Teeth!! - a warning
Feb 3rd 2008, 12:20 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Auckland
Posts: 141
Teeth!! - a warning
Just thought I'd share the latest update to our experiences in NZ.
OH lost a bit of tooth and went to have it looked at. The dentist said the root canal work done to the tooth in the UK was done really badly and said that seemed normal from UK imigrants.
The options provided for fixing the tooth were:
$1750 to cap it (porcelain cap)
$3500 Root canal work re-done and a cap
$5500 Implant (not quite sure what it meant)
OH was a little taken back when provided the choices so went for a second opinion.
Another dentist said any work to the tooth was probably a waste of money and recommended an extraction as the tooth was effectively dead and as it was a back tooth would not be noticable.
He also pointed out that OH had an abcess which was not picked up by the first inspection!
So extraction it is at $200
Moral of the story is, get your teeth sorted before you come over (done well if possible!) And if you have a problem when you get here expect to pay.
Oh and get a second opinion every time!!
Thought that might be worth sharing with you all....
OH lost a bit of tooth and went to have it looked at. The dentist said the root canal work done to the tooth in the UK was done really badly and said that seemed normal from UK imigrants.
The options provided for fixing the tooth were:
$1750 to cap it (porcelain cap)
$3500 Root canal work re-done and a cap
$5500 Implant (not quite sure what it meant)
OH was a little taken back when provided the choices so went for a second opinion.
Another dentist said any work to the tooth was probably a waste of money and recommended an extraction as the tooth was effectively dead and as it was a back tooth would not be noticable.
He also pointed out that OH had an abcess which was not picked up by the first inspection!
So extraction it is at $200
Moral of the story is, get your teeth sorted before you come over (done well if possible!) And if you have a problem when you get here expect to pay.
Oh and get a second opinion every time!!
Thought that might be worth sharing with you all....
Feb 3rd 2008, 12:28 am
#2
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Joined: Nov 2002
Location: NZ since 2003.
Posts: 1,433
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Just thought I'd share the latest update to our experiences in NZ.
OH lost a bit of tooth and went to have it looked at. The dentist said the root canal work done to the tooth in the UK was done really badly and said that seemed normal from UK imigrants.
The options provided for fixing the tooth were:
$1750 to cap it (porcelain cap)
$3500 Root canal work re-done and a cap
$5500 Implant (not quite sure what it meant)
OH was a little taken back when provided the choices so went for a second opinion.
Another dentist said any work to the tooth was probably a waste of money and recommended an extraction as the tooth was effectively dead and as it was a back tooth would not be noticable.
He also pointed out that OH had an abcess which was not picked up by the first inspection!
So extraction it is at $200
Moral of the story is, get your teeth sorted before you come over (done well if possible!) And if you have a problem when you get here expect to pay.
Oh and get a second opinion every time!!
Thought that might be worth sharing with you all....
OH lost a bit of tooth and went to have it looked at. The dentist said the root canal work done to the tooth in the UK was done really badly and said that seemed normal from UK imigrants.
The options provided for fixing the tooth were:
$1750 to cap it (porcelain cap)
$3500 Root canal work re-done and a cap
$5500 Implant (not quite sure what it meant)
OH was a little taken back when provided the choices so went for a second opinion.
Another dentist said any work to the tooth was probably a waste of money and recommended an extraction as the tooth was effectively dead and as it was a back tooth would not be noticable.
He also pointed out that OH had an abcess which was not picked up by the first inspection!
So extraction it is at $200
Moral of the story is, get your teeth sorted before you come over (done well if possible!) And if you have a problem when you get here expect to pay.
Oh and get a second opinion every time!!
Thought that might be worth sharing with you all....
Moral....... listen to dentist in first place.
