This was posted 4 years 4 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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[NSW] Dental Check Up & Clean, Simple Extraction & X-Ray, Filling or Toothache Management for $99 at Dental 99 (Sydney)

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[NSW] Dental Check Up & Clean, Simple Extraction & X-Ray, Filling or Toothache Management for $99 at Dental 99 (Sydney)
Go to Deal
squashy on 18/12/2020 - 17:19 dental99.com.au (1279 clicks)
Last edited 20/12/2020 - 14:51 by 1 other user

Not your usual Ozbargain deal.

With my private health insurance, I usually go to a dentist that has no gaps for check up, clean and x-ray. Last month, it was the usual advise that I should remove 2 of my upper wisdom tooth as it's showing signs of decay as the tooth brush can't quite get to it. Was quoted $500 each and after private health insurance, it was about $700 for both.

Went on one of the FB groups to look for alternatives and someone suggested Dental 99. It's an app where you say what you want to do and book in the appointment. Payment up front 2*$99 + $3.47 (CC payment surcharge), was worried that it's a scam but thought I could try to do a charge back if that was the case and took the dive.

Easy enough to use to book an appointment at Midas Dental, Macquarie Park. Changed the booking once in the app, no fuss.

Emailed them the previous x-ray which they are ok to accept as it's within a year.

After some checking, the dentist confirmed that both wisdom tooth can be removed without surgery and proceeded with it. The dentist took her time and constantly making sure that I'm comfortable.

Here comes the best part, after receiving the receipt in email, I submitted a private health fund claim and got back $132.40. Effectively, I paid $69.07 to extract 2 upper wisdom tooth. Your Mileage May Vary.

Tldr, instead of paying $1000 ($700 after PHI rebate), removed 2 wisdom tooth for $201.47 ($69.07 after PHI rebate). YMMV.

EDIT: as some have pointed out, you may be treated by a dentist or oral health therapist. I was lucky I guess that I was seen by a dentist.

For those who are accusing me of sock puppeting, I just wanted to give back to this community. I’m in no way associated to the company or the dentistry.

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closed Comments

  • A female dog on 18/12/2020 - 17:21
    +4

    Huge if true

  • ToobsAU on 18/12/2020 - 17:27
    +1

    Wow, that'll save some money for more eneloops!

  • life is suffering on 18/12/2020 - 17:30
    +4

    I paid 500 to fill a tooth filling wtf

  • jdr on 18/12/2020 - 17:31

    If I understand correctly, [NSW] [QLD] only.

  • SF3 on 18/12/2020 - 17:31
    +24

    Lost wisdom tooth, gained wisdom in the process.

  • jd4free on 18/12/2020 - 17:33
    +12

    NOPE never again ,,Be careful with this deal. Paid or 4 fillings to be re done.
    My poor wife and I went in and got some very young kids that worked on us.
    Mine couldn't find the 2nd filling, I know I have had 3 done so far, so she just fixed brush corrosion outside of one of my teeth. Had over 20 attempts to file down the 1st filling, felt like i was being waterboarded, never felt like that before. glad it was all over.
    Wy wife came out with bruising on one side, she was angry as hell, she was in pain for a week but not sure what the young kid managed to do. He was so nervous when he came out. I think it may have been is first day or first week at least, he looked 17 but at most 19. I dunno strange. Apparently he struggled and injected her 5 times, and kept on pulling the mouth open trying to get the filling in..
    just a refil. it's not exactly rocket science.

    • squashy on 18/12/2020 - 17:36

      Was it at Midas? I guess I'm lucky that mine was with a lady dentist who doesn't look like a kid

      • Eeples on 18/12/2020 - 21:07
        +1

        Why would it be?

        Are sprooking the App or Midas ?

    • pizzacracker on 18/12/2020 - 19:37
      +2

      you get what you pay for cheap dentistry

      • furyou on 18/12/2020 - 22:03
        +1

        yeah, put simply, if every dentist charged 300 for sth, you don't charge 99 for kicks.
        well, someone's going to try it, they'll learn a lesson through pain.

      • Icecold5000 on 19/12/2020 - 08:23
        -1

        I found a really good dentist in Bangkok by referral that I e been going to for the past 4 years. I don’t have high expectations of many Australian dentists.

