Going for dental surgery soon - Need advice on costs please!

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  Name on 17/10/2016 - 20:37

  I had 4 wisdom teeth removed about a year ago. I can't remember the exact price but it was similar to your quote before rebate (after medibank private it was around $800ish).

  4 wisdom teeth removed in the chair in one sitting, from the nose down across my entire face was numb. And don't forget to line it up with a good time at work. You'll need a few days to recover and someone to drive you home. Mine got infected afterwards, ended up being out for about 2 weeks. Horrible experience… Good luck!

  I also recommend doing it all in one sitting.. You won't go back to have the others removed once you realise how painful it is.

  • 

    niner on 17/10/2016 - 22:42

    worries about the wisdom teeth still in my mouth

    Oh lord, the pain….

  • 

    brotherfranciz on 18/10/2016 - 01:15

    +1

    Similar situation for me last year, all 4 wisdom teeth out but luckily no infection.

    I heard all the horror stories from my colleagues beforehand but my experience was good, it wasn't even that painful. The only annoying thing was watching my family eat delicious dinners whilst I was stuck with a liquid diet for 4-5 days… made me realise how important my teeth are to maintain a good quality of life.

    I think the key is finding a good surgeon, your body is worth the price to get it done right. Always get a second/alternative opinion and ask your family/colleagues/friends for recommendations.

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      dimmak84 on 18/10/2016 - 07:23

      So at this point I'm deciding if I should use a general dentist for my wisdom teeth extraction or a surgeon. What would you recommend cause I'm wondering do I have to use a surgeon or a general dentist is enough. The one from pacific smiles seem competent enough I mean they have been in the business for awhile.

      • 

        brotherfranciz on 18/10/2016 - 08:35

        I'm not a dentist or surgeon and I don't know the extent of work your teeth require.

        You make it sound like your teeth are in a terrible state though!

        All I can comment on is my own experience: I hadn't been looking after my teeth very well, so food was getting trapped in between my last two upper teeth at the back and caused them to decay. My wisdom teeth hadn't come out properly and eventually I had a tooth ache that became a bit of an emergency. Within a week of my super painful tooth ache episode (the most pain I have experienced in my life!), I had the surgery under general anesthetic to take out the wisdom teeth, and then a few weeks later had some fillings done by a dentist to repair the two decayed teeth.

        Both the surgeon and the dentist were/are great and were recommendations by numerous colleagues.

        The dentist stressed to me that flossing is very important to make sure food doesn't get stuck and start rotting my teeth away.

        Good luck!

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        dimmak84 on 18/10/2016 - 10:44

        @brotherrfranciz: yea my teeth r in a bad shape but funny thing is I've never had any unbearable pain that might force me to go see a dentist.

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  dimmak84 on 17/10/2016 - 21:00

  Cheers mate so your insurance was with medibank private? How much r u paying per month or fortnightly?

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    Name on 17/10/2016 - 22:54

    $180 a month for myself and my son on medibank private. I'm not a fan and wouldn't recommend them. I was on a grandfathered plan and when I added my son they said I couldn't stay on it but the plan they were transferring me to is very similar and I'd actually get more for my money. Turns out it was crap and I'm worse off (although didn't have a choice as I needed my son on it). But anyway. Not happy with them, every time I go to claim something I'm either not covered or don't get much back now.. I'm so glad the government sold off medibank private, makes it so much better for members. :p

    I have been looking around but it's so hard to compare as each insurance company lists things differently and those comparison sites are terrible and often don't list the same plans that are available through the website or have a different price.

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  bargainslut on 17/10/2016 - 22:43

  I highly recommend the quality and price of dentists in Thailand. We paid around 25% of the cost all up. OzBargained;)

  • 

    derek324 on 17/10/2016 - 22:50

    -1

    Buy Dremel and do it yourself: you will pay around 1% of the cost all up.

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  derek324 on 17/10/2016 - 22:53

  Get a second medical opinion from a DENTIST, not from readers of this forums.

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  dimmak84 on 17/10/2016 - 23:20

  +1

  At this point I feel annoyed that I have to go through so many appointments before anything is actually done to my teeth. For instance the reason today why I went to see a specialist is because the first dentist from pacific smiles told me to see a specialist as she can't do things such as bone grafting then this dentist told me that I should get my wisdom teeth removed first and I need to book another appointment with a surgeon in their building just to consent I want my tooth removed. The appoint is like on the 21'st of November and one week later then go for the actual extraction. Everytime I go for an appointment I have to pay these consultations fees and it's wasting time!

