Root Canal

[Phil_ne_uk]

Last August I went to a well known hospital (not sure if I can mention the name? I will if permitted) near soi 6 and the beach road in Pattaya for treatment as I broke part of a rear upper tooth. The young lady dentist told me I needed a crown but they would do a filling first then after a month if there were no problems they would finish it with the crown. I had to go back to the UK a week later so didn’t get the crown done and its been no problem ever since so I haven’t bothered with the crown.

Last week while eating a boneless chicken breast, a small bone broke a bit of a lower tooth about 4 teeth along from the centre. I mad an appointment to see the same dentist who was initially recommended on this forum. I had to wait a week to see her. The tooth didn’t hurt apart from sometimes when I chewed something if it was directly on that tooth I felt a slight sort of jab of pain.

Anyway I went yesterday for my appointment and she did an x-ray and said I needed a root canal. She told me it had a small cavity which was under the surface so wasn’t visible.

Now this tooth had a small piece broken for a few months now but didn’t cause any problems or pain whatsoever so I left it alone.

I was told the RC would take 3-4 one hour visits where they would remove the pulp etc, then make a temporary filling, re-open it to check for infections each time and then finally finish it off with a crown at the total cost of 30,000 baht. Now I’ve been reading on the net & forum literally all day for information about this and found prices that others had paid for this treatment mentioned from 4,000 baht up but nowhere near 30,000. mind you the posts I read were about 2 years old but surely the price cant have increased that much?

My questions are,

1. Are they extracting the urine asking for 30k?

2. Should it take 3-4 one hour treatments? I ask as I read about a Dr. Jerry Gordon in the US who says that nowadays it should only take about 40 minutes?

3. How do I know I really need a RC as I’ve never had any pain from this tooth?

BTW, last night I ate a banana straight from the fridge and it hurt a bit as the banana was quite cold.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Phil

[tattoodrob]

sounds a bit expensive for thailand so i suggest going to a few different dentists and getting advice,might cost a little but save you more in the long run.could be a root canal problem......i had one .....what a lot of messing about,i thought about just taking tooth out but i understand now that that is not the best solution longterm.goodluck

[Phil_ne_uk]

Sorry I forgot to mention the dentist said as the foundation was not very deep it could be best to just have it removed for 2,000 baht.

It’s only a small tooth.

Phil

[haybilly]

Sorry I forgot to mention the dentist said as the foundation was not very deep it could be best to just have it removed for 2,000 baht.

It's only a small tooth.

Phil

It's generally best to try to hang onto as many of your teeth as possible--root canal treated teeth are effectively dead teeth as the nerve has been replaced by a silicone type of substance but I have root canal treated teeth in my mouth that were done approx 13 years ago --I would go with the treatment and crown but not at that price--shop around--do you have any medical/dental insurance? Silly question, I guess, it's just that I had an extraction plus 3 tooth bridge done last year in Chiang Mai and managed to claim all costs back from my dental Insurance.

[ignis]

Yes Find another Dentist...

In 2004 had 2x root canal fillings + on 2 others had pins fitted + total of 11 Crowns with 2 Bridges.. Total cost 69,000 baht....

Every 6 months have a checkup and all teeth cleaned and polished = 400 baht... I read that people pay 800 + baht for a clean

[ashacat]

This is a common problem here, that i have heard many times.

Alot of dentists will try and "sell you up" by telling you that you need surgury that in reality is not essential (usually a root canal). Similarly, doctors often suggest that you take a selection of unecessary pills for a common cold.

A root canal is a serious procedure and should not be carried out on a whim. Get a second opinion.

[lopburi3]

Have another check made at a good clinic or another hospital. 30k does sound on the high side but there may be 3 items - root canal (and yes it normally does take multi visits here with the procedures most use). A gold pin if tooth is not strong (which being damaged it probably isn't) and then the crown itself. I expect a range of 15-30k would not been too excessive these days.

As an example I just paid 1,200 baht for six month checkup/scaling at a major hospital here in Bangkok (previous poster paid 400 baht) - so price can range in a wide band. And so can quality/pain.

[PeaceBlondie]

I never had a root canal in Thailand, but had ten to twenty of them done in the states (and maybe a few in Mexico). That total of 30K baht is close to Western prices (unless those have increased 30%). Yet, I found that the same dentist at Chiang Mai Dental Hospital, who did my full dentures for 7K, charged a friend of mine 20K. So, it varies.

[Beardog]

Way to high. I went to the orthodontist on Pattaya Klang 2 blocks up from soi 16(the only dentist on Pattaya Klang that has a sign Orthodontist instead of dentist. it took I think 3 times to complete. he was able to save the tooth(it was a crown already) 3200 baht . A crown goes for 5000 baht using good grade alloys. Sounds like the clinic I first looked at for 15,000 baht a crown instead of 5000 baht. Had work done end of 2005 so it is probably 6000 for a crown now. The dentist does very good work.

