Dentists in Australia
May 7th 2008, 11:07 am
#16
Ex BE ***** Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,770
Re: Dentists in Australia
Hello everyone,
I have applied for a visa for Australia and I am flying into Sydney in July. I have to get work done on my front teeth - 2 crowns & a root canal. I am debating whether to wait until I get to Aus or to get it done here in Ireland.
Quality of work and cost are obviously my two main considerations and I would be grateful if any one could tell me about their experiences with dentists in Australia -
or 
?
As I will be spending 6/8 weeks travelling around Australia before I settle in Sydney, I would be able to attend a dentist in other cities like Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns or Adelaide.
Thanks,
Lorraine.
PS: do they use porcelain crowns there?
I have applied for a visa for Australia and I am flying into Sydney in July. I have to get work done on my front teeth - 2 crowns & a root canal. I am debating whether to wait until I get to Aus or to get it done here in Ireland.
Quality of work and cost are obviously my two main considerations and I would be grateful if any one could tell me about their experiences with dentists in Australia -
or ? As I will be spending 6/8 weeks travelling around Australia before I settle in Sydney, I would be able to attend a dentist in other cities like Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns or Adelaide.
Thanks,
Lorraine.
PS: do they use porcelain crowns there?
May 7th 2008, 11:10 am
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Gold Coast Hinterland
Posts: 2,359
Re: Dentists in Australia
Medibank Extras insurance gives 2 free checks/cleans a year. They are much more thorough than in the UK - takes about 40 minutes.
May 7th 2008, 12:05 pm
#18
Harrip
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 495
Re: Dentists in Australia
Recently had two crowns (two teeth next to each other) for $3000. $300 back from MBF insurance.
May 7th 2008, 12:44 pm
#20
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,838
Re: Dentists in Australia
I'd seriously consider getting all dental work done there before coming to Australia.
We had dental insurance in UK and had all work done before we came out. Three years later, our dentist in Queensland, (for the past two years with no need for anything other than a clean etc), is telling us that our crowns have a lifespan of 10-15 years and that we both need them all replaced!
There is a company here who specialises in "dental holidays" to Thailand and Singapore.
We are seriously considering going to Singapore to a dentist that another BE member recommended because we will get the work done there for approximately half the price of Australia, (including airfare), and will get a holiday into the bargain.
LOL, although I'm not too sure of how good the holiday will be if we are going to the dentist every day!!
M
We had dental insurance in UK and had all work done before we came out. Three years later, our dentist in Queensland, (for the past two years with no need for anything other than a clean etc), is telling us that our crowns have a lifespan of 10-15 years and that we both need them all replaced!
There is a company here who specialises in "dental holidays" to Thailand and Singapore.
We are seriously considering going to Singapore to a dentist that another BE member recommended because we will get the work done there for approximately half the price of Australia, (including airfare), and will get a holiday into the bargain.
LOL, although I'm not too sure of how good the holiday will be if we are going to the dentist every day!!
M
May 7th 2008, 2:03 pm
#21
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: Dentists in Australia
Actually I went to one dentist in London who said I needed a root canal for £1000 and that as an NHS dentist, she wasnt confident enough to do it but her colleague could do it privately.
I didnt believe her, went to another dentist who said it was utter bollocks and I actually only needed a small filling.
Dentists - wherever they are, cannot be that hard up that they recommend root canals when they are not needed.
Its scarily happening more and more in the UK. I have to find a dentist in Perth and I even have my Xrays from my dentist to show that no, I do not need a root canal.
I just dont know who to trust.
May 7th 2008, 2:17 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Hillarys, Perth
Posts: 555
Re: Dentists in Australia
Dentistry here is generally of an incredibly high standard but I would suggest going on recommendation rather than walking in off the street. Prices vary incredibly so phone around first, or pop in and get a feel for the place.
Kids are entitled to free dental care up to the age of 16 in the school dental system. They're usually seen by Therapists or Hygienists but may only get one appointment a year as they're so busy. Orthodontics are not included in this service.
Hope that helped.
TJ
May 7th 2008, 10:23 pm
#23
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 196
Re: Dentists in Australia
I've decided to get my teeth done before leaving. I needed an extraction a couple of weeks ago (60 euro) and have another appointment tonight. I can claim tax back on most of it. In Ireland we are entitled to 2 free checkups every year plus a teeth cleaning once a year. Dont know if anything like that is available in Australia.
