![[SA] Limited-Time Free Membership to Save up to 50% off Your Dental Bill](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/24/97024.jpg?h=4174338a)
They are giving away free membership as part of their opening offer. They team up with dentists to give patients a massive reduction in dental fees. You can save over $100 in just the check-up appointment!
[SA] Limited-Time Free Membership to Save up to 50% off Your Dental Bill
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AssociatedLmranadelaide on 18/03/2013 - 20:02 brightersmileplan.com (322 clicks)
Last edited 26/03/2013 - 21:43 by 1 other user
Last edited 26/03/2013 - 21:43 by 1 other user
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The dental plan will be moving to other states soon. Yep the free membership goes till June 2013 (because its an opening offer only) but its going for free so you have no risk when signing up even if you're from another state.
You dont need this if you have dental extras with your private Health Insurance.
It can be used together with private health insurance very well. Your fees before claiming with private insurance will be lower with Brighter Smile discounts, hence once you claim with your insurer after your appointment you will have an even smaller gap to pay. This basically gives you savings twice.
cheap dental treatment = bangkok
bonus holiday included :)
pay money -> go to their dentists -> save money
So how much is a a checkup and plaque removal? (I have no idea what the other item was on the list "cons")?
$55 here with a dentist I trust.Edit:
111 Plaque/Stain Removal $ 90 $ 48
011 Oral Exam - Comprehensive $ 72 $ 45So $93 I would save -69% o_0
NIB Gold or something, it's an old plan. Dentist is local.
The 121 is the fluoride application. Getting two 022 is for two bitewing radiographs, which you should be getting every year or so. Also, you'd may be getting a 114 for calculus removal - 111 is just stain and plaque removal.
Amusingly, many capital cities will have OPG clinics that bulk bill… even my neighbouring radiograph clinic only chargers $80 up front ($40 back from Medicare), which is is less than the $129 quoted (or $84 that their members will pay!).
The prices for other work is quite close to BUPA/MBP preferred provider/members' choice rates. In short, this is paying to access preferred insurer rates.
The competing service smile.com.au is quite similar too.
In short - if you are with BUPA/MBP and your existing dentist is a preferred provider for that insurer, I wouldn't be changing to a dentist who is under one of these schemes. The hassle for a 'possible' saving just isn't worth it.
You're right in that 121 is fluoride and 022 should be taken every 1-2 years. For OPGs, some clinics may not bulk bill (some may have in-house OPGs) and this is where Brighter Smile can help reduce your Xray fees greatly with convenience.
Brighter Smile rates are as competitive as preferred providers and are more discounted for certain treatments. Not every clinic is a preferred provider, so using this service may also open up more opportunities to visit dentists who are not preferred providers and get the same value for treatment.
They don't encourage people to drop insurance if they would like to maintain them as having both Brighter Smile and private health insurance can give you twice the savings on your dental bills.
I note that the OPG is bulk billed in some chains as many now also offer a digital copy for the patient to take. My neighbouring clinic offers high quality radiographs, a physical and digital film, included radiograph reports from radiologists, and is cheaper than the members rate given here. This would be a vastly superior service for significantly less, even though it is more than many city folk pay.
My recommendation for preferred providers is that if you are ALREADY SEEING ONE - i.e., someone who already has your records and you are already familiar with them - it is not very good to change to someone else.
If, however, you currently do not have a dentist that you call your own, then this service may certainly be of some use.
Should non-SA residents join for free now in hope of the scheme expanding to other states?
Who cares, its free, just do it. But wait, what is this?
The free membership expires in June 2013?