dentist situation

[jaffas21]

Hi folks, I recently cracked a tooth and my dentist recommended a crown and as the side of it was sheered off it was unfillable so I went with it.

 

My query is a bit wierd. i've currently been there five times and my next will be my 6th, the first time, the filling fell out and she put a temporary crown on without 

replacing the filling  price 3400 baht.

 

So I was basically in agony through this thin temporary crown as there was a big gap in my teeth,

 

The second time she replaced the filling, put a new temporary crown on and took a 3D scan of the tooth  and said it would be two weeks until the crown would be ready  price 3000 baht, (my tooth was painful for these two weeks I was on 800mg of ibruphropen every day)

 

the next time there were at least two people involved (you can't see anything in the dentist as they put this thing over your face so only your teeth are visible) Someone else was pushing (what I thought was the crown into place) then it has to be sanded down in the mouth as it was to high (it always to high each time) price 4700 baht this time

 

I was then told to go back in two weeks to "check" I presumed it was ok, During this process they told me the actual crown  would be installed in one month (I assumed the last visit was the crown as they actively shaped it to look like a tooth with her tools. The tooth ached for a week due to sensitivity but is now fine under whatever is covering it.  I should add I also got a scale and polish which was also more expensive than the normal price at 900 baht but i needed that.

 

Does this seem wierd to anyone, in my opinion why wasnt the filling replaced the first time, it fell out right in front of their eyes causing me needless pain, then they did a 3d scan and two weeks later fits something which should have been the crown, but then two weeks later says it wasn't

 

I've never heard of a crown taking 6 visits or two months to process

 

Whats going on? 

 

(these prices may or may not seem low to you, but they are standard around here, but I'm not rich just your average joe working on a relatively low income and Im getting married and have a baby on the way, so every penny counts)

Edited August 28, 2022 by jaffas21

[proton]

Where is around here? cheap for crowns but expensive for cleaning, I'd get another dentist. Sounds like the first crown was no good.

[The Hammer2021]

The pain seems anomalous but anyway they have to mount the crown on something? It has to be 'snug'

Edited August 28, 2022 by The Hammer2021

[BritManToo]

It shouldn't have hurt after the root canal.

[proton]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

It shouldn't have hurt after the root canal.

Don't see any mention of root canal, maybe that's the problem 

[jaffas21]

15 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

The pain seems anomalous but anyway they have to mount the crown on something? It has to be 'snug'

its been mounted two weeks ago, he basically pushed it in and was using a lot of pressure to get it snug, there wasn't any root canal and now the pain has gone. I'm in isaan is cheap, but as always theres a language barrier so your never 100% what is going on .. however according to my research even before it started you come in, they measure you for your crown put in a temporary crown and then put in the real one the next visit, not 6 visits .... 

[jaffas21]

23 minutes ago, proton said:

Where is around here? cheap for crowns but expensive for cleaning, I'd get another dentist. Sounds like the first crown was no good.

yes its isaan, they have the tech and lots of customers so i dont think theres a problem with them though some of her treatments such as high tech braces are eye wateringly expensive. I'm, just slightly worried im being shined on into excess treatments to make more money, the first temp crown without replacing the filling wasnt necessary at all . Why not refill first and save me the pain and the second  temp crown which was  unnessary.

 

As far as im feeling now all is good, I have what looks like a crown in my mouth and no pain and my tooth looks better than before

Edited August 28, 2022 by jaffas21

[lopburi3]

2 minutes ago, jaffas21 said:

they measure you for your crown put in a temporary crown and then put in the real one the next visit, not 6 visits

That would be after an RCT and post for most cases - in your case they are trying to avoid that and retain nerve and fix tooth enough to support an inexpensive crown (crowns alone can cost more than 20k - RCT and post would be extra).

[OneMoreFarang]

A crown for < 10,000 THB?

Obviously it's always nice not to pay too much. But in my limited experience there is no such thing as a (good quality) cheap crown in Thailand. 