  • 

    Tal_Shiar on 18/10/2016 - 03:57

    -1

    i feel you on their time wasting, but their excellent for easing Dentist fears

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  whooah1979 on 17/10/2016 - 23:27

  +1

  if you don't like thailand, then try singapore.

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    dimmak84 on 18/10/2016 - 07:26

    Thing is even if I go for a trip to Singapore or Thailand I think I would need several appointments which they may or may not be able to accommodate. Say if my last appointment is a month later if the dentist is booke out, then I have to make two trips or stay longer in Singapore which costs more money. Maybe you can share your experience.

    • 

      whooah1979 on 18/10/2016 - 08:26

      We went to sing for one appointment. Follow up was done at a local surgery using health cover.

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  try2bhelpful on 18/10/2016 - 07:56

  +1

  I'm with NIB and their return on dental seems to be pretty good. I would've thought that transfering between health services would not help as pre-existing conditions apply; however, I would like to be enlightened by someone on that one. I go to "Women in Dentistry" in Melbourne and they are really good, but I wouldn't call them the cheapest option. NIB does have its own dentists, but I don't know what they are like. Personally I had my two wisdom teeth taken out when I was at Uni, by the Uni dentist. It was something like 10 dollars a visit, but the guy did try to sew through my lip, so swings and roundabouts. I know it is a bit of dicking around but do get several opinions and make sure of what is being done before you go ahead. Both health wise, and financially, this could have very long term consequences.

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  [Deactivated] on 18/10/2016 - 09:30

  I had my wisdom teeth removed, took 48 hours for the Dentist's footprint on my forehead to fade, after wrenching them out. Seriously though the pain is variable, depending on the factors. For me the most painful thing was the psychology of knowing I was getting a tooth pulled. One of the best procedures I have ever had done trhough, and wish I had it done 10 years earlier.

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    michaelTito on 19/10/2016 - 18:50

    Did the dentist stand on your forehead while removing your teeth? That must be painful.

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  Puska on 18/10/2016 - 10:31

  I live in Sydney and went to NIB in Parramatta (I used to be on the health fund but not anymore) as general public (You don't need to be on a health fund to go to this centre).

  I got 1 wisdom tooth pulled out and 1 filling done a week later about 1 month ago/

  To remove my wisdom tooth was $200, with a $60 check up fee - so $260 for 1 tooth.
  To get a filling for my bottom molar was $170

  All I can say is it depends what type of procedure is required on your teeth. If you need to surgically remove your wisdoms, that's why the price is much higher than mine - I had mine removed in the chair on the spot because mine was erupted and the root was quite normal (which is an easier procedure).

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    dimmak84 on 18/10/2016 - 10:47

    Yea my dentist told me they could do it no problem and charge 1289 but the more expensive one in Melbourne and the more established one said I need to see a surgeon. So don't know who should I listen to.

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      Puska on 18/10/2016 - 10:59

      well in regards to wisdom teeth it is quite simple to determine if you need to have them surgically removed or just get them out on the chair.

      Showing your Xray will be best to be able to determine this. For example, if your wisdoms are growing horizontally, they need to be taken out surgically because they need to cut the skin, cut the tooth into pieces and take out.

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        dimmak84 on 18/10/2016 - 11:06

        Yea two if them are growing out horizontally and my normal dentist is happy to charge me 300 per tooth and get fillings done so all up 1289 while smile solutions wants me to see a surgeon and that might set me back at 1800 just for the extraction and not the fillings done

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  Simon Young 323 on 19/10/2016 - 13:34

  Hi Dimmak84

  The Smile Solutions comment about seeing a surgeon rather than a dentist is the best advice you can get. There is a big difference between general dentists and OralMax Surgeons - in a nutshell approximately 10-12 years of additional university and intensive surgical training. OralMax Surgeons have medical degrees as well as dental degrees. There is a whole website dedicated to these differences and why it's worth paying the additional fees to see a surgeon. Don't take wisdom teeth surgery lightly as the possible complications can be quite serious. See the best… see the surgeon, and if you want a second opinion, get one from another OralMax surgeon, not a dentist. Check out this website - http://www.wisdomtoothcost.com.au
  Hope it all goes well for you.