Dental Advice from experience

SourCream3000 on 11/02/2017 - 10:38
Last edited 11/02/2017 - 10:41

Hi all,

I need some advice.

I need some dental work.. I think its pretty major now. Front of my teeth's feeling repair work was done in Malaysia. And it has been a while now. I think it is time to actually get proper work. including the ones at the back, it is causing me not to eat much food and losing weight.

I want to know from people's experience some might be silly no brainer questions;

  • I don't have health insurance, would it be wise to get it? I never thought about getting one. Would it be cheaper for me to get dental work if I have health insurance? I know I probably need root canal/implants and my front teeth are chipped. (The repairing work was done in Malaysia back then wasn't that nice cover up..)

  • I am thinking about doing Invisalign also. So this will probably come after those major fix of my front and back teeth right?

  • Would it be cheaper for me to do overseas? or would that cost me too much in the long run. If I want everything done like back's filling, maybe root canal/implant and the front teeth to be finished clean. Then go back to Australia for Invisalign ?

  • I want to have a confident smile without breaking too much of the bank. I was thinking of buying coupons form Groupon to save couple of $$$. Is this also a good idea?

This is a sensitive/embarrassing topic for me. Everyone has great smiles, and sometimes it kills my confidents.Thanks everyone

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 10:45
    -7

    for those who didn't bother to read:

    'I did something really dumb and had medical work done overseas. They did a terrible job and now I am having major health issues associated with it. I don't know what is wrong exactly, but I googled stuff about teeth and have found some random words to put in a post instead of asking a dentist. Should I go overseas to get work done to fix this problem?'

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 10:47
    -6

    As a big fan of Darwinianism, I'm all for you going OS to get further work done.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 12:59

      I don't know why you put Australian dentists are on a pedestal. I've had one dental issue in my lifetime, spent more than a grand on a single root canal and after their screwups I basically insisted to have the tooth removed the dentist goes, oh you had a third root I didn't know about.

  • altomic on 11/02/2017 - 11:20

    university dental schools sometimes require guinea pigs for dental students to acquire practical experience upon. students are supervised . call up some uni dental schools.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 11:25

      In South Australia anyway, the majority of public dental at the Adelaide Dental Hospital is done by students

      If they cock up, it will always be "fixed" as well as possible by a trained dentist. The main issue though is that a lack of skill can cause more pain and longer time in the chair.

      But if you're not paying… then beggars can't be choosers

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 11:23
    +1

    OP here's a few things to note
    1. Private health care often has a waiting period of up to 2 years for major dental
    2. I pay $60 per month for full extras which covers most dental procedures.
    My health insurance is particularly good because I work in health, but in reality, most insurance have caps of either a percentage of cost or as a total dollar figure.
    If you have a 50% out of pocket on a $2000 - then you're paying $1000 + $60/month for 24 months = $2440

    If you have no other reason to have private health care, my dentist friends will often say it's cheaper to just pay out of pocket for dental rather than going through insurance. That is, if you really will only need an isolated procedure.
    For me it's more cost effective because I have ongoing benefits for dental hygiene, physio, massage etc

    Now whether it is better to have a dental procedure here v overseas I would be cautious. I would mostly be worried about quality control

    We often spend the least money on health. Yet, I would much rather a happy mouth and enjoy my meals than upgrade my TV that I watch for an hour or so every few days

    Best of luck

    • resubaehtgnolhcs on 11/02/2017 - 12:15
      +1

      Most health funds only have a 12 month waiting period for major dental work (eg crowns, bridges, root canal, orthodontia etc). I have never seen a 24 month waiting period for dental work.

      • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 12:46

        OK sure. Im not 100% sure of waiting period because I don't need major dental.

        Point is - if you need the dental work NOW there is still a significant waiting period. And during this time you still have to pay

        • resubaehtgnolhcs on 11/02/2017 - 13:08

          Yep, agree with your point and it is very valid, as from the sound of things OP wants things done now and not in a year's time.

    • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:05

      Thanks for your help.

      I wasn't fully aware of the 2 years period before the major dental work. After reading your comment about your dental friend's advice. Since I don't have health insurance or anything.. Maybe it is better for me to pay from my own pocket. But probably could get health insurance also for future benefits like massage and check up?