Gill
Feb 3rd 2008, 12:32 am
#3
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Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Cockle Bay, NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 1,007
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
we had same experience with my kids teeth...
they have always had 6 month check ups faithfully with my dentiset back in scotland....
they have never needed anything done(apart from fissure sealant)my dentist told me there teeth were perfect and let know one tell you otherwise.....
after we had been here 6 months,took them for there check ups,dentist said my daughter needed 6 fillings......
needless to say never got them done,either my dentist is really bad back home(which i doubt) or they will say anything to get your money here...
definitely agree with getting a second opinion......jacky
they have always had 6 month check ups faithfully with my dentiset back in scotland....
they have never needed anything done(apart from fissure sealant)my dentist told me there teeth were perfect and let know one tell you otherwise.....
after we had been here 6 months,took them for there check ups,dentist said my daughter needed 6 fillings......
needless to say never got them done,either my dentist is really bad back home(which i doubt) or they will say anything to get your money here...
definitely agree with getting a second opinion......jacky
Feb 3rd 2008, 4:57 am
#4
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,813
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Cheaper to fly to Thailand, get all your teeth sorted, have a one week holiday...
Feb 3rd 2008, 5:08 am
#5
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,285
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
....given how we are all supposed to live until 100 now. He could still replace it with an implant once he's saved the money up.There will always be a dentist in any country willing to extract a tooth rather than restore it, as you have to pay more for restorative work.
As the tooth had had a root canal previously and a piece had broken off, that would indicate to me that crowning it would have been appropriate once any abcess had been cleared up. Usually teeth are crowned after rct as they tend to become more brittle.
Agree with your moral of the story though - get checked before you come out and then find a reputable dentist. Cheapest is not best and Auckland seems to be a more expensive area than Wellington for dentists -
as I live in Wellington!
Last edited by luvwelly; Feb 3rd 2008 at 7:05 am.
Feb 3rd 2008, 5:22 am
#7
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Auckland
Posts: 141
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Oh what a shame so he still lost the tooth....that wouldn't make me happy....given how long we are all supposed to live until 100 now. He could still replace it with an implant once he's saved the money up.
There will always be a dentist in any country willing to extract a tooth rather than restore it, as you have to pay more for restorative work.
As the tooth had had a root canal previously and a piece had broken off, that would indicate to me that crowning it would have been appropriate once any abcess had been cleared up. Usually teeth are crowned after rct as they tend to become more brittle.
Agree with your moral of the story though - get checked before you come out and then find a reputable dentist. Cheapest is not best and Auckland seems to be a more expensive area than Wellington for dentists - as I live in Wellington!
....given how long we are all supposed to live until 100 now. He could still replace it with an implant once he's saved the money up.There will always be a dentist in any country willing to extract a tooth rather than restore it, as you have to pay more for restorative work.
As the tooth had had a root canal previously and a piece had broken off, that would indicate to me that crowning it would have been appropriate once any abcess had been cleared up. Usually teeth are crowned after rct as they tend to become more brittle.
Agree with your moral of the story though - get checked before you come out and then find a reputable dentist. Cheapest is not best and Auckland seems to be a more expensive area than Wellington for dentists -
as I live in Wellington!I did see my new golf clubs savings fast disappearing though...
But I left the decision to her, and put no pressure on. Might try the Thailand option in the future as it is on the list to visit, or we may even travel to Wellington if it's much cheaper and make a long weekend out of it.
Cheers
Feb 3rd 2008, 7:48 am
#8
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Joined: Jun 2003
Location: North of Auckland
Posts: 1,996
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Yeah, had some dentist work done in Dec and asked the dentist why NZ dentists are sooooo expensive.
His response was that the rates are comparable with Canada and the USA
My response was:
But the NZ salaries are not, so how do you expect people to pay
The dental nurses’ response
Choke with laughter
Personally I think there is lots of Kiwi take your bucks attitude that they tend to conceal well.
His response was that the rates are comparable with Canada and the USA
My response was:
But the NZ salaries are not, so how do you expect people to pay
The dental nurses’ response
Choke with laughter
Personally I think there is lots of Kiwi take your bucks attitude that they tend to conceal well.
Feb 3rd 2008, 10:01 am
#9
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,225
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
The significant difference being that people in both the USA and Canada have dental insurance to pay for it.
