Hi folks,
Need to get a root canal done, can't be treated at the dental hospital.
I do have private health but even so I need to save as much as I can while still being the right job done.
Does anyone have any suggestions or referrals?
Cheers
Affordable Dentist in Melbourne
brentsbits on 27/04/2016 - 15:35
Comments
I'm with Nib and they do gave their own surgery but it doesn't seem any cheaper but more importantly I've lost confidence in them and root canal therapy isn't something that is a 'no gap' mind of treatment and I want to find someone else new that is both reasonably priced and I trust.
It might be a tall order but I thought I'd ask here, in the belt of the penny pinching beast 😊
Can I ask why you've lost confidence in NIB?
Just because when I went in for the initial appointment, they insisted on doing a temporary filling instead of permanent, even though the cost difference was maybe $30. That fixed the problem, then it started to come back, so got the permanent and it's been getting worse ever since.
When I went back to have that filling looked at, the guy looked and basically said nothing was wrong with the work but that the pulp might be infected. Not sure how that could happen except when they drilled out the temporary to replace it.
The receptionist had booked me in for an hour in case it was complex but the dentist said I should come back for a general exam, which should take about half an hour or something (pretty sure that's what he said), I said that I was booked in for another 40 mins so we should do it right then. Nope, gotta come back (for no apparent reason).
I get that dentistry is a business like any other but it really really feels like they are just getting to churn me through as many appointments as possible, rather than take the time to fix what's going on.
I'm not an expert, so I could be very very wrong but it seems to be that if they had done a permanent filling to begin with, perhaps I wouldn't be in constant pain now.
Did they do something wrong? I dunno for sure cause I'm not an expert but they have lost my confidence.
@brentsbits: That definitely sounds incredibly strange they wouldn't just do the permanent filling, it would have saved everyone time.
I am with NIB for PH, but I have never been to the NIB clinic as I was skeptical about their work, after reading this experience, it doesn't sound like I will be going to them anytime in the near future.
It's not that they wouldn't, they are just very insistent that we go the temporary route. They can't do anything without my consent of course but I'm not the expert, so I follow advice.
If I were a conspiracy minded person, I might think they did it to chew through your benefits faster….
Just a heads up, if you're getting a root canal, go to an endodontist. They're specialised in doing this procedure, whereas a general dentist isn't. Yeah, it costs more, but the chances of a root canal succeeding when using an endodontist is higher. They do it day in, day out, where as a dentist may not. They also use specialised equipment like microscopes and apex finders to ensure all the infected crap is out, preventing a recurrence of the infection flaring up again.
Alternatively, have the tooth removed - way cheaper, hah.
That's true. If I had the moolah for an endodontist, I'd be right there. I really can't though which is unfortunate.
What area of Melbourne are you in?
I'm in Richmond but I'm happy to travel to save
Have you asked your private health insurer?
When I lived in Melbourne I was with Australian Unity. They had their own dental surgery and I rarely had to pay any gap. Your health insurer may have their own dentist or at least a preferred one that minimises your gap payment.