Dentistry in Slovakia

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The Slovak Republic, known as Slovakia for short, is a central European country that has in recent years created a reputation as a great destination for dental tourism. If you haven’t heard the term ‘dental tourism’ before, it refers to a growing tendency for people to seek private treatments outside of their own countries and healthcare systems. Slovakia has established itself in this field by providing high end dental clinics which provide a range of services, including cosmetic services, at very competitive prices.

Slovakia: The country in brief

Slovakia is actually a relatively new country, gaining its independence after Czechoslovakia was dissolved in 1993. The country has one of the EU’s fastest economic growth rates, boasting an advanced economy (developed country) with flourishing tourism, services, and industrial sectors. The country’s official language is Slovak, with Hungarian and Rusyn also spoken in certain parts of the country. That being said, English is very widely spoken because of the country’s large tourism sector.

Dental qualifications in Slovakia

Having a strong service driven economy, healthcare standards in Slovakia are high and their dentists are expected to meet high standards when obtaining their qualifications. Dentistry takes six years to study in Slovakia, with the student working towards an MDDr degree. Two universities in the country currently offer this dental programme, and these are Comenius University and the University of Pavol Jozef Safarik, found in Bratislava and Kosice respectively.

After obtaining an MDDr degree, new graduates are required to work under the supervision of an experienced and qualified dentist for a minimum of 3 years. If their performance at this stage is satisfactory, they may then present to a commission to obtain a license to practice from the Slovakian dental regulatory body called The Slovak Chamber of Dentists. This practice certificate needs to be renewed every five years, not unlike licenses to practice for doctors in the UK. Despite becoming qualified to practice at this stage, Slovakian dentists are required to attend a minimum of 5 days of further education every year. These courses are both theoretical and practical, and designed to keep dentists’ skills fresh and to keep them aware of developments in the field. These events are arranged by both the dental universities and industries, with some involvement from the Slovak Chamber of Dentists as well.

After the first year of their postgraduate training under an experienced dentist, Slovakian junior dentists can begin to specialise in orthodontics (to do with managing teeth and jaw development), paedodontics (dental care of children), or oral maxillofacial surgery (surgical treatment of the face, teeth, jaws, and neck). Each of these specialties are taught over three year courses regulated by the Slovakian Ministry of Health.

Slovakian dental authorities

As mentioned above the Slovak Chamber of Dentists is the main regulatory authority that manages and maintains standards in dental training and practice. In order to practice dentistry legally in Slovakia, you must meet their requirements and receive a license to practice from them.

Dental treatments in Slovakia

Specific procedures have become very popular for dental tourists coming into Slovakia. These can include:

Bleaching is a popular cosmetic procedure in which teeth are whitened to improve their experience. As you grow older the minerals that make up your teeth change, leaving them darker. The colour of your teeth also changes with staining by food and tobacco. Regardless of the cause, many people look for bleaching services, and the competitive prices in Slovakia have made it a great destination for anyone looking to bleach their teeth while on holiday.
Porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain made to look like the fronts of teeth either to protect the teeth beneath them or to improve the aesthetic appearance of teeth. The veneer is stuck on to your teeth by means of a sticky resin.
Bonding is a process by which a composite resin (an adhesive substance) is used as a filling material for back and front teeth. This is essentially a solution acting against tooth decay or to improve the appearance of your teeth by either reshaping or lightening them.
Gum Recontouring is used cosmetically to improve the appearance of teeth if someone feels their smile is too gummy. This generally refers to an instance in which gums cover a significant part of your teeth, making them appear smaller than usual and the gums more prominent. In gum recontouring a scalpel or laser is used to trim excess gum leaving a clearer and toothier smile.
Dental Implants are effectively substitute roots made of titanium used to support restorative work including crowns and dentures.

Getting to Slovakia

Slovakia is easily accessible by air with three airports two of which are in Bratislava and Kosice, locations with an established dental treatment community. Ferry travel is also possible with Bratislava’s main port connecting it to the rest of Europe, mainly through Vienna, Budapest, and Hainburg. Finally Slovakia is well connected to other European cities by means of a well maintained rail network connecting it to locations like Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw, and Budapest.

Why would I want to go to Slovakia for dental treatment?

Dental care in the UK can be expensive and time consuming, particularly where cosmetic work is involved. Destinations like Slovakia offer much more competitive rates in world class dental clinics with experienced practitioners. Going abroad has the added benefit of going to a new place as well! So if going abroad and getting affordable and top quality dental treatment sounds like the course of action for you, Slovakia is widely considered a popular destination that is worth considering.

Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry in Slovakia »