First trip to an Australian dentist

[InnerVoice]

After more than two decades in Australia I had my first trip to the dentist today.

Previously I always visited my dentist in the UK when I went back to see my mum, which was every year or so. On the one occasion I needed treatment my dentist was able to to it while I was over there, so I've been very fortunate. My mum passed away in 2018, and with no future plans to return to the UK I thought I'd better go for a check up - just in case.

Well... it was a very high-tech experience with 3D scanners being inserted in my mouth and x-rays taken from every angle. I'm really not used to that level of attention so I felt like a bit of a celebrity! My previous dentist would fumble for a few minutes, tell a few good jokes, compliment me on how good my brushing was and say come back next year. I was always very happy with that arrangement because when visiting the dentist, no news is good news as far as I'm concerned.

To cut a long story short my new dentist pointed out quite a few of things that she thought needed doing, including a fairly urgent filling and some other less urgent stuff that I didn't quite understand. My old dentist worked on the basis that he didn't drill holes in anyone's mouth unless it was absolutely necessary, which is a dental philosophy I've gladly adopted.

This will probably sound daft to those of you who visit the dentist regularly but I'm used to paying 20 quid for a check-up and a quick polish, so when I was presented with a quotation for a thousand dollars I immediately responded by saying 'I'll get back to you to arrange a convenient time'. Based on what you're used to paying, do any these prices seem reasonable? (I have no health fund cover - clearly)

Many thanks in advance 

M.

Edited May 22, 2023 by InnerVoice

[calNgary]

Unfortunately those figures are probably about right. If your not in any pain and dont want to get things done straight away you can try another dentist or even call around and ask what they charge for xyz that is listed above. I have found prices do vary from practice to practice.

  Cal x

[Blue Flu]

A bit steep but not too abnormal. More drilling equates to more charges obviously. I only get done what is really needed and leave the rest. The cost of dentists in Australia has many people seeking far cheaper, but excellent treatment in countries like Malaysia and Thailand. 

In fact the former is great for a through medical check up. Most doctors are trained in UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand. Well worth consideration if going to one of those countries. 

[Marisawright]

Dentistry is the main reason people have Extras cover.  They're expensive. You'll notice that just scaling and cleaning costs over $100, and that's normal.  

Of course, because this dentist did X-rays etc, he discovered things your old dentist would've been unaware of.  It may seem better to you not to poke around and find problems, but that can result in those problems festering and turning into much bigger problems down the track.  You've got a fractured tooth for instance -- if you do nothing, you'll eventually end up in a lot more trouble (and expense) than if you get it fixed now.  

You might see if there's a dental hospital anywhere near you.

[InnerVoice]

9 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Dentistry is the main reason people have Extras cover.  They're expensive. You'll notice that just scaling and cleaning costs over $100, and that's normal.  

Of course, because this dentist did X-rays etc, he discovered things your old dentist would've been unaware of.  It may seem better to you not to poke around and find problems, but that can result in those problems festering and turning into much bigger problems down the track.  You've got a fractured tooth for instance -- if you do nothing, you'll eventually end up in a lot more trouble (and expense) than if you get it fixed now.  

You might see if there's a dental hospital anywhere near you.

Why, are dental hospitals cheaper then? I've heard of them but I thought they were only for emergencies.

[Blue Flu]

37 minutes ago, InnerVoice said:

Why, are dental hospitals cheaper then? I've heard of them but I thought they were only for emergencies.

I recall them in WA when young, but they ceased when state funding was cut from recall. No idea if they have been restored ,but other states may be different. They tended to be servicing low income clients and were more reacting to a dental problem than a prevention. 

With dentists though, little to prevent them suggesting un necessary work for monetary gain . I've been a bit dubious when a filling was loosened while checking on one occasion, which later required it to be replaced. 

I just remembered when Aussie dentists were plentiful in London. They were attracted by the income they could make there. much like UK/Irish doctors that come Down Under are these days. 

Edited May 22, 2023 by Blue Flu

[InnerVoice]

2 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

I recall them in WA when young, but they ceased when state funding was cut from recall. No idea if they have been restored ,but other states may be different. They tended to be servicing low income clients and were more reacting to a dental problem than a prevention. 

With dentists though, little to prevent them suggesting un necessary work for monetary gain . I've been a bit dubious when a filling was loosened while checking on one occasion, which later required it to be replaced. 

That was my main concern. I could see that the first item (larger filling) needed doing as there's clearly a hole there, along with the scale and clean, but the other items I thought were pretty border line. It's like when you take your car in for a service/MOT, they always seem to find something extra that needs doing!

