My regular dentist has said I probably need to get my wisdom teeth out and gave me a referral to get an OPG x-ray. But I want to get a second opinion from someone who deals with wisdom teeth a lot. I looked on whirlpool and saw a couple of recommendation north of the river and east but I'm south of the river 6166 so was looking for someone with a good reputation that is a little closer to home. Can anyone recommend anyone?
Cheers
Recommend a wisdom teeth dentist in Perth?
Riczter on 08/01/2015 - 14:18
Comments
Thanks that's very helpful. I'm with HBF too but only got essentials with minor and major dental, no hospital cover, so I'm guessing I would be slugged with the whole lot right?
Maybe I could get the X-Rays, see if my dentists thinks I will be able to hold off for a year, then get full HBF cover, and then get them out after the 12 months cooldown period saving myself $2200 minus a years worth of insurance premiums… Would that work? How much is your monthly insurance premium if you dont mind me asking? I guess it will be different due to my age (24) and circumstances… but just trying to weigh up if it is definitely going to be worth risking waiting a year or if its going to cost about the same over the long run anyway..
Thoughts?
Regardless of what happens, steer away from a dentist who is willing to work on your teeth without x-rays. I recommend getting x-rays with your regular dentist and if you need a second opinion, or you end up going to a specialist, your dentist can forward the x-rays to the next dentist.
Well I'm 28 and single, so I got the absolute minimum, i.e. Single - Young Singles Saver Twin Pack, paying $28.55 a fortnight.
I was lucky at the time, I got the operation only a month after I got the product (found out that there was no waiting period because I got out of my parent's complete family top cover).
Are you coping with them not being taken out? At the time, the pain became such an inconvenience that I just wanted to get them out ASAP. My X-ray result showed that my two bottom wisdom were growing at an angle and the two top were straight, but I still decided to take all four out.
Hence, you have the option of taking out the one(s) causing the inconvenience.Definitely get the xray, medicare covers some of this cost too.
that sounds reasonable, yeah I'll definitely get the xrays to see how bad they are… but they arent hurting yet so have to see how they go and what the dentist recommends.
@Riczter: yeah, in my consultation, Dr. Meara actually asked whether I wanted to take out only the two problematic wisdom or all four.
Good luck.
@Riczter: I say if it's not hurting or too near any structures, just leave it? I removed two because one was impinging on a nerve and the other was just painful. Left two because they didn't cause any problems and are still not causing any problems ten yrs down the road.
Dentists in oz tend to encourage patients to remove wisdom teeth and I used to be in SG where they go "only extract if it's causing discomfort".
@lenlynn: Holy cow it's expensive in Australia.
In terms of removing your wisdom teeth, what my aunt said to me was (she's a dentist), if it starts developing inflammation around it, because it can weaken the gum which can cause collateral damages, it's highly recommended to remove it. But as you said, if it works, don't fix it.
All my wisdom teeth were growing straight, but I had to remove one because of that.
Ill grab got one of those cheap tool sets from bigw this arvo - so ill be taking appointments from tomorrow morning. Will beat any quote from a qualified dentist by 10%
Oh god, are you at least gonna knock me out first? haha
I put off getting my wisdom teeth out for over 10 years… They are out now but as a result of me leaving it so long I now have problems with the next teeth along so make sure you don't leave it as long as I did!
Once your dentist gets an xray he should be able to see if a 12 month wait will be a problem or not. I would recommend my dentist but he is in West Perth so a bit far for you. Good luck.
I had mine done by Clive Purcell in South Perth. Even with private health insurance - it was not cheap!
My tongue was numb for a few months afterwards (was warned about this prior to the procedure), but back to normal now.
Most definitely get that xray. That is the best xray in my opinion; there was difficulty in placing those little ones in the first place, so they were a complete waste of time. Have a look at it too; apart from being very interesting puts any doubts to rest.
I had my wisdoms out when I was 20; three were impacted and the other one would therefore serve no purpose. If I hadn't had them out when I did they may have grown into adjoining teeth … Dentist showed me an example of what would happen. Although I had full private health insurance (inc. dental) I had the operation under full anaesthetic staying overnight in a private ward. Must have accidentally swallowed a lot of blood as I brought it all up upon awakening but then felt okay. No pain but I was not prepared for the (ahem) "mild" swelling. Yes, I didn't recognise myself … and I guess no others would either though.
Don't live in Perth but if you can I would suggest full anaesthetic, all at once, if you can. Best thing that happened to me though. Years of (unexplained … another story) migraines disappeared overnight and my overall health improved. I wouldn't put it off; over and out, all at once if you can.
One of yours (at least) must be on a nerve! My dentist saw my xray and told me to remove one cos it must be causing me to have headaches!
My dentist was Dr David O' Dowling at Booragoon Dental near Garden City shopping centre (yay free parking). He did my wisdom teeth in 2012, my teeth implant (which also needed a bone graft. Bone had subsided due to prolonged absence of teeth) and my sister's wisdom teeth in 2014. Overall, we are happy.I think they have an x-ray machine so he can check it for you straight away too. If not the referral for the x-ray are at the shopping centre. We are with Bupa but I think they accept all types of health insurance providers. The anesthetist (if you choose one) might not be covered - don't remember. The procedure will be done there at the clinic as well.
GA is unusual for wisdom teeth in the UK where I had mine done, interesting how it is so common here.
I had all mine out under local anaesthetic, 2 left ones first then the 2 right ones a fortnight later. X ray was done only after the dentist struggled for ages with one tooth, went to the X ray machine in the basement of the clinic to discover a hooked root as the cause.
I should have done it earlier (waited until I was 30) as I had an orthodontic brace as a child and the wisdoms started to push my straight teeth out of position by the time I got around to it.
Definitely take the xray because only then you could see whether you need to take them out.
I had all four out back in 2011. Being with HBF, my dentist recommended
Dr. Paul Meara
Address: 132 Hampton Road, Fremantle WA 6160
Phone:(08) 9336 2096
Awesome surgeon, very chill, and got me onto surgery within 3 working days (just because he was leaving for a surfing trip the following week).
Total cost ended to be: $2778.30 but only paid $530.40 because of HBF
Breakdown
Surgery: Total $1,326.00 (HBF benefit $795.60, out of pocket $530.40)
Hospital Treatment (inc. Anaesthetic): Total $403.30 (HBF benefit $403.30, out of pocket $0)
Murdoch theater and surgicentre fees: Total $1,049.00 (HBF benefit $1,049.00, out of pocket $0)