[taxexile]

root canal work on upper molars (3 roots) is a much more complicated and lengthy procedure than root canal work on incisors or canines ( single rooted).

if the nerve in the tooth has already died , then the procedure is different to the removal of a "live" nerve , if there is an abscess associated with the tooth , then the procedure is different again.

a single root may have 1,2,or 3 separate canals that need treating , some canals are curved and difficult to access.

some dentists use simple hand files to carry out root canal work , some dentists use super flexible mechanical files made of expensive metal alloys to do the work , the materials and techniques used to fill the widenend and cleaned canals varies in quality and costs too.

some dentists will do the treatment in one visit , some will do it over 2 or three visits. every case is different and requires different treatment strategies.

all these variables and many more too will count towards the cost of a root canal treatment.

is 30000 too much for a root canal treatment ?? it all depends on how much the dentist values his experience and skill and how much the patient values their teeth.

but 30000 sounds very high for the root canal treatment alone.

it all depends on what your priorities are , if it's plasma tvs and designer clothes then you will be happy to pay.

if healthy teeth are important to you , then you will be happy to pay for the best.

like paying tax , paying for dental work is considered by a lot of people to be a "distress purchase" and they seek out the cheapest but sometimes going cheap can turn out to be false economy.

[pampal]

I had a root canal done at Bangkok Dental Center in Siam Square soi 2

Everyone spoke English so it was easy to communicate.

It cost me 27000 baht for 1 root canal + 55 % gold crown

I am satisfied but think that they could have done a better job.

[Naam]

pattaya 2004 / me / well known hospital near soi 6 / replacement of bridge 4 teeth / capping another 4 / cost estimate 235,000 Baht / estimated duration 2-3 weeks / no thank you

pattaya aug 2007 / me / farang owned dental clinic / 22 teeth (telescopic crowns, a zillion ounces of gold) / twice 3½ hours grinding / 10 days later fitting / top job at total cost of 445,000 Baht (cost in Europe 1,584,000 Baht)

pattaya november 2007 / our house maid / farang owned dental clinic / root canal / duration ~1 hour / top job = 6,000 Baht

[Phil_ne_uk]

root canal work on upper molars (3 roots) is a much more complicated and lengthy procedure than root canal work on incisors or canines ( single rooted).

The tooth in question is a lower tooth.

if the nerve in the tooth has already died , then the procedure is different to the removal of a "live" nerve , if there is an abscess associated with the tooth , then the procedure is different again.

I don't think the tooth has died and there is no abscess or real pain.

a single root may have 1,2,or 3 separate canals that need treating , some canals are curved and difficult to access.

some dentists use simple hand files to carry out root canal work , some dentists use super flexible mechanical files made of expensive metal alloys to do the work , the materials and techniques used to fill the widenend and cleaned canals varies in quality and costs too.

some dentists will do the treatment in one visit , some will do it over 2 or three visits. every case is different and requires different treatment strategies.

I have read that with modern technology a RC should take about just 40 minutes.

all these variables and many more too will count towards the cost of a root canal treatment.

is 30000 too much for a root canal treatment ?? it all depends on how much the dentist values his experience and skill and how much the patient values their teeth.

Having been quoted 30,000 baht seems like they want more money for the lengthy time for the treatment due to old fashioned abilities.

but 30000 sounds very high for the root canal treatment alone.

I beleive that included the crown.

it all depends on what your priorities are , if it's plasma tvs and designer clothes then you will be happy to pay.

if healthy teeth are important to you , then you will be happy to pay for the best.

I have read that with modern technology a RC should take about just 40 minutes. So being quoted 30,000 baht seems like they want more money for the lengthy time for the treatment due to old fashioned abilities.

Fine but paying a high price does not guarantee one gets the best as I’ve read on many posts yesterday. What I don’t want to is to be ripped off as yet another naive farang.

I understand that in the UK the top charge for dental treatment is 194 GBP. 30,000 baht is the equivalent to about 470 GBP which is 142% more expensive.

Being Thailand one expects things to be cheaper, I mean how the hel_l can the average Thai pay these prices? Its just another example of cashing in on those with cash.

like paying tax , paying for dental work is considered by a lot of people to be a "distress purchase" and they seek out the cheapest but sometimes going cheap can turn out to be false economy.

