The Acci-Dental Tourist

[CrankyCarrot]

Err... so I haven't been to see the dentist in a while and I'd like to know the following:

How much should I expect to pay for the following? (ballpark figures ok)

1. general checkup, clean and polish

2. one of those X-ray scans that shows potential problems

3. a filling

And also;

4. Where have people been in Phuket that they would recommend?

Cheers all

[Shot]

I went to the public dental clinic in Kamala that the locals go to. They cleaned, polished and did a standard check up for 1000B. I was very well taken care of.

[CrankyCarrot]

Thanks Shot - I might go there.

A (Thai) friend of mine said she knew a place in Patong that would do the same thing for about 1000, as a favour to her/me. I guess it's about the standard price, or perhaps a private clinic would normally charge more than a public one? I'll stop by one and ask - rather go somewhere I know won't butcher me as I suspect there will need to be some work done beyond the spit and polish (my spit, their polish)

Shouldn't put this stuff off much longer...

[grumpyoldman]

For just a basic clean and polish I use a Happy Smile shop in Chalong they get me for 800thb.

For anything more I use Bangkok-Phuket Hospital's Dental Center, extremely professional, maybe a little more money-wise, but not exorbitant by any means.

[CrankyCarrot]

For just a basic clean and polish I use a Happy Smile shop in Chalong they get me for 800thb.

For anything more I use Bangkok-Phuket Hospital's Dental Center, extremely professional, maybe a little more money-wise, but not exorbitant by any means.

Hmmm... I'm due for a visit to ol' Ao Chalong, might stop by happy smile and save 200thb

Cheers

PS Where was that Kamala public dental hospital exactly? Is this it?

http://www.kamaladental.com/

[ScubaBuddha]

Patong Hospital. 250B for a cleaning. Extremely affordable prices. They have a "menu" right in the waiting room. Never actually had anything done there though so I can't say if it's any better or worse than others. Keep in mind it is a government hospital. I have odontophobia so I get everything done back home. Dental work is not something I feel should go to the lowest bidder.

.

Edited April 2, 2011 by ScubaBuddha

[CrankyCarrot]

B250 for a cleaning?

That's too tempting to pass up - almost...

I think I have odontophobia too, but I also have spend-a-lot-of-money-aphobia.

And what could go wrong with a simple cleaning? The fillings and stuff I would go somewhere more trustworthy for sure.

[Pinot]

I had a filling fall out and went by the Promjai Clinic on beach road in Patong. They were reluctant to do refill the filling because it was deep already but quoted 6000 baht. They recommended a cap at 20k. Made an appointment there to have it done. Meanwhile I stopped at the Kamala Clinic and the dentist said it probably needs a cap which she couldn't do and wanted me to go to the Patong Hospital Clinic where they do that. They work in Patong but come to Kamala Tuesdays and Thursdays (as I remember). She said she would refill the cavity but couldn't guarantee it, 500 baht. Do it. So far so good after a year.

I remember it well. She immediately got the drill out and started to go to work. Wait! What about novacaine? Gave me a look like I was spoiled falang. Gave me a shot and immediately went to work. Screw waiting for the Novocaine to start working. Second half of the procedure wasn't bad.

I also went to the Puket International Hospital for a cleaning, 2000 baht but very thorough. They finished it off with a sand blasting thing of salt? Probably the best teeth cleaning I ever had.

[CrankyCarrot]

@Pinot - NO PAINKILLERS??!

What??? Did it hurt much when they started then, since they didn't wait for your shot to kick in?

[Kernow86]

I recently visited the Smile dentist on Choafa West. I had scale, polish and check up for about 1600. Very professional, clean and quick. They also supplied me with photos of any cavities so that i could send them to my dentist at home for his opinion.

I would recommend them.

[Peterocket]

Hmmm... I'm due for a visit to ol' Ao Chalong, might stop by happy smile and save 200thb

Cheers

PS Where was that Kamala public dental hospital exactly? Is this it?

http://www.kamaladental.com/

I dont think that website is the dentist he is referring to as its located in Thiruvananthapuram, India ....

Could be inconvenient for checkups

[CrankyCarrot]

@Peterocket - It's only 3000 odd kilometres ... but yeah, I was in a rush and missed that small detail.

[CrankyCarrot]

I went to the Hospital diagonally opposite the Kathu Police station yesterday and they told me to come back on Monday at 8.30am. The dentists are there every week day according to the girl at the front desk, but the line gets long as the day goes on so you're best to get in as early as possible.

She also said it would cost about 1000 baht. I mentioned I'd heard it was closer to 250b, but she said that was "for Thai people only," because they have "insurance."

Looks like 1k is the going rate for a general checkup and polish. Maybe I'm better off going to the clinics that charge everybody 1000b since there won't be a queue of Thai with insurance paying the dif?

[maxme]

cleaning for 250 Baht? I'm starting to be afraid of their sterilization system. Cleaning can go really wrong if their instruments are not clean,there is always a lot of blood involved with teeth cleaning. Infection control is the key i guess. I would pay more for a quality and safety.

[kathukid]

I went to the public dental clinic in Kamala that the locals go to. They cleaned, polished and did a standard check up for 1000B. I was very well taken care of.

How was the pain level???

[CrankyCarrot]

I think paying more is the way to go. A few expats have told me Phuket dental work is of a very high quality for a very reasonable price no matter where you go, so I should be right to just hit a private clinic or 3 and settle on the one with the least blood stains on the floor and rust on the tools.

[grumpyoldman]

Did you say "rusty tool"? In Thailand? Hard to believe..................

[LivinginKata]

I think paying more is the way to go. A few expats have told me Phuket dental work is of a very high quality for a very reasonable price no matter where you go, so I should be right to just hit a private clinic or 3 and settle on the one with the least blood stains on the floor and rust on the tools.

You are jesting. I would be very surprised if you could find any clinic in Thailand to that specification.

[CrankyCarrot]

I was half jesting. I had no first hand experience of thai dentists until a few hours ago. I picked one at random in Chalong and the price matched what people here and elsewhere were saying, so I went for it. The experience was okay I guess - 1000thb for a thorough clean, polish and some grim news about possible root canal therapy being required in the future.

Dentist seemed to be in a little bit of a hurry compared with the one's I've seen in Aus, but besides that it was a comparable experience. I think I'd have to drive way out West to get the same thing for about 1.5-2 times the price in Sydney.

[Shot]

I went to the public dental clinic in Kamala that the locals go to. They cleaned, polished and did a standard check up for 1000B. I was very well taken care of.

How was the pain level???

No problems, no pain.