For many years, Ukraine was known as the place to go for high quality dental care at a reasonable price. In the past, as many as 40% of Ukraine's 65,000 medical tourists each year came to obtain care for their teeth; everything from crowns to implants, to braces, and more! Even with travel costs from Western Europe and North America, the dental care in Ukraine was a good deal. The high quality of care combined with the use of general anesthesia, whereby the patient is asleep for the procedure, made the trip worthwhile.
For Ukrainians, however, the cost of dental care has always been high relative to wages. In 2021, one metal-ceramic composite crown cost around $250 in Ukraine, half of what it costs in Israel and one-tenth of the U.S. price. But with an average monthly income of just $2,100 for a family of 4 (in 2021), dental care for Ukrainians was a significant expenditure.
Today, with the country's economy in disarray after more than 20 months of the ongoing crisis, most people cannot afford basic dental care, even for urgent needs. Fortunately, we have been able to provide necessary care for people, including many children. Just this week in Zhitomer and Chernivtsi, two children received acute dental treatment provided by JRNU.
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