Dental Charges

I know this subject has come up before but it was a while ago now and I would be interested to know what is being charged around the country today.

Last Friday I went to the dentist and had 5 small fillings that with hindsight probably shouldn't have been done but that's aside from the point. They weren't major fillings that involved taking out half the tooth. I was in there for an hour and am not sure of the number of injections but think it was four. When I came to pay for them, the receptionest just about had to pick me up off the floor and I did use the F word. $800.00:( That equated to $160.00 per filling and I was not amused. Kevin had been in the day before and had a quick scrape around, no x-rays (nor did I),and told that one tooth needed removed and another filled, neither of which was done on the day. He was in there for 15 minutes. $160.00 thank you. I'm supposed to go back in January to have plaque removed so he can see what is underneath it. I don't think so. While I want to keep my teeth, I don't need to be bankrupted in the doing so.

What do others pay and what do they get for their money. I recognise that dentists are thin on the ground but feel that these charges are a bit on the steep side.

Cheers,
Ronnie

It's for that very reason I chew on one side. I have a hole in one of my good chewing teeth and I'm too bloody scared to go to the dentist. Not just the pain side of things (even the needle hurts going it) but the fact I can't afford it. I couldn't even afford the $160 dollar deal. I want to keep my choppers too but the expense of just walking in and sitting in that chair is beyond me, let alone what horrors follow.
I saw a woman leaving the supermarket today. She wasn't very old, didn't look like she had a tooth in her head. Ooh err I thought.... it could be me in a few years. 'Struth! what to do?

I'm wondering about the dentists... well the ones who haven't qualified yet, like those doctors who are in their last year... registrars? Maybe they do cheap deals? I wouldn't mind, if they used anesthetic and had someone keeping an eye on them.... if it's a choice between getting them to do the job and losing my teeth... eventually..... rock and a semi hard place.

Yakut

I think you've been ripped off Ronnie, for the following reasons:

1) About 4 months ago I had a similar number of fillings done, I think it was 4.
2) I was in the dentist's chair for an hour and it cost me $492.
3) I then went back for a further 4 or 5 fillings, was in the dentist's chair for an hour and a quarter and it cost $502.
4) At the outset of all this I went for a checkup which cost $85 and BEFORE any further work was done, I was quoted the price, which they have stuck to religiously.

My dentist is in Paihia, which would be a bit too far away for you, but I would recommend him to anybody. Previous to that, I went to a dentist in Auckland who did rough workmanship and charged like a wounded bull.

It definitely pays to shop around!

Paihia wouldn't be as far as my return to my Auckland dentist, Grant. I'm sticking with the one I know, whose work is excellent.

I go to a lovely [painfree] guy in Maunu Rd, and the charge is never more than $100 a filling, no charge if a recent one breaks or needs replacing. His name is Marcus and I've finally stopped dreading dentist visits. [8D][8D]

I am an absolute wuss and get the intravenous happy drugs so I don't remember any of it (saves me biting the dentist, so relief all round [}]) and that by itself is quite expensive. I know what you others mean by dreading dentist/bills, somehow I got knocked off the recall list for ours a couple of years ago and need to go and see him but am so worried about how much it will cost (apart from the shot, which is non-negotiable! []) and how much work I might need doing...[V]

I know this doesn't help you, Ronney, but I would also happily recommend our dentist in Kaiapoi. $68 for an exam and clean, $85 for a repair to my husband's cracked tooth (repaired with some kind of resin), and fillings $90 or thereabouts. He's friendly and pain free.

Andrea
Oxford

I'm a complete scaredy cat at the dentist too, make him give me whatever pain relief he's got, I would actually prefer if he could do it while I was in the waiting room cos I hate the waiting part too, just gets me even more wound up!

A lot of people use the dental school down here (dental students nearly finished their degrees), it means you may have to wait for a few hours for treatment but it is a fraction of the cost of a dentist. I personally have never been there but I know a lot who have, my father goes there for all his dental work now, even had a crown done there.

To get in to see our dentist for a check-up there is around a years waiting list. My next app is for April 2008! (and was made several months ago) In an emergency you can see him quicker than that, but only if you are already on the books.
Ronney, I think it's appalling that you weren't told the cost of the procedures before they even started. I would change dentists if I were you.
I'm told there is a shortage of dentists so have been trying to encourage the tribe to think of it as a career option... so far no luck, even though I keep pointing out that they *appear* to make an excellent income. (and orthodontists even better!)

For that price, that would pay for airfare and dentistry work at our fellow in Burwood NSW.

I have to say though the best thing we ever did was take out private health insurance and go to the dental hygienist every 6 months for a clean and fluoride treatment.

Swaggie, do you mind sharing info about your private health insurance? We've been in NZ 5 years now, and keep thinking about going in that direction, but it's structured quite a bit differently than it is in the states, and I've just got my head in the sand about it.

Cheers
Andrea
Oxford

Thanks for the answers, they confirmed what we suspected.

Drifter, there is a very long waiting list here too but this guy is new in town and if he is going to charge like that, the wait could be considerably shorter With hindsight, I also agree with you that I should have been made aware of the cost before the work was done. While we are not exactly on the bones of our arse, nor do we have the guts of $1,000 just sitting around waiting to be paid out to a dentist in one hit. What would have happened if the money hadn't been there and for many people it wouldn't have been.

Grant and Witheze, both your dentists sound like good options for much the same reason that Swaggie gave - for the money we have just spent we could have a day away, have teeth fixed, a nice lunch somewhere and still come home with change. Also, you both appear satisfied with the work done. Would you mind passing on their name and phone numbers?

Cheers,
Ronnie

quote:Originally posted by Ronney

Grant and Witheze, both your dentists sound like good options...Would you mind passing on their name and phone numbers?

Certainly, I'm sure they would have no objection to some free advertising:

PAIHIA DENTAL Dr Peter McCorkindale 09-402-7714

Andrea ours is in Australia and doesn't cover NZ but here is the website so you can compare if you wish:

www.mbf.com.au/

My Mother in Law who was in Auckland used to have hers with:

www.southerncross.co.nz/

And this link might be helpful as a general starting point:

www.justlanded.com/english/new_zealand/t...h/private_healthcare

and

newzealandnow.info/nz/article/what-priva...ptions-are-available

Ronnie, that surely does sound a lot.. a few years ago I had a problem with a root canal tooth that had been done a couple of years before. I couldnt get into my dentist so went to the one in town, his quote to fix that was $1200 and he charged $150 to fix a small chip that had occurred the day before.. I then went back to my original dentist who fixed the problem for $250 approx..... I sure wont be going back to the 'softly toothed' firm again.
The only dental school is in Dunedin so for practising dentists it might be a bit far to travel.
As far as having local anaes. goes, most dont charge as it means that one min wait means they can burr away happily and save 10 mins..