Natalia Marchenko: “You have to burn for your cause!”

Natalia Marchenko

Being a doctor is a vocation. It is not for nothing they say that you have to fall in love with this profession to achieve the desired heights. Quality training, constant development, trend tracking, and practical experience are not all that include many years of work, which brings successful self-fulfillment in medicine. The main motivation is to help people be healthy and happy. 

The heroine of November’s digital cover is a dentist Natalia Marchenko.In an exclusive interview, she talked about innovations in the medical field, common myths and marketing in dentistry, and shared her family traditions.

A dentist is not only a professional in the medical field, but also an innovator, a psychologist, and a coach. How would you describe your own activities? 

Yes, that’s right. A dentist is really a very versatile profession that requires not only 100% competence and constant self-improvement, but also an individual approach to each person. I would say that this is an artist who can change a picture only in small strokes. 

What treatments have now become popular due to marketing influence? 

More and more people are paying attention not only to dental and oral health, but also to aesthetics. So now the most popular procedures are teeth whitening and the installation of veneers. Just a few years ago, 90% of people went to a doctor just to get their cavities treated and their dentures fixed. It’s great that people now want to be beautiful, which means they want to be confident. 

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What do you say about tobacco stain whitening pastes, toothpowders for smokers or for people who drink coffee frequently?

If you use whitening pastes that are aggressive on tooth enamel, then it should be with a lot of mineral components, namely calcium, phosphorus, fluorides, which will allow enamel to become resistant to acids faster.

Another group of whitening pastes are chemical, containing enzymes, hydrogen peroxide or active oxygen. Thanks to their composition, they penetrate deep into the enamel and whiten “from the inside. Remember that the less peroxide in the toothpaste, the gentler it is on your teeth. 

It is worth considering another point: peroxide-containing pastes do not work quickly and the effect will be “cumulative. You can see the result of whitening after quite a long time. This is especially important for people with thin or very sensitive enamel.  

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There are many nuances to consider when choosing pastes and whitening powders. Do not skimp on toothpaste, because a very cheap one may not have the necessary useful additives that protect your teeth after the whitening procedure. 

I would also like to point out that pregnant women and teenagers are not recommended to use bleaching products. This is due to the physiological characteristics of the body. 

Uneven whitening can also be observed in those who wear artificial crowns. 

For everyone else, however, daily use of whitening pastes is not recommended to keep tooth enamel safe. The optimal frequency of such hygienic procedures is 2-3 times a week.

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Does an electric toothbrush clean better than a regular toothbrush? Or is this also a trick of the marketers? 

The electric toothbrush has a number of advantages. First, modern electric toothbrushes work on a built-in timer. This is to alert the owner that he has not brushed his teeth thoroughly enough or for a long time. Believe me, not everyone brushes their teeth for the recommended 2 minutes. As a consequence, the quality of brushing  The power brush is still higher than a regular brush. It removes up to 87% of plaque and is better at removing plaque from tea, coffee and tobacco. I especially recommend electric brushes for people who are prone to tartar formation. 

Regarding toothpastes: How often should you change them and how do you know if a toothpaste isn’t right for a person?

Now the market offers consumers a huge range of toothpastes, both conventional and specialized, whose action is aimed at achieving a certain effect: whitening, strengthening enamel, reducing bleeding gums, increasing flavoring effect. A periodic change of toothpaste is necessary because any microorganisms, including those in the mouth, are capable of adaptation. In this regard, the effectiveness of toothpastes, especially those with therapeutic and preventive effects, decreases significantly with prolonged use. Simply put, the medicinal ingredients stop working on the microorganisms because of their addiction to the drugs. 

If you are using whitening pastes that contain abrasive particles that can damage enamel and, as a consequence, make teeth more sensitive to temperature changes and sweets, then you just need to alternate them according to your situation: with pastes to strengthen the gums, or fluoride pastes. All appointments can be made by a specialist after examination of the oral cavity. 

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Simply put, the medicinal ingredients stop working on the microorganisms because of their addiction to the drugs.

Dentistry is one of the most technologically advanced fields of medicine. What innovations do you consider the most significant in this area?