One of my kids was having orthodontic work in North Shore which was continued when we got over to Oz.....where we found out the brackets had been put on "by eye", one bracket was upside down, she'd never been recommended to have regular hygienist's visits neither had he checked her jaw for musclar problems (which she has and is quite common during orthodontic work) and didn't seem to have a treatment plan drawn-up.
One of my kids was having orthodontic work in North Shore which was continued when we got over to Oz.....where we found out the brackets had been put on "by eye", one bracket was upside down, she'd never been recommended to have regular hygienist's visits neither had he checked her jaw for musclar problems (which she has and is quite common during orthodontic work) and didn't seem to have a treatment plan drawn-up.
Last edited by Nerine; Feb 3rd 2008 at 10:03 am.
Feb 3rd 2008, 5:08 pm
#10
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,813
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Tens of millions of people in the US cannot afford basic medical insurance in the US, let alone dental insurance. I can't comment on Canada as I'm not Canadian and I don't know what their experience is.
Feb 3rd 2008, 5:21 pm
#11
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Location: North of Auckland
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Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Feb 3rd 2008, 7:32 pm
#12
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Location: Liverpool U.K.
Posts: 325
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
Had this argument with my Kiwi relative about Doctors,Dentists etc it is absolute extorion and how they get away with it with such a small population God only knows. Ironically enough wasnt the N.H.S.pioneered in N.Z.?many moons ago......
Feb 3rd 2008, 7:48 pm
#13
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Posts: 347
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
I've just had a quote for a root canal $950, and a ceramic cap $1000.
Friend has just had his root canal done (different dentist) for $650, that was a back molar too. Not sure about the cap.
My dentist said she always finishes a root canal with a ceramic cap because the tooth becomes weak after the nerve has been removed and it wouldn't last long without it.
I have found the standard of dentistry in NZ to be better than that in the UK, where NHS dentists often did unnecessary work just to get the maximum payment from the system (my brother also agrees with this statement having suffered with a UK dentist).
Kip
Friend has just had his root canal done (different dentist) for $650, that was a back molar too. Not sure about the cap.
My dentist said she always finishes a root canal with a ceramic cap because the tooth becomes weak after the nerve has been removed and it wouldn't last long without it.
I have found the standard of dentistry in NZ to be better than that in the UK, where NHS dentists often did unnecessary work just to get the maximum payment from the system (my brother also agrees with this statement having suffered with a UK dentist).
Kip
Feb 3rd 2008, 8:01 pm
#14
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Joined: Nov 2006
Location: NI New Zealand
Posts: 347
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
From what I've read recently, free NHS dental treatment in the UK is pretty-well finished, as dentists aren't willing to take the work on.
And the prices quoted (in the article) for private dental work seemed to be on a par with what I pay in NZ.
Agree, wages are lower here, so relatively more expensive for treatment.
Kip
And the prices quoted (in the article) for private dental work seemed to be on a par with what I pay in NZ.
Agree, wages are lower here, so relatively more expensive for treatment.
Kip
Feb 3rd 2008, 8:06 pm
#15
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,285
Re: Teeth!! - a warning
I've just had a quote for a root canal $950, and a ceramic cap $1000.
Friend has just had his root canal done (different dentist) for $650, that was a back molar too. Not sure about the cap.
My dentist said she always finishes a root canal with a ceramic cap because the tooth becomes weak after the nerve has been removed and it wouldn't last long without it.
I have found the standard of dentistry in NZ to be better than that in the UK, where NHS dentists often did unnecessary work just to get the maximum payment from the system (my brother also agrees with this statement having suffered with a UK dentist).
Kip
Friend has just had his root canal done (different dentist) for $650, that was a back molar too. Not sure about the cap.
My dentist said she always finishes a root canal with a ceramic cap because the tooth becomes weak after the nerve has been removed and it wouldn't last long without it.
I have found the standard of dentistry in NZ to be better than that in the UK, where NHS dentists often did unnecessary work just to get the maximum payment from the system (my brother also agrees with this statement having suffered with a UK dentist).
Kip