Hey been having tooth ache past couple days so decided to go dentist, next thing I know she tells me I need a root canal done in my molar!! I ask how much this is gonna cost me and she replies about 2150$!!! 1k for root canal and 1250$ for a crown! Is this normal pricing?? Or is she taking my wallet whilst I'm down in pain ?
Dentist taking advantage of my wallet while in pain
lynx on 20/07/2012 - 08:52
Comments
Sadly, that sounds par for the course for emergency dental…they know that they really do have you over a barrel when you're in pain. IME not many dentists are overservicing these days, they don't need to because they have the market cornered with high prices already.
I'm with Trance, if you can stand the pain for a little while start shopping around, particularly in the low SES suburbs…you have a diagnosis now, so getting prices for the therapy should be pretty straightforward! Hope it goes well for you.
I paid $1600 for a crown 3 months ago.
it cost me 650, paid majority by my insurance
For your crown ? Was that your gap payment?
I paid $900 for a root canal and have yet to have the recommended crown (which I think was $1200).
Another dentist quoted $750 for the root canal but significantly more for the crown, and didn't have an x-ray machine on site (which I think is pretty useful).
This was actually ~6months after it started hurting: when it happened initially I was a bit indecisive and busy, so the dentist helped me postpone it by prescribing a course of antibiotics.
Hi guys thanks for the replies. Apparently Ive cracked my tooth which has caused the roots to rot thus the pain. She started the first procedure already of drilling in and yanking out the roots and putting in dome soft filling . No more pain now.
OK I'll call around to get some prices, but
o you think it'll be weird switching dentists mid treatment?"? HahOh I asked about yanking the thing out as well but she advised against it of course hhaha
Humm so the price ivy been given is pretty standard?… now to find the bargain dentist!
go to thailand or bali if u wanna get holiday and cheap dentist over there
Possibly the worst thing you could do. Yes it's cheaper, but my partner (as dentist) has spent many a hours fixing the shoddy work received from medical travel jaunts.
As for this poor guy in pain, sadly that's the cost. The crown may not be needed now, it could be added in a few months if you can't afford it, but that tooth will be very vulnerable to serious damage during that time. The current condition of the tooth may not allow for this option either.
It really sucks, especially if you have private health insurance, because you pay so much and get so little back. This is a PERFECT example of why this country desperately needs a National Dental Health Scheme.
Could you tell a bit more about it? Where's the poor dude get initial treatment from? Also hope you don't mind if I PM.
Depends on the dentist you choose in Thailand - just as it does here… Have had the same dentist in Thailand (who teaches at the Bangkok University as well as runs a practice) for 10 years and she is amazing.
Do your research and save a fortune on the overpricing here
Yeah, I was strongly tempted to yank. Much cheaper! Would have done it if it had been on the bottom, which is damn crowded.
But if you've started with one dentist and been given a flat price I'd stick with her. Now she has a responsibility to fix up any mistakes (I had an extra session because my dentist was worried about not having cleaned it out properly).
Could always go to Asia and get it done there. I know someone that did and got a holiday as well and still ended up cheaper. And yes, they were happy with the result
I am definitely happy I did that.
Haha! I never thought of that ! Would be an interesting way to fix my tooth but I don't know how I'd pass that with the wife… no dear its not a holiday in Thailand lol
I wonder if you could claim it as sick leave from work?
Haha yup I will be applying for sick leave as the appointments are late in the morning, oh well I guess I'll have to take time off wok ha-ha
Pricewise lynx those prices are pretty reasonable i think. As a general rule every root canal treated tooth should have a crown.
or it's cheaper to go oversea, malysia or something.
i know friends who does and it'll probably be cheaper including the ticket pirce.just a thought, you might not be able to wait!
When I first went to evaluate which health insurance option to go with, I was told the most expensive plan included crowns in the dental plan, so those prices don't surprise me from the sounds of it.