        • Polak on 19/12/2020 - 12:50
          +2

          I found one there, no appointment just show up after 4.00pm as he works at the hospital during the day, nearly everything is 500 baht, extraction 500b = $25 ~, and very professional service, he doesn't advertise, no need to shop is always full of thai's, three lovely nurses there as well.

          • Icecold5000 on 19/12/2020 - 13:28
            -2

            @Polak: I pay around 1100 baht for a clean and scale while fillings are about the same. Not upsale either. They have a more hiso clientele I think. I don’t really trust dentists in Oz. So money oriented.

    • DevelopmentalAnomaly on 19/12/2020 - 00:24
      +21

      Dentist here and I am not associated with Dental 99. I have been lurking around ozbargain for a long time getting good deals. This deal sparked my interest. First of all, re-doing a filling isn’t as simple as you think. Why did it needed to have a re-fill anway? How far are we from the nerve? How big is it? How big is the mouth opening? How complicated is it? How hard is it to control the moisture to ensure the filling is properly in there without saliva or blood? Then you add the capability/ experience of the dentist working. It is kinda rocket science dude. I mean, we spent alot of time training to do dentistry and still training everytime we can.

  • KOBH on 18/12/2020 - 17:38
    +12

    Lots of bad reviews on google search…

    Example:

    Went to both dental 99 clinics . Both have non professional dentists may be they are students and working there . After filling my wife tooth she start paining ,then went to city dental 99 , same happen started pain after 2,3 days . They are cheap but waste of money, you can’t go back again unless you pay another 99$. She never fell pain just went to do filling they have done and when we went to city one they took the filling out and she started feeling pain in another tooth.

    • naruto128 on 18/12/2020 - 17:50
      +6

      Same poor experience with the branch in Sydney CBD. Had a filling done by a dental technician not a dentist hence the cheaper cost. She did a poor job and left a large gap between the teeth resulting in food keep getting trapped. Will have to pay again to get the filling redone by a proper dentist. Not going there again.

      • pizzacracker on 18/12/2020 - 19:39

        you probably saw an oral health therapist (OHT). they can now place adult fillings as of july 2020. dental technicians are not allowed to place fillings. i would never go see an OHT to do my filling

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 18/12/2020 - 23:34
          +3

          Yes, this. I raised concerns at the time this change was first floated (before it was actually approved), and made it clear that IMHO it was extremely misguided to change the regulations to enable people who are not fully fledged/qualified dentists to perform any fillings; because depending on the definition you apply/use, a filling is 'invasive surgery'. Notably there is no guarantee that during a filling various tissue barriers will not be accidentally breached. There is the real possibility (albeit rather small in any given individual case) for 'medical crises' such as an anaphylactic reaction to anaesthetic, uncontrolled bleeding, etc. to occur. 'Occupational health therapists' are also not appropriately acquainted/experienced with using the relevant instruments (drills, etc.).

          Given all of this, I am not the least bit surprised to read any of the above posts in this thread.

          • pizzacracker on 19/12/2020 - 04:24

            @GnarlyKnuckles: Excellent explanation. I've also seen OHT fillings. They have either fallen out or were not done properly. Sometimes they overdiagnose or underdiagnose

        • JTrents on 19/12/2020 - 07:53
          +2

          This information couldn't be anymore incorrect. Im an OHT and I've never read such utter rubbish misleading information in my life. Regulations in July changed so OHTs are independent practitioners with no change in scope of practice, or the ability to do fillings on adults. OHTs that can do fillings on adults need extra scope training through university - like myself. And this is all within scope so an OHT will not do a filling that a dentist should be doing

          If you need more information on this please go to ahpra's website

          • bboT on 19/12/2020 - 08:27
            +1

            @JTrents: The comments below would suggest that performing fillings is a 1-week add-on course though. Would you disagree with this? What did your additional training involve?

            Seems accurate to me. Eg the website for "adult restorative course” through University of Sydney is vague but describes a "predominantly online” training (worth 24 hours CPD) with "3 days of simulated clinical practice with supervision of registered dentist”.