[Blue Flu]

29 minutes ago, InnerVoice said:

That was my main concern. I could see that the first item (larger filling) needed doing as there's clearly a hole there, along with the scale and clean, but the other items I thought were pretty border line. It's like when you take your car in for a service/MOT, they always seem to find something extra that needs doing!

It is indeed. All out to make money, fine in itself but when un necessarily ?. Even taking a new bicycle in for a free service , a few years back, they still managed to suggest I needed a $60 or was it $90 part. (that wasn't covered in the 'free' first time servicing. 

Cars are a classic example of ease in the ability to find fault in order to charge more. 

[rammygirl]

Problem with shopping around is they all want to do the x ray stuff again and that costs. See if they will give you them, after all you paid for it. 
I have found a local dentist who only does the necessary treatment. The hygienist is extremely thorough (better than NHS in UK) but always wants to put a “treatment” on my teeth.  I asked how much and she said $40 - I said no thanks! Teeth have been fine for 6 decades without it.  She was a bit miffed as she had already prepared it, sorry not my problem. 
I have learned to always ask the price and to shop around for everything here.

My neighbour who is too embarrassed to ask pays through the nose then complains loudly.

Those prices are not excessive but ask exactly what the treatments are for and if absolutely necessary. 

[Blue Flu]

Thing being in my experience dentists too often don't know (or claim) the price of a particular alleged requirement off hand, and are put out somewhat needing to consult the person on the desk. 

It is difficult to get a price break down at the beginning when not always aware of extras , but of course the standard things are available on request. I go with a 'top' one so am prepared to pay for that. Before present one, experienced the loss of a filling in less than three months, had another loosened which required replacing and earlier allowed a tooth to be extracted , when it could have been saved with a little work. 

Better to pay a bit extra but go with experience and reputation. Or as mentioned save it for Asia and pat less than a third of the price there. (just ensure quality though)

[InnerVoice]

On 23/05/2023 at 12:58, Blue Flu said:

Thing being in my experience dentists too often don't know (or claim) the price of a particular alleged requirement off hand, and are put out somewhat needing to consult the person on the desk. 

In this case the dentist was the person on the desk. She went into some kind of accounting package and knocked out the quote above in a couple of minutes, so I've no complaints about their transparency - only the prices.

[Blue Flu]

4 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

In this case the dentist was the person on the desk. She went into some kind of accounting package and knocked out the quote above in a couple of minutes, so I've no complaints about their transparency - only the prices.

I didn't expect a dentist to know of hand the prices charged. For example they may not be set by the dentist (unless own practice) but by who operates the business. I am the same as you. Only the prices hurt . Usually far more than the dental work undertaken these days.

[InnerVoice]

3 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

I didn't expect a dentist to know of hand the prices charged. For example they may not be set by the dentist (unless own practice) but by who operates the business. I am the same as you. Only the prices hurt . Usually far more than the dental work undertaken these days.

You walk in with a pain in your mouth, and walk out with one in your wallet.

[Toots]

I've made an appointment to see the dentist next week.  I go every year and usually just need a check up, scale and clean but this time I know I need a filling.  Haven't needed a filling for years.  A while ago I had a cracked back tooth caused by crunching on an ice cube about 20 years ago.  It didn't bother me at all for a long time then it started to ache.  The dentist recommended root canal at a hefty cost and as it was right at the very back I told him to pull it out.  He wasn't keen on doing that at all and muttered and mumbled about not wanting to extract the tooth.  I said "it's my tooth, just pull the ruddy thing out". So he did.  Saved about $500 and I didn't miss the troublesome tooth at all.

[InnerVoice]

@Toots I damaged the nerve in a tooth when I was in Mexico of all places, after eating a very chewy steak - it was agony. I tried to ignore it at first but the pain just got worse and worse, and I was there for 3 months so I needed to get it sorted. I'm not the best with dentists and I was terrified of going to a Mexican one, which turned out to be my first trip to a lady dentist. Even though she couldn't speak a word of English she was absolutely amazing, drilling out the nerve and putting in a temporary filling, morphine for the pain - none of this 'take two paracetamol' nonsense! I'd also developed a large abscess on my gum above the tooth so she put me on antibiotics for that, which cleared it up by then end of trip. When I got back to the UK, my dentist (not my most recent one) put in a root-canal. Admittedly I didn't pay much for with it being the NHS, but it only lasted 3 years. By then I had my most-recent UK dentist who extracted the tooth and like you, I've never missed it.

