Dentist Costs

[Wisette]

Hi All,

 

Need some help please. I have abscess and I have been to the Dentist today. Not sure what hurts more my wallet or my tooth:arghh:.

 

I have had Xrays and given antibiotics and that set me back $126. I have been told that the tooth needs to be removed and a osseous (Bone ) graft put in after the antibiotics have worked there magic. This has been quoted at $250 to remove the tooth and $650 to have the graft. Then in min 4 months time I have to have a replacement put in which will be $1000.

 

We are on a state sponsorship so are not entitled to any help from the gov and was hoping that someone might know of a good cheap dentist???

 

--

Best Regards,

 

 

Mark

 

PLEASE HELP

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Hi Mark!

 

Ouch poor you! My hubby used this insurance type thing last year, he had 1 filling, check up and clean and saved a bunch. We were a bit worried about if the dentist would "find" lots to do but in fact it was the opposite, a tooth terry thought might need a filling he said was fine! We went to the member dentist in Glenelg, he was called Jai something, can't remember his surname!

 

http://www.smile.com.au/dental-dentist-fees-prices-costs

[Guest malvina]

You can go to a public dentist, our is at The Parks, Regency park.

I joined Health Partners Gold Extras many years ago. This costs me $48 per month and they pay 2/3 or more of all the bills

I don't go very often, but I do get a lot of security knowing I can always afford it.

If you join I think there is a 2 months wait for first insured treatment. You might benefit for the latter part of your treatment

 

I've always found that the $48 per month is more than covered with all kinds of treatment and tests without the dentist.

[catherine.c]

You can go to a public dentist, our is at The Parks, Regency park.

I joined Health Partners Gold Extras many years ago. This costs me $48 per month and they pay 2/3 or more of all the bills

I don't go very often, but I do get a lot of security knowing I can always afford it.

If you join I think there is a 2 months wait for first insured treatment. You might benefit for the latter part of your treatment

 

I've always found that the $48 per month is more than covered with all kinds of treatment and tests without the dentist.

 

 

I believe I am right in thinking though that you only qualify (as an adult) for public treatment if you have some kind of concession?

[Guest malvina]

Well, I know of people that have gone without concession. That is the purpose of it - 'free' for those that can't afford it'

In an emergency you can be seen, otherwise you need an appointment. But noone is supposed to suffer pain without

treatment. Get onto the Health dept and ask., they will probably refer you to your local public hospital. Best thing -

is just go there! (wherever that is) there's nothing that speaks more of an emergancy than by just sitting in the waiting

room.

[adelaidenow]

Of course I sympathise. However that is the point of insurance, you are covered for these sorts of things.

 

Home insurance, fully comp car insurance etc. You hope you don't need them, but they help in a crisis.

 

When we (all) look at budgeting, it's very easy to think I don't need to pay these extras, but in reality they are usually a cost saver over a long period of time, especially if you are a family.

 

One other thing, now you have been diagnosed, insurance may not cover you....good luck.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

there's nothing that speaks more of an emergancy than by just sitting in the waiting

room.

 

Sorry but Going to the emergency department is not the right thing to do, i have been an emergency nurse for 15 years and the waiting rooms are often full of non emergency attenders, people with colds, tummy bugs splinters and yes also requesting dental treatment.

 

emergency departments are for medical emergencies and accidents

 

Sounds like Mark did the right thing, take some pain releif and attend an emergency dentist as soon as you can:smile:

Edited July 12, 2013 by Claire-n-tel

[Guest malvina]

I was talking about attending the hospital dental emergency not General.

Unfortunately there's no such thing as a cheap private dentist - or any medical profession

[Blossom]

Sorry but Going to the emergency department is not the right thing to do, i have been an emergency nurse for 15 years and the waiting rooms are often full of non emergency attenders, people with colds, tummy bugs splinters and yes also requesting dental treatment.

 

emergency departments are for medical emergencies and accidents

 

Sounds like Mark did the right thing, take some pain releif and attend an emergency dentist as soon as you can:smile:

I had a blistery rash come up on my hands, arm and legs (think chemical burn looking). My gp took swabs just of the skin, not any if the fluid, when I told him I was plastered in sun lotion so it wouldn't come back with anything. Two days later results showed nothing. He referred me to a skin specialist who's wait was two months long. But he did tell me if it got any worse to go to the emergency department! Of course I didn't, and didn't go to the specialist as it was gone by then, but I did think that was shocking advice from a gp. It wasn't that bad!

[catherine.c]

http://www.sadental.sa.gov.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=38

according to this website, only a pensioner concession card holder or health care card holder (not sure what that is) and their families are entitled to use public dentists.

[Jessica Berry]

Hi Mark

 

I can sympathise because you have only been here a few months, so may not have been aware of the costs of dentists and that taking out 'extras' cover is a good idea (if it suits your circumstances).

 

This posting will hopefully prove as a reminder to others coming over of the potential costs.

 

We were aware that dental was expensive in Australia and before we left the UK went to our dentist and both had check ups and cleans. We have extras cover through Medibank and we always get our money back, usually we get double the amount of the premium and that is before anything major goes wrong.

 

I would say the costs quoted seem about right. I have a front tooth that is a crown and when it needs replacing I have been quoted by 2 dentists around $1200, but with our medibank policy I would get around $840 back.

 

Under our policy we are also entitled to a free check up and clean each year. We went this week and if we had to pay for this it would have cost us $163.

 

I suppose the other thing to mention is ambulance cover, this is another insurance that people think they will never need until something happens and they get a bill for $800! The 'extras' cover usually includes ambulance cover.

[Wisette]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for all the advice. Just to answer a few of the questions:

 

I have only been in the country since the 2nd May 2013.