      Right now, I think I want my teeth to be good not poor anymore. Because it is really causing a problem for me to eat and then I'm not eating enough cause it hurts then I'm noticing I'm dropping weights slowly.
      I wouldn't go oversea to do anything now.

  • try2bhelpful on 11/02/2017 - 12:24
    +7

    Let me paraphrase a couple of the early posts here:
    "I have nothing to useful to contribute to a person's question so I'm just going to come on here and snark. It really is a shame I have nothing better to do with my life."

    Thank <Diety> there are other people who actually want to help someone. My view is if you can't add anything positive, or at least humourous, to a post them find some other sandpit to play in. Soooo over of the petty snarkers and the rubbish some people have to wade through to get a sensible response.

    • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:07

      Hey! Thank you! Really! I knew I would get some negative comments, but never thought I would get someone like you that back me up. Thank you very very much!

      • try2bhelpful on 12/02/2017 - 18:25
        +1

        No probs. I've decided that "not on my watch" is my motto from now on in relation to the snarkers and bullies. This site should be somewhere that people can come to exchange ideas and help each other, not be abusive. (I'm glad to see those people have been downvoted so much that their asinine comments have disappeared.) I sincerely hope you get your teeth issues sorted out; why the Government doesn't think that teeth are part of our health system is beyond me. Best of Luck.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 13:04
    +2

    I have private health insurance and it suits me perfectly as I get free cleaning / no out of pocket expenses for basic dental work
    I pay 30 a fortnight for top extras 85% with Medibank and it has paid for itself

    My biggest gripe is with Dentists in general, one dentist says I need all this work done, go to another and he checks and says, just need a basic clean and you're good as gold, trust is the worst thing with Dentists, as who do you believe, from the Xrays taken my teeth looked to be in good shape so I really have to raise the question as to some dental places just being a money grab doing work you don't actually need and claiming benefits to line their own pocket

    I use a great dentist here in Kedron, No BS, straight up knows his stuff, older family run business and to be honest, could not be happier

    • npc on 11/02/2017 - 13:11

      Hi, could you share the clinic/dentist name pls?

    • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:15

      I will look up Medibank. Because there's so many, Bupa, HCF and nib. I haven't done my research completely with all of them. I also read some has a waiting period of 2 years. But regardless. I think its best to have one for future reference (security purpose, if you know what I mean?)

      Yeah I am afraid of trusting too much. I'm unsure who to trust/believe. And I don't want to go to multiple dentist shop to get them checked or I feel not very loyal to the first place I went to. And there is me unsure if I should trust the western dental or asian dental. I'm just very scared if they lie trying to get more money out of me or not.

      I don't have any recommendation with which dentist, where to go just yet. I'm in Sydney. So if somebody knows a good one I would try it out.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2017 - 13:19
        +1

        12 months for major dental with medibank and I get 85% back
        24 months would be for other extras

  • itajac on 11/02/2017 - 13:21

    Hi OP
    What is your "budget" for all this work.

    • Chris Topher on 11/02/2017 - 19:18

      and…. where are you/where is OK for you to go to in Aus for dental work?

      • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:17

        When people say "Budget" how much is the highest? I'm unsure to be exact.. But I think I have got enough savings to cover all the work. Because not that it hurts when I eat. But it hurts my self esteem sometimes. So I think I'm willing to pay the right amount if they don't try to ask for more.. and I'm happy to go around Sydney. Do you have any recommendation ?

        • itajac on 12/02/2017 - 13:20

          Yes, I understand you have saving but how much is that tooth worth to you?. Budget is how much money you have in mind or saved up. What is the maximum amount of money you are willing/happy to pay for that tooth or all the work you require.

        • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:23

          @itajac:

          I think I'm okay still if it is around $10k to $15k. If it needs more.. I might struggle a little bit. But I am already currently trying to save money with my daily food, clothes or other stuff.

    • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:19

      Hey, I don't think I have a budget. Because I think I have saved enough. Unless it is going to cost me.. $15,000+ then I might have a little trouble. Do you know how much roughly dental work cost? I know it cost a lot. … :\

      • itajac on 12/02/2017 - 13:23

        Yes, I do. I worked in dental for over 10yrs in Melbourne. It is very dependant however on the current condition of your teeth, how much you want to spend and also how quick you want it done.