It will cost me €2200 but I will have it over & done with and then I won't have to worry about it when I get to Australia.
I am booked in for 8am on monday morning for my root canal.
One of my friends told me today how they do crowns and I am scared..!
I know its necessary to get this done but I have so much better stuff to spend my money on.
.
May 7th 2008, 11:01 pm
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: London - but only until I can afford to move back to Sydney
Posts: 938
Re: Dentists in Australia
Last year my wife had a crown for $2500 and I had 4 fillings comming to $1200. Wasn't covered by medical insurance but have since been to the NIB place in Sydney at which I had one of the expensive fillings redone as it had worn through I knew this without the dentist telling me. The filling cost me $37 and a full exam + cleaning cost me $45. I know where I will be going in future.
May 7th 2008, 11:07 pm
#25
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 196
Re: Dentists in Australia
Last year my wife had a crown for $2500 and I had 4 fillings comming to $1200. Wasn't covered by medical insurance but have since been to the NIB place in Sydney at which I had one of the expensive fillings redone as it had worn through I knew this without the dentist telling me. The filling cost me $37 and a full exam + cleaning cost me $45. I know where I will be going in future.
May 7th 2008, 11:19 pm
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Dentists in Australia
Just FYI: If you spend more than $1500 on health and dental in a tax year then you can claim back 20% of whatever you spend over $1500 on your tax return. You can include prescription and over the counter drugs in this cost.
Don't know how common this is but with our local dentist we paid a 1-off fee (about $60 per kid) and we don't have to pay anymore for check ups until they become adults. We also get quite a bit back on the health fund. My last trip to the dentist for a clean cost $30.
Don't know how common this is but with our local dentist we paid a 1-off fee (about $60 per kid) and we don't have to pay anymore for check ups until they become adults. We also get quite a bit back on the health fund. My last trip to the dentist for a clean cost $30.
May 7th 2008, 11:23 pm
#27
Ex BE ***** Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,770
Re: Dentists in Australia
Last year my wife had a crown for $2500 and I had 4 fillings comming to $1200. Wasn't covered by medical insurance but have since been to the NIB place in Sydney at which I had one of the expensive fillings redone as it had worn through I knew this without the dentist telling me. The filling cost me $37 and a full exam + cleaning cost me $45. I know where I will be going in future.
May 7th 2008, 11:33 pm
#28
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 196
Re: Dentists in Australia
Last year my wife had a crown for $2500 and I had 4 fillings comming to $1200. Wasn't covered by medical insurance but have since been to the NIB place in Sydney at which I had one of the expensive fillings redone as it had worn through I knew this without the dentist telling me. The filling cost me $37 and a full exam + cleaning cost me $45. I know where I will be going in future.
May 7th 2008, 11:36 pm
#29
...giving optimism a go?!
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Brisbane (leafy, hilly western suburbs)
Posts: 2,202
Re: Dentists in Australia
I find dentistry here excellent...
We do have health insurance (required for tax reasons) - so usualy the cost of an appointment (standard scrape and polish) is about $2!!!
I've had wisdom teeth out, fillings and other minor stuff and never had a bill of more than $50...
Perhaps we got lucky and have a cheap dentist?
We do have health insurance (required for tax reasons) - so usualy the cost of an appointment (standard scrape and polish) is about $2!!!
I've had wisdom teeth out, fillings and other minor stuff and never had a bill of more than $50...
Perhaps we got lucky and have a cheap dentist?
May 8th 2008, 12:55 am
#30
Ex BE ***** Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,770
Re: Dentists in Australia
I find dentistry here excellent...
We do have health insurance (required for tax reasons) - so usualy the cost of an appointment (standard scrape and polish) is about $2!!!
I've had wisdom teeth out, fillings and other minor stuff and never had a bill of more than $50...
Perhaps we got lucky and have a cheap dentist?
We do have health insurance (required for tax reasons) - so usualy the cost of an appointment (standard scrape and polish) is about $2!!!
I've had wisdom teeth out, fillings and other minor stuff and never had a bill of more than $50...
Perhaps we got lucky and have a cheap dentist?