Current pricing of dental services in Bangkok?

[smo]

I just wanted to find out about the current charges of a deep cleaning (scaling) in Bangkok and viccinities. Last October I paid 2000 baht for a very good cleaning job though the dentist had to rely on her assistant to communicate with me in English.  I live outside the Sukkhumvit area so the language problem is to be expected though I would hope for better communication with my doctor; on the other hand the general living cost is rather low, therefore in contrast to which the fees I paid seem quite high. I have been to that clinic a couple of times and I noticed that they made me wait for a long time before presenting the bill, 20 minutes or more (even though only one or two patients were there) so I wonder if the charges were farang-adjusted and had to be phoned in from their headquartes (this is a small chain with heavy advertising geared to the farang market, including hotel accommodation referrals.) For reference they charged 1000 for a filling on 1 surface, 1100 on 2 surfaces, and 1800 on 3 surfaces. I had these 3 fillings over 2 visits. Any inputs? thanks,

[ChouDoufu]

usually pay 700 for a phrophylaxis - cleaning/scaling and polishing.  for surface fillings (epoxy filling at base of tooth where gumline receded), add 500 each.

 

that was current as of last september.

[smo]

And could you tell where that was? I am thinking of going to Ramkhamhaeng hospital for my next cleaning....

[ChouDoufu]

there are a couple places across from "the mall" bangkapi.....over the pedestrian bridge by the uniqlo.  two clinics next to each other....not sure of the names right now.....thinking "orange smile" and "grand dental".   they take credit cards, and the dentists and reception speak english.

 

just around the corner is a small clinic that will do the health certificates for 100 baht...needed for drivers license.

 

there's another dentist in the smaller mall next door (use the crossing bridge at kfc/pizza hut).  2nd floor of the front section of that mall behind a floor full of cell phone stalls.

[userabcd]

Use one of the international hospitals in Thonglor.

 

A few years ago the bill for deep cleaning used to be 2800 baht every 6 months but has been slowly and incrementally going up and the last bill every 6 months have been 3900 Baht.

 

I feel there are several inventive charges being applied to the bill by the hospital, one being doctors specialist advice when I feel no advice is given when all she tells me is to wash my mouth with salt water for two weeks after the cleaning...800 baht for that.

 

Currently looking for another dentist.

[KittenKong]

About 2000-2400B is what I pay for proper cleaning/scaling in both Pattaya and Si Racha, usually done over two sessions. Proper cleaning of my teeth invariably requires local anaesthetic.

 

Plenty of places will do a cosmetic clean for 700-800B but it isnt proper scaling.

[lopburi3]

I pay 2,400 baht at Dentalis section of Vejthani Hospital which is affiliated with the University of Frankfurt in Germany.  A very clean facility, unlike some I have seen here.

[smo]

Thank everyone for your helpful input, much appreciated. Dental work remains my perennial woe of expat life. All the more as with age, teeth decay readily and at a more rapid rate; at the same time I feel like a rolling stone going from one dentist's office to the next. So far I have two dental pillars from Phayathai hospital in Sri Racha (make my long trips to and fro BKK all worth it): Mor Kip (KittenKong's recommendation) for implants and Mor Noot for crowns - what more can one ask, right? The first one is impeccable, the second a total perfectionist. But they're specialist, not general dentist. ( Prior to finding these two I was for years in the care of one BKK dentist with attitude, no not the one who did my last scaling, whom for all intention and purpose I would use the kinder word of "ill-intentioned" - as opposed to "from hell" - recommended by one well-intentioned TVF member here no less... but that's another story.)

 

From above posts, seems like rates at big well-known, "international" dental places  keep going higher and higher to par or even more than rates in the US, with merciless "toppings" of course (I remember somewhere along the Thonglor corridor of time past the dentist smeared some gel, anasthetic maybe? along my gum line, an extra - because she asked if I wanted it - that cost 300 baht.) The work is usually up to snuff, but the price is sky-high (to me anyway.)

