canal treatment. Payment for treatment is carried out at the expense of the patient. The warranty period covers the time from the moment the temporary filling is placed until the scheduled visit to the dentist to replace it with a permanent filling.
To facilitate the timely detection of complications and to avoid aggravation (deterioration) of health as a result of the therapeutic treatment performed, the patient agrees to undergo a control (preventive) examination at a frequency established by the doctor, but at least once a year.
The patient is aware that possible complications detected in a timely manner (during a follow-up examination) and corrected by a dentist properly (i.e., according to accepted methods) will not cause harm to health. If the patient's follow-up examination is delayed by more than 3 months, the warranty will expire.
1.2.3 Warranty obligations for surgical treatment, including implantation.
After surgery, the dental clinic guarantees:
· no complications arise within 6 months.
· if the implant is not integrated, its re-installation will be carried out free of charge.
· after prosthetics on an integrated implant(s), the warranty period is 1 year.
If any symptoms of deterioration in health appear after surgery, you must immediately contact the administrator of the dental center.
Warranty obligations for periodontal treatment (subsection of therapeutic dentistry)
Periodontal treatment (treatment of gum disease) is aimed at eliminating or stopping the disease. Each case depends on many factors (general condition of the body; taking certain medications; nutrition; oral hygiene - frequency of brushing teeth; strictly following the recommendations of the doctor being treated). The guaranteed outcome of treatment is determined in each case individually.
When carrying out the “professional hygiene complex” procedure, it is guaranteed that dental plaque (hard and soft) will be removed and the teeth will acquire a natural color.
I have read the warranty statement
Patient Last Name Patient's First Name (_________________)
Guarantees for implants
Dental implantation is considered one of the most expensive dental services. Accordingly, guarantees are given under special conditions. Guarantees are provided not only by dentistry, but also by dental implant manufacturing companies.
- Premium class. This type of implant is guaranteed for the entire life of the person. Lifetime service is guaranteed, even if something breaks during use. True, this is unlikely, since such products cost a fortune.
- Middle price segment. Such implants can last a very long time, but they are covered under warranty for a maximum of 25 years (sometimes up to 10 years). The exact timing depends on the manufacturers. Moreover, almost always such teeth can not be changed until the end of life.
- Economy class. Despite the name, such implants can last quite a long time, and the warranty on them lasts up to 15 years. But this point needs to be clarified at the clinic where you are doing the installation.
In any case, if the implant turns out to be defective, it must be replaced. As a rule, defects (if any) manifest themselves already in the first year of operation. But the replacement will be carried out only if the patient followed all the rules and recommendations of the doctor.
