Dan Jade Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Hey there guys, I was just wondering if anyone could help me and explain how the dental system works over in australia? Im moving out to Brisbane in just over a week & im worrying about my teeth, potentially i may need fillings & cant get into any dentist here at home before i go (typical) Ive heard that dentists over in australia are seriously expensive & now im just worrying myself that i wont be able to afford any dental work doing =( any advise would be awesome thanks guys xxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Seriously the only advice I can give you is bring a credit card, dentists are very expensive. Is there no way you can get in and get any of it done before you leave ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGHJLL Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Been wondering this myself. Also if it would be best to get medical insurance to cover this. At the moment I usually have a scale and polish every 3 months and a check up every six months, wondered how much that normally costs? Hope someone out there can answer all these questions :cute: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BertieBear Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Hi. Health insurance typically doesn't cover any dentistry for the first 12-24 months. There is no Medicare dentistry. Im in Sydney. I had a check-up, X-ray (just routine part of check up) and scale/polish this morning. It cost me 269 AUD. I had a simple (tooth-coloured) filling on a back molar a few months ago, it cost 150 AUD. the waiting lists are much quicker, I made a routine check up appt for a week hence, and an urgent appt can be made for the same day. They are very friendly and use the best equipment. It's big business. hope that helps. BertieB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Hey there guys, I was just wondering if anyone could help me and explain how the dental system works over in australia? Im moving out to Brisbane in just over a week & im worrying about my teeth, potentially i may need fillings & cant get into any dentist here at home before i go (typical) Ive heard that dentists over in australia are seriously expensive & now im just worrying myself that i wont be able to afford any dental work doing =( any advise would be awesome thanks guys xxxxxxxx The dental system works by you phoning a dentist and making an appointment. That really is about it. I don't think dental insurance is worth it, the cap is very low compared to the price of treatment and of course it isn't going to be relevant if you need treatment straight away anyway. In all honesty, I would suggest you ring around more dentists in UK and try to get yourself in somewhere, even the private dentists in UK will be much much cheaper than dentist in Australia. Quick comparison, I went to a very smart private dentist in the middle of the city of London, I paid about GBP45 for a hygienist clean and GBP350 for a crown. In Australia, a crown is typically $2k and a clean is about $250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blewyn Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I paid $140 for a clean and checkup in Brisbane - shop around because prices vary a lot ! There is also the option of very cheap treatment at the dental college... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuffythetugboat Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Dentist fees are hideous and you'll find they all charge the same as they operate a cartel in Australia. Ask what the treatment will cost before you get have anything done so that you are prepared for the shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incata Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Scuffy Would you happen to know if there is a Dental School in Perth where you can get cheap treatment? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Hey there guys, I was just wondering if anyone could help me and explain how the dental system works over in australia? Im moving out to Brisbane in just over a week & im worrying about my teeth, potentially i may need fillings & cant get into any dentist here at home before i go (typical) Ive heard that dentists over in australia are seriously expensive & now im just worrying myself that i wont be able to afford any dental work doing =( any advise would be awesome thanks guys xxxxxxxx If you're stopping off in KL or Bangkok you can book online and nip to a dentist there. It seems to be where an awful lot of Aussies go for treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) Dentist fees are hideous and you'll find they all charge the same as they operate a cartel in Australia. Ask what the treatment will cost before you get have anything done so that you are prepared for the shock. Wrong! Prices vary a lot. Edited May 5, 2013 by ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 It IS expensive. I just paid $1, 300 for a crown but I stopped dreading the dentist from the moment I made my first appointment here in 1979. You could go on a dental holiday to Thailand. You could fly "Home" for your dental work Personally, I just accept it as part of living in Australia and I do not regret spending money on my teeth. $1, 300 is the cost of one coffee a day, & I usually drink two of those. I am in the middle of a second crown right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellers and Whitehead Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I paid $140 for a clean and checkup in Brisbane - shop around because prices vary a lot ! There is also the option of very cheap treatment at the dental college...I rang the dental college in Sydney and she said I want eligible..not on benefits etc?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger2shirts Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Stop in Singapore and get world class treatment there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTTY Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Seriously expensive ... I've just paid $330 for a clean, then $1000 for 4 deep cleans, $400 for filling and now need a new implant down the line $4400 ...... that's about two months wages gone!