![[NSW, VIC, QLD] Various Dental Services (Checkup/Clean, Fillings, Tooth Extractions, Toothache Management) for $99 at Dental 99](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/25/497225.jpg?h=9fa27be2)
So I finally bit the bullet and booked myself in for a clean at one of those new $99 Daisos of the Dental World, dental 99. Since I don't often watch TV I had no idea this was a thing until I walked past the bright yellow building at Eastlakes NSW, which is only 15 minutes by car from where I live and even better, in a not well-to-do suburb of the well-to-do eastern suburbs.
Turns out they're not the only players in the field so if you're not near Sydney's east or in another city/state, try Googling "$99 dentist".
Now why is this a big deal? Well unlike sub-$100 dentists of the past it's not restricted to first-time visitors or Groupon vouchers. And unlike the usual entry-level check-ups and cleans, you won't get stung for $270 per filling in your next visit. They're only $99 as well. Same goes for tooth extractions and "pain management", whatever that is (do they do the first step of a root canal? Is it filled with some temporary filling to prevent the tooth cracking while you wait?).
I don't know all the details of why $99 dentists are cropping up all of a sudden, but in my case I was booked in with an "oral health therapist". Apparently they have traditional dentists as well, but I don't know if/how their particular training might affect a diagnosis.
dental 99, specifically, forces you to use an app. You download the app, select the procedure you want and pay before you've even set foot in the office. I checked the app for a few days in a row before I finally booked and I was relieved that each time I checked availability for an appointment in Eastlakes I could get in later that same day! Unlike my Groupon vouchers, I didn't have to wait 2 months plus (well, at least for now…) or choose those deals that specifically included X-rays and fluoride varnish in the price.
The app experience went smoothly until they requested a few pages of my personal details. When I switched to my email app to find my GP's proper spelling, the app requested my previously setup PIN number and reset me back to the first page, empty of all the information I had already entered (maybe it's my crap 1 GB RAM phone, but I think it also happened when my screen timed out when I went looking for my Medicare card number…). When you check in they also make you scan a QR code (I guess so you check-in only when you're really there?).
The appointment itself went like your usual dentist's appointment. Very professional and friendly. They take some X-rays, tell you about your flaws and educate you about oral health care as they give you a clean.
The best part of the app experience for me is that a day after you're done you'll get a full report with the X-rays they took as well as before and after photos. Any recommended treatments are pre-entered into the app. One of my previous dentists refused to give me my X-rays, saying they can only transfer them to other dentists, but ignored my emails when the time to transfer the files eventually came.
The unanswered questions:
If I need a root canal, and they slot me in for "pain management", am I just going to get gouged by a dentist anyway when one of my molars need a crown? Will skimping on the first step actually save me money?
What's the quality of materials like now and will they be impacted if the price is fixed at $99. How long will it remain $99 and resist inflationary pressures?
What's an oral health therapist? And how long has this been a thing in Australia?
Why was it so hard to just get the prices of routine dental treatments until recently? Even a range could have helped…
Why do we replace a toothbrush every 3 months? Is it a random figure? If it was based on a statistical analysis of bristle wear it would make sense but they always seem to mention bacteria as well (bacteria: "ooh, we're at day 90 boys, time to start multiplying!").
More of a forum post than a deal?