Does your dentist practice preventative dentistry?

[Gecko123]

I've been going to the same dentist for at least 10 years. The dentist is located in Saraburi and is located in a major private hospital. I am generally satisfied with the work she has done. In particular, the last crown she did was probably the best fitting crown I've ever had done. The problem is that when I go in for periodic cleanings once or twice a year, there is no systematic examination of my teeth looking for potential problems, and x-rays are never part of the routine examination. 

 

I used to like the fact that not taking x-rays kept costs down, and I even started thinking that the x-rays dentists took every 6 to 12 months back home might have been a big unnecessary scam. But as time has progressed, I have started to notice a pattern that cavities don't seem to be detected until they become quite deep, often requiring expensive root canal treatments and crowns. I've tried to discuss this with my dentist on multiple occasions and asked her why periodic x-rays aren't taken.

 

This last visit, I came in because I had pain in a back molar. X-rays showed this huge cavity which I really suspect may have been developing for months and months, if not years. I tried to ask her if periodic x-rays might have caught this problem earlier, but once again, she just looked at me like I'm asking her uncomfortable questions or questioning her professional judgment, which I definitely wasn't doing. Over the years, I've tried to bring this up on at least three different occasions, and I've never been able to get a straight answer.

 

So my question is, does your dentist give you a thorough examination and take x-rays when you come in for routine cleanings and dental checkups?

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2019 by Gecko123

[flyingtlger]

No my dentist practices "eye gouging"!

Prices in Bangkok are the same as the prices back home.....

 

[amexpat]

14 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

probably the best fitting crown I've ever had done. The problem is that when I go in for periodic cleanings once or twice a year, there is no systematic examination of my teeth looking for potential problems,

All crowns should fit well.  

 

Find another dentist.

[lopburi3]

Yes.  Normally x-ray every other six month visit and these are vital to find issues with cap teeth before they rot out the structure below if you want another.  Perhaps the younger generation is more into implants so not as concerned with saving? 

 

A dental bitewing set x-ray is almost no radiation exposure (one or two hour flight - one day normal exposure) and not very expensive.

[Pumpuynarak]

5 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

No my dentist practices "eye gouging"!

Prices in Bangkok are the same as the prices back home.....

 

Yep, my Thai wifey was charged 800bht for a 10 minute clean, i would have much preferred she had a proper job that would take a UK dental hygienist 45 mins that included flossing and polishing. My experience of them and i use a private hospital dentist is that they're only interested in quickie treatments like tooth removal/ 10 min cleaning to maximise their time and earnings. 

I find in Thailand there is no such thing as "ethics" when seeing dentists/doctors, well thats my experience here in Isaan.

[lopburi3]

5 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

My experience of them and i use a private hospital dentist is that they're only interested in quickie treatments like tooth removal/ 10 min cleaning to maximise their time and earnings. 

That is not my experience here in Bangkok - my dentist books one hour for any cleaning - it may take less or it could take several visits for some.  30-50 minutes seems about average.  And they do check teeth as well as cleaning (and scaling in my case).  

[Pumpuynarak]

24 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That is not my experience here in Bangkok - my dentist books one hour for any cleaning - it may take less or it could take several visits for some.  30-50 minutes seems about average.  And they do check teeth as well as cleaning (and scaling in my case).  

I wish i could find a dentist such as yours, i've tried many here in Korat all to no avail they're all the same, i don't mind paying for professional dentistry and ethical practices, ya don't get a second chance with your teeth.

[Stocky]

Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai Dental Clinic-  good poke about, clean & polish, X-rays every second or so appointment (12-18months). Usually 45 minutes by the time he's finished.

[lopburi3]

42 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I wish i could find a dentist such as yours, i've tried many here in Korat all to no avail they're all the same, i don't mind paying for professional dentistry and ethical practices, ya don't get a second chance with your teeth.

I use a large hospital facility but there are good stand alone clinics also in Bangkok - outside probably best to use hospital.  I have used shophouse type places that were less than good so probably not the best idea to travel the low cost route if you have actual issues.  

[Gecko123]

4 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

I use a large hospital facility but there are good stand alone clinics also in Bangkok - outside probably best to use hospital.  I have used shophouse type places that were less than good so probably not the best idea to travel the low cost route if you have actual issues.  

I'm curious, do you go to a Bangkok dentist while living in Lopburi province?

[lopburi3]

7 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

I'm curious, do you go to a Bangkok dentist while living in Lopburi province?

Actually wife was from Lopburi but have lived in Bangkok since 1975.

