Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

Our youngest daughter may require some relatively comprehensive dental work over the next several years, possibly GBP 7 -10K or so.

To put the thread premise simply, we've been told that the Philippines can provide first-world-level dentistry at somewhat lower rates than UK / US / Aus options.

In the end, we're pretty risk-averse (I'm posting the thread more to ask "are Pinoy dentists really that good?", rather than to ask whether they're cheap.

But if Philippines based dentistry is (or can be) high-end-care for mid-scale-price, I'd appreciate hearing about recent experiences along those lines.

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

Good question...

I have recently asked how much to replace my upper dentures (5 teeth) and was quoted 3k. Initial cost 5 years ago in the UK was £270 from memory. I shall take plunge in a few days and let you know how I get on

Regards

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

Dentistry here has been first class for me and my two children 6 month check up clean with fluoride is 1500 each

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

3K for upper denture sounds very cheap. Forgot how much we paid but it was 15k although it does depend on the type of denture you want. There are cheap and more expensive materials available . For more complicated dentistry, implants etc, I would not trust dentists outside the established practices in Manila . The dentists in our province are good but lack the equipment to carry out complicated dentistry, also the practices tend to small and untidy. Our local dentists do not have receptionists, or dental nurses, Appointments are on a as you turn up basis, and privacy is limited. Generally prices are very low compared with the UK , although I suspect top Manila dentists will not be cheap, but less expensive than the UK.

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

I had a very good dentist when I first arrived 10 years ago but unfortunately he died, so have been trying out some of the recommended ones, not found one yet. Had P15k worth of root canal and filling done, within about 6 months the tooth had totally crumbled away. Another wanted to pull other teeth that only required fillings, all but two of the fillings put in in the last 7 years have fallen out or disintegrated. When I returned to the UK a few years ago my dentist asked me how long I had been in central Africa, the reason he asked was that he thought that was the only place left that used such low grade material. On the plus side they have all been very gentle, I have even had fillings done with no injection and it did not hurt. My wife has some dentures that fit very well but do tend to break every two or three years

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

Don't children get free dental treatment in the UK?

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

We're currently based in Australia. (I converted the estimated out-of-pocket costs to GBP to suit the forum.)

Simply put, she's congenitally missing some of her adult teeth. Replacing them requires a combination of braces and bridges, at a total expense that goes well beyond our health plan cover.

So, it's worth looking at out-of-country options if the quality is there, hence my forum question.

But otherwise we'll just buy it done right, in Oz.

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

3 teeth extracted and 6 tooth porcelain bridge costed close to 50,000 pesos in manila

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

In my experience, finding a good dentist is very much a ‘hit & miss’ affair anywhere in the world, UK included. Whenever possible i.e. if I’m in a location for any length of time, I tend to rely on ‘word of mouth’ and try to get a referral from a friend who knows a dentist with a good track record.

We’ve struck it lucky here in the provinces and have found a gem of a dentist. Yes, it’s a bit of a shock when you first walk in to the surgery as it’s a tad on the small side and the furnishings are sparse. As another poster commented, it’s not possible to make appointments either but if we turn up 15 mins before they open, we are usually 1st in the queue. I know he has very few expat patients and I’m sure we’re getting preferential treatment on a number of things. Yes, there’s a lack of privacy, but you soon overcome that. The most important thing for me is how good the dentist is at his or her job and when you’ve spent as much time in a dentist’s chair as I have over the years, you get a pretty good feel for that very quickly; this guy is good. He’s also got a very nifty little x-ray system connected to his computer that enables him to conduct the whole shebang in a few minutes, review the plates with you looking on and explain what the problem is and suggest the best course of action.

As for the quality of treatment, I’ve had fillings, root canal work and tooth extractions carried out by this dentist. All of it has been excellent, executed with little pain, both physically and to the pocket. When he’s re-fixed a crown and it wasn’t done quite right i.e. it came off again about a month later, re re-affixed it without fuss or further charge. Here’s a sampling of the costs involved in my case:

X-ray & filling - ₱800 (₱400 each procedure)

Root Canal - ₱3,500 (there were 3 roots to this particular tooth. Apparently some dentists charge per root.)

Tooth extraction - ₱500

Build up of tooth - ₱800 (old filling had come away and remaining tooth suffered a ‘catastrophic failure’. The dentist managed to save the tooth by re-building it. Other option included removal of tooth. This was done 18 months ago and it's still going strong).

Refitting of Crown - ₱2,000 (due to a number of reasons, this was an awkward fit. The crown came loose a month later and the dentist re-cemented at no extra cost.)

Implants – I’m considering this option. Total price quoted: ₱70,000.

Bridge – I'm considering this option. Total price quoted for 3-tooth bridge: ₱15,000

To get to the nub of your question, this dentist hasn't actually carried out any original crown/ bridge/ implant work for me other than the repairs mentioned. I have seen some major implant work that he did on a Filipino but as the guy didn't speak any English (although he was busy smiling all the time proudly showing off his new choppers), I could hardly recommend his work on that basis. Still, the dentist has given me confidence that there are good practitioners over here providing quality work at very affordable prices. I’m hoping he doesn’t lift and shift to somewhere like the UK where he could earn a fortune. The big question is, “How do you find the right one!”

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

I paid some seriously crazy cash from my root canal and crown in Manila; something over 1000 UK sterling! I got a recommendation from a wealthy filipino friend and as I was panicking at the time I used them. In fact the same dentist who did the crown and buildup of tooth etc was different then the specialist who did only root canals. All in all was around 5- 6 sittings.

I should have listened to my friend when she said she only goes there for major work as they too expensive! But as I say I panicked. But no problems so far with the tooth..

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

Nope. Can't do it as an expat/dental tourist.
I worked with special needs pediatric kids in France. Kids like your daughter.
The treatment she requires is extensive and long term - it can't and shouldn't be done as a dental tourist. She will need many appointments that may be weekly/monthly. She will need someone to fix the brace when a bracket breaks - because they always do. Or to bend back a wire because she dropped it , or to replace the appliance because she lost it.....
And then there's implant surgery.....
how old is she?

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

Jeez Mike. Apart from visits for cleaning, I haven't been to a dentist since I left Junior school over 50 years ago, so obviously I don't have any real idea how much dentists fees are, but that sounds like a lot of money!!

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

8000 pesos a tooth was approximately at the time about 100£ each. Uk prices were closer to 700£ each

Would have been far cheaper if plastic teeth were used instead of porcelain

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

can't use plastic for teeth on a bridge, only a denture.

Re: Philippines dentistry - high end???
 

tell the dentist this