Fidjet Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 Ok so I know everyone said dentists in Auz is expensive, but just how expensive. Does anyone know what a root canal would cost there? About a month ago I went to the dentist for a checkup, and she found a small hole in the back tooth. When she started working on it to fix it turned out to be a massive hole and need a root canal to boot. She works on it, puts disgusting meds in my mouth and sends me of saying in 2 weeks I need to come back, I didn't like how she worked on me, hurting me, jankig my jaw open "because I cant reach", stapping the stupid suction thing down my throat making me gag and even managing to cut my tongue in the process. 2 hours + later she finishes up and said the "tooth is too difficult" and she wants her more experienced partner to handle it. So when I did go back in 2 weeks I went to her more experienced partner, he is so much better at this than her. He opened up the tooth and sees, nope she really did mess so he will have to fix what she did and then put different meds in and I need to come back in 2 weeks. I went back to him yesterday, and the tooth still has way too much feeling in it, and it keeps bleeding. apparently, they need it to stop before they can really do the root canal thing. I'm also "lucky" to have the tooth in my sinuses and when he fiddles in the one root I can feel a sharp pain all the way into my eye, apparently, about 2% of people have that specific tooth and those sinus connected, lucky me.So I will have to go back on the 5th. Problem is I fly on the 17th, and the doc is worried that he won't be able to do the root canal next week and that I should see a specialist that can assist with the tooth being so close to the "eye sinus" he used a longer more complicated name for it. Now I'm wondering what it will cost there. This side it has set us back R700+ for the first, just short of R1000 for second and I don't have the bill for yesterday yet. If he does manage to do root canal on the 5th it will be "estimated value of typical root canal is between R3000-R5000, depending on doctor and patient" Also, we are both worried about flying so close to having it done, cant move out flight since our 189 will expire 1 April, so come hell or high water I will be on that plane, even if it is with a bandage around my head and a fist full of pain meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 We have paid around $1,300 for a root canal. Got about a third back from private medical (as dental isn't covered by Medicare). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2forum Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 good evening and welcome. dentistry is a real pain here no joke. the price you paid in rands, you can expect to pay the same in dollars here! my advice is to have it done there, and if possible delay your arrival otherwise you will be literally paying through your teeth. this is how costly dentistry is here as private health insurance covers almost bugger all for these conditions (unless its a general check up and clean). private health is only valuable if you are hospitalized. other ailments which do not require hospitalization, will cost you $$$ i was a member of a private health fund here for a family of 4, costing about $200/fortnight. so in 10 years i paid about $40 000 in premiums for the 4 of us. Recently i had to see a periodontist for my gums which was receeding. He charged me $300 for a 10 minute consultation, and he said that i needed 4 gum grafts worth $1000/tooth! For general anasthetic (which is not covered by an private health fund), is about $600. Being a top cover member of HCF for 10+ years, i was only eligible to claim $900 for a $5000 procedure, yet in a decade i paid about $40 000 in premiums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The private health insurance is a far cry for the medical aids in SA in the days of yore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 3 hours ago, Fidjet said: cant move out flight since our 189 will expire 1 April, I don't think there is the option of having it done in RSA or moving the flight unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2forum Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 then best to have it done here as with complications and saving , its not worth rushing it. can you get a 2nd opinion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidjet Posted February 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 On 2/24/2018 at 10:56 AM, RYLC said: We have paid around $1,300 for a root canal. Got about a third back from private medical (as dental isn't covered by Medicare). Thanks. Let's hope we can get t sorted on the 5th. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyebrow Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Similar thing happened to me. Two weeks before we leave, massive pain in lower back molar. Did emergency root canal which failed! Then had to go to endodontist who said root cant be saved and pulled it out. Come back in 2-3 months for implant. I said no, cant do it. He needed to do implant screw now! Highly irregular he said, cant just stuff it in hole, bone need to set and infection and prosthesis may not bind adequately etc. I said I was willing to take the chance. Anyway thing healed fine. So went to aus dr. $6000 to put the crown part of the implant on top of the titanium screw in my mouth. this resulted in aforementioned mouth falling open! I couldnt believe R60 000 for a bit of tooth shaped porcelain. So needless to say, I now have big gaping whole in my jaw. And no tooth. I still manage to eat fine. Biltong a bit of an issue... I could fly back, have a 2w holiday and have tooth done for cheaper than doing it here. (Except I cant leave the country, but that is a whole different story) Teeth are expensive here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2forum Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 couldnt have said it better. when a tradesperson earns $150/hr, and the cost of a medical/dental degree is $100K+, the cost gets passed onto the consumer. And eyebrow, private health insurance would have paid almost bugger all nogal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidjet Posted March 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2018 (edited) Finally, my tooth is done, I really hope. 4 trips to the normal dentist (nearly 3 hours altogether in his chair) and today a marathon (2:30hour sit) at the Endodontist. Apparently, the roots are very thin and hard to get to or something. I will most likely need a crown in future, but at least for now it is "done". I have to admit it is great to be able to bite on the tooth without pain. @Eyebrow that really sucks! I asked about getting it pulled, but it is deep in the sinus and the both Dr's said they wouldn't pull unless I was willing to move my flight by at least 8 weeks, so obviously not an option. I will see about costs od crown that side, but if its that expensive I'll fly back and do it this side, sure my mother will be all to happy to play taxi for that trip. She has been taking me now since I cant drive after (meds and I aren't friends). I cant use the new anaesthetic, hypersensitivity to adrenalin, and I'm one of the lucky ones on with the old anaesthetic wears out extremely fast. So today he used ALLOT having to re-numb things twice, and once directly into the nerve/root. EINA! But I have to give credit, except for the injections it wasn't at all painful, the Dr I went to really knows his business. Edited March 7, 2018 by Fidjet 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OubaasDik Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) I know what you mean, Fidjet. I had a tooth that was worked on more than once and the dentist never seemed to actually fix the problem, because it would crack again. One morning I was rinsing the mouthwash out of my gob and felt something big in my mouth - half the tooth had detached. Found a really nice dentist here in Kambra - one of the Saffas here gave me his details. He's an older guy - an Aussie, and he's experienced, but also keeps up with literature, so he knows the latest treatments and he knows what he's doing. Went to see him and h hummed and ha'd and sent me for "big" Xrays - and when I went back, he went over the whole thing with me - According to him, he could crown it, but he assured me that it would be a waste of $2,500, because it would break again. He also showed me on the Xray that the root was fuzzy, which he said was due to an abscess - LUCKILY the root extended through the jawbone into the sinus, so the abscess couldn't build up pressure. he then gave me the good news that IF he were to pull it, it would leave a tunnel from my mouth into my sinuses, that would have to be sealed. He also told me that he wasn't sure he could get the whole tooth out in one go, and being old and knowing his limitations he was going to send me to an Oral and Maxilofacial surgeon who was "one of you guys". This guy turned out to have been at university with me, and we chatted and laughed for over an hour (patients waiting, BTW) after he took a peep at the Xray and said "easy - do you want a general or a local?" Being a coward, I settled for the general and my medical paid every cent of my one day hospital stay in a private hospital. I paid the surgeon, which wasn't all that much and it was cool .... as losing a tooth can be. Anyway my story. When I got here in 2002-3 there were many stories on TV about Aussies taking the cost for one cap and going to Thailand for 2 weeks, and getting 4 teeth capped while there for the same cash ..... Anyway - I've drivelled on - hope you come right. Edited March 8, 2018 by OubaasDik 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eva Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) My son just had a root canal and crown in Qld, August 2018. Cost $4500. Edited August 17, 2018 by Eva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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