Dentist

[nocklaus]

Rawang!!!
Rang hill dental clinic !!!
Went there with tooth-ache.
They said: rootcanal, 15 000 bt plus crown 10 000 bt = 25 000 bt !!!
Went to another dentist in Chalong: inflammation the gum, take 3 pills/day for 5 days.
And now I'm OK !!!


Nocke Chiangmai
Phuket town
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edited May 7, 2014 by Rooo
Phone # deleted as per forum rules.

[bkkjames]

root canal seems to be the first words out of most dentist's mouths = I think in Thai it has the same meaning as ATM?

[Thaiberius]

Or "loot" canal.

[chiang mai]

I must have the best dentist in Thailand, ultra professional. painless and not expensive. The best part is that she has twice diagnosed other health problems that have shown symptoms in the mouth - one was a vitamin deficiency resulting in glosotis, the second was last week where she told me I wasn't using a fluoride based toothpaste and that I should start to do so, correct in both cases. Sadly not much use in Phuket of course but for Chiang Mai residents the lady is a diamond.

[Rooo]

Moved to Phuket Forum.

[N47HAN]

I took my (then 6 year old) son to same place a while back.

Exact same thing !

Complete con

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[stevenl]

I go there for more complicated treatments when my own dentist has referred me. They are pricey but good, and I like them a lot better than BPH for example. I always refuse their blood pressure test BTW, I leave those things to my MD.

I would not use them as my primary dentist.

[Tapster]

Hi Nocklaus,

I was a dentist in the UK for 24 years. Now pursuing other interests and not registered, so nobody can sue me if you don't like my opinion.

Recently my wife needed a root filling on a front tooth. I diagnosed the problem, so I knew what needed to be done; I just couldn't do it myself in Phuket.

Looked around for a good dentist and went to Rang Hill.

Spot on diagnosis, excellent root filling (I checked the final x-ray), latest equipment, totally sterile techniques, didn't try to sell us any treatment other than what I asked for, cost a lot less than in the UK. I recommend them highly.

Your tablets will only reduce the inflammation. I'm afraid they won't treat the underlying problem, so it will probably be worse when it inevitably comes back.

You could always ask them to do just the root filling. It's normally possible to put off a crown if the tooth isn't too broken down.

I'm sorry to be the bringer of bad news.

Please don't think that I'm in any way trying to create work for colleagues. I don't like dentists any more than anybody else!

Cheers.

[RawaiPlaBoyz]

I HATE THE DENTIST... I go to Tooth Town in Rawai next to the Post Office. Good prices and never said Root Canal. I'll be getting a plate made for the "Front Four" as in too much time in the "Front Four America Football" back in the day when mouthpieces we not even custom fit....

[Theequation]

I must have the best dentist in Thailand, ultra professional. painless and not expensive. The best part is that she has twice diagnosed other health problems that have shown symptoms in the mouth - one was a vitamin deficiency resulting in glosotis, the second was last week where she told me I wasn't using a fluoride based toothpaste and that I should start to do so, correct in both cases. Sadly not much use in Phuket of course but for Chiang Mai residents the lady is a diamond.

I'm in Chiang Mai and looking for a dentist, could you give me anymore information on the Dentist you mention? English speaking?

Thanks

[tolsti]

I'm planning on a front two plate..... can I ask how much you have been charged/quoted?. Mission Hospital are saying 5K bht.

[chiang mai]

I must have the best dentist in Thailand, ultra professional. painless and not expensive. The best part is that she has twice diagnosed other health problems that have shown symptoms in the mouth - one was a vitamin deficiency resulting in glosotis, the second was last week where she told me I wasn't using a fluoride based toothpaste and that I should start to do so, correct in both cases. Sadly not much use in Phuket of course but for Chiang Mai residents the lady is a diamond.

I'm in Chiang Mai and looking for a dentist, could you give me anymore information on the Dentist you mention? English speaking?

Thanks

Here you are, they are excellent and all with near perfect English: http://www.elitesmiledentalclinic.com/

[RawaiPlaBoyz]

I really like Tooth Town in Rawai. I really hate the dentist and they have been great! I have a few ladies I sponsor in for braces, 4 wisdom tooth removal event and a couple in for whitening. Good Stuff

Tooth Town adjacent to the Rawai Postal Offit!\

Mai Pang

[eezergood]

I go there for more complicated treatments when my own dentist has referred me. They are pricey but good, and I like them a lot better than BPH for example. I always refuse their blood pressure test BTW, I leave those things to my MD.

I would not use them as my primary dentist.

who do you use ?

[eezergood]

UPDATE --- went to Rang Hill today, very good service, very reasonable (cheap actually) didnt try to sell me anything extra!

[NamKangMan]

UPDATE --- went to Rang Hill today, very good service, very reasonable (cheap actually) didnt try to sell me anything extra!

Any idea of a scale and clean price?

[eezergood]

UPDATE --- went to Rang Hill today, very good service, very reasonable (cheap actually) didnt try to sell me anything extra!

