My wife went to the dentist - Not sure what to do next.

[tomgreen]

My Thai wife recently noticed that she had one tooth that felt loose , so she went to a local village dentists to see what they said. Now its many years since Ive been to any dentist , so I’m not really up to date with the latest options / procedures .

 

The local dentists only opens 4.30 pm week days and 9 am – 4.30 pm at weekends. Its obvious that the dentists who runs the business, is working at a hospital some where. 

 

The dentist after examining my wife’s teeth , said the loose tooth had to be removed. After the loose tooth had been removed , the dentists recommended several options , as far as I can understand from my wife’s description , the options are….........

1. Fit a single-tooth denture , this tooth has to be physically removed before going to sleep , and then put back after waking up. This type of tooth will show an area of metal ( cost 2,000.00 Baht )

2.  Fit a single-tooth denture , this tooth has to be physically removed before going to sleep , and then put back after waking up. This type of tooth will not show an area of metal ( cost 3,000.00 Baht )

3. Fit a single-tooth denture , that will be anchored permanently in place , on both sides of the tooth ( cost 15,000.00 Baht )

4. Teeth cleaning – 600 – 800 Baht .

My wife told the dentist that she would think about which option may be best .

 

I’m not sure about the above costs from the local village dentists , or if there may be other better options / procedures available. -- Any thoughts / suggestions please .

 

Thanks. 

[petermik]

Implant 30k 

[tomgreen]

7 minutes ago, petermik said:

Implant 30k 

 How Much 

 

.

[Gecko123]

For something of that nature, I would recommend seeking out a dental clinic in a regional private hospital if possible. They should be able to provide the widest range of options. On the village level, tooth extraction is the most common solution because it's the cheapest. Also, your wife may benefit from a more in depth analysis of the condition of her gums and teeth. I say this as on the village level, dentistry is often more reactive than proactive, again, due to cost.

 

Edit: Regarding implants (which I hasten to add I've never had one) my understanding is that they require a fair amount of diligent cleaning, and they don't necessarily last forever, so were you to go ahead with an implant, consideration of your wife's willingness to follow the  recommended hygiene procedures, and her ability to replace it should the need arise might want to be considered.

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, tomgreen said:

 How Much 

 

.

Actually cheap for an implant, as I was quoted 40-60k.

[quake]

Do the bridge for 15,000 ( even that sounds cheap )

 

[Skunkfarben]

Go for implant.

 

Attach is basic cost.

 

Bone graft 10-30k and CT scans if needed.

[fredwiggy]

Edited

[JimGant]

1 hour ago, tomgreen said:

as far as I can understand from my wife’s description , the options are….........

...... or do nothing. One missing tooth shouldn't screw up your dining routine. Vanity, of course, may be a main concern. In which case, a permanent replacement would seem the way to go -- and his prices don't seem bad -- certainly when compared to prices in farang land.

[Moonlover]

My wife had a broken tooth just recently. After asking around the village, she settled on the dentist in  the local, small town hospital who simply yanked it out. It's the village economy class solution I'm told. I don't think she's too fussed about getting a replacement fitted. It's upper right and out of view. And as @JimGant said it isn't going to affect her dining ability.

 

She's 62 years now and amazingly this was the first dental procedure she's ever had. Not even a filling! Not a bad run.

[JimHuaHin]

I am 69.3 years young; I have the same tooth missing (and have had so for about 6 years).  I decided not to replace it.  My dentist recommended a partial denture when (not if) I loose any more upper teeth.

 

About 7 years ago I paid for my then gf (a nurse in a government hospital) to have an inplant for a removed lower tooth - the cost was about Baht 30,000 for memory.  At a private clinic you may pay 50% extra , and 100+% at a private hospital.

[tomgreen]

Thanks every one for your comments and suggestions . Not being involved with any thing to do with Thai dentistry for many years , I was shocked at the prices quoted , even more so when my wife commented that the local village dentist she went to , was overflowing with local village people wanting dental work carried out , at what appeared to be expensive procedures costs. The most practical option that the dentist recommended ( 15,000.00 Baht ) may be the way to go, but on hearing the 15,000.00 Baht charge, I had to put down my glass of cold Chang , and say to my self , you must be kidding. . My wife, bless her , said that she would be fine , just leaving the open gap where the missing tooth was. My reply to my wife was , you should be fine, just don't smile too much. 

 

.

 

[newbee2022]

On 3/26/2025 at 11:46 AM, tomgreen said:

My Thai wife recently noticed that she had one tooth that felt loose , so she went to a local village dentists to see what they said. Now its many years since Ive been to any dentist , so I’m not really up to date with the latest options / procedures .

 

The local dentists only opens 4.30 pm week days and 9 am – 4.30 pm at weekends. Its obvious that the dentists who runs the business, is working at a hospital some where. 

 

The dentist after examining my wife’s teeth , said the loose tooth had to be removed. After the loose tooth had been removed , the dentists recommended several options , as far as I can understand from my wife’s description , the options are….........