After a bit of searching around I found this article (updated March 2023) about average dental costs, which may be helpful to you too.

https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/dentists-and-dental-care/dental-treatment/articles/dental-fees

Average dental fees charged by dental GPs – based on ADA fee survey

Procedure (dental item no)	Average cost*	Range*
Check-up
Comprehensive oral exam (011)	$67	$50–92
Periodic oral exam (012)	$60	$45–85
X-ray (per exposure) (022)	$45	$33–58
Scale and clean (removal of plaque and calculus) (114)	$123	$93–171
Fluoride treatment (121)	$36	$24–53
Fissure sealing (per tooth) (161)	$61	$45–90
Simple (non-surgical) tooth extraction (311)	$205	$149–300
Endodontics
Prep of root canal (chemo-mech) – one canal (415)	$308	$218–475
Prep of root canal (chemo-mech) – add canal/same tooth (416)	$149	$100–217
Restorative
Filling – anterior tooth – 1 surface (521)	$167	$121–233
Filling – anterior tooth – 2 surfaces (522)	$202	$153–285
Filling – posterior tooth – 1 surface (531)	$178	$135–248
Filling – posterior tooth – 2 surfaces (532)	$220	$171–305
Prosthodontics
Full crown (veneered) – indirect (615)	$1678	$1250–2100
Denture (complete maxillary) (711)	$1522	$1016–2375

Table notes: *Fees charged for the most common services provided by general dental practitioners (averages for specialists vary). Data based on the ADA's 2022 dental fee survey (not including the top or bottom 5% of prices).

 

[Kramvi]

Don't they have free dental cleaning and scaling in dental schools here?

[Nemesis]

6 hours ago, Kramvi said:

Don't they have free dental cleaning and scaling in dental schools here?

The words "free" and "dental" are not generally seen together in Australia. 

[BusbyBoo]

What you must remember when visiting a dentist “it’s a business”. Ask for a full quote of all treatment that is recommended. On a first visit check up 011, small X-rays 022 x2 and 114 scale and Clean, 121 fluoride treatment. If an opg or “large X-ray is recommended ask if they can do a referral. ( usually free at an X-ray location will cost $110 at the very least in a dental practice . Certainly NSW and SA have dental availability to those on pension/concession cards with either emergency treatment or a voucher to use in a participating dental practice (also a wait list for general dental and dentures). And children are also entitled to this. If you are in receipt of certain family tax benefits your kids will be entitled to $1056 worth of treatment paid through Medicare over a two year period, with fees decided by Medicare.
No prizes to guess my job

[Bulya]

On 22/05/2023 at 20:40, InnerVoice said:

After more than two decades in Australia I had my first trip to the dentist today.

Previously I always visited my dentist in the UK when I went back to see my mum, which was every year or so. On the one occasion I needed treatment my dentist was able to to it while I was over there, so I've been very fortunate. My mum passed away in 2018, and with no future plans to return to the UK I thought I'd better go for a check up - just in case.

Well... it was a very high-tech experience with 3D scanners being inserted in my mouth and x-rays taken from every angle. I'm really not used to that level of attention so I felt like a bit of a celebrity! My previous dentist would fumble for a few minutes, tell a few good jokes, compliment me on how good my brushing was and say come back next year. I was always very happy with that arrangement because when visiting the dentist, no news is good news as far as I'm concerned.

To cut a long story short my new dentist pointed out quite a few of things that she thought needed doing, including a fairly urgent filling and some other less urgent stuff that I didn't quite understand. My old dentist worked on the basis that he didn't drill holes in anyone's mouth unless it was absolutely necessary, which is a dental philosophy I've gladly adopted.

This will probably sound daft to those of you who visit the dentist regularly but I'm used to paying 20 quid for a check-up and a quick polish, so when I was presented with a quotation for a thousand dollars I immediately responded by saying 'I'll get back to you to arrange a convenient time'. Based on what you're used to paying, do any these prices seem reasonable? (I have no health fund cover - clearly)

Many thanks in advance 

M.

I go every 6 months and really look forward to it 

[Judy]

Here is my invoice for my last check up in September. Up $23 in 6 months. 

I've previously paid out $$$$$ for 2 crowns and removal of wisdom teeth. I do have an extras policy so do get some cost back. 

When my next check is due in March I intend to ask for a quote beforehand. 

As I now have a commonwealth seniors health card I can get a free check up at Toowoomba hospital so that might be the route I take. 

