Hello, my mum needs dental work (sorry implant not crown) and the quotes have ranged from $5k to $6.5k.
She doesn't have private health insurance. She has just turned 68yo.
Just wondering what is the best way to limit the damage? I suggested going overseas but she is scared of "dodgy" work. Tooth is on the bottom jaw if that helps.
Cheers
Quotes have been from dentist. Located in WA so perhaps that's why prices are high
All quotes from dentists.
A crown is generally around $2000. Are you sure it is not something else?
Yep she's gone to 5 places. It is most likely WA tax.
It must be a crown + something else (likely root canal treatment). I know world-class prosthodontists who charge 3-4k for a single crown.
Regardless, only options are:
1. Get PHI and get through the waiting period only to be covered for a portion of the cost.
2. Pay out of pocket.
If it is urgent, then number 2 is your only option. And honestly, unless she needs a significant amount of further treatment, it's probably the more cost effective option.
I would caution against going overseas for treatment in general. I have seen many successes but also many failures. The successes have been mild at best and the failures are catastrophic. If it's treatment for one single tooth, then definitely not worth it from a cost perspective.
A dental school as another commenter pointed out below is also a good idea.
Sorry miscommunication.
She needs an implant.
@mmd: No worries, my advice still stands.
Implants are much more complex than standard crowns. Just find a general dentist who is experienced with implants as I'm guessing a specialist is out of consideration due to higher cost.
@mmd: One of the implant specialist dentists over there advertises $3,999 as the starting point for a single implant, but all cases aren't the same.
@mmd: Yes, $5000 for an implant + crown total cost is quite normal.
But this highly depends on the case. If grafting is required, could push it up to high $5000s.
To address comments below about overseas treatment: I have nothing against it. Consumers are free to make their own decisions but I do advocate for people being well-informed before making these decisions. Having implant treatment done overseas often requires multiple trips. Can the implant be immediately loaded? Can the implant be immediately placed? What if it doesn't integrate? Are they using a reputable brand? If a bone graft is required, what kind of material are they putting into your body? How big will the graft be and how long will it take to integrate? What will happen if the graft becomes necrotic?
You get the idea, there are many variables that you or your mum cannot know. If you want to roll the dice to save a few thousand bucks then go for it, nobody will judge you - dentistry is expensive. Just make sure that you've considered everything beforehand. Good luck
@zzzz99: There is also the sunk cost bias. I spent this much to fly over, I've got to do it regardless if it's not the right option or I don't have time to think over it.
Must be an implant? My last crown (2022) at a top shelf dental practice in Qld $2,323
Sound's about right.
Yep correct she requires a implant
And she's not a pensioner at this point?
No gaps dental, I just paid $1700 for a crown back big tooth.
My mum needs dental work (a crown) and the quotes have ranged from 5k to 6.5k. She doesn't have private health insurance.
If you don't have PHI then you pay, even with PHI you pay.
Just wondering what is the best way to limit the damage? I suggested going overseas but she is scared of "dodgy" work. Tooth is on the bottom jaw if that helps.
Flights for a couple of people, cost of staying and the crown etc, will you really have much change out of $5k?
There isn't really much to lower the costs, try a dental school if you're open to someone learning on you in exchange for cheap dental work.
Show her the professionalism that's available overseas. People are getting full rows of implants done for $12k, so $5k is ludicrous. Have a holiday while you're at it.
https://www.dentaldepartures.com/
I used Dentzz in Delhi in 2019/2020 https://www.dentzzdental.com
Had 4 German Nobel implants, extensive grafting on an infected lower jaw, and 22 crowns. As I needed grafts, work was done in 2 stages, 12 months apart.
4 years on, no issues at all.
Total cost was $17k including all airfares, accommodation & meals. It was more expensive than originally budgeted as I got caught in the Covid lockdown and spent an extra 2 months in Delhi.
I stayed here both times, as excellent and helpful host https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g304551-d2571829…
Why don't you pay?
Dentist won't take my bitcoin
Ours accepts bitcoin…
What about your crown jewels?
What about bitecoin?
Go overseas, don't listen to the scare tactics.
Quality are levels above Australia.
Plus Thai dentists have smaller hands.
