I need some dental work done and was wondering if anyone knew of a good deal for getting dental cover with no or limited waiting periods.
I have even considered going overseas and having a dental holiday, but have no idea where to start. Help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
mbf.com.au currently has an offer of one free month premium if you join.
i heard many horror stories about dental work done overseas, so I wouldn't recommend that. (Have heard from a lady who had to end up pulling out every single tooth that had work done overseas not even 12 months after the treatment due to infection and other problems) yikes!
I have been thinking about doing the OS dental trip as well.
I need around 7K worth of dentistry including 4 crowns and some veneers. I am fed up with rip off Australian dentists my last filling cost me $125 out of pocket after claiming my rebate from private insurance.
I am thinking about Bangkok or Manilla a mate at work had a load of work done in Manilla and reckons the dentist was American trained and extremely gentle, He came back grinning like George Clooney for roughly 1/3 the price he was quoted in Melbourne.
graygray,
could you try to find out further info from your friend? Perhaps the name of the dentist or how they found him to arrange the trip. Any info would be great. I too am looking at a huge dental bill here in Oz (over $10,000). Saying that makes me sound like a toothless wonder but I actually have quite nice teeth which I've neglected due to lack of funds during my uni studies.
OK The name of the dentist is Dr. Marzo based in Manila, if you google her there is a link to the web site, He was very happy with the work and he had a holiday at the same time. He flew into Manila had 3 days in at the dentist, did shopping and the likes then went to an island called boracay for just over a week then flew back to maila and went to the dentist 2 more times for a few hours per visit, The whole thing with airfares great accomodation food, beers and shopping cost about 6000 compared to nearly $18000 he was quoted here in Melbourne.
I am thinking about going over in November for 3 weeks. I have to get the minister of finances approval though first.
Wow, that is a real sad state of affairs when people have to have medical procedures done overseas because of cost.
Let us know how it goes.
i am with MBF and i recently had my 2x wisdom teeth pulled out for $485 and i only paid $145 and i am only 6mnths into my private health insurance with MBF. My fillings would cost me $90 for 2x teeth even without health insurance so i suspect i would be paying a gap of $40-$50. I would recommend looking up DB Dental for any dental work in WA
A family friend did a lot of research into this exact topic - really thoroughly researched overseas dentists etc
Was quoted $18,000 AUD here in Melbourne
Went over to Thailand - Spent 3 weeks there (not just for dental work but a holiday too) he's going back later this year to finish it all off for a nother few weeks - Still including accommodation/flights etc etc was easily less than $12,000 quoted here
If you want exact figures ($$) or names etc, just let me know!
Most importantly though, he's been really rapt with the work he got done over there, it was a cheap shotty dentist job - world class quality and care he got!
Further info would be fantastic. Thanks
i know this doesnt really help now, but we all can definately recommend younger kids or anybody to spend 15-30mins / day to look after there teeth or spend literally pay for it in the long run and im sure $15K dental bill would cost and hurt more than the 30min daily job of brush, mouth wash and floss…and eat appropriately i guess
azkgtr, I understand what you're saying however, I have looked after my teeth to the best of my ability. Being a student for four years and a single mum, I have not had excess money to regularly visit a dentist. Due to lack of funds and the exhorbitant charges by dentist, my dental health is poor despite the fact that I have kept up with a dental hygiene regime of brush, floss and mouthwash. Unfortunately, fillings come loose and fall out with time and poor dental work. As for DB dental in WA, I have found them to be one of the more expensive dentists out there.
I am a dentist in Perth, about to retire, so, to you suspicious folk, rest easy. What I say is the truth, no marketing or protecting turf or bullsh-one-T. Listen to 32 years of daily reality.
Oh yes, lets ponder: this bastard is a fat cat.. made a lot of money. No… worked my arse off, saw folk at 2 am in the morning at no fee.. happy to help..and well, I can afford steak, drive a 16 year old car, but not financial clover..employ 18 highly paid wonderful ladies…… would have been better in insurance or banking… still,I have worked honestly and with my patients' interests before my own. Every day! Never wavered from my trained commitment to "the patient".
The great lesson of life is "you get what you pay for". If Christ was a dentist in Perth, He would be the cheapest 'cause His diagnosis and treatment would be perfect. Hop off to KL or Philippines and get totally screwed by Hams. I have seen it so many time, from China, to be redone, from KL and every second tooth joined to its neighbor and you could drive a truck through the joins between the crowns and the tooth, that is if you could get through the pus, yesterdays pizza and the aerobic spirocetes. Remember, that Hero in KL or Peking/Beijing has only to have his/her work last till the airport. A local dentist is married to the quality for life. Asian dentistry is total crap; yes, there may be good ones, but does a tour operator know, you neighbor have the dental acumen to judge? No.
Find an honest qualified dentist and follow their advice, use a Waterpik and lay off the lollies, floss and ask those in the business for a referral.. don't follow the Sheep, don't follow insurance company Participating Provider "desperate & dateless, new arrivals, sitting on their butts for good marketing reasons…… trust and remember -dentists invented prevention… I don't want to put out bush fires, I want tranquility… you need your teeth and I don't need your money.. lets take coffee instead?
WA's dentist standards have been the nation's best: but it is under threat by advertising Heroes and complex game inventors like HBF, chains and nil qualified pretenders. Oh for the peace of the Trailer Park!
Dentacare are good, Australia wide?
Big Julie
I understand where you are coming from, but like the US where I lived for a number of years our health care costs are spiraling. Yes going overseas is a crap shoot but frankly in Australia there are similar issues. I dont envy the dentist, they have big bills to pay - rent payroll taxes are just some that I as a lay person know of. This would mean probably 60-70% of the bills we pay are on ancillary costs before the dentist can buy the "Porsche"
All that said - leaving teeth that someone can't afford to fix here vs a cheaper overseas option must be considered. At least the teeth are being attended to (subject to be of a suitable quality).
Another issue here is sometimes getting into the dentist. I have to book in 9 months in advance. Yep (like you say) there are the local factory dental clinics which cost more - ie suspect services and procedures I can book in tomorrow, but I always end up with much less in my pocket.
http://www.nib.com.au/