I'm sorry to inform you that the price you've been quoted seems fairly standard in private practice, particularly in a molar tooth due to the presence of more canals. After the pulp of the tooth has been removed, the tooth becomes significantly weaker and prone to fracture, which often happens from chewing, hence the suggestion for a crown. There are different types of crowns - metal or tooth coloured, or a mixture of both, each with slightly different prices. If you're concerned with the price, you can consult your dentist and choose the cheapest alternative. You can choose not to get the crown and risk the tooth breaking apart - but then what is the point of spending all that money doing the root canal therapy in the first place?
Having a root canal means your tooth is dead, hence the need for a crown to stop it from cracking/crumbling
Depending on what type of tooth it is you may be able to space out treatment to make it a little easier on the pockets.
But otherwise imho you just have to grin and bear it
Yes that was a pun!
Better that your tooth stay in place than it be taken out - which is what happended to me
I was told the gap would close (a lie) and its caused problems ever since
And who was the dentist? Well nothing less than an employee of the health department!
Good luck with the fangs, at least you are not in pain.
Take care with dental holiday. Would you even know if it had been completed properly or what has been permanently inserted into your body. These are often not the sorts of things that you get two bites of the cherry with -screwed up once, screwed up for good. If you cant find a dentist you feel comfortable with then maybe thats the problem. A consevative dentist does not need to rip you off. Thats just how much these things cost. As a rule about 10% of the cost is for doing it the other 90% is for trust.
Totally agree.
I suggest the OP research what is involved in a root canal, and the many complications that can cause serious facial injury if done incorrectly.ahahah it was a nice thought that i could get a holiday out of it as well but i will be staying local, root canal with the dentist im with now.
I was planning on getting a root canal some years ago, during the operation they've discovered it's nigh impossible to actually perform the procedure so they've opt for the next best thing - yank the molar out.
Couldn't be happier to be honest given leaving it in there could've been asking for more trouble. Got a bit more room for my wisdom teeth to wiggle around too so that's a bonus otherwise another expensive procedure in the pipeline.
it's surprising to see so many dentists on the ozbargain forum.
my advice: if you have an emergency need for dental work, try to find a community clinic in your local area, they do most procedures for almost nothing, albeit you may have to wait a week or two to see them.
if that doesn't work for you, find some overseas dentists, eg. thailand, malaysia, philippines.
singapore, hongkong, korean used to be terrific options for medical tourism, but due to growing demand, the prices there are now almost as high and even higher than australian prices — that's before you add the airfare, accomodation and travel insurance costs! make sure you get travel insurance — it won't cover your medical risks, but in the unlikely event, people who die or get seriously ill overseas can end up with bills of up to $100,000!
my advice: if you have an emergency need for dental work, try to find a community clinic in your local area, they do most procedures for almost nothing, albeit you may have to wait a week or two to see them.
Not an option if you're not on centrelink benefits, in some states at least.
Needs a low income healthcare card too at a minimum.
oh man speaking of, a good 16 years or so ago back when i just started uni and had no money i had a tooth ache and so applied to a community dentist they did not get back to me for 12 years then they sent me a letter saying there was no empty places for me. hahah i found that funny it took 12 years to get some sort of response!. terrible.
1-2 weeks - where are you living!
I sought this type of treatment back in my student days - a tooth was removed instead of a root canal/capping
I would be asking a lot of questions if I went "public" again as at the time they were resource strapped and focused on the immediate issue of pain and possible abcesses etc.
I have had no end of issues with teeth tipping etc because of the removal.
If reports in Tasmania are to be believed think years, not weeks for waiting lists
It should not be that way of course, teeth are very important and problems with them can affect quality of life considerably
It's not just Tasmania. Over 6 years in some sections of Qld
if you want a routine check / clean you have to wait 6-12months, at least where I live, in Melbourne's SouthEast. however not all of them are the same — another clinic near wouldn't see me at all, without a HCC, and the waiting list was longer too. The 1-2weeks is just for emergency work — you can go with a student for free or pay $20-30 for an experienced dentist. A longer proceedure would take 2-3 sessions, so $60-80 or so, all inclusive.
get a written quote always. too many variables. get all your xrays to take with you for 2nd opinion. unless you know the dentist overseas, probably unknown risks make it impractical. shop around. ask if they will give you a free quote on checkup. nogapsdental.com.au has hidden fees for procedures they have not communicated to me well, and not got back to me even after a few messages left. if teeth are an ongoing problem, learn better care, and get extras insurance. I thought I knew how to brush and floss but it took me years and I am still careless in both as they are time consuming or you overdo it.