[Phil_ne_uk]

pattaya 2004 / me / well known hospital near soi 6 / replacement of bridge 4 teeth / capping another 4 / cost estimate 235,000 Baht / estimated duration 2-3 weeks / no thank you

pattaya aug 2007 / me / farang owned dental clinic / 22 teeth (telescopic crowns, a zillion ounces of gold) / twice 3½ hours grinding / 10 days later fitting / top job at total cost of 445,000 Baht (cost in Europe 1,584,000 Baht)

pattaya november 2007 / our house maid / farang owned dental clinic / root canal / duration ~1 hour / top job = 6,000 Baht

Same idea as what I've just posted! last november my g/f had a wisdom tooth removed, cost 4500 baht! say no more!!

[Naam]

Same idea as what I've just posted! last november my g/f had a wisdom tooth removed, cost 4500 baht! say no more!!

"wisdom tooth" = slightly off topic. jan 2007 emergency surgery in Singapore. no thai surgeon was willing to extract 4 wisdom teeth still embedded in jawbones, Europe was "closed" because of the holidays. cysts had developed over years, eaten up the bone and jaws were on the verge to break any time. surgery nearly 5 hours under total anaesthesia, 3 days in hospital, cost approximately 12,000 US-Dollars.

[haybilly]

root canal work on upper molars (3 roots) is a much more complicated and lengthy procedure than root canal work on incisors or canines ( single rooted).

The tooth in question is a lower tooth.

if the nerve in the tooth has already died , then the procedure is different to the removal of a "live" nerve , if there is an abscess associated with the tooth , then the procedure is different again.

I don't think the tooth has died and there is no abscess or real pain.

a single root may have 1,2,or 3 separate canals that need treating , some canals are curved and difficult to access.

some dentists use simple hand files to carry out root canal work , some dentists use super flexible mechanical files made of expensive metal alloys to do the work , the materials and techniques used to fill the widenend and cleaned canals varies in quality and costs too.

some dentists will do the treatment in one visit , some will do it over 2 or three visits. every case is different and requires different treatment strategies.

I have read that with modern technology a RC should take about just 40 minutes.

all these variables and many more too will count towards the cost of a root canal treatment.

is 30000 too much for a root canal treatment ?? it all depends on how much the dentist values his experience and skill and how much the patient values their teeth.

Having been quoted 30,000 baht seems like they want more money for the lengthy time for the treatment due to old fashioned abilities.

but 30000 sounds very high for the root canal treatment alone.

I beleive that included the crown.

it all depends on what your priorities are , if it's plasma tvs and designer clothes then you will be happy to pay.

if healthy teeth are important to you , then you will be happy to pay for the best.

I have read that with modern technology a RC should take about just 40 minutes. So being quoted 30,000 baht seems like they want more money for the lengthy time for the treatment due to old fashioned abilities.

Fine but paying a high price does not guarantee one gets the best as I've read on many posts yesterday. What I don't want to is to be ripped off as yet another naive farang.

I understand that in the UK the top charge for dental treatment is 194 GBP. 30,000 baht is the equivalent to about 470 GBP which is 142% more expensive.

Being Thailand one expects things to be cheaper, I mean how the hel_l can the average Thai pay these prices? Its just another example of cashing in on those with cash.

like paying tax , paying for dental work is considered by a lot of people to be a "distress purchase" and they seek out the cheapest but sometimes going cheap can turn out to be false economy.

I presume that you are talking National Health dentist when you quote that UK price--I am not so sure about it if you are referring to private dentists--maybe wrong. National Health dentists in UK are getting like 'hen's teeth'--although what do I know as I'm non-resident--but I did live with a UK dentist for a few years--she eventually had to compromise her principles and go private in the end--or go crazy trying to make jobs fit the crap price structure applied by the Health Dept.

[Andiamo]

Try Thanktakit Dental Clinic, on Petchaburi Road, they have a specialist endodentist there (which I understand to be somebody who specialises in root canals and nerves). www.thanktakit.com

I am currently undergoing orthodontic treatment there and they have been my dentists for almost 3 years and I'm very happy with them. After a consultation with a normal Dentist, I was advised that my problem is probably my root canal/nerve in one lower molar (I have seriously bad sensitivity in this one tooth and chew on the other side and avoid fridge cold drinks now!)

I have the price list in front of me and I also asked:-

ENDODONTICS:

ANterior Tooth - 7-8,000 Baht

Premolar Tooth - 8-9,000 Baht

Molar Tooth - 9 - 10,000 Baht

I have not made an appointment there yet as I was waiting to see how it goes....but I'm gonna have to do something soon.

At the moment our Thai neighbour has recommended I visit her Dentist (her friend's husband who is a supposedly very good dentist and who she has had a lot of work done for very good prices). Was actually thinking about getting 2 opinions as it seems quite an invasive procedure. I don't mind paying more but I just want to ensure accurate diagnosis and quality treatment.

Edited March 10, 2008 by Andiamo