Dental services in Russia increased in price over the year. In a number of regions, according to Rosstat, the prices for fillings accelerated by up to 70%, crowns – up to 130%, and prostheses – exceeded 250%. Russian media researched why this happened and where dental care would cost the most.
Prices for the most common dental services – primary examination, tooth extraction, fillings, fitting of prostheses and crowns – increased by an average of 15% from April 2022 to April 2023, according to data from Rosstat and calculations from Russian media. This is higher than inflation, which at the end of 2022 amounted to 11.9%.
The greatest growth – up to 250% – is seen in services that require imported fillings, anesthesia and dental implants. Due to the sanctions and the logistical problems they caused, these goods became scarcer and more expensive, practicing dentists told Russian media.
“Dental preparations and instruments have become much more expensive: two, three, ten times more. Patients must explain why the treatment has become more expensive. Well, in principle, anyone who has a toothache, those, in fact, do not care. If only they could help,” said dentist Maria Yevtushenko.
Russian media ranked the top regions in terms of price growth for the most popular dental procedures, including prices patches Rosstat, and asked market participants to comment on these changes.
Crowns: 16% price increase
From April 2022 to April 2023, the prices for the manufacture of crowns in Russia increased by an average of 16%. But there are regions where the cost of this dental service has jumped considerably above this level.
Thus, the price of making a crown in Kalmykia increased by 133% over the year (from 2,300 to 5,360 rubles), according to data from Rosstat (Russian media sent a request to the Ministry of Health of Kalmykia) . The price increase in the Kamchatka Territory and the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug turned out to be more than 50%. Kurgan and Saratov regions were also in the top 5 in terms of crown price growth with results of 35% and 39% respectively.
Prostheses: price increase of 15.8%
Until the beginning of spring 2022, about 90% of materials for dentistry provided of European countries. The sanctions, which have limited access to Western markets, have also driven up the prices of dental prostheses. On average in the country, their production has increased in price by almost 16%.
So, in the Republic of Ingushetia, the prices for such dental structures increased by 256% (Russian media sent a request to the Ministry of Health of Ingushetia), in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – by more than 60% and in Sevastopol by 35%. The Lipetsk region and Kalmykia also recorded a 30% increase.
Tooth extraction under local anesthesia: price increase of 14.5%
Over the past six months, the shortage of dental anesthetics has been clearly manifested – modern drugs of the articaine ultracaine and ubistezin series, Dmitry Dmitrovich, PhD, dentist, implant surgeon at the Dmitrovich Family Clinic, told Russian media.
Articaine is much more potent than anesthetics of previous generations (2 times – lidocaine, 6 times – novocaine). It is less toxic and is eliminated from the body more quickly
“They are difficult to obtain officially, because the certification certificates are finished. In addition, the minimum number of supplies from official representatives led to a sharp increase in prices. We have to use analogues, for example, Orabloc, which is substandard, and patients notice this,” Dmitrovich said.
According to dentist Maria Yevtushenko, previously imported anesthesia cost 2,000 rubles per pack. Now imported analgesics can be purchase for about 14,000-17,000 rubles. This is one of the reasons for the rising prices of tooth extractions under anesthesia. On average, the cost of the service in the country has increased by 14.5%, but in a number of regions its price has increased by more than 30%. Russian media sent a request to the Ministry of Health of the Ryazan region, where the growth was almost 40%.
Caries treatment with filling: 14% price increase
Vitremer filling material, which has been used in clinics of the middle and high price segment for 20 years, has also become rare. Dentists have used it in many situations: from filling children’s teeth, to treating cervical caries, to restoring teeth for dentures.
“In fact, it has no full-fledged analogues. It is a sought-after, long-term and effective material. Now the search for analogues is a significant problem, since the cost of the material itself increased by more than 200% in the year and a half to two years. Mainly due to logistical overlaps, ”said Dmitrovich.
The shortage of filling materials has become one of the reasons for the rising prices of dental care. The national average is 14%. So, to get rid of caries in Kalmykia, you will have to pay 70% more than in 2022 (1882 rubles instead of 1097 rubles, Russian media sent a request to the Ministry of Health of the region). Other leaders in terms of price growth include Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Primorsky Krai.
First dental appointment: 10% price increase
The cost of the first visit to the dentist has increased the least in a year. The national average is 10%. The highest cost dynamics was recorded in the Kaliningrad region (554 rubles, +42% of the price in 2022, Russian media sent a request to the Ministry of Health of the region). Other leaders in price growth include the Altai Republic, the Omsk region and Mari El.
Unlike other dental services, the prices of which are set by Rosstat, there are regions where the cost of a first appointment with a dentist has become lower. So, in the Smolensk region, the first consultation will cost 378 rubles (compared to 460 rubles in 2022, Russian media sent a request to the region’s Ministry of Health). The service has become cheaper in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Astrakhan region and North Ossetia-Alania.
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