  • thatonethere on 11/02/2017 - 15:12

    Some dentists will arrange a payment scheme (typically with a third party) so might be worth getting some quotes.

  • auspal on 12/02/2017 - 08:38
    +2

    I live on the Gold Coast and they have a dental hospital where the students do the work, some of them are only a few months away from being qualified and are supervised by experts and it is so much cheaper. I agree with the other poster, longer in the chair , but you will end up with a good result as everything has to be checked and marked off. Just be careful though, they wanted to do a root canal on me and my own dentist ( who unfortunately retired) said it would be very difficult and he doubted it would be successful. It would have been very painful as well.

  • rigby75 on 12/02/2017 - 12:03

    When thinking about going oversea to have it done remember root canal is an on going treatment, it took 2 yeats from start to finish for my last root canal.

    • itajac on 12/02/2017 - 13:18

      Wow!. Two years? . Did you have complications?.It does not normally take this long to complete a root canal, your looking at anywhere between a 6 weeks to 3 mths, on average. This of course is not considering the initial filling, followed by the crown process.

    • SourCream3000 on 12/02/2017 - 13:21

      Oh wow 2 years that's quite some time. if I'm being honest, I'm actually pretty worry about that. my teeth isn't perfect and it already hurts a little bit of my self esteem at times and I'm thinking about getting invisalign later too.. so that would probably that heaps more longer for me to get a decent smile. … Not to mention I also have an underbite…. sigh*

  • srhardy on 12/02/2017 - 13:33

    extras comparison for value https://goo.gl/N2h00h ~ if your usage is going to be high; can you wait 12 months? Value and out of pockets need to be concidered as i can live with ahm-black 60 but you might want to go top shelf

  • Ken1977 on 12/02/2017 - 18:41
    +1

    My advice to anyone is to never get a root canal, there is plenty of evidence on the internet to show why it's a bad idea. It's also cheaper and better for your health to get the tooth extracted.

  • Sagiballz on 13/02/2017 - 00:47

    Hi Sourcream,

    Just a bit of background, I've been in the dental industry for a bit over 20 years so I might be able to add some information.

    That $15k won't get you too far with major dental work from a competent operator. Invisalign is going to cost around $5k upwards by itself and invisalign has its limitations as well. You also need regular checks with the dentist so doing Invisalign overseas might not be economically viable. You mentioned that you have an underbite. Depending on the severity of your case. You can disguise the underbite by angling the lowers backwards and angling the uppers more forwards. Invisalign may or may not be able to help with this but I'm to guess that you will need ortho work done to rectify this.

    The dental hospital across the road from Central station offers free dental treatment but the wait time can be a long time.
    I used to see a lot of Root canal/post and core/crown work done many years and but now days I don't see any. Root canal work doesn't have a very high success rate. You are best to get the tooth extracted, replace wth a denture (wouldn't recommend it) or if the adjacent teeth have caries and decay and need crowns, get a bridge made. Best is to get an implant.

    Reading through your comments, you are concerned with the aesthitics of your teeth and smile. You might want to consider crowning/veneering the front 8 (not 6) teeth upper and lower if your teeth alignment and health allow. That way you might not need Invisalign or braces. Crowns/veneers will cost between free (no gap/insurance) $400-$500 up to $2-3k per crown

    I will say that I have seen a lot of dentists work around Sydney and would only recommend a handful of those to my family and friends. Those dentists do charge acordingly. To be a dentist you obviously have to be quite bright but from my experience a fair few of them lack the manual skill to back up there knowledge. Ultimately I see dentistry as a trade, they need good manual dexterity as they are working with a drill all day.

    Good luck with your cause Sourcream, I hope this has been helpful to you.

  • MasterChief86 on 14/02/2017 - 20:59

    I think it's not as expensive in east Asian countries. Not sure about Africa. In USA though, it's one of the highest paying professions and thus it's one of the most expensive options if you're the patient. I'm getting regular braces too and there are a lot of factor that define what's the best plan for you. underbite can either be camouflaged like Sagiballz said… or you can undergo a lower-jaw surgery to perfect your bite. Again, surgery will be faster and efficient but it will be far more expensive.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join