Going to the dentist under any circumstances can be an ordeal, but going to the dentist in a foreign country where you do not speak the language is the stuff of nightmares. You desperately flick through the pages of your phrase book for the vital words. "No, I really don't want those two molars extracted," you gurgle through a mouthful of cotton wool. "Or at least not without a general anesthetic." Dentistry, as any dentaphobe will tell you, is like plumbing: A professional activity where the craftsmanship, or lack of it, is not always immediately obvious.


An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a pound of cure. Dentists never tire of telling patients to brush their teeth regularly and to floss till they drop. They recommend a small-headed toothbrush like the Oral B 35, which easily reaches the back of the mouth. There are several places in Moscow that now sell toothbrushes, a range of toothpastes and even dental floss. The pharmacy at the Tourists Clinic sells the Oral B brushes for children and adults. The pharmacies and supermarkets in town also sell an array of mouthwashes, although dentists say that these are not very useful, and that some can even harm tooth enamel.


Baby clinics in many countries recommend giving children up to the age of 3 fluoride drops. Other countries have added fluoride to the water. Research has found that children living in areas where there is fluoride in the water have better teeth. Other American and British research suggests that excess fluoride, on the other hand, can lead to joint stiffening, the discoloration of children's teeth, and the development of bone cancer in men. Tests carried out by the World Health Organization suggest that as many as one quarter of the world's population could be consuming too much of the substance. The debate over whether to fluoride or not will doubtless continue for some time. Meanwhile, dentists still recommend extra doses of fluoride for young children, and the use of fluoride toothpaste as well.


Dental check-ups are recommended every six months. Most foreigners living in Moscow probably have these at home, but there are now a number of private dental practices in the city. Indeed, Russians who do not want to wait weeks for an appointment also now have to pay for what was once free dental care. The problem with Russian dental care is simply that it has not kept up with many of the innovations that has occurred in dentistry during the last 10 years.


According to Dr. Anna Kristensen, the resident dentist at the British Embassy, a major preoccupation in modern dentistry is the prevention of cross-infection. Modern technology has made sterilization a much simpler and more effective process; hot air sterilization, or autoclave, is the most certain method of ensuring instruments are absolutely clean. Kristensen has visited a number of Russian dental clinics, and found that dentists are not using the autoclave system, but the cold sterilization method, which is not as effective. In light of these concerns, many foreigners living in Moscow prefer to attend western dental clinics.


The Dental-Beiker Dental Clinic, 9 Kuznetsky Most (Tel. 923-5322) uses German equipment. The clinic is open from 8:30 A.M. to 8 P.M. and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. A filling costs 30,000-50,000 rubles, and an extraction 60,000. A consultation costs 10,000 rubles, and a cleaning is 5,000.


The Mosta Clinic, 13 Bolshoi Cherkassky Pereulok (Tel. 923-3169) is open Monday through Friday from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. with a break from 1 to 2. Here a porcelain filling costs $120, and an extraction $300. Patients can also be fitted with temporary crowns. Children are treated at half price.


The Pullman Dental Clinic in the Pullman Iris Hotel (Tel. 488-8279) is open from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday. The clinic is busy, so it is best to book a week in advance. The price of a checkup is $15, and a filling is $50. An extraction costs $50, and cleaning and polishing between $15 and $30.


The Seventh-Day Adventist Health Center, 21 60-Letiya Oktyabrya Pros-pekt (Tel. 126-7906) is open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday. There are Russian and American dentists, and the equipment is entirely American. They do both amalgam and composite fillings. The minimum price of an amalgam filling is $50, and the minimum price of a composite filling is $80.


The trouble with these clinics is that none of them offers a weekend emergency service. Kristensen will see emergency cases on weekends at the British Embassy (Tel. 230-6333). People should call in advance and bring their passports. Unfortunately, she is not able to see Russian nationals, for security reasons.