Definitely go overseas and get even more work done. Go to the elite dental hospital that have luxury hotel attached to it kind of thing. Don't go to the back street dentist that charges you 10 baht but the dentist's cat has to sit on your chest when you get it done. Doesn't have to be Thailand, see what your options are in Hungary and other countries that have elite level dentistry but currency worth peanuts. Let them know you can't afford to come back for followup, they are serious dentists, they will understand, and you'll be paying a relatively lot of money for their time. There's some risk of needing followup work in Australia after, but that risk is there anyway even if you pay for a local dentist.
Do you have any specific recommendations of the aforementioned elite dental hospitals?
And with implant, wouldn't it need to be done in at least two stages, separated by few months? So multiple trips is definitely required?
They do have websites. People do talk on forums about their experiences, and YouTube, etc. I've never had an implant so I wouldn't know. But if I were missing a tooth I would want one.
see my comment above, where I replied to BoltThrower
Check out:
https://www.uwa.edu.au/facilities/ohcwa in WA.
OHCWA provides subsidised general and specialist dental services to members of the WA public who meet the eligibility criteria determined by the WA Government. To be eligible for subsidised treatment, patients must be a holder of a current healthcare or pension concession card. The level of subsidy depends on the amount of benefit received. Prospective patients should phone (08) 6457 4400 for information about eligibility.
Patients are required to either produce a statement of their benefit or sign a consent form to authorise the Oral Health Centre to access their Centrelink benefit details so their eligibility and subsidy can be confirmed. Patients are required to show their up-to-date healthcare or pension concession card at each appointment.
I don't think they will cover implants.
Unfortunately, dental implants are considered a luxury. The more affordable option is dentures, which they can provide.
Are dental implants provided at OHCWA?There is no wait list for dental implants as it is not a service OHCWA provides under general treatment. You cannot be referred to OHCWA or request to be referred to see a specialist for dental implants. Dental implants are only provided for educational purposes only by our specialist registrars when they come across cases which are suitable.
WA is Exy for everything,
Just had 8 fillings recently for $2,000 and PHI paid half but thats the extras limit for dental blown for the year.
Again assume all the xrays finding there is plenty of bone in the jaw? Perhaps this is a reason for increased cost?
Where is the tooth? at 68 perhaps just rip it out, but likely still up for $500 plus.
$5k for an implant is about right, someone I know had one done a couple years ago in Victoria.
Seeing as it's only a single implant a partial denture sounds like the best way for something more affordable. I've done exactly this and, after 3 or 4 months, I pretty much don't notice the denture now.
What sort if considerations do you have for the denture? Do you have to take it out to eat, sleep, etc?
Do you have to take it out to eat, sleep, etc?
Took a little time to get used to it (it's one of my front teeth so it may be different depending on which tooth is lost) and needed a couple of visits to my dentist for minor adjustment.
Once the fit was correctly adjusted I've had no issues with it at all.
The only time that I take it out is at night and pop it back in the morning.
You can brush your teeth with it in but I prefer to remove it so I can clean it separately also.
It has a thin metal support with a 'hook' at either end that anchors it around a couple of side teeth.
I really didn't like the feel of the thicker pink 'plastic' temporary one and the thin metal is much less intrusive.
They are overcharging in WA. Might be cheaper to get a plane ticket to the east coast.
If she is still in good enough shape to fly:
Bangkok. Flights $800, dental work $700.
Mumbai. Flights $700, dental work $400.
Dentists in this country are off the hook greedy. The govt needs to step back in and cover it.
Dentists in this country are off the hook greedy. The govt needs to step back in and cover it.
That's right it should be covered by Medicare but the dentists were up in arms just like the chemists with there cosy monopoly to charge us through the roof….
That's what paying pollies through lobbyists does for us the taxpayer….stuff all…..
Take her for a holiday to Bali. Cheap flights from where you are. (You'll have to arrange 2 holidays.)
Show here the websites: those dental hospitals are far more modern, hygenic, professional and fancy than anythnig I've seen here.
Take your whole family for 2 holidays in Bali and you'l still come out ahead.
Dental hospital. The neg is a waiting period (unless in agony/can't eat/etc.).
Losing one tooth, molar or pre-molar shouldn’t be the end of the world. She can eat normally without any issues. I know dentists will say that a missing tooth may result in teeth to start re-aligning, but at her age (not being ageist), isn’t going to be the be all to end all.
