nakkers said..

WazzaYotty/hargs.

Sorry to rain on your parade but, having lived in Thailand (part of S.E.A. and a "3rd world country") for the past 12 years, I have heard far fewer 'moans' about, not only, dentistry but also medical treatment here from expats then I do from friends and family back home/in Oz.
Have had 2 fillings whilst here and, on a visit to Oz, had a check up with the local 'Fang Bosun' who only expressed concern about a filling he put in a few years prior.Had this redone on my return to the Land of Smiles.
A good mate here (a Yank) passed away from cancer a few years ago and the care and attention afforded him in the hospital in Chiang Mai was exceptional.After seeing a girlfriend pass away from cancer within the hospital system in Perth many years ago, I know where I would prefer to be treated.
And, 30baht ($1.00+/-) for a visit to a local doctor compared to $35+(after medicare rebate) wins hands down.But, you are entitled to your opinions.

Well said Mate

Whatever you do don't goto this guy!!!!

Bali Dental Clinic
Mal Bali Galeria, 2nd floor 2c 58-59
Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai, Simpang Dewa Ruci Kuta
Phone 0361-766255.

I went here on my first visit to bali to seek some dental work (could not fault). took my sup and stayed at chillhouse surf retreat in channgu. stayed away from kuta. (good move)

great treatment; great surgery; great surf; highly recommend this dentist (was referred by local nurses from ocean grove) who attend regularly.
and highly recommend chillhouse.

Oz dentists are extremely famous gougers; but as can be seen in previous posts there is no reason for them to change. but on the upside they have the best end of year piss ups of any profession.

hargs said..
I have seen some bloody terrible dentistry out of the likes of bali over the years. I'm not saying that there aren't any good dentists over there, but in my experience what I have seen is ** house treatment. People may think they are saving themselves money, but for many in the long run it's just more heartache and money when it all goes pear shaped. Not to mention I would be very wary of the infection control practices in some of these countries. Yep going to the dentist in Australia isn't cheap. It is a very expensive service to provide with high over heads. But be assured cheap dentistry is just that - cheap and nasty.

The only high overhead costs in Dentistry in Australia is the overly high wages of $700.00 per hour for a dentist, overhead costs out of that is about $35 an hour for dental assistant and maybe the same for reception and other normal overheads, lets face it, many dentists in Australia don't even have a lot of surgical expereince because so many people are getting it done overseas.
90% of the time the dentist in Australia are doing minor maintenance work, fillings and other menial jobs.
The overseas dentist who service foreigners they specialize in major work, cost more than their local dentists, do it all the time, so at least have the experience, unlike our Aussie dentists.
I have been to dentists in China, like Australia, I also had a chinese dentist there and the equipment was better, now the claim is Australian chinese dentists are better than real chinese dentists.
All the slagging of, of foreign dentists is just people employed in the Australian dental industry protecting their own hugely overpaid industry.
Lets face it the wages in places like Indonesia, China, Phillipines and Thailand are about 5 to 10% of ours, also given that dentists wages arent as proportionally high in these countries as Australia, naturally dentistry there will be cheaper.
If you still want to knock quality, have a look at the smiles of the local people who have their dental work done there.
Also, implants, root canal, crowns and braces is hardly ground breaking technology, its been happening for at least 40 years in my experience.
Of course you will get bad dentists overseas, same as in Australia, don't go price hunting for the cheapest, pick a reputable dentist / business and you will still save a fortune compared to Australia.

Had plenty of fillings and teeth pulled in Thailand and Indonesia including 3 wisdom teeth out in one sitting. Never had a bad experience.

djt91184 said...
The three fillings were supposedly "complicated" in Australia. The Thai dentist I saw didnt find them complicated at all, it took 20 minutes I saved nearly 3000g.

I meant Wisdom teeth.

kookaburrahz said..
so what countrys better thailand vietnam philippines or bali?

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur

Top notch, even better than aus

Had a wisdom tooth removed in Phuket last year , the surgery made those in Aus look primative .
It was absolutely imaculate, and ALL the equipment was very new looking.
Took a whole 5 minutes!!! to give painkillers and remove the troublesome tooth.
Went downstairs when done and the wife hadn't even picked a book to read, she didn't believe it was done so quick until I opened my mouth.
No pain, no exsessive bleeding , able to eat 2 hrs later , no drama
$ 50 is all it cost .


Had another wisdom tooth removed in Perth earlier this year, it went like this- 3 injections , still felt alot of pain, 30 minutes of shyt I won't forget in a hurry, then when he finally pulled the tooth ,the pliers hit the teeth on the upper jaw so hard I thought it would smash.
2 days later had a serious back problem , and could hardly walk and intense pain for over a week. Drove back home to Exy ,went straight to chiro and he said the 30 mins of pulling violently on the tooth had caused most of the back problem.!!
30 mins of gentle manipulation , I walked out pain free.
Fu.. the Ausie dentists,

Love to see how it's all holding up in a few years time. Just saying.....

