Hi fellow OzBargain crew. Long time lurker.
I'm in need of a small amount of dental work and wondered how would you get a great 'OzBargain' deal for the dentist?
It's highly unlikely it's worth going to SE Asia for 1 tooth, apart from that i'm in the dark.
It's my first post so please, no toothless comments and no brush offs.
+1 on that. NIB have their own dentists.
I don't have private insurance cover, not yet at least. I need the work to be done in the next few days. Don't private health funds have stand down period?
yes waiting periods exist for this very reason :P
Not entirely true. Depends on what you need done. Preventative and general dental with NIB for example you can vlaim straight away as they are currently waving 2 and 6 month waiting periods. My girlfriend went in the morning to the dentist and signed up that afternoon and was entitled to claim and did. She had never had health insurance before
Fair point. It will depend largely on the individual insurance company and the type or work being done.
see my CHEAT for this problem below
Good OzBargain would get extras cover, no need to get hospital cover. :)
I always thought a minimum value of hospital cover is required. Have I missed something? Is there a reason to not get the hospital cover and just go with extras?
Would love to hear your response on this.
You don't have to purchase any level of Hospital Cover to buy Extras cover from a Health Fund.
The main benefit is you pay only for Extras which will cost less than the combined Hospital+Extras Bundle.
As @holdenmg said, and for example,
medibank - https://www.medibank.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/
hcf - https://www.hcf.com.au/insurance/health/get-a-quote/gold-ext…
I always thought you get good hospital cover and not extras.
At that rate, you could be saving up for those extras in a savings account or offset, get hospital cover and avoid tax if you fit the requirements.
Yes, I'm sure I've read multiple reports lately that have found that private health insurance isn't worth it for most people at all (except for tax purposes), and extras cover is rarely worth it for anyone.
Personally I get it all paid for by work - so that's a plus.
I disagree on account that for families (alot of us) they get full extras coverage for everyone. We probably break even (at least) on our PHI because swimming lessons, exercise classes and the odd dental appointment across 5 people are all covered. Once tax is taken into account we are probably ahead.
Look on Groupon, Livingsocial etc. They tend to have decent dental deals
All jokes aside, the dentist is one place I would prioritise reputation, skill and capability over price. I'd be worried of them (1) trying to sell you procedures you don't need, (2) botching the job up and causing you a great deal of pain, or (3) substandard work that will present problems down the track that will cost you more to fix. I've had some traumatic dental work in the past, including some emergency stuff which was a botch job that not only caused a lot of pain, but had to be re-done by my usual dentist.
Try and get word of mouth or feedback and see if they check out.
Also as suggested above, some health funds have preferred providers that give bigger rebates.
Also get 2-3 quotes / opinions, don't just go for the cheapest, but one that gives you the most confidence of the above.
Strongly agree - I also had to have work by one dodgy dentist re-done by my now usual dentist.
exactly! You rarely save money here getting it done on the cheap.
Had thousands of $$$ worth of work done by a dentist running things to the clock so he could slam in as many customers as possible. Didn't clean and prepare any of the teeth properly before the fillings. Painful and expensive lesson. Everything had to be removed, cleaned and re-done a year later.
I now drive across Sydney to go to a good dentist. I'm aware my health coverage has a no gap service, but I'm happy to pay a lot more to get things done properly.
Definitely agree. I went to a dentist this week with a sore tooth. A check-up, two x-rays, and one filling cost $480 and tooth feels worse than before. I was suspicious from the start. At most, a dentist will find one decay per year, but she reckons she found six! So I'm looking for a good dentist. Happy to pay and travel, but they have got to be good. I'm in Sydney if anyone can recommend someone. Are you in Sydney, cuteseal? If so, maybe you can message me with a recommendation? TIA.
I'm not sure where you live but try a university dental practice. At our local university you can have a dental student under supervision carry out the procedures at a reduced cost.
I heard nightmare stories from a Dentist who used to teach at Uni dental practices. EG grinding teeth down a hell of a lot further than was necessary for a basic fillings. This woke me up to the fact to'Go for quality'. It will be a savings in the long term. 'cuteseal' above is right.
When I was younger I tried to use a university dental service and was put on a waitlist. They finally called me back last year to come in lol, I was waitlisted in 2011.
I did this a University of Qld - had no issues, but they now don't offer it to people that don't have a health care card :(
Keep checking back here to see if there are any free udemy courses on DIY Dental
DIY Dental
Golden solution :d
Dentists are just the worst kind of bastards.
From your profile, you're in the ACT, so try this:
http://www.health.act.gov.au/our-services/dental
You say you need it done in a couple of days… are we talking infection or something, or just to suit your schedule… if it's the former, you may be able to get an emergency booking in one of these…
You need to have a Centrelink concession/pension/healthcare card to access that service unless you're under 14 years of age. Also, if it's not an emergency the wait list is 5-6 months.
:D your welcome.
lol
or..
ask your regular GP/Pharmacist to recommend a good dentist. Quality dental will save you pain and more money in the future.
Any private health packages out there that don't have a waiting period? I've looked at Groupon/LivingSocial but they don't have any dental deals in the ACT.
