Had she received proper treatment, she would have completed the repositioning of her ectopic canine for Rs 30,000.
But now, as her treatment has failed, it is costing her Rs 3 million just to restore normalcy, which she cannot afford.
Samjhana Panta, 25, from Dadeldhura district, sought reattachment of her ectopic canine at Mahendranagar-based Bista Dental Clinic, hoping it would improve her facial appearance and self-confidence. A health worker at the clinic posing as a dentist told her she had to wear braces, which cost Rs 30,000.
“I paid the fee in advance as requested by the health officer,” Panda said. “However, the wrong orthodontic treatment carried out by a criminal not only puts me in serious trouble, but also causes mental stress, anxiety and depression.”
This was a common refrain among many people who had approached the wrong person or a dummy in one of the dental clinics that are mushrooming in urban areas. Due to the apathy of the bodies involved in the regulation of dental clinics, many people have failed in their treatments.
“Many complaints have been made against dentists and dental clinics to the board,” said Dr Kalu Singh Khatri, a member of the Nepal Medical Council, the national regulatory body for doctors and dentists. “I would ask every patient to check their doctor’s and dentist’s NMC number before starting treatment.”
Panda said that during the brace treatment process, she suffered from severe pain. Her bites, mouth and jaw became uneven and she even felt her teeth start to pop out of her lips.
When her facial structure began to change, the health worker, who claimed to be a dentist, extracted four teeth—two on the upper jaw and two on the lower.
“No positive change has occurred in the last two years of treatment,” Panda said. “The structure of my face changed. Due to chronic pain, I could not eat and sleep properly and suffered mental stress.”
Panda sought a second opinion from another doctor, who doubted the health worker’s qualifications. Whenever she approached him to inquire about the cause of the problem, he became angry. She asked for his NMC number but he refused to give it. When he warned him that he would file a case with the police, the health officer gave the NMC numbers of some other people.
Checked the number on the NMC website but couldn’t find it. When she asked him to show his NMC number on the council’s website, he showed her a certificate for three days dental training.
“I sought treatment at other hospitals, but most doctors refused to deal with the damaged case,” Panda said. “I made a complaint against the dental clinic to the council and asked for help with treatment. As per the board’s recommendation, my treatment was started at Bir Hospital. But doctors say it’s impossible to become normal.”
The Post has obtained another complaint lodged with the Council by another girl, who sought treatment at a New Baneshwar-based dental clinic to correct her misaligned teeth and jaws. And in this case the dentist extracted four teeth. The girl suffered from root resorption from tight braces and the roots of several teeth were irreparably damaged.
Unlike the first case, the person doing the treatment in the second case was a general dentist.
Experts say that along with quackery, handling of all kinds of cases by a general practitioner has become a problem in the country.
“We have excellent dentists who do fantastic treatments that meet international standards, but when it comes to braces and clear aligners, patients should always look for NMC registered Orthodontics,” said Dr Manish Bajracharya, Orthodontist. “Orthodontists can handle complex cases more correctly.”
Braces and clear aligners are not only for aligning the front teeth but also for maintaining a better harmony of the upper and lower teeth along with the facial muscles and jaws. It involves complex biomechanics and the treating physician should be well aware of it. Each case has a different diagnosis and each requires a specific treatment plan. Incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment can cause many complications in the future.
