View Full Version : HELP: DH's wisdom tooth is rotting and we can't afford to go to the dentist
borntobemummy
10-10-2007, 15:31
as the title said. Do we have any other options? We are in Sydney. We have a health care card and extras private insurance, but the gap might still be too big, any ideas?
poshBecks
10-10-2007, 15:33
I have no advice... we are in the same predcament.... DS have to have a dea tooth extracted on friday. It is going to cost us $2200... I have no idea where we are going to pull it from :( Has to be done though.
Maybe try a public hospital?
No idea about Sydney, but in bris if you have a health care card you can go to the dental clinic in certain public hospitals for free :) might be worth looking into.
Becky, $2200 is alot for one tooth :eek: I had one pulled a few mths ago and it only cost me $280, that was including an xray. Do you know why it's costing so much?
Mamaduke
10-10-2007, 15:38
Are your extras in regards to your private health insurance including dental?
DH had a wisdom tooth pulled a couple of month ago and the gap was only $50 if I remember correctly.
I suggest checking with your health fund.
Ashleigh<3
10-10-2007, 15:39
Go to the hospital. Good luck. :fingerscrossed:
poshBecks
10-10-2007, 15:40
Becky, $2200 is alot for one tooth :eek: I had one pulled a few mths ago and it only cost me $280, that was including an xray. Do you know why it's costing so much?
Yes, because he is only 3 he has to have a general anaesthetic. So the dentist cost is $404, the anaesthetist is $346 and the hospital stay is $1500.... we dont have private hospital cover. We will get a little back from medicare & a little back from the dentist with what health cover we do have....:o :( Its going to be a quiet christmas this year!
catalicious
10-10-2007, 15:41
Joele!! Right near yo is the community dentist they are really really good there and it is free with the health card if its urgent which it sounds like it is then yo should go there and they normally take urgent cases in right away!!
And if not thaey have the dental hospital in sydney which is where they take them out properly which is run under the same system!!
borntobemummy
10-10-2007, 15:44
Joele!! Right near yo is the community dentist they are really really good there and it is free with the health card if its urgent which it sounds like it is then yo should go there and they normally take urgent cases in right away!!
And if not thaey have the dental hospital in sydney which is where they take them out properly which is run under the same system!!
where is it? we went to the one in Campbelltown and it said they moved, but we don't know where
mollymoosmum
10-10-2007, 15:45
as the title said. Do we have any other options? We are in Sydney. We have a health care card and extras private insurance, but the gap might still be too big, any ideas?
When I needed to go to the dentist I contacted my health care fund and they provided me with a list of dentists in my area which, after the rebate there wasn't that much of a gap (hope that made sence!!). It's worth a try......
catalicious
10-10-2007, 15:45
They are right next to ambarvale high.....
Literally the same street in the community thing there.....
Across from the petrol station
check out the public dental clinic the poster above me mentioned.. I spent yesterday at the perth public dental clinic and they were really good.
It cost me $14.20 for the emergency consult and xrays instead of $50+.. I have to go back next week to have 3 teeth surgically removed but not too sure how muich that'll coist yet.
Yes, because he is only 3 he has to have a general anaesthetic. So the dentist cost is $404, the anaesthetist is $346 and the hospital stay is $1500.... we dont have private hospital cover. We will get a little back from medicare & a little back from the dentist with what health cover we do have....:o :( Its going to be a quiet christmas this year!
:eek: yikes! I didn't realise hospitals cost so much. I hope your little one copes ok with having it done. I'm sure you will have a great christmas too :hugs: spend the day with family, or go to the beach or something fun like that.
borntobemummy
10-10-2007, 15:51
ok, thanks for the advice. Now we have some options to look at. We went to the GP this morning and he just said to get a filing at the dentist.
I'll try contacting MBF first and see what they say. DH feels bad getting free care. Otherwise, with the clinic, do you need to make an appointment or just rock up?
catalicious
10-10-2007, 15:52
I am getting my wisdoms taken out there for free Joele... so go and they should fix it pronto!!
catalicious
10-10-2007, 15:52
An appointment...But i think you can go there to make it...
borntobemummy
10-10-2007, 15:56
cool, thanks so much Cat:hugs:
SorenLorensen
10-10-2007, 16:07
if your DH feels bad about getting it done for free try calling the dentist in bradbury in jacaranda av(or could be st).
that is our dentist and has been DPs forever....
he seems to be the cheapest i have ever come across.....
if you give them a call they would be able to tell you the gap
missie_mack
10-10-2007, 16:21
Depends on how 'buff' your DH is. If he has a good pain threshhold it would be cheaper to have it done in the chair under a local.... but then it would depend upon the tooths positioning and whether there is an infection. I would recommend Algie in Miranda. He is really reasonable a brilliant dentist very proactive- if you dont need it he wont do it and he will suggest ways of preventing other damage and probably one of the cheapest I have known.