 

I couldn't upload the invoice but the costs were 012 $97 oral exam, 114 $180 removal of calculas, 121 $52 topical appl remin agent. 

[InnerVoice]

2 hours ago, Judy said:

As I now have a commonwealth seniors health card I can get a free check up at Toowoomba hospital so that might be the route I take. 

I couldn't upload the invoice but the costs were 012 $97 oral exam, 114 $180 removal of calculas, 121 $52 topical appl remin agent. 

Your dentist sounds a tad expensive if you don't mind me saying. The Toowoomba hospital sounds like the way forward - do they do treatment too?

I thought the prices I was quoted in the original post were a bit expensive too, so I shopped around and found another dentist.

He did the 5-surfaces filling for $295 as opposed to $420.

The scale and clean was $130 as opposed to $156.

I didn't want the topical application, but as the dental assistant had made it up anyway they just gave me it for free.

He said that two fillings at the bottom of the quote ($235 each) weren't urgent, and as they were a little difficult to repair he suggested holding off unless they started giving me some trouble.

So I ended up paying $425 instead $1083 and walked feeling confident that the necessary work had been done. I will add that he was extremely nice, professional, and at no time did it feel like it was 'just about the money'. Just goes to show that it's worth shopping around.

Edited January 8 by InnerVoice

[rammygirl]

18 minutes ago, InnerVoice said:

Your dentist sounds a tad expensive if you don't mind me saying. The Toowoomba hospital sounds like the way forward - do they do treatment too?

I thought the prices I was quoted in the original post were a bit expensive too, so I shopped around and found another dentist.

He did the 5-surfaces filling for $295 as opposed to $420.

The scale and clean was $130 as opposed to $156.

I didn't want the topical application, but as the dental assistant had made it up anyway they just gave me it for free.

He said that two fillings at the bottom of the quote ($235 each) weren't urgent, and as they were a little difficult to repair he suggested holding off unless they started giving me some trouble.

So I ended up paying $425 instead $1083 and walked feeling confident that the necessary work had been done. I will add that he was extremely nice, professional, and at no time did it feel like it was 'just about the money'. Just goes to show that it's worth shopping around.

It sure is for everything medical, including prescriptions. So many people are reluctant to do this and then moan about the cost. Healthy (pardon the pun) competition won’t thrive whilst prices are not upfront and people don’t ask!

Well done!

[Judy]

23 minutes ago, InnerVoice said:

Your dentist sounds a tad expensive if you don't mind me saying. The Toowoomba hospital sounds like the way forward - do they do treatment too?

I thought the prices I was quoted in the original post were a bit expensive too, so I shopped around and found another dentist.

He did the 5-surfaces filling for $295 as opposed to $420.

The scale and clean was $130 as opposed to $156.

I didn't want the topical application, but as the dental assistant had made it up anyway they just gave me it for free.

He said that two fillings at the bottom of the quote ($235 each) weren't urgent, and as they were a little difficult to repair he suggested holding off unless they started giving me some trouble.

So I ended up paying $425 instead $1083 and walked feeling confident that the necessary work had been done. I will add that he was extremely nice, professional, and at no time did it feel like it was 'just about the money'. Just goes to show that it's worth shopping around.

Yes I agree he is a tad expensive and the funny thing is that it was supposed to be cheaper due to my health card! He said that they no longer give discounts to seniors (only students) but would give me one this time. 

I think you need to like your dentist and although he is better than my previous aussie dentist I am not sure if I want to keep him long term so will definitely be shopping around. 

Here is a list of treatments from the hospital website 

• dental check ups
• x-rays
• fillings
• taking out damaged or decayed teeth (extractions)
• false teeth
• advice on the best ways to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy
• emergency treatment
• referral to specialist services.

I've heard that if they can't provide the treatment you need they will pay someone else to do it. 

[InnerVoice]

15 minutes ago, Judy said:

Yes I agree he is a tad expensive and the funny thing is that it was supposed to be cheaper due to my health card! He said that they no longer give discounts to seniors (only students) but would give me one this time. 

I think you need to like your dentist and although he is better than my previous aussie dentist I am not sure if I want to keep him long term so will definitely be shopping around. 

Here is a list of treatments from the hospital website 

• dental check ups
• x-rays
• fillings
• taking out damaged or decayed teeth (extractions)
• false teeth
• advice on the best ways to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy
• emergency treatment
• referral to specialist services.

I've heard that if they can't provide the treatment you need they will pay someone else to do it. 

Thanks, I think that's pretty much all I'm going to need at my age - I'm past the point of wanting to look like a movie star!