            Is this different to what you experienced? Did you receive any supervised training on actual patients?

            https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/study-medicine-and…

            • JTrents on 19/12/2020 - 09:38
              +7

              @bboT: https://health.adelaide.edu.au/admissions/gcorhlthsc/docs/gc…

              Mine was a 6 month course through the University of Adelaide with written/clinical exams and an OSCE with a panel of dentists. I completed many fillings at my private practice workplace within this time where the principle dentist/practice owner was my mentor who ticked off every step and ALL my work. They found I was easily competent as most of the treatment I was already providing for my under 18 year old patients. This doesn't make me a dentist and all the extra treatment they can provide, never will. It gave me a new found respect for dentists actually.

              I can't comment on how thorough the 1 week courses are as that is not how I got my extra qualifications. Although they are now adding adult scope to most 3 year BOH under grad courses which suggests they can add the content without making the course longer. Meaning these mini courses can give the information required in the short time frame? There are certainly many more factors to consider when treatment planning on an adults (18+ year olds) but the technique and placement of a restoration doesn't change so if a fillings failing there could be host of many other factors..

              If people want to see a dentist so be it, everyone has a choice. I don't think our title as a BOH grad should be slammed for not being competent practitioners. There a competent and non-competent individuals in every profession. Dental is no exception…..

              • bboT on 19/12/2020 - 13:08

                @JTrents: Thank you for the detailed reply.
                Seems there is a lot of variation in education and experience.

              • pizzacracker on 19/12/2020 - 22:31

                @JTrents: I wish more OHTs were like you. Probably the Usyd program is the problem because I work with OHTs at my practice and I haven't been impressed

                • JTrents on 20/12/2020 - 08:39
                  +1

                  @pizzacracker: Sounds like your a dentist pizzacracker? So you should know it depends on your experience, prev exposure to freq restorative treatment, confidence, conditions they are working in, uni training, mentors/being tutored correctly and of course the practitioners standard. Varies greatly!

                  It's a shame you've lost your confidence in OHT's, hopefully one day you work with one that makes you question your own fillings and standards! :)

  • bdl on 18/12/2020 - 17:41
    +1

    Will they replace teeth with solid gold ones on request?

  • mini2 on 18/12/2020 - 17:42
    +2

    I thought for cleaning and even simple filling job, they get a dental technician or whatever they’re called to do the job not an actual dentist?

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2020 - 17:48
      +1

      they do this for everything as far as I can tell

    • pizzacracker on 18/12/2020 - 19:39

      not dental technician, they are called oral health therapists

      • JTrents on 19/12/2020 - 07:56
        +2

        Again, misleading information. See my above post thanks

        • rodgyramjet on 20/12/2020 - 07:32
          +1

          Leave us dental techs alone! We make dentists look good…. and bad haha. Now rip out all those bad teeth so I can make a denture!

  • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2020 - 17:48
    +8

    i have used them and would not recommend. get an extras policy with a waiting period waiver and see a real dentist.

    • virhlpool on 18/12/2020 - 23:11
      +1

      Extras policy still doesn't help with the cost though. Dental cover in any insurance is useless for anything significant in dental (even fillings). Gap amount is just big nonetheless. If I have to pay $250-$300 gap for filling even after paying $45 extra every month for dental cover in insurance, then I would rather not have extras and pay all from the pocket.

      • brongz on 19/12/2020 - 00:03
        +2

        Most of the times it is better to save the money instead of paying the monthly premium, because the gap (out of pocket money) is big enough.

        This insurance only survive because the government supports them by law (pay medicare levy if you don’t have private insurance).

      • DevelopmentalAnomaly on 19/12/2020 - 00:36

        Your dentist may not be a preferred provider of your PHI that’s why the gap is high. Even if you pay premium or the highest tier in private health insurance, if the clinic is not a preferred provider, you will have to pay a huge gap. You have to inquire to make the most out of your health fund and ask for a quote everytime.

      • Eeples on 19/12/2020 - 08:21

        Yep, I’m reconsidering my private health insurance.

        I’m half way thru a dental implant and have split it over to next year. Ie implant in December 2020 and crown around March 2021.

        I get back $1000 from my health insurance twice.

        But that still leaves me $3000 out of pocket.