[Pumpuynarak]

18 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

I use a large hospital facility but there are good stand alone clinics also in Bangkok - outside probably best to use hospital.  I have used shophouse type places that were less than good so probably not the best idea to travel the low cost route if you have actual issues.  

I've used Bangkok hospital Korat where the dentist made a right <deleted> of a crown and i was in agony for the weekend once the pain killer wore off, she was'nt working again till the Monday. I never went back after she put it right and am currently using St Mary's hospital Korat.

 

I have a mate who will only go to a dentist in Bangkok that he knows well after working in Bangkok for many years, but what a drive (3 1/2 hours each way) but he is happy to pay for a professional service despite the travel involved. 

[Gecko123]

Still hoping for more feedback on whether your dentist checks your teeth carefully and does x-rays during routine teeth cleaning/checkup visits. Thanks in advance.

[metisdead]

A troll post of a trolling nature has been removed as a troll post. 

[holymoly]

My experience with my dentist:

 

Used my Bk dentist for l o n g  time. Generally satisfied....hmm.......

But few x-rays with a machine from before WWII. Fixes a tooth but does not check the others thoroughly.

 

Very skilled, painfree....hmm.... but always does root canal before a crown at 9000 per canal with maybe three healthy roots per tooth.  I recently learned that back home dentists do not disturb healthy roots.

 

Quietly ignores my wishes for fully functioning crowns on back

teeth........hmm.......by putting in perfectly smooth and round crowns which are nearly useless for chewing solid Western food. Likely ok for Thai eating soft Thai foods. 

 

Feel very frustrated.  I feel cheated, quietly, unobtrusively the typical Thai way with that nice smile and "no problem, Sir, you won't feel a thing".................

 

I like living here; so quiet, safe, people are immensely polite........but......the creepy insincerity on various levels is getting to

me at times. Until now I have shrugged my shoulders saying T.i.T.........

until now............but..............

 

 

 

[PerkinsCuthbert]

In recent years I've tried several locally. None of them does a thorough check-up such as is found in Western countries every six months or year. Even when specifically asked to take a good look, I have found the examination cursory, though occasionally on a visit for one problem, my latest dentist will happen upon a new cavity for a quick 700 Baht.

I guess preventive dentistry is not a thing so much in Asia.  

[Gecko123]

Anybody have any idea about why preventative dentistry isn't more of the norm here? Is proactively trying to spot dental problems early viewed as overkill, drilling for dollars, making problems unneccessarily?

[PerkinsCuthbert]

I'd say it's just not taught at Chula etc as part of the curriculum. Perhaps the relative recentness of a sugary diet has something to do with it, young people generally have had zero or just one or two fillings, though on the other hand there are plenty of oldies with rotting teeth who don't have the wherewithal to have them fixed. Maybe the best answer is people in general do not have the mindset - the old Thai lack of forethought.

[PaoloR]

I have used my current (female) dentist here in Krabi for the last 3 years. Always checks every 6 months with X-rays and examination. Then repairs what is needed and advises me of anything that may need doing next time. Ave. cost per visit, including 45 min cleaning is 1,500 THB.

My brother in the UK is a dentist and says keep using her.

Previously used the dentist at a private hospital - useless and I walked out half-way through a procedure as he was hopeless.

As with so many jobs in Thailand, choose a female practitioner they care more about the job and less about their pocket/status!

[Beggar]

In my whole life no dentist ever did x-rays without reason - they did when doing a root canal treatment but not to check if there are cavities. 

 

What I can recommend is this elmex fluoride gel. A former girlfriend was dentist and she recommended it to me. Didn't have a cavity for almost 30 years now. You take it once a week and let it work as long as possible - I do 30 minutes. Just be careful that you don't swallow it. It contains a high amount of fluoride. In Thailand I could not get it. Ordered it using ebay from Europe. 

[Gecko123]

3 minutes ago, PaoloR said:

I have used my current (female) dentist here in Krabi for the last 3 years. Always checks every 6 months with X-rays and examination. Then repairs what is needed and advises me of anything that may need doing next time. Ave. cost per visit, including 45 min cleaning is 1,500 THB.

My brother in the UK is a dentist and says keep using her.

Previously used the dentist at a private hospital - useless and I walked out half-way through a procedure as he was hopeless.

As with so many jobs in Thailand, choose a female practitioner they care more about the job and less about their pocket/status!

My dentists here have all been female as well. Price for cleaning without any x-rays is typically 900-1,000 baht.

