Dentist Appointment:

[Issangeorge]

I just came back from my local hospital spent one hour and 50 minutes in the dentist chair. Not only is it uncomfortable and various parts of your body start to ache, but they put a mask type thing over your head with just an opening for your mouth. Your eyes are covered and you can't see, so after a while it becomes quite claustrophobic. This was the third appointment of having a route canal done and a crown put on. This one they put on a temporary crown, and I think it was probably the worst of the lot. I think the final appointment, they just pop off the temporary crown and put on the permanent one.

However I must say their was no real tooth pain, and the doctor, Thai trained, was very professional and very knowledgeable of the modern methods, spoke English well, and had very good bedside manner. I have great confidence in her. I had a previous root canal done by a German trained dentist, and she was the complete opposite. Didn't use any modern methods, had terrible bedside manner, and was very painful. I had to beg for local anesthetic, and even then she obviously scimped on the anesthetic, because it was still very painful. That was in a private clinic. I guess my point is, that there are good Thai Government Hospitals, and good Thai Trained Dentists and Doctors, and there are bad foreign trained Dentists, and Doctors, so don't be put off if your doctor or dentist is Thai Trained and works in a Government Hospital, ask around if they and the hospital are any good.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Yeah and there are one visit root canals now and many consider them equal or superior.

Now they there are flexible titanium rotary bits to get it all and they take multiple x ray's and make sure its cleaned out and as well as better medicine that prevents bacteria down the road.

Some dentists even have CAD/CAM to make the crown right then. No temporary required.

http://www.nature.com/ebd/journal/v7/n1/full/6400372a.html

[Robby nz]

I had a similar thing done for a broken tooth at the dental school in BKK, 4 appointments to completion, no pain, multiple X rays, even took a photo to match the color of the other teeth, no blindfold though, no problems since and couldn't tell you which tooth it is.

[Issangeorge]

Yes but I wager they cost more than ฿6,800 Total. I also guess that they are not within a days drive there and back from me. I have had chemical put in to prevent invection and an x-ray, during every procedure, I am also retired and have all the time in the world. My last root canal done in Canada 15 years ago, I can't remember how many x-rays I had, but I know I was off work for 6 days, because of the terrible pain I had, and the cost was about 5 times as much, and after about 6 months the pain came back and I was off work another 6 days. My company called me in and disciplined me for being off work so much. This was after 30 years of service with very little time off. I retired the next year. All I know is that Canadian dentist scared me off root canals so much, I let my teeth go when I should have had a root canal, as a result I have lost two teeth, maybe three. I have now found a dentist that I trust and will now get the rest of my teeth fixed. Just like everything else, there are good and bad people everywhere, and good and bad doctors and dentists everywhere. For me I trust the doctors and dentists, who work at public hospitals, because they have no incentive to do an unnecessary procedure. I chose to retire to Thailand knowing full well that perhaps they weren't as advance in medical, and dental things as the west. So far, thankfully, that hasn't affected me as of yet. I chose to live in Thailand, I can't understand all the complainers, (not anyone in particular just all the posters who constantly complain about Thailand or Thais), if you don't like Thailand, you are free to leave, but if you choose to stay, you should know the limitations and except them. I know the limitations of Canada, it is cold, and expensive, I chose to except the limitations of Thailand instead. Besides my Thai wife is far happier here, and when she is happy, I'm happy.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Issangeorge

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Okay great you saved a bunch of cash and didn't have an option anyway. What are you complaining about then?

Here in Chiang Mai it would be about 11K for root canal and post and another 8 to 18K depending on the crown material.

My guess the more modern treatment will probably last longer so have to take into account the long term costs.

[Issangeorge]

Considering I'm 63, there isn't that much more long term, besides it has been my experience that most dental work lasts about 30 years, so I should be good.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Definitely want a root canal and crown done right.

If things go wrong down the road then its either get it extracted and live with a gap or get a bridge or pay a whole lot for an implant.

Implants in CM are like 50k+ baht