I haven't seen any without waiting period. All you need is Extra's cover.
Having said that, I have seen a dentist in Gungahlin offer discount on none health cover members once, can't remember which one tho.
I don't think any insurer is that foolish, really.
They'd be getting people signing up, paying one installment of contributions during their treatment and then cancelling their policy.
Definitely sounds like a great way to go broke.
With a pre-existing (dental) condition, you won't be able to avoid the waiting period (for pre-existing conditions or major dental work). If your dental work was considered general dental work, funds general waive the 6 month waiting period for general dental.
Depending on if it counts as a minor/major procedure the waiting period could be shorter.
The waiting periods can get waived (even if they know you need work) if you are very very nice and the person who sets you up is also very very VERY nice (this was at Bupa), but I had this one rep guy who told me I couldn't cover my dental work because it was pre-existing and that "insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions" (also Bupa, but after speaking with a different rep from there it didn't seem like that was the case)
Join the Army, pretend your teeth dont hurt through the recruiting process then free medical and dental!
Good plan, except for the minor detail of me now being in the Army. I might have fabulous teeth, but those teeth will be dodging bullets and bad guys. :(
Unlikely you'll see any bullets, most of your time will probably be spent towing boats back to Indonesia
You might be getting Army and Navy mixed up. As a general rule (water transport squadron excepted) the Navy are the guys with the boats! Army are the guys in green almost exclusively on land!
With those great teeth the Commonwealth war graves people will be able to identify your remains easily!
you can chew a chunk of meat off when QCB
Bullets and bad guys would be one of the lesser worries for me in the armed forces. The likelihood of working with and for (profanity) with guns and exceptional levels of power is more of a concern to me.
Try University???
I know in Brisbane, University of Qld offer some dental service. The student perform it, the mentor monitor it and it might take a while
U r dummy basically
As of 2017 I think you need to be low income earner hcc holder for uq dental or pensioner etc.. They sent me a letter saying there were big changes coming.
Griffith University on coast does discount dental work with supervisor for general public .. Possibly more discounted for staff.
Ask bikies to take out your tooth
A Tooth Fairy on a Harley-Davidson. lol
I thought you wrote Tooth Hairy, and had a quiet giggle
Here in South Australia we have the Hairy Fairy as a Traffic Accident ad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&v=ZgIjLgKNqMc
Don't watch this!!!
Hi,
Can I suggest you look at joining Smile Dental from about $77 per year…
There are a number of Smile Dentists in Canberra and on joining you receive a Discounted Rate on Dental, a Temporary Card you can use with no waiting or qualifying period and they send a proper Membership Card soon after.
You can get some idea of the costs at:
https://www.smile.com.au/dental-fees/act
(use the pull down Menu to explore this)
A list of participating Dentists is at:
https://www.smile.com.au/dentists/canberra
Join via:
https://www.smile.com.au/join
What I did was join Smile and also join HIF.com.au (Extras - Saver Options) (2 Month Waiting Period Applies)
I got the urgent work done at the Smile Discounted Rate and the when I became eligible to claim with HIF after 2 months, I paid the discounted rate via Smile and then send the remaining amount off to HIF.
I was just about to suggest smile.com.au
I knew there was something brilliant about you. :+)
The alternative is Dentacare, but no presence in Canberra…
Lol! Great minds think alike :P
Don't forget to activate cashrewards before purchasing.
I would still go for extra's cover. More befits for bit extra.
simile.com.au savings are misleading, https://www.smile.com.au/dental-fees/act (more you use more you save, ya right)
Well, for Smile there would be a break-even point above the Membership fee where your would be ahead.
I found there was a very genuine discount over the initial quote that I got, but then it depends on what exactly you need done. You also have that Membership for a Year in case of any other dental needs crop up.
That said, if you can live with the Qualifying Period and cost of Extras, it is I think the better option.
I'm knowing the Fund will cover me for Physio and Optical as well.
I chose HIF.com.au Extra Choice Saver Options and pay $240.30 per year (Single) and they currently offer a promo code of HIF50 for new members in the form of an EFTPOS card.
I'm also covered for Ambulance by this, so an Extra saving there…
Smile is only good if you required regular visit to dentist.
With Extra's, If you are going to dentist once a year for regular check up, doesn't cost anything.
plus you get optical and ambulance covers.
If you need that many dentist visit, might as well date a dentist ;)
@boomramada:
Pretty much… so long as choose a sufficient level of Extras cover that includes in these things. (some don't).
OMG, Would just dating be enough? lol
(does Macca's count).
Say that you've spent most of your money on ozbargain and do not have enough for dental work.
How much for cash? ;)
How many Eneloops? lol
In my case, I took out extras cover on a Medibank promo where I got the first two months free of hospital cover plus claim right away (not advertised but negotiated on the phone).
Went to one of Medibank's member providers and got back 100% back on the dental check-up.
Timed it in with the Amex small shop and received $10 back.
Did the same this week after reading this 5yr old comment, thanks OldBugger!
$58 for dental, specs and sunnies!
