Nothing brings people back to Ukraine like a Ukrainian dentist

About a clinic that, during the war, not only kept patients’ trust, but also became a symbol of resilient Ukrainian healthcare

For nearly a decade, a dental clinic in Lutsk has been step by step reshaping the idea of quality medical care. “Filigranno” is not just a name, but a philosophy: precision, attention to detail, and sincere care for each patient.

“We wanted to create a place where people don’t fear the dentist but come with trust. Where treatment means not stress, but care. Where quality is not a compromise, but a duty,” says dentist Maia Kryvovych.

Filigranno Dental Center started in 2016 as a small but close-knit team. Over time, the team and their reputation grew: patients began to come not only from Lutsk and the region, but also from other parts of Ukraine and even abroad.

A pause and rethinking

When the full-scale war started, dentistry – like many businesses – came to a halt.

“For the first three to four weeks, we didn’t work at all. Part of the staff left, others stayed in uncertainty. We didn’t know if we could even resume operations. And most of all – how,” recalls Maia.

Gradually, the clinic returned to work. They began with simple procedures, restoring all directions. At the same time, the team revised internal processes, improved patient communication systems, introduced automated reminders, and changed how they scheduled, received, and organized space.

“That’s when we realized: stability and trust – are key. A patient must know who we are, what we do, and that we’re here to help,” she adds.

The point of resilience where growth begins

Dentistry is one of the most energy-intensive medical fields. Compressors, distillers, sterilizers, surgical lighting, X-rays – all depend on continuous power. “We couldn’t complete procedures if the power went out. It wasn’t just an inconvenience – it was a direct threat to patient safety. And to the clinic’s reputation,” explains Maia.

They learned about the “Support for the Energy Resilience of Micro and Small Enterprises in Ukraine” grant project during a business meeting organized by the Volyn Regional Administration. They managed to apply just in time – it was their first experience with international grant support.

“We decided not to risk big investments like solar panels – we weren’t ready logistically. But compressors – that was what we really needed,” says the entrepreneur.

With the grant funds, they purchased five state-of-the-art oil-free compressors with advanced air purification systems. It’s an investment not only in operational stability but also in patient safety.

In the first component of the project, the company received a €10,000 grant. These funds were used to purchase five modern oil-free compressors with advanced air purification systems. This is an investment not only in operational stability but also in patient safety and service quality.

“In surgery, air is delivered directly into the patient’s oral cavity. It must be sterile. Our new compressors have filters, silver-coated antiseptic tanks, and drying systems. This is top-level medical standard.”

In addition, the new compressors consume less energy: 1.7 kW instead of 2.7 kW per unit, which means noticeable savings for the clinic.

New challenges – new goals

Today, Filigranno Dental Center is one of the largest in Lutsk. Their future plans include expansion, creating a training space for doctors, and a long-held dream paused by war – installing a modern CT scanner.

“This isn’t just expensive equipment. It’s a step toward building a full-fledged dental cluster that can serve not only our patients but other medical institutions. To be accessible for everyone,” says Maia.

Another goal is energy independence. Construction of a canopy for installing solar panels is already underway. The team hopes to complete this phase by the end of the year using their own funds.

An investment in trust

The number of patients is recovering. People are returning from abroad, from other cities – including international volunteers and humanitarian missions.

“There’s a saying – nothing brings people back to Ukraine like a Ukrainian dentist. And it’s true. We really are unique. Our service, our specialists – at the level of Europe, but much more affordable,” smiles the dentist.

The clinic also offers discounts for military personnel, participates in support programs, and collaborates with government initiatives. All of this – to stay resilient and be helpful.

“This grant isn’t just support. It’s a point of growth that allows us to do more and better for people,” concludes Maia Kryvovych

This publication was prepared within the support of the international cooperation project “Energy resilience support for micro and small enterprises in Ukraine” under the ReACT4UA Program (Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of Trade) that is co-funded by the German Government and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). It is implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”.

The project aims to increase the resilience of the Ukrainian economy to recurrent power outages and assure business continuity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by financially supporting solutions for an uniterrupted access to electricity.

The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Business Development Fund and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Germany, NORAD, or GIZ.