Over the past decade, technology in dentistry has changed completely. Modern dental implants, innovative solutions for digital dentistry and digital imaging of the mouth and jaw, the ability to print the operating field and dentures using 3D printers, materials for fillings, regenerative dentistry. All of this has absolutely changed the quality of treatment. Do not forget about such an innovation as eliners, alignment of teeth without braces, with a calibrated and absolutely predictable result. 

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How often do you take professional development courses? Is it important not only to maintain your qualifications, but also to develop them?

Absolutely. It is very important for doctors to “keep up” with progress, which in the last decade has made an incredible leap, in techniques, technology, and materials. Medicine is a science that is closely related to innovation. Those methods and approaches that were used “yesterday”, “today” and “tomorrow” may prove ineffective, irrelevant and even carry certain risks. It is very important to keep the information up to date. It’s not enough to read and know about it here. It is important to practice and learn from the founders of the method. That’s why, as a doctor, I am constantly learning, attending conferences, going on internships, reading literature.

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If we talk about the financial side of the profession, how much money can a young professional count on now, and what can come to after gaining experience?

It’s not about the age of the specialist, it’s about his talent, his theoretical and practical training and his ambition. Man sets his own barriers and boundaries. Forget about them. You can achieve great heights and material prosperity by the age of 30, but only on one condition. You have to burn for your cause! And it’s not just about medicine. Develop and conquer the heights. Believe in yourself, and success will not be long in coming.

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We’ve put together a few myths about teeth. We invite you to comment on them: 

Sweets are bad for your teeth

When we eat something sweet, the PH environment in our mouth changes – it becomes more acidic. It worsens the condition of the teeth, they become weaker and deteriorate faster. But, unfortunately, even a complete rejection of sweets does not guarantee the absence of problems with teeth. Almost any food has a negative impact on your teeth and more. Sweet rolls and chocolates have a very negative effect on my figure as well (smiling – editor’s note). I’m all for sensible consumption, prevention, and timely treatment.

The stiffer the brush, the better it brushes your teeth

Too strong  brushing can lead to abrasion of tooth enamel and damage to the gums, as well as cause hypersensitivity of the teeth. These brushes are designed for dental structures and dentures.

Professional whitening is bad for your teeth

Trust whitening only to professionals! Because the procedure can damage the enamel due to prolonged contact between the whitening gel and your teeth. Modern systems are safe for enamel when used properly.

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You can only correct your bite at 

The most common misconception about the bite has to do with age. Many people think that it can be corrected only in childhood, but today, with the advent of new technology, it can be done at any age. Modern treatment with braces or eliners will help you. 

Cavities are not transmitted by kissing

Only bacteria can be transmitted through kissing, not tooth decay. It will depend on the person himself, on the presence in his mouth of good conditions for life and reproduction of pathogens.

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You are successfully realized in the professional sphere. What are you like at home? What does home comfort mean to you?

Home comfort is the smell of coffee, baking, citrus, and the subtle scent of vanilla. A warm and cozy plaid, a favorite cat and lots of fresh flowers. At home I am calm, all my worries remain behind the threshold, in the hustle and bustle of the day. Fun. In life, not without a smile, and a sense of humor helps to easily perceive what is happening and find it positive.

What does a woman need to feel completely happy? 

You have to listen to yourself, listen to your desires. Not to drive them to the farthest corner of the soul, but to dream and achieve. It’s important to strike a balance. Work, home, family, friends, finances. It’s complicated, but it’s possible. We must strive for that. Make yourself happy with little things, surround yourself with beauty, give a smile to the people around you. 

Tell us about your family traditions. How do you plan to celebrate the New Year?

New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and Easter are holidays that I traditionally celebrate with my family. I believe in the magic of New Year’s Eve and always make wishes at the sound of the chimes. I love the New Year’s Eve rush, choosing and wrapping gifts, decorating the Christmas tree. And to this day, as a child, with joy, I look under the Christmas tree in anticipation of gifts. New Year’s Eve is a magical time. 

Natalia Marchenko

How often do you do retreats? What unusual ways have you tried to restore energy? 

My strength is in my travels. In the majesty of the mountains and the sound of the sea. In the rustle of gravel under the wheels of the car, in the serpentine roads. In learning the cultural traditions and values of other peoples. I can’t imagine myself without it. I try to get out into nature sometimes just to enjoy the silence. This is probably the most affordable retreat right now.


Text: Maria Holotiy

Photo: personal archive of Natalia Marchenko 


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