[jaffas21]

21 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That would be after an RCT and post for most cases - in your case they are trying to avoid that and retain nerve and fix tooth enough to support an inexpensive crown (crowns alone can cost more than 20k - RCT and post would be extra).

 

22 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That would be after an RCT and post for most cases - in your case they are trying to avoid that and retain nerve and fix tooth enough to support an inexpensive crown (crowns alone can cost more than 20k - RCT and post would be extra).

I'm at 12,000 now  .. i wouldnt worry it will go over 20,000 by my next visit ... anyway thanks for the info just wanted to make sure it wasnt wierd as most cases state its done in two visits, However I still believe leaving an unfilled tooth under a temp crown was not good practise when you fill it the next visit what was the point, obviously an unfilled tooth was going to be sensitive and it was. Only with this third (dare i say it third temporary crown) has the area returned to normal, mainly due to this not filling of the tooth, I was worried it had gotten infected but apparently not. What is interesting is that the first two temp crowns would pop out if i flossed, this one does not .... I

[JimmyJ]

I would've changed dentists long ago.

[jaffas21]

3 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

I would've changed dentists long ago.

Yeah, but its hard to that when they leave something unfinished its taken 5 visits to be ok with it. I wouldnt call thailand a strange country but id never been to the dentist I just used a sonic toothbrush and took good care of them. ironically it was some dodgy larb moo at work that cracked my tooth ... ive never eaten there since

[proton]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

A crown for < 10,000 THB?

Obviously it's always nice not to pay too much. But in my limited experience there is no such thing as a (good quality) cheap crown in Thailand. 

Cheap are ok if you are older and will outlast you, had them from 17k- 6k in Bangkok. More expensive ones have precious metals inside, I'd avoid resin ones though they feel like plastic in your mouth.

[dj230]

Never cheap out on dental or medical surgeries it will just cost you more in the end, my 2 cents. I am always surprised when people try to save money on dental care, when it's critically important and irreversible. 

 

Bangkok Hospital if you have the money or a reputable clinic like Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic is where I'd go

Edited August 28, 2022 by dj230

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, dj230 said:

Bangkok Hospital if you have the money or a reputable clinic like Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic is where I'd go

I go to the same dentist in Bangkok since over 10 years. I always see her in her private clinic. She used to work in BNH but now not anymore. She told me what they charge to the patient and what she gets. When I remember it correct then she received about 25% of what the hospital charges.

Lots of dentists and other doctors work in hospitals and in private clinics. Same work, very different prices.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, jaffas21 said:

its been mounted two weeks ago, he basically pushed it in and was using a lot of pressure to get it snug, there wasn't any root canal and now the pain has gone. I'm in isaan is cheap, but as always theres a language barrier so your never 100% what is going on .. however according to my research even before it started you come in, they measure you for your crown put in a temporary crown and then put in the real one the next visit, not 6 visits .... 

It's the root canal that takes 4 visits.

Cracked tooth always has a root canal before a crown.

I still have the temporary crown from 10 years back, didn't bother going back for the crown. A few small chunks have fallen off the sides, but I suspect the temporary crown will last longer than me.

Edited August 28, 2022 by BritManToo

[dj230]

10 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I go to the same dentist in Bangkok since over 10 years. I always see her in her private clinic. She used to work in BNH but now not anymore. She told me what they charge to the patient and what she gets. When I remember it correct then she received about 25% of what the hospital charges.

Lots of dentists and other doctors work in hospitals and in private clinics. Same work, very different prices.

Interesting, I would have assumed that dentists working at a hospital and a private clinic at the same time would be somewhat of an issue and lead to a conflict of interests in Thailand. Wouldn't you be able to just funnel patients to your clinic. 

 

I know doctors at private hospitals also work at government hospitals and the dentist I spoke to at Bangkok Hospital also works at BDMS Wellness Clinic (they're from the same healthcare network, BDMS). 

