Just been for a composite resin filling at the local dentist's, thankfully no pain (took 40 mins) or excessive discomfort - even financially despite my not having insurance - I'm from the generation that remembers the trauma of gas mask treatment for extractions (one lad in our old school died from the after-effects ).

Anyway how is the standard of dentistry over in Oz, can't be worse than Britain, right? Pricier, covered by reg insurance?


Had good experiences with them? Just curious.

Two words sum them up... staggeringly expensive.

I'm having a lot of dental treatment and I rate it all very highly. It's no more expensive than going private in the UK (we couldn't get NHS there) and having extras on the medical insurance here covers a fair chunk of the expenses.
I know what you mean about the gas - my brother stopped breathing under gas and was given mouth to mouth, successfully but very traumatic for my mum who was watching.

Very good but very expensive.

Very expensive. I have to see a periodontist every six months and always come out in pain - ouch that bill hurts.

I get my cosmetic work done when I pass through Singapore.

Very very expensive, but much better in my experience than in the UK. Have spent well over $10 000 (before subsidies) to fix bad dentistry - root canal, extraction and implant and 6 restorations/fillings.
Dr Nick Hocking in the CBD is excellent, but my dentist in Gordon is good too and she refers you to others when you have a problem that is tricky: I've also been to another dentist who was a specialist in root canals, but have forgotten his name.

I have a cap on my front tooth and it fell out multiple times in 5 years in the UK and was just replaced each time only to fall out again. Had it replaced in Aus in 2001 for the bargain price of $250 (I know, bloody cheap) and it has remained in place (and unnoticeable too) for nearly 10 years!

I have also had multiple check ups and a a few fillings over here and each time very little discomfort and low fees (my Health Insurance refund me about 75% minimum).

Very happy here - and not being tied to a particular NHS dentist that may or not be any good is also better - even if it does cost.

On average I'd be out of pocket $80 per year for check up, x-rays and cleaning (two check ups per year).

I just paid $400 for one filling........ my tooth must be filled by the most expensive substance known to man. I phoned for a quote but the " it depends how deep and how big the hole in your tooth" can increase the price jargon was also mentioned. It might have been a large filing but teeth are not that big.... Have any work done on your teeth done before you come over and cross fingers your children do not need braces on their teeth.....

Thanks, I only come to Oz on hols (every four years) - so what substance did they use for the filling?

Mine (large filling) cost 7,000Yen (AUS$85) all in.

It is worth getting a few opinions before you have any work done.

My wife was given the usual bullshit by one dentist: 'poor dental work in UK' etc......'lots of work needs doing blah blah'.

Went to another dentist a few hundred yards away and was told her teeth were fine and she only needed one filling.

The irony is that the one who quoted thousands was an Australian dentist who trained in the UK.

This line is trotted out regularly by dentists here as soon as they realise you are British.....for some reason a lot of people believe them and pay a forune for unnecessary 'remedial' work.

You aren't daring to suggest that maybe, just maybe, there are plenty of dentists out there performing work that really doesn't need to be done (or even , pretending to do that work) in order to bring in a few more $$$ ?

Surely that kind of thing only happens with car mechanics and tradesmen.... Not "respectable" dentists....

That's why they all wear masks

...and yet you can still tell that they are laughing at you.

Some cost examples (Low to High range):UK prices:
Dental Examination
£43.00 Non NHS
£16.20 NHS

X-ray
£28.00 Non NHS
£16.20 NHS

It would appear that Australian prices may be cheaper than UK Private prices, but obviously not cheaper than the NHS.

Braces are commonly about $6,000 to $7,000.

Apparently these are available under the NHS in the UK, for some people, for only £198.