Still feel like a total dirtbag after that cancellation phone call though!
FYI all.. Marsden dental South of brisbane is a great clinic. people there are awesome.. Skilled.. And not too expensive compared to others. Worth the drive http://www.marsdendental.com.au/our-team.html
At first I thought they'd be busy with all the people that needed dental work in Marsden, and then I realised that most probably can't afford it - so they're probably not very busy :D
Shitty job Last time I was there.
hmm i usually have lahn vu as the main dentist with one of two friendly young (asian ancestry) girl do cleans etc..
i think they'd be open to feedback and fixing the issue if possible.
thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi OP
What sort of work do you require eg.root canal, wisdom tooth extraction, filling, etc.
1) www.smile.com.au gets you better rates/discount and no waiting period and you can sign up today! Another nice thing is it can be used with healthinsirance extras too!
smile card for discounts and pricing >> then you pay the amount owing with extras and the balance you pay. https://www.smile.com.au/
Extras are a good idea but most are not good value (waiting period apply) but here is my spreadsheet comparing the value of the best of them https://goo.gl/N2h00h
(smile dental is included with some extras, like PEOPLECARE EXTRAS now for free)
To save some time AHM BLACK EXTRAS 60% is the best value… period (complex dental limit is low at $600 but hey most basic extras offer nothing)
So SMILE discount, AHM BLACK - your out the difference BUT WAIT!
If you have a healthcare card contact the state dental service in your state. they all scare you with long waiting times but I usually get a call within the week with an appointment if Im flexible to turn up when someone drops out. You can also get coupons from them for service in selected dentists too. Next, you might be able to get dental from your doctor, not sure of the rules but they can prescribe 6 visits a year for services.
Extras are very highly recommended, as long as you use them to the max. If you need more complex dental, the BLACK60 wont be much use to you alas.
NOW FOR THE OZBARGIN TRICK!
Ok waiting periods apply for extras, but take out hospital too and most will waive all the waiting periods on extras! You can then cancel the hospital the following month, so for 1 months hospital you can get dental done today! Its a cheat and it works….
You might be quite surprised how few Health Funds are currently offering Hospital+Extra waive waiting period on extras.
These offers appear to be quite a seasonal thing and has in the past been on offer around June 30, but now seems to have been substituted by offers of Free First Month or a Gift for Joining of some kind.
AHM seem to be offering it at present.
Whether AHM (or similar) might try some sort of claw-back or adjustment or outright decline a claim if you cancel the Hospital Cover is an unknown risk.
If you are eligible, you can go to a public dentist, but I think you need to hold a concession card to be eligible.
It varies from State to State (or Territory).
There might be waiting periods.
It almost certainly won't be free.
Worth looking into though… this of course isn't a Medicare card, it is a Card Health Care Card (or similar) issued by the State or Territory Government.
For example if the OP is an Adult in the ACT and has a Card, they could look at: http://www.health.act.gov.au/our-services/dental/adult-denta…
$27 in Victoria, there's a 2yr waiting list though you can get on the last minute list.
After all is said and done, isn't going to Asia the best option for you? Use ozbargain to find good travel deal and get it done. I have hardly ever seen dental deals but always see travel deals.
My dentist participates in American Express's Shop Small program.
When I noticed it had only been a couple of months since my last check up but maybe next year I can time it better.
Managed to score a $200 EFTPOS gift card from the Meerkat. On top of the AMEX HCF $100 deal I managed to get a total $500 back. So maybe something you can think of down the track.
I would opt for "self-insurance" as other have pointed out but be the potential medicare levy surcharge, private health loading due to age and a young family it made sense.
My wife got us basic extras 70 from medibank for 55 per month for the whole family. She sat there for 30 min haggling to get waiting period waived. (The general dental 2 months waiting period) I am so proud I married her.
"It's highly unlikely it's worth going to SE Asia for 1 tooth, apart from that i'm in the dark……."
I disagree with your comment. I had a cap done in Thailand in 2012, what you save on the one tooth will pay the airfare, plus, you get a holiday.
All over Thailand there is great dentists, I have had work done in Pattaya and Udon Thani.
Hospitals is Thailand are great too, I needed my eye socket stitched Up after a fall and my doctor in Australia said it was the finest stitching he had ever seen.
Try a dental training school like this one, they have free or heavily subsidized dentists:
http://dental.unimelb.edu.au/dental-clinic/patients
why is your username yellow banana and your thumbnail is yellow jocks with the whole package on show.
Yep, the first thing I noticed upon viewing this thread was the username and display picture
Depending on the procedure, it may be worthwhile heading overseas (e.g. Thailand) which have some comparable quality/standards but at a lower price.
If its just general checkup/clean/scaling, then stick to Oz.
If anyone has a good dentist in Sydney, please message me.
I don't mind paying for quality. i just don't want one that does a lot of work that is unecessary or poorly done work.
Hey Bigmac2000
I wrote a post on the "dental advice from experience" thread you might want to check out.
if you have one, does your private health fund have preferred provider dentists? You can often get more back on your private health extras if you use a preferred provider…