Hey guys called up my health fund cover and it seems they will cover 400$ for the root canal and 750$ for the crown. Then they said I have some sorta flexible money which I should be able to claim worth 200$. I think I'll stick with this dentist as you guys recommend due to standard pricing and having to fix any problems she causes. I think I'll shop around for the crown though considering 1250$ is massive . Thanks for all the advice guys!
Looks like no Thailand medical holiday for me hahaCheck the following site and dentist, he is in Mel CBD
http://www.wisdomdentalemergency.com.au/pricing
pice as per site:
MAX. PRICE for ALL 4 Surgical Wisdom Teeth Removal : $970
Review Appointments : no charge
Dental Implants cost : Surgery : $1500 / Crown : $1250
Total Tooth Replacement : $2750Totally standard price. Also DO NOT PUT OFF GETTING THE CROWN FITTED AFTER YOU HAVE ROOT CANAL.
It's expensive, but if you wait too long, you'll end up like me. I waited a year, I was eating some chocolate, and half of my tooth fell off, because the remaining tooth isn't strong enough any more.
Dentist wasn't sure he could even fit a crown onto the fragment that remained. Luckily he managed it (genius), but if not it would have meant an extraction and a bridge later, which is MUCH more expensive than a crown.I recently had veneers done in Thailand (Bangkok Smile Dental) and couldn't be happier with the result :) I would definitely go back if I needed expensive work again!
This place just outside of Kuala Lumpur does root canals for AU$107:
http://www.whatclinic.com/dentists/malaysia/selangor/subang-…
Even with flights and accommodation you're saving $1000 or so.
As a few people have mentioned, go overseas and get it done.
Make sure you find a good dentist there though.Even with the tickets its likely to end up cheaper and you also get a nice holiday!!!
How do u find a good dentist overseas? I'm heading over in Oct and would like to get some work done whilst over there?
I am lucky enough for my wife to work for an airline so I get staff travel. I have had all of my dental work overseas and I am generally very happy. Here is my experience…
- Silom Dental in Bangkok: 2 x root canal, 2 crowns, plus a three tooth wide bridge to cover a missing tooth and teeth whitening. In Australia I was quoted $7500. I got all of the above for AUD $1800. Work was excellent, and during my yearly check up at NIB dental they have commented that it all looked like good work.
They even sent xrays over to Australia for me. Very professional, the dentist I had was trained at Sydney Uni. A bit more expensive than others but overall very happy.
Bali Dental Clinic. Had an emergency root canal and crown. Was ok, but no pain relief offered other than just the needle. When I went back later he had not got all the nerve removed and when he rammed the needle in I swear there was lightning inside my head, thought I was going to stroke out. I was really sweaty and in pain. I know a little Bahasa and the dentist sighed and said something like "typical soft aussie".
Some dentist in Phuket (cant remember name). Had teeth whitening. Was ok but my gums were super sore afterwards.
In summary do your research first, check the medical tourism forums and have good travel insurance that will cover you, and go OVERSEAS!
Dentistry in Australia is outrageously expensive.
(apologies for the long post)
one caveat with cheap dentists overseas — they usually use mercury amalgam fillings, make sure to ask for composite or ceramic instead.
mercury amalgam fillings have a longer lifespan compared to composite. And there is no body of research to say that amalgam fillings are dangerous to your health. The mercury component is so small it is of negligible concern. It is all hype
"no body of research" — you should do your homework properly next time:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/mercury/pdf/danish…
this study has been widely reported in many scientific and medical journals. until now, most governments outside Scandinavia are choosing to ignore the issue, clearly a case of selective reading.
also, current composites are nearly as durable as amalgams, which are only used by professional dentists because it costs almost nothing to prepare and takes just seconds — more profit, more patients, more time to practise your golf swing.
the 15-25% extra we pay for composite fillings is a tiny price to pay for your future health — that's what dental care is supposed to be about. you could also opt for the superior porcelain, but they are more costly.you are quoting a letter (from a nobody) as your evidence?? HA! What pathetic research you have done.