        I’m actually wondering if I didn’t have cover if my dentist would have charged me $4000 (or less) instead of $5000…. which makes my health cover even less value.

        • Antikythera on 19/12/2020 - 11:08

          three sisters and their husbands travelled to Vietnam to have several crowns done. Their experience seemed really good. For half what they would have paid in Australia they also got a couple of two week holidays as the treatments took a few days each trip and were also split over trips.

          I'd be interested if one of the dentists contributing to this thread could give their opinion on the risks of this.

          • Eeples on 19/12/2020 - 12:57
            +1

            @Antikythera: Of course, with the travel restrictions, its not really practical at the moment.

            But, for me, trusting the dentist through knowing them and the practice, is a bigger determiner than price.

            Going to the exact same dentist (not the same-same dentist; as that will be a different person) as your siblings and hubbies, who had a good experience would sure lower the risk.

            Maybe getting the root canal (& cores?) done here and the crown over there might be lower risk too.

            I am not a dentist.

  • binatang on 18/12/2020 - 17:49
    -5

    Hmmmmm. Fkkk off virus. I have absolutely superb dentists in Kuta Bali and Chow Kit, KL. Last count: February this year (both) : $35: A filling, An extraction, or clean and scale. My dentist in KL will charge me for the price of one filling to correct my veneers due to being a loyal client. A dental check with either dentist which indicates no signs of work: AUD 0.00

    • longhaul84 on 18/12/2020 - 18:32
      +1

      Name checks out.

    • brongz on 18/12/2020 - 20:21

      where's in Kuta? in case going for holiday

    • Splashtash on 18/12/2020 - 21:13

      why the down votes lol…..

    • Cave Fire on 19/12/2020 - 00:35

      this… found a good dentist in Madurai India in 2012 (friend of a friend) paid $150 for a lot of fillings + he would have done my wisdom tooth for +$80 if I had time for antibiotics. This was also being charged extra compared to locals. Flights were about $500 w/ scoot return in off peak pre covid…

  • PlagueistheCheap on 18/12/2020 - 17:55
    +9

    You get what you pay for. Can't have good and cheap. People really think good dentist would sign up to this?

    Crazy

    • ge on 18/12/2020 - 19:48
      +3

      OzB is full of good and cheap.

  • dynaflow on 18/12/2020 - 18:04
    +2

    Alternatively,my local Dentist charges $200 to look in your mouth….

    • jv on 18/12/2020 - 18:05
      +1

      Change Dentist then…

      • virhlpool on 18/12/2020 - 23:15

        All dentists charge the similar amount even for the first consultation, pretty much looking in the mouth and maybe one x-ray. Where do you find a cheaper one?

        • jv on 18/12/2020 - 23:45

          pretty much looking in the mouth and maybe one x-ray. Where do you find a cheaper one?

          Our local one does this with No Gap, so I don't pay a cent…

          • virhlpool on 18/12/2020 - 23:46
            +1

            @jv: But it means that you pay $xx in premium every month. So how is it free or cheap?

            • jv on 18/12/2020 - 23:48
              -1

              @virhlpool:

              But it means that you pay $xx in premium every month

              That's already paid for, so I'm not out of pocket…

  • jv on 18/12/2020 - 18:05
    +5

    sounds dodgy

  • random12 on 18/12/2020 - 18:07
    +24

    The fact that private health funds only give you $300 out of $1000 for this is the biggest scam. Why pay hundreds in premiums every month, only to get 30% covered?

    Just add Dental to Medicare!

    Makes it so much simplier, and we can scrap private health insurance completely. Absolute bullshit that no one wants to pay for.

    The only (possible) downside is that all the methheads will be wanting the public money to cover their lack of teeth.

    • Reetus on 18/12/2020 - 19:17
      +9

      I paid health insurance for years with no claims, then went to the dentist and got $20 back out of $300.

      So I cancelled my health insurance… it's a scam

      • brongz on 18/12/2020 - 20:24

        private insurance is supported by the law. otherwise we don't have to pay for medicare levy (and basic dental services should be covered by Medicare).

        so, are you suggesting this is a govt supported scam?