1. Fit a single-tooth denture , this tooth has to be physically removed before going to sleep , and then put back after waking up. This type of tooth will show an area of metal ( cost 2,000.00 Baht )

2.  Fit a single-tooth denture , this tooth has to be physically removed before going to sleep , and then put back after waking up. This type of tooth will not show an area of metal ( cost 3,000.00 Baht )

3. Fit a single-tooth denture , that will be anchored permanently in place , on both sides of the tooth ( cost 15,000.00 Baht )

4. Teeth cleaning – 600 – 800 Baht .

My wife told the dentist that she would think about which option may be best .

 

I’m not sure about the above costs from the local village dentists , or if there may be other better options / procedures available. -- Any thoughts / suggestions please .

 

Thanks. 

Leave it as it is. Easy to drink with a straw🤗

[spidermike007]

Though an implant takes a lot more time and cost a lot more money, it is certainly worth it in the long run if you can afford it. 

[hotandsticky]

20 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Leave it as it is. Easy to drink with a straw🤗

 

 

Yes...........................but the beetlenuts may get stuck!

[TheFishman1]

Go to a local university that has a dental school they’ll do any procedure and I would say 50% cheaper TIT

[Photoguy21]

Why dont they put a post in with an artificial tooth on it? I am not a dentist but that is an easy was according to dentists that I do know.

[WorriedNoodle]

On 3/27/2025 at 11:24 AM, tomgreen said:

I had to put down my glass of cold Chang , and say to my self , you must be kidding.

Just stick with the Chang, it wont matter how many teeth you or the wife have.

[Andrew Dwyer]

15 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Why dont they put a post in with an artificial tooth on it? I am not a dentist but that is an easy was according to dentists that I do know.

That is an implant mentioned already.

[Photoguy21]

Just now, Andrew Dwyer said:

That is an implant mentioned already.

I would easy that is the best way to go but obviously it is up to you and your wife. It is the way I would go for sure.

[Andrew Dwyer]

7 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

I would easy that is the best way to go but obviously it is up to you and your wife. It is the way I would go for sure.

Implant is the more permanent solution but involves some work and expense ( relative to other options ) , a bridge will also work well and can be fixed simply if fails.

 

I had 2 implants around 40 years ago, 1 is still good but the other failed ( the pin came loose and the socket cracked)  and the solution was a bridge, still good after around 20 years.

[ChaiyaTH]

There is various newer type of implants or bridge, it is just 1 tooth. 10-20k at most.

[connda]

On 3/26/2025 at 11:51 AM, petermik said:

Implant 30k 

It's more than that. 10K for bone graft.  Cheap implants start at about 35K and go parabolic from there.  Ain't cheap. You're lucky to get it done for under 50K.

[Grumpy one]

Pull the loose tooth out.

Apply some Superglue to it and push it back in.

Let us know if it works  

[Sierra Tango]

1 hour ago, Photoguy21 said:

Why dont they put a post in with an artificial tooth on it? I am not a dentist but that is an easy was according to dentists that I do know.

Yes, it is called a crown and I have a few. It depends on what is left to be able to screw the post into but,

B 12,000 was the last one around 7 years ago, so add a bit for inflation.

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Yes...........................but the beetlenuts may get stuck!

 

Simple solution.

 

Limit intake to female beetles.

[sandyf]

On 3/26/2025 at 11:46 AM, tomgreen said:

I’m not sure about the above costs from the local village dentists , or if there may be other better options / procedures available. -- Any thoughts / suggestions please .

You didn't say how old your wife was. Implants are probably the best long term solution but not quick and relatively expensive. In my 70s I never gave them a second thought.

Not sure why the different partial denture options, I am on my third and all have been clipped in so no need to remove other than for cleaning.

My first from a local clinic was single tooth and 2K, second was from same clinic when adjacent tooth came out, second for 2 teeth was 2.5K, Time frame for both about 3 weeks.

A few years later I had a couple of more teeth out at the hospital dental dept and their waiting time for dentures was in the order of 2 years. Shopping around my wife found out there was a place not far away that made the dentures. The partial denture from there with 6 teeth was 1600 baht and took about 6 weeks. It is about 5 years old now and coming to the end of it's life but waiting a bit as I think as I think I may lose another shortly.

It is a fluid situation with demand fluctuating so best to shop around, good luck.

[Photoguy21]

36 minutes ago, Sierra Tango said:

Yes, it is called a crown and I have a few. It depends on what is left to be able to screw the post into but,

B 12,000 was the last one around 7 years ago, so add a bit for inflation.

I had one done 20 years ago and still functioning perfectly.

[kidneyw]

On 3/27/2025 at 11:24 AM, tomgreen said:

My wife, bless her , said that she would be fine , just leaving the open gap where the missing tooth was. My reply to my wife was , you should be fine, just don't smile too much. 

Way to go. Tell her you still love her, even minus one tooth.

[OneManShow]

On 3/26/2025 at 11:46 AM, tomgreen said:

suggestions please .

Option 3: if it's not done by an experience dentist could cause future problems (including toothache or bacteria and even losing next teeth) I would go with option 2, low cost.