Hellemam said..

I had the Cerec replacement done in Hanoi. Same technology, same product.

Well yes maybe the same technology in that a Cerec unit was used, but it ends about there. I have seem some absolutely top notch Cerec restorations over the years. I have also seem some appalling ones which frankly look like piss poor temporary restorations at best. A lot depends on the skill/competency of the operator in a. preparing the tooth in the mouth in the first place, 2. designing/milling the restoration with the Cerec, (Cerec can mill different types of restorations from different quality blanks) & 3. cementing/bonding the finished restoration, i.e.: under rubber dam to ensure moisture control, etc... again just saying....

Guys, thought I had better put in my 10 cents worth...I am a dentist in general practice with more than 20 years experience and currently work in a city building surrounded by my State's most experienced dental specialists, whom I refer to and they refer general work to me! I was locally trained but have more than two years of overseas experience, I have University teaching experience and have written a number of expert dental reports (as a generalist) mainly for insurance purposes (people hurt in the workplace usually).

Yes the issue of Dental Tourism is an interesting one indeed, over many years of seeing work performed abroad, I would love to say ALL the dental procedures I have followed, that were provided overseas have been hopeless/fell out/got infected/paralysed the persons lower jaw, blah bah blah, but I can honestly say that is not the case...and of course I have seen work performed locally to what I would consider a poor standard.

The big issue with healthcare though and especially dentistry, is that there is a biological AND financial price to all dental procedures (maybe other than a clean and fluoride or a consultation/advice!!!) and as the fellow mentioned with his Cerec preparations on his teeth, once the tooth is gutted by decay and the ensuing dental intervention, unlike the lizard and his tail, the tooth won't grow back and more extensive procedures are required, that is assuming the tooth can even be saved at all! So please consider that like a lot of mechanic/engineered devices/procedures, things done well initially and then well maintained will last.

Getting back to Bali, it seems some recommendations have been provided and I would agree that even locally this is the best way to source not only a dentist but an electrician, accountant, doctor, surfboard repairer etc. And if there appears some history of sound work and clean practices, who am I to tell you what to do with your teeth and mouth and where to have work done?

For the record:
1) Worst dental tourism disaster I have seen...was (in a University setting) two front teeth crowns made of some unknown but "reactive" material...reactive to the female patient's gums and supporting bone at least, resulting in teeth loosening and eventual loss (over two years)...patient was from Manilla from memory and she had the work done back in the Philippines on a trip there to see relatives.

2) Best dental tourism case I have seen...lovely Coastal QLD fellow who literally won a competition to be sent abroad to have a dental makeover (and a crooked nose straightened and some fake chin material of some sort inserted)...his dental work included six front tooth veneers and a couple of back tooth crowns..and you know what, the work was excellent, he looked great and he was very happy with the result. Unfortunately the country he went to I cannot remember but it was definitely SE Asia.

3) Best work locally...my work of course...six front teeth veneers for retired lawyer for fees (6x$1500=$9000) approx. 5 years ago still perfect...and the four veneers I did for my Mum for her 65th birthday (fees, mate's rates...nothing because she's my Mum).

4) Worst dental work I have seen by far ever...a priest in London whom had received the "best" of dental care by a number of Harley Street's most respected dental specialists and funded by the Catholic church (£20 000 in 2001 ($60 000AUD at the time)) multiple implants and their respective supporting crowns and bridges...and it had all failed and and had to be completely removed and re-done (not by me)!

Don't know on re-reading if this helps or hinders but thought I would input regardless.

Oh yeah, and to run my surgery costs me $25 000-$30 000 a month and it is only me, my receptionist and a casual dental assistant...

I will never retire (Dad retired at 72)...my mindset is just just work then die, lost too much in the GFC thanks to well-meaning (and well-commissioned) financial advisors and the property bubble bursting same time!

But luckily I love my job and in the last 18 months I started kitesurfing, so these should keep me going...kited with a 70-year old on the Goldie recently!

NOTE: Maybe another discussion topic should be why I have hired a Kiwi and a lovely black girl from Sierra Leone as staff instead of primped up, entitled, local Gen Y's who couldn't even be bothered to turn up to interviews!!!???

Jimbill said..
i went to Bali in 2009 to get a crown done after a mate from work had a triple crown, whilst he was there on holiday. a triple crown cost him $900au at the 911 dentist in Kuta

Isn't the Triple Crown a Surf event in Hawaii??? I assume he had a 3 unit bridge placed.

To each his own, I'd just have reservations about having any invasive procedure performed in a country were it's not advisable to drink the running water. Just my 2 cents worth.

^ Did you do a **** over there or your bot bot to precious for that.

Yep have to be in my line of work pardner if your thinking of drawing on me youd better be picaso

Keeping the piece