Otherwise with the healthcare card you ring up and complain. The more you complain the quicker you get in (its a needs basis) To save a couple of hundred dollars you dont have could be worth swallowing his pride for??
borntobemummy
10-10-2007, 16:26
it's not pride, it's more that he doesn't want to take more than we need from the government, leaving it for those that really need it.
Mamaduke
10-10-2007, 16:43
I've had 4 taken out in the chair and it's not the worst pain I've experienced.
If a wisdom tooth is very close to a nerve, they won't take it out in the chair because of the risk of damage to the nerve. All depends on the individual circumstances.
Lastcenturymum
10-10-2007, 17:42
You will be up for a lot more if you don't deal with it!!
Gum/jaw infections, I've heard some horror stories..see if the dentist can arrange a payment plan
Free care? If you are paying private health, nothing is for free!! Tooth pain is the worst! Hope he gets it dealt with soon
subaruforestermum
10-10-2007, 17:58
as the title said. Do we have any other options? We are in Sydney. We have a health care card and extras private insurance, but the gap might still be too big, any ideas?
DP's is the same, only we have NO health care card or private health cover, so we are stuck too.....
Its crazy prices for dentist work...
Sorry no help
missie_mack
10-10-2007, 18:02
You will be up for a lot more if you don't deal with it!!
Gum/jaw infections, I've heard some horror stories..see if the dentist can arrange a payment plan
Yes this is so true
it's not pride, it's more that he doesn't want to take more than we need from the government, leaving it for those that really need it.
If you guys cant afford it what makes you any less worthy of going through the public system? I admire his way of thinking but he needs tot hink of himself first this time.
nemosmum
10-10-2007, 18:12
it's not pride, it's more that he doesn't want to take more than we need from the government, leaving it for those that really need it.
awww hun tell him to go get it out asap you pay taxes for a reason:yes:
best of luck
I wish My FIL had the same kind of decent attitude he makes over a $100k a year and just went and got $5000 worth of dentistry for about $200 at an Indigenous dental clinic
:shame: :mad: I am so mad! this service is there for people who are in need not the filthy rich who think they can save a buck
grrrr:banghead:
ShadyCharacter
10-10-2007, 22:13
Yes, because he is only 3 he has to have a general anaesthetic. So the dentist cost is $404, the anaesthetist is $346 and the hospital stay is $1500.... we dont have private hospital cover. We will get a little back from medicare & a little back from the dentist with what health cover we do have....:o :( Its going to be a quiet christmas this year!
My 3 year old had to have a tooth pulled about 12 months ago (he fell over and cracked it) under a general anasthetic at a private clinic in Brisbane and it cost us a bit over $1000 - and we got about $200 back from medicare.
I don't see why yours should be any more expensive? :confused: It was a private childrens clinic we went to.
We didn't need to pay for a hospital stay, it was done as day surgery and we took him home straight afterwards... do you know why you need to pay for a hospital stay?
poshBecks
11-10-2007, 07:33
I don't see why yours should be any more expensive? :confused: It was a private childrens clinic we went to.
We didn't need to pay for a hospital stay, it was done as day surgery and we took him home straight afterwards... do you know why you need to pay for a hospital stay?
This dentsit only does it at the private hospital.
It is only 1/2 a day stay . Imagine if it was overnight :eek:
ShadyCharacter
11-10-2007, 17:08
Might be worth contacting another clinic? Our dentist could only do it at the Wesley, but it couldn't be booked in for a week, and the surgery HAD to be done that day as my son was in a lot of pain, so he recommended the other clinic we ended up going to (they specialise in Children) and we didn't have to pay any fee like that.
If you are in Brisbane (your profile just says QLD from memory), might be worth trying them?
where is it? we went to the one in Campbelltown and it said they moved, but we don't know where
There is a dental Hospital in Surry Hills if you are in Sydney.
Otherwise look around for a dentist that offers at "smile card" if you get approved its like a payment plan.
Otherwise, westmead hospital is a dental teaching hospital as well. You might be able to make an appt there (again tho thats if u r in sydney)
Goodluck :fingerscrossed:
mymunchkinamelia
19-10-2007, 11:18
Hi,
I was just reading your thread and thought I may be able to help, I am a Dental Assistant and I work for the government clinics and I have also worked privately, yes goring to a private practice is expensive I know, everyone thinks it is a rip off, but when you see how much dental equipment and materials cost, you can understand why they charge so much.
For an infected tooth, if it is really bad, go and get some antibiotics to clear the infection first, coz a dentist won't take it out if it is too infected, for the pain i reccommend Nurofen as it is an anti-inflamatory ( as long as he can take them). Ring you local dentist, one that is your health fund provider, that way you will get the maximum rebate, and they can give you a quote over the phone and tell you how much your rebate will be. But if you have a Healthcare card you might as well use it, thats what it is there for, however there can be a waiting list, but if he's in pain they will see you staight away.
hope that helps.:)
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