Edited August 28, 2022 by dj230

[scubascuba3]

Sounds like a clown did the crown, if she <deleted> up, would they tell you? no, all you can do is go to a highly recommended dentist then you trust what they do

[andyman57]

Over 20years ago I was eating breakfast in pattaya when I thought was the crispy bacon cracking it was part of one of the big teeth at the back 20yrs ago not many could speak english any way found one Lana dentist next to kasikon bank pattaya klang.he had a look take it out at that time any extraction had to be done in hospital because of my thin blood so he said I'll repair it but can't guarantee it will last till u get home which was 2 months  away .got home had to wait a month to c.a professor of dentistry pinstripe suit dickie bow.he had a look said who done that work told him he said if ever I have another problem go And c.him he's done a brilliant job.i still visit him now Lana clinic pattaya klang

[recom273]

I use a Khon Kaen Uni Dental hospital, can recommend university hospitals enough, some say they some of the trainees are a bit brutal when doing general cleaning and filling, but they seem to have certain guidelines regarding price and they are also full of tech.

 

I had to have two teeth pulled and a denture made on the lower jaw, the payment system is made crystal clear on your first visit, 50B to sit in the chair, everything else is quoted, I was sent for x-rays the same day as my first consultation, sent for x-rays, 500B and an appointment made for the denture specialist the next week. On that day, he introduced himself, took impressions and gave me the price of 2000B for two teeth. 

There was a bit of a muddle up, when I arrived a week later for the fitting, he was surprised that I still had two teeth where there should be a gap, and some specialist with amazing English rushed in, explained everything and removed them, with a hidden cost of 350B each, but that wasn't really any of the dentists fault, more like the reception didn't book me in.

 

I had to have the denture fitted after years of visiting clinics, getting cleaning and filling - no dentist bothered to mention to me that it might be worth going to see a specialist until two months ago, too late. Like you say, they are more interested in selling overpriced fancy colored retainers. I would go to a hospital over a clinic any day.

 

 

[Sheryl]

17 hours ago, proton said:

Don't see any mention of root canal, maybe that's the problem 

Agree but the number of reported visits and cost per visit deem consistent with a root canal. 

 

Sounds like a major communication problem with the dentist. ? Language barrier?

 

One wonders if OP has been given vlear idea if what the crown itself will cost as that will be much more than the visits to date have cost. 

[Duke007]

Dentistry is not an exact science. Every individual and situation is different and you cannot just expect step 1..2..3 to always be the same.  The experience related here is not unusual.

1.       The decision as to whether the old filling should have been replaced depends upon the amount of remaining tooth structure, the status of the pulp, the allotted time that the dentist has and the patient’s cost preferences. (This may or may not have been clearly discussed before treatment started). The first temporary crown was not a custom-made, perfectly fitted crown and would have been cemented with a temporary type cement to allow removal at the next appointment. It is not unusual for this type crown to be dislodged by dental floss. It was simply placed to try to relieve discomfort and prevent further tooth loss.

2.       At the second appointment, it may have been planned to complete the crown preparation, but upon removing the temporary crown, the filling also came out. This may or may not have been predictable. If the doctor was concerned about pulp vitality, he likely placed a sedative filling above the nerve and replaced the same or similar temporary crown. 2 weeks evaluation time is not unusual. And by 3D scan, do you mean an xray? An xray cannot determine the status of the pulp.

3.       The tooth may have still been sensitive due to leaking margins from the temporary crown, but the dentist apparently determined that a root can treatment was not indicated. At this time I would guess that the tooth was prepared for the final crown and an impression was taken. A well-fitting acrylic temporary crown was fabricated directly on the tooth, and this would account for the “pushing and sanding”.  The second person in the room would have been the dental assistant.

4.       The doctor requested an evaluation in 2 weeks to ensure the pulp was ok (no sensitivity, no root canal required) before asking the lab to prepare the final crown.

5.       This appointment I presume would be cementation of the final crown, whether the crown is semi-precious alloy, gold or porcelain.   I would not recommend just leaving the temporary crown in place

6.       I don’t see where a 6^th appointment was needed, except a follow-up check.