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Seriously expensive ... I've just paid $330 for a clean, then $1000 for 4 deep cleans, $400 for filling and now need a new implant down the line $4400 ...... that's about two months wages gone!! So go somewhere else. You got ripped off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I know I am a dinosaur and private dentistry in the UK is fine (did not seem particularly cheap though) BUT my dentist told me the other day that all her Pommie patients "of a certain age" share bitter and painful memories of 1950's & 1960's NHS dentistry. Mine made Olivier's "Is it Safe?" Seem positively benign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuffythetugboat Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Scuffy Would you happen to know if there is a Dental School in Perth where you can get cheap treatment? Thanks There is a clinic at the School of Dentistry at UWA but you'll have to be on a low income or on benefits etc to be treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incata Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 There is a clinic at the School of Dentistry at UWA but you'll have to be on a low income or on benefits etc to be treated. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Wrong! Prices vary a lot. So go somewhere else. You got ripped off! I agree that prices are highly variable so you must shop around. Its never cheap but then I don't really expect it to be. IN the chair for an hour, you've got the wages of one v.expensive professional and one moderately expensive semi-pro to pay, plus establishment overhead, plus receptionist, plus medical supplies, plus insurance, +++. How much do you expect that lot to cost? Also agree with Rupert about dental insurance. I looked into it and decided not to bother because of the low caps and restrictions so we self-insure, stick $150 a month into a savings account instead and draw from that when we visit the dentist. I'm expecting to be well up on the deal until such time as kids need braces, then all bets are off..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisheys Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Been wondering this myself. Also if it would be best to get medical insurance to cover this. At the moment I usually have a scale and polish every 3 months and a check up every six months, wondered how much that normally costs?Hope someone out there can answer all these questions :cute: A scale and polish should be about $150 for a one hour appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisheys Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 The dental system works by you phoning a dentist and making an appointment. That really is about it. I don't think dental insurance is worth it, the cap is very low compared to the price of treatment and of course it isn't going to be relevant if you need treatment straight away anyway. In all honesty, I would suggest you ring around more dentists in UK and try to get yourself in somewhere, even the private dentists in UK will be much much cheaper than dentist in Australia. Quick comparison, I went to a very smart private dentist in the middle of the city of London, I paid about GBP45 for a hygienist clean and GBP350 for a crown. In Australia, a crown is typically $2k cand a clean is about $250. Scale and polish is about half what you say, and a crown about $1500. The NHS would pay around £37 to a dentist / hygienist so your price for a private scale seems truly remarkable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 I know I am a dinosaur and private dentistry in the UK is fine (did not seem particularly cheap though) BUT my dentist told me the other day that all her Pommie patients "of a certain age" share bitter and painful memories of 1950's & 1960's NHS dentistry. Mine made Olivier's "Is it Safe?" Seem positively benign. And how would dentistry in Australia have been any different 50 or 60 years ago ? Amazingly dentistry in both countries has moved on quite a bit since the dark ages;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisheys Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 I paid $140 for a clean and checkup in Brisbane - shop around because prices vary a lot ! There is also the option of very cheap treatment at the dental college... True if you place no value on the time you need to take off work, as a job that may take one or two visits in a private practice will take several hours worth of your (valuable) time at any teaching hospital. Please spare me the insult of personal anecdotes, I trained at a UK Dental Hospital, and over 20 years have referred hundreds of patients for Specialist Treatments, so I do know what I am talking about in terms of time spent hanging around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galahad Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 (edited) I went to an absolutely wonderful dentist in central Brisbane & never for an instant felt ripped off.... I received world class treatment, friendliness & never feared going to the denist at any time.....I can honestly say all the proceedures I had there were painless....including an extraction, a root filling, various 'normal fillings' & a crown. My particular dentist was a Glaswegian with a wicked sense of humour...... Am I allowed to recommend on here ? I will have no hesitation in re-booking my dental care with them & did not find them in any way extortionate.... All treatment was pre-priced & therefore I could choose what to have done & when.... Initially I went in for an 'emergency' with raging toothache & was so impressed with the service & standard that I continued at an affordable (to me) pace thereafter.... The result was, that when I came back to the UK for three years, friends were impressed with my (still complete!) smile & good-looking teeth.... I'll happily recommend this practice via PM..... Edited May 6, 2013 by Galahad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisheys Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Dentist fees are hideous and you'll find they all charge the same as they operate a cartel in Australia. Ask what the treatment will cost before you get have anything done so that you are prepared for the shock. There is no cartel, it's called a free market, and probably the same reason you came here as well. Dental Treatment in the UK is underpaid, and dentists are undervalued, which is why they get on a plane, and get off. Why is it if I was a joiner, a brickie, a TV repairman, everyone would praise me for moving to a country where I am respected, and well paid, but because I am a dentist I am forced to read these types of remarks? UK trained doctors and dentists no longer feel they "owe" the UK taxpayers / ratepayers for their education, as New Labour brought in tuition fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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