How about you read this from the National (Australian) Health and Research Council. This document is still current and applicable to today's standard, as stated on their website. Read the whole thing and then talk.
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachment…Basically, if you are not pregnant, dont have kidney disease, or you are not a child, then amalgam is a safe filling choice for you.
More current Australian government research, stating amalgam is perfectly safe:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2011/pdf/GL2011_002…
And if reading educated researched government publications is too difficult for you, here is a current and applicable pamphlet. Enjoy!
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachment…
you are entitled to believe what spin you wish to, however you should know the first document you linked to is from 1999, whilst the Swedish study I provided a summary of is from 2004.
if you are questioning the source, this will help you: http://bit.ly/Q0voI4the second link you gave is offers a public clinic code of practice, and in no way is a representative study of the risks of using mercury amalgam, nor claims to be based on current research, in fact it states at the beginning their one-sided perspective on the issue, and a clear bias toward the cheapest options possible, and the referenced data is also from 1999. the third link was simply a rehash of the same spin.
NHMRC would still be advocating the 'safe' use of lead fillings, if the informed public let them get away with it, along with arsenic for skin complexion, cigarettes for dental hygiene, worms for weight loss, cocaine candies for children, alcohol for breast feeding pain, thalidomide for morning sickness… et ad infinitum
yes they are studies done in 1999 etc, but if you go on their website prior to the pdf download link, they all have the status 'current' labelled, meaning the study is still valid today. Basically the same as saying that I dont need a study to be published every year to know drinking water wont kill me - i.e the facts havnt changed since the landmark study done yonks ago….ALL are still current applicable research.
DO you know why the NHMRC study is well cited? Because it is basically a AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT review study of all the existing studies out there. If you want more proof, look at the references. Pretty much the NHMRC study is a summary of what THE WORLD thinks about amalgam. See Appendix C which talks about favourable views of amalgam from other WORLD health organizations:
• Health Canada. The safety of dental amalgam. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services,
Canada, 1996.
• Conseil d’évaluation des technologies de la santé du Québec (CÉTS). The safety of
dental amalgam – a state of the art review (CÉTS 97–3 RE). Montreal: CÉTS, 1997.
• World Health Organization. Consensus statement on dental amalgam, 7 March 1997.
Geneva: WHO, 1997.
• Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the
Environment. Statement on the toxicity of dental amalgam. London: Department of
Health, 1998.
• US Environmental Protection Agency. Mercury Study Report to Congress. Vol. V:
Health effects of mercury and mercury compounds. Washington, DC: US
Environmental Protection Agency 1997.
• Research Council Committee (FRN). Mercury, amalgam and oral galvanism; the Report
of the FRN to the Government. Press Release 03–04–1998. Translated by Translating
and Interpreting Service (TIS), Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
• Cuttress TW (in collaboration with Godfrey ME, Miller JH, Whyman RE). Dental
amalgam and human health – current situation. Prepared for the New Zealand Ministry
of Health. Wellington: Ministry of Health, 1998.If you were representative of the informed public, I dont think the government or any other reputable organisation with research would be able to sway you from your 'Today Tonight' beliefs.
Just got a root canal done about a week ago. Cost me $900 without the crown. Dentist himself told me that its not worth getting a crown put on here in Australia for a student like myself as its too costly and i shouldn't have a problem without it anyway if i take care of my teeth.
But yeah, 1k for root canal (without crown) is about standard.
iv been advised by the dentist that its best to get a crown after a root canal since you've spent so much on it in the first place?
hey what do you guys think of this groupon deal? http://www.groupon.com.au/deals/sydney/Premier-Dental/716138…
do you think its worth it? also if they are asking 699$ would i be able to use my health fun card thus paying next to no gap?
Yes go overseas for the treatment if you wish. All I can say is that you will more often than not be returning to an Australian dentist to get the treatment replaced/redone when it fails in a couple of years (well short of the acceptable lifespan of that treatment). Australian dentists are better trained and their quality of work is of a higher standard. You get what you pay for. Your choice
the Bankok Dentist recommended by rehab was trained in Sydney Uni. Stsuc, did you get your Dentistry degree somewhere better ??