        • deal seeking missile on 18/12/2020 - 21:27
          +7

          yes, this is a government supported inefficiency in the health care sector

        • randog on 18/12/2020 - 22:04
          +1

          When PHI's posts million pound (UK) profits after managing to pocket millions from the Australian government, dodge taxes, give back SFA to those who pay into them, and increase prices every year but not increase rebates or limits and have revenue in the Billions (in pounds for dinner, AUD for others)….. Yes it's a government backed scam. Better to pay your money to medicare levy surcharge when you reach that because it actually goes back into Australia. But they did costings for dental under medicare and it went into the trillions in estimates, I'd estimate 10 billion per year, the government has other things to spend it on per annum…

          • Antikythera on 19/12/2020 - 11:12

            @randog: it is only in the trillions because people have not been getting the preventative work done for the last 50 years because they cant afford it.

            myself I have not been to see a dentist since I was 12 and the dental van came to my country high school.

            • randog on 19/12/2020 - 12:17

              @Antikythera: I think the trillions estimate was to scare off the government, estimate for $1000 over two years per person would be 12.5billion per year, then any amount over that people would be out of pocket. This is what the government currently has for eligible children (CDBS), and have discussed extending this to eligible people over 65.

    • furyou on 18/12/2020 - 22:05

      don't buy private health then?
      or go become a dentist and work for free

    • Serpeant on 18/12/2020 - 22:32
      +3

      Instead of Private Health Insurance, I put the $150 aside every month.

      This year, I have put $1800 aside and spent $300 on dental check ups and $200 on a filling.

      That $200 would of cost me $100 gap when I did have insurance anyways.

      I am way in front.

      • dufflover on 18/12/2020 - 23:20

        What about the scam money grab of being taxed more? How much does that eat into it?
        I probbly wouldn't even buy PHI if it wasn't for that.

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 19/12/2020 - 00:00
        +1

        Serpers: Re 'I am way in front.'

        Surely you realise that the entire concept of 'insurance' (of any kind) is not a matter of you balancing your known/calculatable expenses over the years against your known/calculatable financial 'needs' (i.e. bills) over the years? Rather, it is all about insulating yourself against unforeseeable events/expenses.

        To put this into context, if you suffer some sort of major health crisis in the future—for example a condition that requires a series of operations and associated hospitalisations—you will be entirely at the 'mercy' of the public system/waiting lists/their determination of how urgent your needs for treatment are, etc.

        I am not saying that your approach is necessarily a bad one (provided that you can actually 'afford to be your own insurer'). I am saying that you have presented it in a somewhat naive and misleading way.

        • Serpeant on 19/12/2020 - 00:11
          +1

          It’s hardly “insurance” when you have to pay gaps for procedures, max limits on how much you get back, waiting periods before you’re covered.

          When you look at maximum payouts compared to insurance premiums, you will note that there is not much likelihood that anyone will get back more in insurance payouts vs payments.

          • GnarlyKnuckles on 19/12/2020 - 00:18

            @Serpeant: Serps, re: '… there is not much likelihood that anyone will get back more in insurance payouts vs payments.'

            You appear to have missed my point about insurance entirely. Try to think beyond dentistry. Extrapolate the hypothetical to, say, pranging into a new Lamborghini when you had no insurance and writing it off, then losing the house you owned as result when the owner of that lambo' (quite legitimately) took you for everything you owned to recoup their losses …

            • Serpeant on 19/12/2020 - 10:52

              @GnarlyKnuckles: Mate, my point is, what's the point of Private Health Insurance if the benefits you get back from PHI is about the same you pay in premiums?

          • randog on 19/12/2020 - 12:04

            @Serpeant: THIS. Insurance is supposed to bring you back to optimal, not cover half the job and only select jobs.

        • Eeples on 19/12/2020 - 08:31

          Mmmm.

          If you have a major medical crises it is unlikely you will be on waiting lists.

          In my experience the only medical benefit from private health cover is getting your own room, if available, in the public system.