 

I just checked the doc roster at Ramkhamhaeng hospital in my neighborhood, looks like they have tons of dentists (half look aged and dowdy= years of experience?) so there must be a large dental department. This is where I'll go for my next blind date (at this point I no longer bother to choose wildly just because doc speaks English.) Curious to see if deep scaling would go over 2K... Again thanks to all for chipping in with your 2cts, ????

[robblok]

I just paid 800 bt for a cleaning near Bangyai. But the Dr does not speak any English. Thank god I do speak Thai. But I dont see why there needs to be much communication. 

[robblok]

4 hours ago, KittenKong said:

About 2000-2400B is what I pay for proper cleaning/scaling in both Pattaya and Si Racha, usually done over two sessions. Proper cleaning of my teeth invariably requires local anaesthetic.

 

Plenty of places will do a cosmetic clean for 700-800B but it isnt proper scaling.

Why do you think its not a proper scaling, just paid 800 bt and they certainly cleaned me more then just cosmetic. All the buildup got removed with hooks and an other drill like thing and in the end they polish it all. So that your paying over the odds does not mean that others can't get it cheaper.

 

I can't say its a pleasant experience and gums are bleeding and so on but an anaesthetic why.. i mean I am not made of sugar.

[ChouDoufu]

stopped by the dentist while shopping today....."happy smile plus" in happy land mall across from bangkapi mall.  cleaning/scaling/polishing is 500-1000 baht.  surface fillings 500 per location.  docs speak english.  open 10-8, call for appt.

 

i plan to go there for the annual cleaning this week.  of the two nearby that i mentioned above, i've been to "the grand" dental twice for cleanings.  service adequate, but wanna try a new place.

[KittenKong]

4 hours ago, robblok said:

Why do you think its not a proper scaling, just paid 800 bt and they certainly cleaned me more then just cosmetic. All the buildup got removed with hooks and an other drill like thing and in the end they polish it all. So that your paying over the odds does not mean that others can't get it cheaper.

 

I can't say its a pleasant experience and gums are bleeding and so on but an anaesthetic why.. i mean I am not made of sugar.

This is why I know whether the scaling/cleaning has been done properly or whether it is just cosmetic. My gums are very sensitive and it is not possible to clean anywhere near them without injecting them first. It's that simple.

[robblok]

5 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

This is why I know whether the scaling/cleaning has been done properly or whether it is just cosmetic. My gums are very sensitive and it is not possible to clean anywhere near them without injecting them first. It's that simple.

Obviously where i get work done its done properly and obviously I am a bit more tough then you are. At least about this that is. You are from the Pattaya area so its logical your paying over the odds. I can pay over the odds too if I go to the more expensive places. I just visit the places that are recommended by Thais and they usually areou in the 700-800 bt range for a good scaling / cleaning. For most normal people injections are not needed. Its almost unheard of where I am from (the Netherlands). 

[KittenKong]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Obviously where i get work done its done properly and obviously I am a bit more tough then you are. At least about this that is. You are from the Pattaya area so its logical your paying over the odds. I can pay over the odds too if I go to the more expensive places. I just visit the places that are recommended by Thais and they usually areou in the 700-800 bt range for a good scaling / cleaning. For most normal people injections are not needed. Its almost unheard of where I am from (the Netherlands). 

I've been charged various prices in Pattaya from 800B to 2000+B. The 2000+B place was one of the most highly recommended dentists on this forum, and not the most expensive one in Pattaya by any means. The cheaper prices were various other local dentists who did an acceptable cosmetic clean.

 

Now I just have it done in Si Racha as I have great faith in my dentist there and to have her do everything suits me even if it is a long drive and even if I do pay a few hundred Baht extra for the hospital fee.

 

I agree that for most people injections are not needed but because I know that I invariably do need them is precisely why I can tell that if I didnt get them then the job was not done deeply enough.

 

In Europe I used to have the same thing done for 100EUR every few months by a top dentist, and they always numbed my mouth completely also. It also used to take them more than an hour, just like here.

