Pomadent Dental Clinic in Romania [Interview]

Please introduce yourself.

Dr. Pongrácz Mátyás, of Pomadent Clinic. I am a dentist with expertise in prosthodontics (crowns, veneers), aesthetic dentistry and implantology. All of our dentists have received their qualifications in the prestigious Targu Mures University of Medicine and Pharmacy, having also worked abroad to broaden our perspectives and learn about the newest techniques and technologies available.

How long have you been in business?

We have been in business since 1993, offering dental treatment to patients from Romania as well from abroad.

How many dental implant procedures have you done? What is your success rate?

All of our dentists have done hundreds of dental implants, having more than 99% success rate.

Where do most of your patients come from?

Most of our patients come from Transylvania, our good reputation being mostly spread via word of mouth, but as of 2012 an increasing number of patients have been coming from abroad, these number have been steadily and exponentially increasing, as Romanian dental knowledge began to be trusted. These patients mostly find us on google or on dental tourism websites like whatclinic.com, dentaldepartures.com, medbeaver.com etc.

What procedures do you typically recommend and perform?

Mostly we do full ceramic crowns and bridges, with a beautifully aesthetic look, since our technicians are one of the best in the country, having returned from abroad after many years of gaining experience. Despite the implant-hype we try not to overdo these operations where it is not necessary, as I have seen in many cases, because of the price increase. Of course, where it is a viable option, it can be quite good and save the teeth from being prepare for crowns. In these cases we do single implants, in cases where many teeth are missing, we do bridges on implants.

What type of implants (technology) does your clinic use?

We use a German system, because it is extremely precise, making the implants and therefore the crowns on them to have a longer life than many other well-known brands. Usually implant systems all have different screws, different screwdrivers and different attachment of the implant-abutment, therefore one is not compatible with the other. This doesn’t cause any problems however, because patients happily return for the crowns as well, since the dental work is much cheaper in Romania, even with the flights, than in US and also Transylvania is quite a place to visit.

Please give me a summary of the steps in the process of getting an implant at your clinic.

First of all the patient has to contact us, via email or telephone, our secretary will tell them all the details they need to know. The steps are quite easy: if possible, the patient should send us a panoramic x-ray via email, which will be thoroughly inspected by one of our doctors, based on which a detailed treatment plan and price offer can be given to the patient. If the patient does not wish or does not have the possibility of making a panoramic x-ray (usually the price of these is about 10 times more expensive abroad and also not as good a quality), then we can make on at our clinic, but in this case an exact price can be offered only upon arrival at the clinic.

Can you please provide a quick description of the surgical procedure at your clinic?

The implant procedure  is quite quick, easy and pain-free. Under local anesthesia, the gum is cut, a whole is drilled into the bone and the titanium implant screwed in. After this 15-minute procedure the gum is sutured and the patient is free to go, can even fly back home the same day. After this procedure we usually wait for 3 months, while the bone grows on the implant, then we insert the implant abutment and porcelain crown on top.

How much do your procedures cost?

The implant in itself costs $350 usd, while the abutment and crown costs $380 usd altogether.

What payment methods do you accept? Do you offer financing?

We offer cash and credit card payments.

How many trips to Romania are required?

Two visits are required, one for one day, when we insert the implants, the second visit after 3 months (based on bone strengths, can be extended to up to 6 months when sinus lift and bone addition is also needed). The second visit needs a stay of 10 working days when we wait for the dental laboratory to manufacture the crowns. This is the time the patients take advantage of our tour guides: we have cultural tour guides, showing patients all the castles and historical places of Transylvania; and we have adventure guides, taking our patients to paragliding, white water rafting, hiking etc.

What do you advise your patients to do if they have a problem with their implant?

In the very unlikely case of any implants coming loose we offer a guarantee and either reimburse the fee paid, or redo and implant procedure itself free of charge. During the many years having done implants, I personally had only one case when the implant came loose, for unknown reasons (for example not being properly hygienized). The patient returned after two months and we inserted a new implant, free of charge of course and got a crown on top, everything working perfectly fine, to the satisfaction of the patient.

What other costs would there be for someone travelling to your clinic from North America?

Besides the dental fees, of course there would be airfare, food and hotel costs to consider. These costs do of course tend to be much less than what someone is used to paying in North America. In case of a patient traveling from abroad, our Public Relations manager does everything to help the patients with the arrangements, help book a hotel and send our driver to pick them up at the airport.

Where do your patients stay while they are getting an implant done?

There are countless hotels in the area, satisfying every need of our patients.

Is it safe in Romania?

It is quite safe, especially in Transylvania, where the usual hustlers people see in capitals are missing from the streets and people are friendly.

Does a patient need to be able to speak Romanian?

Of course it does help to speak Romanian, but Romania is especially know for one of the countries in Europe where almost everyone speaks English to a certain level. Transylvania is a melting pot of cultures, the population being Romanian, Hungarian and German, people being very tolerant towards foreigners.

What is there to do in your city?

There is a lot to do in our city and in Transylvania, with the help of our certified guides. One can visit the famous castles and the hidden villages, or go white water rafting, paragliding, canoeing or hiking the mountains of Transylvania. Not only the people and architecture but also the wildlife of Transylvania is something to be amazed by.

What is the best time of year to travel to Romania?

The summer is beautiful, but air fares tend to be most expensive then. Winter can be also great here, since skiing and snowboarding can be done in the mountains surrounding Transylvania, still the best time to visit would be spring and autumn. The air fares are quite inexpensive these times of year, also tourists have already departed, making it a nice and chilling experience.

What are the best places to eat in your area?

Authentic cuisine can be had in almost every restaurant, but our staff at the reception can offer good restaurants to visit, or you can find our pick of hotels and restaurants on webpage as well.

Please note: This interview is for informational purposes only and does not represent a recommendation of the dentist mentioned. All opinions expressed are those of the interviewee.

If you’ve had dental work done by this clinic, please leave a review in the comments!