Any idea of a scale and clean price?

I think 800 - but I had 1 filling, 3 sides, 1 scale & clean and the mrs had 1 filling 2 sides - 3800!

[Guest]

I just went through root canal drill today. Small clinic couple of hundred meters down towards to the Town from the Rang Hill.

First visit last weekend. At the time I had slightly painful infection on my upper jaw, effecting also my ear. The dentist took x-rays and ordered me to wait for couple of days and eat antibiotics to reduce the swelling. Another, far more important reason for me, was that she said that I better get the infection fixed so that the anesthetics will work once the treatment starts. Antibiotics worked and I was ready to go. Two x-rays, checking and antibiotics were either each 300 baht or 300 baht together. I'm not sure which one it was.

The treatment was done by more senior dentist, who came outside of this clinic. Before we started I asked for a second opinion. She showed me the x-rays and explained which parts were infected and why the treatment was needed even if I did not really wanted it. I could see the darker part, but have no education to say if the treatment was really needed or if a simple drilling and patching would do the trick. However the way she explained the situation and the fact that I did have infection on my jaw were the factors that I had no reason to doubt if the root canal treatment was needed.

The root canal treatment was awful. What else to expect when one have to keep mouth open for 2 hours while somebody is drilling a hole to your tooth? Actually the situation was done both professionally as well as empathically. The latter was a important point.

After an hour sitting on the dentist chair the initial anesthetics started to fade. Once the drill or something else hit to my tooth I shivered. The dentist tapped couple of times to my chest as response. Something new to me. Those few taps basically said. "I noted that you felt the pain and are in a awful situation. Everything is ok." For me that little expression was important as I was expecting her to actively calculate what is the minimum amount of anesthetics to get through the procedure. After an moment I felt a needle in my gum.. it was not yet over.

Cost: 24.000B

Cost breakdown
10.000 for the root canal treatment

4.000 for the pins (3)

10.000 for the crown.

Why the pins are special enough to put to the breakdown? Why those cost so much compared to the process in general?

If Tapster is still around, it would be nice to hear professional opinion of the costs. Which parts of the costs goes where. How much for the clinic, how much is spent to the equipment wear and tear etc. etc. What is the actual salary for the dentist work per hour.

[merijn]

I use the same female dentist at Bangkok International Phuket hospital for about 15 years and never had any complaint about the treatment or bill.

So far i know they never charged any extras or did anything which was not necessary.

As i don't have any problems i only can assume that she is doing a good job.

[stevenl]

I go there for more complicated treatments when my own dentist has referred me. They are pricey but good, and I like them a lot better than BPH for example. I always refuse their blood pressure test BTW, I leave those things to my MD.

I would not use them as my primary dentist.

who do you use ?

Sorry, did not see this until now.

Dr. Tawachai in Phuket Town, on the corner next to the main post office.

[Tapster]

@Oilinki.............OMG! This has turned into a bit of an essay, but at least you'll know exactly what was going on at the dentist's surgery!!

"I just went through root canal drill today. Small clinic couple of hundred meters down towards to the Town from the Rang Hill.

First visit last weekend. At the time I had slightly painful infection on my upper jaw, effecting also my ear. The dentist took x-rays and ordered me to wait for couple of days and eat antibiotics to reduce the swelling. Another, far more important reason for me, was that she said that I better get the infection fixed so that the anesthetics will work once the treatment starts. Antibiotics worked and I was ready to go. Two x-rays, checking and antibiotics were either each 300 baht or 300 baht together. I'm not sure which one it was."

OK, so it's a back tooth in the upper jaw. Referred ear pain often indicates an infection or at least the start of inflammation of the pulp (nerve) that may be irreversible and require a root filling........which is what you needed.

Getting the inflammation/infection controlled by antibiotics will reduce the pain while an appointment is made with an endodontist (root canal specialist). Root canal work is fiddly and time-consuming but it can save the tooth for the rest of your life if done correctly. A specialist (not senior, just a specialist) does root canal all day (poor bastard!) and will generally do a better job in difficult cases than a general dentist. That said, the lady at Rang Hill did my wife's front tooth very well on her own but that only has one or two root canals. Your molar (I'm assuming it was a molar) would have a minimum of four canals on average and the access at the back of your mouth isn't as good as at the front.

It's often said that getting the inflammation down changes the pH of the tissues which allows the local anaesthetic to work in a more normal environment. There's no real evidence for this but the antibiotics reduce the pain so it can't do any harm.

Costs at this stage....cheap as chips for good advice.

"The treatment was done by more senior dentist, who came outside of this clinic. Before we started I asked for a second opinion. She showed me the x-rays and explained which parts were infected and why the treatment was needed even if I did not really wanted it. I could see the darker part, but have no education to say if the treatment was really needed or if a simple drilling and patching would do the trick. However the way she explained the situation and the fact that I did have infection on my jaw were the factors that I had no reason to doubt if the root canal treatment was needed. "

The darker part on the x-ray is an area where the infection/inflammation has reduced the density of the bone, reducing the amount of bone that the x-rays have to travel through to get to the film, hence they expose the film more than in the denser areas. As all photographers know, more exposure = darker film, hence the dark area = infection/inflammation at the tip of the roots, a clear indication for considering a root filling.