But not all dentists there are from USyd. And just because they come from USyd doesn't automatically mean they're good. I know of a USyd trained dentist that graduated with an honours degree, brilliant mind but crap dentist (either that or he's rushed his jobs to churn more cash).
And the uni you get your dental training isn't that important IMO (ok it does a little but it's not THAT important). 90% of what you learn in your profession as a general practice dentist is what you learn after uni. Dental materials, technique and guidelines are constantly changing (hence the requirement of 60 CPD hours every three years after graduating).
How important is the uni? Not that important. What is? The guidelines, requirements and laws that the dentist needs to adhere to.
As far as Australia is concerned (cannot speak about international courses) the dental programs are designed around requirements from an independent accreditation body, the Australian Dental Council. At the end of the day the requirements needed to be a dentist in Australia are all met by every dental school in Australia. Before working as a dentist you then have to register with the Dental Board of Australia.
Why is the uni not important? Because every uni has a different way of teaching the profession. In terms of how I rate the major dental schools for general dentists UAde>USyd=UQ. UAde has an emphasis on practical skills and that is what you need as a general dentist. USyd and UQ are more academic and the only time I'd prefer a dentist from there is when I need a specialist in which case the preference is USyd>UQ=UAde. As for the smaller schools I can't tell. All the smaller schools only started a few years ago, AFAIK La Trobe, Griffith and Charles Sturt have their first graduating class this year with James Cook following next year. From what I've heard all these universities have an emphasis on clinical skill and practice, similar to UAde.
Having worked with some UAde grads, I beg to differ. I also know some USyd grads that are terrible, same with UWA. Point is, there are good and bad dentists from every school. Being a UAde grad might make you better in certain procedures but I'm also aware that the treatment planning side is poorer, as a generalisation.
Gross generalisations that one school is better than another are BS. It comes down to the individual and how much they care.
Ha, my mrs had to get a tooth pulled after it broke here. Got it done with a local dentist who charged an arm and a leg (but what were we going to do? just leave it?)
She enquired about an implant and the dentist told her it would be $7000-$8000.
She held off and went to her dentist in Hong Kong after we saved the money (pretty much half price, including the airfare).
The dentist there had to take an xray and remove an entire root that the local dentist left. He was really shocked and genuinely asked her if the Australian dentist she went to was properly trained. He couldn't believe that he'd left such a large chunk of the tooth in.
The best part? She needs to wait a couple of months or so until the area heals before she can start the implant. The savings and the trip were a waste in a sense (luckily she was visiting family).
Don't crap on about how good the local dentists are because it's absolute bullshit.
(oh man didn't realise this was a 2 year necro, apologies, just having a whinge!!!)
Rich people in developing country often go overseas to find a better (and more expensive) medical treatment. Isn't it logical as well that poor people from developed country go overseas to find cheaper alternatives?
For serious illness go to developed countries, you don't want to risk your life. But for something much more simpler, like teeth, it's worth it to take that little risk and save loads (risk being needing to come back to AU for repair).
Dental service costs too much here… and who said just because they're located in Australia makes them good? I know someone who had a filling done here which fell off in a year and that particular dentist refused to fix it up for free.
In fact I wouldn't be surprised if dentists overseas are better than the ones here since they get so many tourists visiting them they've become skilled and experienced. The only problem would be hygiene and work ethics (doing a crappy job because knowing you're a tourist, you can't go back to complain).
Don't listen to those dentists trying to scare you about poor service in other countries. I had my crowns done in Indonesia and still good until now after 5 years.
The dental rate in Australia is just plain stupid. I was quoted $2500 out of pocket with HCF dental. I rather go overseas to do it there I still can get it cheaper even including airplane ticket!!
It's funny because 90% of the time the Australian dentist ends up being the bad guy because they are the one to break it to the patient 4-5 years later that the work done overseas initially is failing. The patient almost always thinks it is the Aussie dentist trying to money grab etc. This is probably the most soul destroying part of practice - when you try and do the right thing by a patient and tell them of their issues and they look at you like you're trying to rob them.