Going overseas, hmmm… it will have its own inherent risks.
Bit late to respond, but hope this info helps – I’m in Queensland.
I’m in the cough more mature age group, and required two rear teeth extracted for implants, plus filling the missing-tooth gap between them with a bridge attached to one of the implants. Here’s the timing of each procedure.
1- Extraction Extracting 2 x rear teeth
2- 1 month, 25 days later: 1st stage implant x 2, bone graft etc
3- 3 months, 28 days later: 2nd stage
4- (tba) weeks later: Dentist – fittings, crowns, bridge
As you can see, there is a considerable time-gap between each process. I’m also paying considerably more than some of the prices quoted here for the full job.
Why? I got a few quotes, but ultimately went with the more expensive option as our family has used this surgeon and dentist previously with excellent results. I’m personally very wary of using the overseas option, but respect those who choose to do so.
It’s bogus that implants are considered a luxury. Bad teeth can have a huge impact on a person, regardless of age.
I would also like a hernia operation, but it is considered ‘cosmetic’, so not covered under PHI.
Why were the teeth needing to be extracted and then replaced with implants?
Simple:
two teeth are stuffed. If I have a gap of three rear teeth missing on one side, I must do all chewing on the other side which already has (very) worn teeth.
Without this procedure, I risk more damage to my other teeth.
I'm also a heavy grinder and wish I'd invested in a mouth guard many years earlier than I did.
Realistically, there are no other options.
I work as a dentist in VIC and will probably be accused of some sort of bias but never mind.
5k for an implant is cheap in Aus. If somebody reputable is willing to do it at that rate I wouldn't be questioning the price. If it's 6.5k including all possible issues that arises then even more so.
In regards to going overseas, I've seen some good stuff. I've also seen some truely horrific stuff. The question you need to ask yourself is how will you know the difference? Dental implants are not simple treatment and require maintenance. Even if the clinician does the best clinical work following all the current clinical best practices things still go wrong. In Australia it'll be relatively easy to get some help. If you did it overseas nobody but a specialist is going to want to touch it here and if you're already concerned about price then you can imagine how expensive specialist fees will be.
The final question you need to ask your mum is why exactly she 'needs' an implant. Almost nobody needs an implant. They might want one because it is the closest replica you're gonna get to having a tooth replaced to the real thing but there are other options. If the financial burden is going to be that much of an issue then it would be better to look at other options.
Interesting. What other options would you have recommended for me?
(See my first post)
I can't say for sure without an examination. Dentures are usually an option if you're missing multiple teeth and are looking for a more affordable option. Its still an option to not replace teeth.
I'm not saying that implants are a bad option. They're great. But in the situation given by op if you can't afford them you can't afford them. You can live without one tooth. I've seen people function perfectly well with no teeth at all.
What do you think of Clinics with overseas branches and others with some sort of affiliation or partnership? It sounds like one could get a consult in Oz, go overseas, and if there's any problems, return to the Oz clinic.
What's the catch?
I'm thinking of just getting dentures initially, and will have time to think about implants after I get Lasik (THAT I'm not f'ing around with. I'll get that done in OZ)
"The question you need to ask yourself is how will you know the difference?"
How will you the difference in Australia?
You don't, the difference is that in Australia you have some recourse if something goes wrong. You can just call or walk into the clinic and have the issue addressed. You have regulatory authorities who can help you if there is a dispute. You lose all that by going overseas.
Exactly the same with overseas ones, you just have to go there again to get some recourse.
Tell me which regulatory authorities will help you if there is a complaint? And what do I need to do to lodge a complaint?
I have had a dentist here who unnecessarily removed an old filling (without explicitly informing me) and causing tons of issues to the tooth. Her response to my complaint is to just "take neurofen". Afterwards, I had many other dentists looking at it only to come with nothing. Only after I insisted, one of the dentists started drilling deeper and found that it needs a root canal. Then, the root canal could never be completely done because of some reasons.
That's Australian dentists for me.
I think everyone has to evaluate the risk/reward for themselves based on what work they're needing done. I'm getting implants but will only use a dual-country clinic where recourse is possible in Oz. Same for Lasik.
From dentists or endodontists?
Paying cash?