Drilling and patching will do nothing for the problem around the roots. The problem will get worse = bigger infection = more pain = less chance of successful root filling in the future,

Good explanation by dentist and good decision on your part!

"The root canal treatment was awful. What else to expect when one have to keep mouth open for 2 hours while somebody is drilling a hole to your tooth? Actually the situation was done both professionally as well as empathically. The latter was a important point.

After an hour sitting on the dentist chair the initial anesthetics started to fade. Once the drill or something else hit to my tooth I shivered. The dentist tapped couple of times to my chest as response. Something new to me. Those few taps basically said. "I noted that you felt the pain and are in a awful situation. Everything is ok." For me that little expression was important as I was expecting her to actively calculate what is the minimum amount of anesthetics to get through the procedure. After an moment I felt a needle in my gum.. it was not yet over."

Yes, having root canal treatment takes a long time if it's done properly. It should never be painful though. One can always give more anaesthetic. The dentist sounds like she had a good 'chairside manner', an excellent recommendation. Despite having your mouth open for a long time you should always be able to ask for a short rest and usually a small soft wedge can be used to help hold your mouth open to take the strain off the jaw muscles which can get very tired of keeping your mouth open. If a wedge is used, it's not an insensitive dentist 'jacking your mouth open', rather a considerate one making it more comfortable for you.

Have a look at this diagram:

Root canal 101:

The root canals are cleaned out and shaped so that they can be filled to the tip of the root. The point of this is that the infection has started inside the tooth and then spread outside to the area around the roots. Healing the infection needs a blood supply, to bring white blood cells to kill bacteria, then cells to grow back new bone. There's no blood supply to the inside of the tooth because the cells in the centre of the tooth have died because of the infection. Thus, if you don't put in a root filling to occupy that space it acts as a reservoir of infection, filled with bacteria which the body cannot ever remove because there's no blood supply. The root filling cleans out bacteria from the root canals, fills the space and allows the body to heal the area around the tip of the root by itself, with no continuing supply of bacteria from the tooth.

..............disclaimer...........even the best root canal therapy is not always successful. We're humans, not machines. There are factors influencing success as there are in any surgery.

"Cost: 24.000B

Cost breakdown
10.000 for the root canal treatment"

I used to have to charge twice as much for a molar in the UK but our overheads were a lot higher with wages, etc.

You have to charge the necessary hourly rate to cover your costs and get a salary.

"4.000 for the pins (3)"

Pins are a way of securing a filling over the completed root canal treatment. The tooth may be quite fragile after the loss of the original filling and the removal of some tooth tissue to access the root canals. The core restores the tooth which can then be trimmed down to make space for a crown to protect the core and the tooth by covering the whole tooth, down to the gum line, as the diagram below shows. In the root canal diagram above, a post has been used, in the root canal. Pins are smaller than a post and are placed in the tooth tissue rather than cemented into the root canal. It's an equally valid treatment. The decision depends on how much sound tooth tissue remains after the root canal treatment. More remaining = pins might be best, less remaining = possibly use the strength of the roots with a cemented post.

Your 4,000 bought a lot more than 3 pins but that wasn't made clear on the bill.

This diagram doesn't show a root canal, only a crown placed on a core.

"10.000 for the crown."

Again, I had to charge twice this rate. A good crown on a good root filling can restore your tooth for the rest of your life, subject to the "we are humans, not machines factors"

"Why the pins are special enough to put to the breakdown? Why those cost so much compared to the process in general?"

Because the sequence is root canal treatment, then post/pins and core, then crown. The pins just don't sound very special!

WOW!

I think that's enough from me!!

I'm going out into the daylight!

[Guest]

@Tapster: Thank you for wonderful explanation! It's much more nicer to sit down on a dentist chair with more knowledge what is really happening and why the treatment is needed.

I just slept for 14 hours last night. I guess the tooth was bugging me much more than I care to admit.

Patipat Dental Clinic at 111/5 Patipat Rd, Patipat mansion, Taladnuer Muang Phuket 83000

The location is about 200 meters downhill from the intersection, where the Rang Hill dental clinic is located.

Open 10:00 - 20:00

Location: http://goo.gl/maps/YK0Sr

Earlier mentioned Rang Hill Dental clinic. They also have the pricelist included on their website.

Open 9:00-20:00

Location: http://www.ranghilldentalclinic.com/contactus_en.php

[grumpyoldman]

I swear by the dental clinic at Bangkok Phuket Hospital. Once busted a super old gold crown on a molar, tooth disintetgrated with it. They fliied the remains of the tooth with epoxy, created a reformed tooth, out the door for 1000thb.

Other than that for basic stuff I use Dr. Fern at Happy Tooth (exit Chalong circle toward Kata, in center about 500 meters up on the left), she's really great.