 

I have travel insurance but they will only cover £250 of which I have to pay the first £60. So this will not cover much in the way of the treatment and as previously said. They will only pay to take the immediate pain away. So the Antibiotics and xrays $126.

 

I have looked at Full Dental insurance for the 3 of us, 2 adults and on 2 yr old was $118 a month. I have to wait 2 months (Pay my premium up front) for a basic check up and clean and to have the tooth removed I have to wait 6 months. Medical was seperate and was over $1000 a quarter. the fees are so high because we are on a Reciprocal Medicare Card until we get residentcy. Based on these cost and only one of us working we can't budget for this sort of out going right now.

 

Because we are on a Reciprocal Medicare Card we don't get any help in the form of goverment funding. So don't make a difference if we go private or public. Unless anyone knows a loop hole and a way of getting some sort of money refunded on the costs?

 

MALVINA: What is the health dept and where is the nearest one to Happy Valley?

I know of people that have gone without concession. That is the purpose of it - 'free' for those that can't afford it'

In an emergency you can be seen, otherwise you need an appointment. But noone is supposed to suffer pain without

treatment. Get onto the Health dept and ask., they will probably refer you to your local public hospital. Best thing -

is just go there! (wherever that is) there's nothing that speaks more of an emergancy than by just sitting in the waiting

room.

 

I was just hoping that someone might know a GOOD & CHEAP dentist that will be able to remove this tooth and then put a bone graft in for I will phone all the dentist in the yellow pages on Monday and will let you guys know what the cheapest one is.

[Jessica Berry]

I have looked at Full Dental insurance for the 3 of us, 2 adults and on 2 yr old was $118 a month. I have to wait 2 months (Pay my premium up front) for a basic check up and clean and to have the tooth removed I have to wait 6 months. Medical was seperate and was over $1000 a quarter. the fees are so high because we are on a Reciprocal Medicare Card until we get residentcy. Based on these cost and only one of us working we can't budget for this sort of out going right now.

 

Just thought this was worth pointing out again to migrants heading out here or newbies, regarding the costs involved if you are not residents.

 

Even if you are a citizen (like myself) things happen. I have been to the chiro 3 times this week, costing me almost $150 (I have used all my extras allowance up). I woke up one morning and felt like someone had stabbed me in the arm/shoulder. These things happen, that is life, but in Australia I feel you need to make more of a provision for these kind of incidents than you would in the UK.

[Ian&Beth]

Another thing worth remembering is that dentists were far from free in the uk, even if you were lucky enough to have an NHS dentist....they still charged.

Of course on top of that in the uk you have to donate 12% of your taxable income to a scheme called NIC, whether you use it or not.

And I'm saying this even though I've just had to pay $7200 for braces for my eldest

[Jessica Berry]

And I'm saying this even though I've just had to pay $7200 for braces for my eldest

 

I was on skype a few months ago talking to a friend in the UK and she was saying her daughter had just had braces (free). My friend was moaning about the state of the UK etc and I said to her well if you lived here your daughters braces would cost thousands, she soon changed her mind about living in 'rip off Britain' ha ha.

 

Another friend in the UK was texting me moaning about their neighbour having to wait for ages for an ambulance. I offered to write to David Cameron on their behalf and suggest the UK adopt the South Australia model and then they would be charged about 500 pounds for an ambulance - I never got a response from my friend ha ha!!!!!

 

This is not aimed at the OP but a general observation, but I think it is all about peoples perception of what they can afford and what is a priority. We all have choices. I have a colleague who says they can't afford dental or health cover, but her and her husband can afford to buy 2 packets of cigarettes a day and both drive big gas guzzling cars around!

 

Like you say we end up paying, it is just in different ways.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Jessica Berry

[adelaidenow]

Re the chiropractor and the costs, it's the same everywhere, if you need to bee seen quickly you pay. In the UK the 'free' appointments are not quick, unless its an Emergency, like here.

[Jessica Berry]

Re the chiropractor and the costs, it's the same everywhere, if you need to bee seen quickly you pay. In the UK the 'free' appointments are not quick, unless its an Emergency, like here.

 

True, in the UK I used to pay to visit an osteopath, but the amount of people I knew that were in 'agony' but would sit and wait ages for an appointment so they did not have to pay.

[Guest patsmb]

Hi Mark!

 

Ouch poor you! My hubby used this insurance type thing last year, he had 1 filling, check up and clean and saved a bunch. We were a bit worried about if the dentist would "find" lots to do but in fact it was the opposite, a tooth terry thought might need a filling he said was fine! We went to the member dentist in Glenelg, he was called Jai something, can't remember his surname!

 

 

http://www.smile.com.au/dental-dentist-fees-prices-costs

 

We joined Smile and used the dentist at Glenelg and they were really good got me in quickly ,said I only needed a tooth filling and did not need a crown ( most dentists plug crowns etc this one did not )

If you look on the smile website it gives your a scale of charges that are cheaper than the norm As for the 'public' clinics I had a really bad job done at one so much so that I now have to go into the dental hospital in the city to have major work done !

[Guest jorose]

Well, I know of people that have gone without concession. That is the purpose of it - 'free' for those that can't afford it'

In an emergency you can be seen, otherwise you need an appointment. But noone is supposed to suffer pain without

treatment. Get onto the Health dept and ask., they will probably refer you to your local public hospital. Best thing -

is just go there! (wherever that is) there's nothing that speaks more of an emergancy than by just sitting in the waiting

room.

As an adult patient you need a Healthcare Concession card or Pension Concession Card to be seen at a public government dentist. For patients under 18 there is no concession card requirement. For the record, just sitting in the waiting room doesn't give you the right to be seen. You're more likely to be escorted off the premises.

Edited July 14, 2013 by jorose