Dentistry is a medical field focused on maintaining and treating the health of oral tissues and organs. A dentist is responsible for examining the condition of teeth and the mouth, diagnosing diseases of the mouth, face, and jaw, planning treatment, restoring tooth form, function, and aesthetics, among other tasks.
The Riga 1st Hospital’s dentistry department continues the traditions of the Riga Children’s Dental Polyclinic, established in 1951, offering accessible dental and preventive services to both children and adults.
Dentistry specialists work in 23 modernly equipped offices located at the Šarlote Polyclinic, providing treatments in dental care, prosthetics, surgery, orthodontics, and hygiene services. The hospital’s sterilization department ensures compliance with all sanitary and epidemiological requirements.
Scheduling an Appointment with the Dentist
To provide regular oral health check-ups for established patients and plan further treatment for new patients, an initial oral examination is scheduled with the dentist. This exam is 10 minutes long, during which the oral condition is assessed, necessary X-rays are taken, and appointments for treatment are scheduled if required.
In cases where an immediate appointment cannot be arranged, patients are placed on a waiting list. The hospital operates an SMS system that reminds patients of their appointment 4 days in advance. If a visit is canceled, the appointment is offered to patients on the waiting list.
Patients experiencing pain can schedule an appointment during emergency hours.
However, the number of emergency slots per doctor is limited, and a specific doctor cannot always be guaranteed.
Emergency appointments are available for:
- Acute, persistent tooth pain
- Tooth trauma
- Swelling of the cheek and/or gums
During an emergency hour, the dentist can examine the patient and issue a report on the condition of the mouth.
IMPORTANT: During emergency hours, the dentist will not perform root canal treatments (second or subsequent sessions).
Further root canal treatment must be carried out by the patient’s primary dentist. If your primary dentist practices elsewhere, a report on the work done will be issued.
Dental services for children under 18 are covered by the state.
We remind you that some dental practices can provide state-funded dental services for children more quickly. Information about facilities with contracts with the National Health Service (Nacionālais veselības dienests, NVD) for state-funded dental care for children under 18 and waiting lists is available at http://www.vmnvd.gov.lv/lv/rindapiearstalv and at the reception desk.
State-funded services for children include:
- Dental consultations
- Tooth restoration, including root canal treatment
- Dental X-rays, including orthopantomograms (only with a doctor’s referral). The orthopantomogram recording on a disc is available for an additional fee
- Surgical services (extractions, frenectomy for lips or tongue, etc.)
- Orthodontic consultations (once a year)
- Oral hygiene services – once per year for children aged 2 to 17, and twice per year for children aged 7, 11, and 12
The state does not cover the following services for children under 18:
- Sealant application
- Deep fluoride treatment with Tifan fluoride
- Orthodontic treatment
- MTA application
- Fiberglass post and restoration with fiberglass materials
All dental services for adults are provided for a fee, as per the hospital’s pricing list.
Riga 1st Hospital collaborates with all major insurance companies. If a patient has an insurance policy, the co-payment for dental services depends on the extent of coverage provided by their insurance policy.
X-ray Services
Professional X-ray assistants perform dental X-rays and orthopantomograms for both department patients and those treated in other dental offices. A doctor’s referral is required.
Some offices have X-ray equipment available adjacent to the dental chair.
Digital dental X-ray images are accessible through the DataMed system. Upon request, these can also be produced on X-ray film.