          • Serpeant on 19/12/2020 - 12:34

            @Eeples:

            1. I thought we were talking about extras cover here?

            2. If you had an emergency medical crisis, Medicare has you.

            • Eeples on 19/12/2020 - 17:03

              @Serpeant:

              1. I am not sure you can just get extras cover by itself (maybe you can?)
              2. I was replying to GnarlyKnuckels.
        • Antikythera on 19/12/2020 - 11:18

          a medical "crisis" will be dealt by well within the public health system. i spent a week in Monash for an emergency surgery in March. for the first day after surgery they put me in a private ward as the main ward was full. it was prettier, the nurses seemed less busy and the food was more gourmet but the care was provided by the same doctors.

          now perhaps, if you need to jump the queue for surgery for your tennis elbow, you might want private cover.

      • bolt_krank on 19/12/2020 - 00:22

        I have decent private insurance, and did a similar thing albeit $100 a month. Had I gone for the higher level of insurance, it would've cost me an extra $80 a month and covered an extra $200 for the year. I was very lucky I didn't need dental work that year, but I was even luckier that I didn't depend on insurance.

        I'll be honest, as I'm getting older - I'm starting to see the value of private insurance, but that's because it's the younger people paying for me. Excluding tax deductions, I've probably claimed about 1.5% of all the money I've paid for private insurance. It depends on your body, diseases, etc. But at the moment saving cash is much more beneficial.

        It's not a "scam" per se, if you think you'll need a lot of healthcare there is good reason for private health insurance, but you need to read the T&Cs every 6 months.

    • virhlpool on 18/12/2020 - 23:17

      The only (possible) downside is that all the methheads will be wanting the public money to cover their lack of teeth.

      Totally agree, but in the long run, it will still be cheaper to get their mouths 'teethful' rather than paying thousands of $$ for 'dental extras' over years collectively as a society. The outcome will be better dental health for the country for a cheaper cost to the society.

    • Mistredo on 18/12/2020 - 23:30

      I am surprised they are even allowed to call extras for dental an insurance. You pay an excess, and there is a limit how much you can claim, and the limit is very close to what you pay.

  • Bigredkeg on 18/12/2020 - 18:12

    I've used them for cleans/check-ups and they're fine. I had an oral health therapist (different to dental hygenist) who are university trained to do fillings etc on adults. I thought my lady was great. There is dentists at the clinic but I think its by chance you get one, or depending on the procedure you require.

    The process is kinda cool - all photos and ailments loaded into your app which you can see individually and book a treatment accordingly. Very modern.

    Havent had a filling done so can't comment. But this is a good alternative if you cancelled health insurance like I did.

    • pizzacracker on 18/12/2020 - 19:42
      +5

      i would never get my fillings done by OHT. they trained for 3 years (after graduation, some take ONE week long course to learn to do fillings) as compared to 4-5 years for a dentistry degree. once they touch your tooth, it's a death sentence.

      • Bigredkeg on 18/12/2020 - 20:03
        +2

        thanks for the heads up. I need to go back for a filling so I guess i'll give it a miss.

      • cyph11 on 19/12/2020 - 15:23
        +1

        I can't believe such utter trash you are spurning out.

        Full disclosure, I am a dentist, I work in a company that employs 3 OHTs, all of which are fantastic clinicians who perform a broad range of dental procedures which they have trained for 3 to 4 years for. Restorative dentistry is taught throughout their 3 to 4 year course. I can vouch that their work is as good as any dental clinician. Sure you may have had a dodgy OHT in the past but there are just as many dodgy dentists out there too.

        You should not be tarring all OHTs with the same brush. Check your facts before you spread more misinformation.

        • pizzacracker on 19/12/2020 - 22:34

          Then you should work at my practice and see the quality work OHTs have been producing. I'm sick of redoing their fillings or giving them lectures.

          I'm sure there are great OHTs out there but I still would rather go to a dentist for treatment planning and to do my fillings or a prosthodontist to do my crown preps or an endodontist to do my root canal. These specialists train a few years for a reason

  • emgee on 18/12/2020 - 18:17
    +1

    I’d be cautious trying to score a bargain on myself or a loved one. As much as I know how expensive dental treatment is in Australia, amongst some other specialist treatments, I’d be wary of trying to do something like this. 😳

  • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2020 - 18:18
    +11

    Op = Dental 99 agent :)

    • life is suffering on 18/12/2020 - 19:32
      +1

      agent 99

    • squashy on 19/12/2020 - 06:04
      +1

      I’m not or else I would know better to include QLD in title.

