For nine years, Dr Maxim Baïni, a dentist from Zgharta in Lebanon, has plied his trade in a country that has been scarred by war. Here he offers Middle East Dentist a snapshot of the local dental landscape and tells us how a passion for the internet has opened up his practice to the world.
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How do you think the Lebanese dental industry compares with those in other GCC countries?
I think the whole of the Gulf region is becoming more sophisticated in dental treatments and that all of the countries are putting their efforts together to give their patients the best possible treatment. Many Lebanese dentists move away from the country to work in the neighbouring Gulf States and they are quick to pass on new information on treatments and issues to those of us back home.
What hurdles have you faced in maintaining a private practice?
I fi nished my studies in 1999 and I opened my own clinic within a year. The biggest problems I had were fi nancial ones. Because of the economy, it’s very expensive in Lebanon and dentists are not very well paid. We pay out too much and receive little in return. There was no government support or grants, so I took a personal loan from the bank.
Have market trends matured during your time in practice?
The quality of work is changing. Now I do periodontal work, implants and things like that. When I fi rst opened I only did little things such as constructive procedures, crowns and so on.
Demand is now mostly geared towards aesthetic work; it is fashionable to have big, white, well-presented teeth. People are opting more and more for cosmetic dentistry and are more informed about treatments such as getting implants. The more profi table dentists in Lebanon look to acquire the latest technologies for aesthetic dentistry and attend seminars to extend their knowledge. There are dentists in the region that are more conservative and prefer to remain in the general practice, performing mostly basic dental procedures.
What is the level of oral health in the country?
As with many other countries, we have many different communities and socio-economic groups. We have quite a large percentage of the population whose dental health is not very good. We need better education on the prevention of dental problems and better communication on what can be done in terms of existing issues. We have some government initiatives and support in that respect, but they are small and quite modest. There are some private groups that are trying to set up initiatives and attempt to educate the people on the benefi ts of good dental hygiene, but it is still not nearly enough.
Could local dentists be more proactive in promoting dental health?
One of the problems is that there is no free, public sector dentistry unless you are part of an institution like the army
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and, as a result, people are not receiving the appropriate dental care.
There are people who cannot afford the optimal therapy so have to settle for a substandard solution. Instead of performing a root canal treatment or making a crown for a damaged tooth, dentists perform an extraction, because the client does not have enough money to pay for the best possible treatment. It is getting much harder to live in Lebanon fi nancially because of things like the war and the economical impact that has had on the country. However, dental treatment is still much cheaper here than places like the US, or even in neighbouring countries.
Given the political climate in Lebanon, what are the key issues facing dentists at the moment?
It is very hard, not only for dentists, but for everyone, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. It is still uncertain. People are becoming more used to the situation and life goes on pretty much as normally as it can. As dentists, we try not to dwell on the political troubles. We just try to make sure we are well equipped with the latest technology and materials to do the best job that we can.
And has this impacted on access to equipment and other supplies?
Because there is no government support, dentists have to pay for everything. We have some companies that can provide the equipment we need through the internet, sometimes the delays are only a couple of months. Some major dental product companies are also able to supply directly, once again by ordering over the internet. If we need very expensive equipment, we have to buy it immediately because we don’t know whether it will be available tomorrow.
With this lack of fi nancial support, is the expense of equipment passed on to the client?
My prices will be increased, but because of the market here we can only raise our prices a little. I offset this by not buying an expensive car, or spending money on hobbies such as golf. We cannot do everything, but by not spending my money on these things I can afford much more for my practice. My work is my hobby.
Your practice is quite advanced in terms of its online services. How has this helped your business in terms of client retention and new business?
Many of my patients are much more confi dent when they come to me. They can look at procedures, fi nd answers to their questions and ease their worries by checking the site. I believe that more people come to see me on the basis of the website. There are many clients here in Lebanon who found me [through the website] and travelled some distance to receive treatment.
Were you surprised by the popularity of your site?
I didn’t expect so many people to respond to [the Ask the Dentist section of the website]. I was very surprised at the quantity, and also the quality of the questions being asked – and questions have come from all over the world.
I love my work, I love the internet and I love graphic design, so it was an ideal opportunity to marry those passions and to enable me to communicate with new people.
12 Middle East Dentist • May 2008 www.arabianbusiness.com/healthcare