Most dentists slowly become disillusioned by this and eventually understand that it's the patient's problem that we're trying to fix, not OURS. So don't blame us for not caring when you're in denial regarding YOUR problem.
I'm crying a river for all the dentists, let me tell you. POOR dentists and their BMW's and houses in Point Piper, charging $5000 for four hours work and sending away to get the bridge or prosthetics created by someone on minimum wage in a factory.
You are so right, I think it is terrible you get disillusioned by all that money you have to charge just to make a small meagre wage….
As you said above, it must be soul destroying to have to lecture a patient on how stupid they are to get work done overseas because the dentists in Australia grossly overcharge to cover their golf membership fees, whilst your other hand is firmly in their wallet. Like you said, soul destroying stuff…….
Funny that, rants like that are the grossest generalisations ever. Not a single one of those applies to myself or any of the dentists that I know. That's probably because all the dentists you ever hear about are those ones, not the ones working normal working hours to make a normal living and trying to buy a house like everyone else working a normal job.
Sure we might make a bit more than your average person initially, but it's not anywhere near what you're thinking. Dentist employee incomes stay relatively stable after the first couple of years, with little scope to increase. Think of it as a muck raking premium. I'll be honest, I probably make mid 100k pa, so no I can't afford any of that stuff you're talking about.
Also FYI I know what it's like to be living barely above the poverty line. Not every dentist goes to a private school and is born into money.
Talk about tall poppy syndrome.
To everyone complaining about the cost of dental work- sit down and take a good long look at your budget. As a conservative estimate, let's say your dental work done in Australia lasts 5 years which is a short while. For your average crown that works out to be about $250 a year (I expect crowns to last way longer than 5 years) which is less than what you pay for your mobile phone annually.
Your car costs more to run than your teeth. Cheapest option in the first place of course is to stop being a lazy sh*t and floss and brush properly to begin with. Spend a few minutes each day taking care of your teeth. Quit wasting money on junk foods and sweets and soft drink. Most importantly take responsibility for your own dental problems and don't be in denial about them.
that's true for some — you don't all have a Lamborghini for weekends, I know…
mycareer.com.au salary scale sets dental wages average at just $59k, well below the average for the medical industry. that's not an fair comparison though, mycareer puts the average advertised Australian salary at $89k, way beyond what the average Aussie earns.
if can anyone suggest a more reliable source for salary info, please feel free.
Everything is more expensive in Australia. Full stop. Electronics, toys, big macs (http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/07/daily-c…), tradies, medical, dental, prostitutes. Things are what they are.
I had a problem with a tooth, I had it removed. If it is one of the back ones, get it taken out. I have heard root canals can cause health problems.
gezzus christ,not going to believe this, i got a root canal done by the dentist back in my first post, now the tooth is showing signs of some pain? not full on pain but just hints of it when eating hot food.. MMMMMMMMMM… $1100 root canal and this sh1t happens??? wtf!!!
im thinking of not getting the crown and just yanking the thing out!
Possible extra canal in the tooth, go see the original dentist again.
hummm, why would it come up now though?, its not a constant pain, prob wouldnt call it pain, prob like an annoyance prob a 2ish on the pain scale..
but yeah you are right, ill prob see the dentist next calendar year, iv used up all the health fund benefits hahah.
My brother recently had to get a crown done.. and he had to pay 5k…
I seriously have no idea what's happening now lolGot 2 molars removed instead of root canal. Cost jack all and depending on the OP's age and/or situation with the wisdom teeth, it could save you even more cash and pain in the long run. I'm having issues with some of my wisdom teeth on the sides where molar wasn't removed leaving no room for the wisdom teeth.
Without knowing the condition of your tooth, it's hard to say if a crown is needed or not. If you think that the procedures are too much then you should get a second opinion (especially about the crown). The extra cost to get a second opinion isn't too much compared to what you will pay if you went ahead with this treatment plan.
The pricing seems a tad high but that might be because I'm used to pricing in lower socioeconomic areas.