 

I kept detailed records of my root canal and crown costs from fall of 2018 which were:

 

Initial diagnosis of problem (incl x-ray and antibiotics) 954

First step of root canal treatment and temporary crown 2163

2nd step of root canal (and installation of crown post) 2600

Impression taken for permanent crown and down payment for crown 3600

Exam fee due to possible complications (jaw pain)(crown treatment delayed) 820

Final crown installation and unpaid balance on crown 3100

========

Total 13237 baht (6 visits) (without extra visit due to complications) = 12,417

[Gecko123]

10 minutes ago, Beggar said:

In my whole life no dentist ever did x-rays without reason - they did when doing a root canal treatment but not to check if there are cavities. 

 

What I can recommend is this elmex fluoride gel. A former girlfriend was dentist and she recommended it to me. Didn't have a cavity for almost 30 years now. You take it once a week and let it work as long as possible - I do 30 minutes. Just be careful that you don't swallow it. It contains a high amount of fluoride. In Thailand I could not get it. Ordered it using ebay from Europe. 

Is no x-rays without reason standard practice in Europe?

[Beggar]

2 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Is no x-rays without reason standard practice in Europe?

I lived in two countries in Europe and moved there several times, I lived in California, on the Philippines and finally in Thailand and had because of this many different dentists. Not a single one ever did x-rays just to check if there are cavities. 

[Gecko123]

2 minutes ago, Beggar said:

I lived in two countries in Europe and moved there several times, I lived in California, on the Philippines and finally in Thailand and had because of this many different dentists. Not a single one ever did x-rays just to check if there are cavities. 

In the US, dentists routinely do x-rays at least when there's an insurance company footing the bill, which was almost always the case with me. I don't think I ever had a dentist who didn't want to x-ray at least on an annual basis. Could it be radically different if you're not insured?

[ilms]

Where I'm from, most dentists would want a full set of x-rays taken yearly, even if no problems were reported by the patient. They would usually compare the images from year to year and explain how potential issues were evolving.

 

No dentist I've ever seen in Thailand has done this. I've asked about taking x-rays and they say it's just not how things are usually done here. Some have said they would take an x-ray if I reported a problem in a tooth or if they saw something obvious. It's odd, because doing a more thorough exam would get them a bit more money. The most recent clinic I've gone to obliged me and took x-rays after I assured them it was what I really wanted. 

 

Overall, I've been happy with dental services I've received in Thailand and the prices are quite reasonable. I do worry, however, that something will be missed, only to become a bigger problem in the future.

[Gecko123]

2 minutes ago, ilms said:

I do worry, however, that something will be missed, only to become a bigger problem in the future.

I'm starting to worry the same thing, that you pay a price over the long term when no preventive exams/x-rays are done.

[Beggar]

3 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

In the US, dentists routinely do x-rays at least when there's an insurance company footing the bill, which was almost always the case with me. I don't think I ever had a dentist who didn't want to x-ray at least on an annual basis. Could it be radically different if you're not insured?

In California I had a very good health insurance paid by one of the biggest software companies in the world. They didn't have to care much about money. But I wouldn't have allowed such x-rays anyway because I am not a friend of x-rays. I don't know the quality of their equipment and so if not really necessary then better not. But even my former dentist girlfriend in Europe never recommended it. She is a very good dentist and the only one I know with two real doctor titels. But if you think you can benefit from the x-rays then ask them to do it. They will not do it for free anyway. 

[ThaiBunny]

Interestingly dentistry is the one branch of everyday medicine that relies on you having something wrong with you to make money. There's no equivalent to the general practitioner visit. Therefore there's no financial incentive for a dentist to do nothing

[55Jay]

Get what you demand.  Demand it and you'll get it.  I think.  All in the delivery, so as to not put your dentist "professional" off with an attitude. 

 

Get the x-rays done and then ask, "What do you think?"  Which re-engages their professional aptitude again.  I know... all this managing of attitudes and educated bravado is tiring,  but that's the price you pay living in a place like this.  Not lecturing, you are well experienced here, and I always enjoy your posts and perspective. 

[oslooskar]

6 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Still hoping for more feedback on whether your dentist checks your teeth carefully and does x-rays during routine teeth cleaning/checkup visits. Thanks in advance.

I have not yet been to a dentist here in Thailand, but I can tell you that my dentist back in Los Altos California practiced preventive dentistry and would do X-rays once a year in June without fail. However, she never actually worked on my teeth because I never had any cavities to be filled------though her hygienist would clean my teeth every three months instead of the normal six months, but only because I insisted on it.