      Sometimes it’s so hard trying to give back to this community.

  • DMFD on 18/12/2020 - 18:25
    -1

    shudder evil evil dentists. 40 bucks normally gets ya a tooth pulled not including the drugs, 280 for an xray… … shame its not an AU wide thing!

  • FlatulentFrank on 18/12/2020 - 18:27

    Anyone got an idea for Melbourne? Haven't got health insurance and need a dentist badly.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2020 - 18:38
      +2

      There is smile.com.au, It’s fairly limited but any help regarding dental helps.

      • DevelopmentalAnomaly on 19/12/2020 - 00:29

        Yeah joining smile.com.au is a great way to reduce dental fees if you don’t have dental insurance/ PHI. The down side is, there are limited dental clinics catering this dental insurance. But this is a great option.

    • brongz on 18/12/2020 - 20:14
      +1

      there is the $99 dentist at collins st cbd. but like my comment below, make sure it's all in. for case of filling, make sure it's only 1 hole, not more. otherwise after x-ray, with extra cost on top of $99, if they 'found' 2 holes they will charge you for 2 then.

      in st.albans, if you have more than 1 holes it's cheaper here. call/google first to confirm the price is including x-ray, etc.

  • Outsider on 18/12/2020 - 18:34
    +2

    I know paying more doesn't necessarily mean a better dentist/experience, but I know for sure that you can only cheap out to a certain extent, before the company starts to take short cuts and cut important things out to make the product as cheap as it is.

    That being said, OP DIDN'T need surgery for the wisdom teeth removal (lucky you, that probably means your teeth were far away from your nerve lines), so the only point of real concern would have been the suture that was applied to the gum where the teeth were removed.

    But again, seeing as OP didn't need surgery, the wisdom teeth probably weren't too deep into his gums, and best case probably didn't even need an extensive suture, and maybe that is why OP had a relatively great experience.

    Probably would have been a different story if OP got fillings, which are supposed to stay in your teeth for a long time.

    • fairyfloss on 18/12/2020 - 19:39
      +4

      I’m no dentist, but tooth extraction doesn’t mean you need stitches…

      • Eeples on 19/12/2020 - 08:35

        It doesn’t but getting stitches certainly helps the healing and most likely leads to less infection and maybe less chance of dry socket.

        -I’m not a dentist either.

  • Brooklyn on 18/12/2020 - 18:39
    +4

    I guess I am lucky my dentist is so cool he charges what you can afford. Several years ago I was a bit broke and needed a Root canal done 4 visits to kill the infection and complete it came to a total of $181. Have had fillings done for $80… Love you Ben. Ask around your friends and family… good and compassionate ones do exist.

    • brongz on 18/12/2020 - 20:10
      +5

      where are you?or where's Ben?

      • eatcroissants on 18/12/2020 - 21:56
        +1

        I want to know that too.

        My dentist charges $300 for one filling and $500 for clean up.

  • lordezekiel on 18/12/2020 - 18:41
    -5

    Dentists are greedy scum that have gotten away with overcharging forever.
    No real reason most procedures need to cost anywhere near what they charge, other than that the dentists want to have 2-3 month holidays a year and have enough to keep their small fleet of mercedes turning around every few years.
    So if you see a cheap dentist, you can bet your bottom dollar that they wont be paying themselves any less, they'll just be cutting corners on staff/training/equipment/etc so they can maintain their absurd wages.

    • pizzacracker on 18/12/2020 - 19:44
      +10

      untrue. you don't know how expensive it is to train for the degree, buy equipment and materials every day, constantly take expensive courses to stay updated, and pay for indemnity insurance.

      • virhlpool on 18/12/2020 - 23:24
        +4

        But then whose job is it to get the education cost of such primary and critical profession under control? Govt should do it or there has to be some other solution. Charging absurd amounts can't be the only way of life when many other countries have managed to bring down the dental expenses. If you need to produce more dentists to increase competition in the market, then that be the solution.

    • PainToad on 18/12/2020 - 19:44

      I’d apply this to GPs.

      Edit: most, not all.

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