RM: The German Dental & Dermatology Center (formerly known as German Dental Center) is an institution with a high reputation in Qatar. What makes your clinic stand out among the crowd?
HH: First of all - Thanks for having us. Since our establishment in ……. we tried to bring in experienced German-board certified doctors. So we try to be genuine to our name and background in the hope of maximum benefit for our patients. Furthermore – all our doctors are specialists with german specialty degrees. This meets the complex needs of our patients.
DL: It must be said, that we never went for mass audience on the expense of quality service. There are many bigger clinics out there with multiple branches. We just felt that we couldn’t guarantee a sufficient quality control this way and refrained from expansion. I think that makes us stand out. Another point is, that this is a family-run business which has a certain atmosphere to it, that I think most patients appreciate.
RM: How do you see dental health in Qatar?
DL: Qatar has a very diverse population, most of which hasn’t grown up here. Therefore eating habits and even oral health awareness differ from group to group. I personally think that the average awareness among our patients is very high.
HH: I agree. The acceptance of professional cleaning and early orthodontic treatment for children is very high, even when compared to Germany.
What are the most sought-after procedures you perform in your clinic?
HH: In my function as a specialist orthodontist, I have to say that there is a strong trend for invisible “braces” like Invisalign. This may be due to the growing spectrum of treatable orthodontic conditions which can be solved with using these type of clear aligners. The latest trend is using Invisalign for teenagers.
DL: I am an oral surgeon and the interest in dental implants is very stable over the years. An upcoming trend would be the so-called “All-on-4” implant solution, where whole jaws can be completely restored with as little as 4 implants per jaw in a very short time. Of course, this method isn’t meant for everybody. I still prefer saving a tooth with a root canal treatment if feasible. But dental implants have great longevity and functional value.
People are also getting more and more aware of injectable anti-aging treatments like Botox or dermal fillers and PRP, which I refer to our Dermatologist, Dr. Oana Petrica. The most common procedure in our dermatology department is still Laser Hair Removal though.
What is your clinics mission statement, or how can you sum up your own idea on providing health?
HH: (laughs) Mission statements? We didn’t actually formulate one. For me, I would like to say that I love to be of service to our patients’ most precious asset – their health.
DL: How can I top that (laughs). We really love to be our patients’ trusted little place in Doha.
