Severe defects of dental prostheses manufactured abroad

A study recently published by the MDK (Medical Advisory Service of German Health Insurance) has found severe defects in dental prostheses and dentures manufactured abroad between 2006 and 2007.

 

In order to save money, many patients resort to buying cheaper dental prostheses produced in other countries. They should know better - this is the conclusion drawn by a recent MDK study presented by Dr Christine Baulig, coordinator in the field of dentistry for the MDK Rhineland-Palatinate, in the Deutsche Zahnärztliche Zeitschrift (German Dentistry Magazine) No. 7, 2008.

 

The MDK study was realised in cooperation with the Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Computer Science (IMBEI) at the University of Mainz. Its authors strongly criticise the fact that more and more dental treatments ignore the guidelines of the GKV (the German Statutory Health Insurance), that is to say, an increasing number of prostheses for patients in Germany is manufactured in non-EU countries where these standards do not apply. As a result, one in three prostheses showed considerable deficiencies. Almost one half of the treatment results (45 per cent) were considered inadequate under the stricter GKV guidelines, so that rectifications were deemed necessary. In 20 per cent of the examined cases, the MDK recommended a completely new dental restoration.

 

"We have to inform our patients about the high risks of being treated abroad," said Jörg-Peter Husemann, chairman of the KZV. "In most cases the patient bears these risks alone because neither the services of a German dentist nor the Statutory Health Insurance System can be utilised for rectification purposes in connection with foreign dental prostheses, with the only exception being for emergency treatments."

 

 

Based on an article by Stefan Grande published in MBZ 10/2008

Edited August 2011