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

I've been charged various prices in Pattaya from 800B to 2000+B. The 2000+B place was one of the most highly recommended dentists on this forum, and not the most expensive one in Pattaya by any means. The cheaper prices were various other local dentists who did an acceptable cosmetic clean.

 

Now I just have it done in Si Racha as I have great faith in my dentist there and to have her do everything suits me even if it is a long drive and even if I do pay a few hundred Baht extra for the hospital fee.

 

I agree that for most people injections are not needed but because I know that I invariably do need them is precisely why I can tell that if I didnt get them then the job was not done deeply enough.

 

In Europe I used to have the same thing done for 100EUR every few months by a top dentist, and they always numbed my mouth completely also. It also used to take them more than an hour, just like here.

Obviously you need them as you know your body (mouth in this case) best. I am not sure if an hour is needed or not. I am pretty sure it was less then an hour today. I don't time it but it was not overly long. It was not fun but I guess that is the norm. Nothing really painful just sensitive some blood (to be expected).

 

You did this every few months ? I am no expert but is it possible you just have some kind of condition that makes your teeth different from average ?. I do this yearly (i know half yearly would be better but i tend to forget). I don't see any buildup anymore and I would say it was properly done. My mom has been often at Dutch dentists and went here too and was pleased. 

 

Either you have a totally different standard or I am missing something. Could be as I am no dental expert. But visually I would say its a good clean and given how i felt when he worked and the buildup i saw in the basin when rinsing my mouth he must have done a good job. Perhaps there are some not visible parts that I am missing.

 

I also almost never had cavities believe 3 or so in my whole life. So perhaps not all teeth are the same. Otherwise I can't explain it, but maybe you can.

[smo]

20 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

stopped by the dentist while shopping today....."happy smile plus" in happy land mall across from bangkapi mall.  cleaning/scaling/polishing is 500-1000 baht.  surface fillings 500 per location.  docs speak english.  open 10-8, call for appt.

is this the same place that you referred to in the other post earlier "there's another dentist in the smaller mall next door (use the crossing bridge at kfc/pizza hut).  2nd floor of the front section of that mall behind a floor full of cell phone stalls. "?

 

I know this area well as I go through it several times a week, but can't think of a dental place after the cell phone stall section. There is amazon cafe towards the back escalator and there's a paying toilet on one side... is "happy smile plus" somewhere around there? or is it in the back section of the mall connected via a "walking street" passage on the same floor. Anyway, I think I am gonna make a scouting trip with eyes wide open next day or so. In the meantime, could you post your impression of their services after you have gone there for cleaning this week? thanks,

[ChouDoufu]

yep, that's the place.  go through the cell phones....by the pay toilet is a short circular staircase with red LED landing strip lights.  dentist is up those stairs on the landing.  you probably wouldn't notice them if you weren't specifically looking for a dental clinic.

 

just called for an appointment.  will update this weekend.

[ChouDoufu]

here's your update...

 

made appointment wednesday morning.

confirmed appointment thursday afternoon.

arrived at clinic 15 mins early, filled out forms, sitted & waited.

one hour later, still sitting and waiting, no update from reception, so walked out.

20 minutes later, receptionist calls to ask where we are.

i don't think so.

 

stopped by a lad prao hospital yesterday for a heart check.  got the girlfriend to call for the price of exam and doctor fee and hospital fee.  phone lady said one price, all included.  got girlfriend to check again to confirm.

 

got to hospital, asked reception.  same response, everything in one fee.  (me no believey!)  got the same info from registration, so registered and on the way to the clinic.  decided to check with the billing desk before heading upstairs.......now there IS a doctor fee added, and there IS a hospital fee added, which adds 50% to the cost............that's fine, i knew the other ladies were wrong, so was about to head upstairs, when she added "plus 10% for foreigner."

bye.

 

i've been doing my annual health checks here in thailand during my vacation, as chinese doctors/dentists have been carp.  but they've been improving....in fact not far from my apartment in china is a new international health pilot zone with foreign hospital groups participating.

 

think from now on i'll give thai medical a pass.  i'll get the annual checks done in china at 1/4 or 1/3 the price, and for anything major i'll go to india.