My Dental experience

[BeerBelly 1,026]

Over the last few months, I've been getting a recurring infection in one of my teeth. Usually some antibiotics clears it right up, but last week, they just were not cutting it. On Friday I was in an immense amount of pain. I would say that on the universal pain scale, it rated an 7 or 8 between "moderate pain interfering with concentration and sever pain interfering with basic needs", so off to the dentist I went. (And by the way, I tried Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Vicodin, and Oxycontin, and nothing helped).

The first dentist I went to was Smile Dentist on Pattaya Tai. She took an X-ray and determined that it was a tooth in which I'd already had a root canal and recommended I go to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya to a root canal specialist. Her fee for the X-ray was only 150 baht, and the consultation was free. The clinic seemed okay, though maybe the slightest bit run down...but only slightly.

 

Next, I went to BHP and saw the root canal specialist and told her my story. I was told redoing the root canal would be 15,000 for the root canal plus 1,000 baht to remove the existing crown, then another 15,000-21,000 baht to put a new crown on.

 

After she drilled out the old root canal, she put some dye in the tooth and discovered that the tooth have a large (she said "obvious") crack and a minor crack. And as such didn't recommend continuing with the root canal as more than likely the infection would return in a few months. She recommended having the tooth extracted.

Though she said her colleague could do it right then, I wanted to think it over first. She patched up the hole she made in the tooth and sent me on my way with stronger antibiotics than I was taking. This cost me 2,986 baht.

 

The next day, I decided to do the extraction, but BHP didn't have a slot open for another week. I looked around and decided to try Dental Smile http://www.dentalsmilepattaya.com/ on 3rd Road near Pattaya Tai. From their website, it looked to be a modern top of the line dental clinic and they can do everythign including root canals and implants.

 

They recommended I wait a little for the swelling to go down as it will reduce the amount of pain. At BHP, the dentist there didn't do a good job at pain management while injecting the numbing agent. That injection was quite painful.

 

Today, I went to Dental Smile to have the tooth removed. I told the doctor I was worried about the pain and she said she would be gentle. Her injections were orders of magnitude better than at BHP. First off, she applied a topical agent before doing the injection. Then she really was careful while doing the main injections. Didn't feel much pain at all, mostly just pressure.

 

She warned me that this tooth could be problematic as the roots flared out making it more difficult to extract and she might end up having to cut it out. However that was not the case. She got the tooth out in about 15 minutes. In the end, I paid 900 for the extraction and another 100 for some ibuprofen and Tylenol.

At this point, I'm satisfied with the procedure, though it's too early to know if there are any complications. She didn't put any stitches in as she didn't feel they were needed, but some cases do require that.

So if I need any more dental work, I will return to Dental Smile and would recommend them to anyone else as well.

 

[midlifecrisis 4,040]

I understand the pain. I have been there. A root canal fixed the pain but it weakened the structure over time (no root = dead tooth) and eventually it broke and I needed an extraction.

 

The problem with extractions is that it weakens the structure and surrounding teeth can go bad from the resulting bone loss.

 

I had three choices:

 

1. leave a gap

2. grind the good teeth on either side for a bridge

3. A dental implant

 

I went with the implant. Here in the states most dental insurers regard implants as cosmetic and won't cover them. They did cover the extraction. The cost a decade ago for the implant was just over 3K$.

 

I can see that the cost of the first procedure(s) would have been over 1K$. Not cheap. I spent two nights in a BKK hospital with ER and IV meds for 1200 so the cost seems high but it is what it is.

 

I hope you are feeling more like your old self. Tooth pain can put a real damper on your quality of life.

[graymatter 153]

The going rate for a dental in plant is 45000 baht so it seems the price has dropped a bit but there is definitely a set price all over Pattaya.

 

I arrived with a missing front tooth and all my xrays from back home where I was quoted $5000 to do an in plant. The alternatives included a denture and a bridge but I didn’t fancy either of these. I had the broken tooth stump taken out before leaving Aus and gave it a few weeks to settle before travelling to Thailand. I gave myself two weeks to get it done but that turned out all wrong.

 

I was staying in Soi Lengkee (opposite Ned Kelly Bar) and dropped in to the dentist over the road (Dr Hollywood) but he wasn’t available so I marched off to find someone else. Until you start looking you don’t know how many dental places there are in Pattaya. I think I tried a dozen by just walking down Soi Buakhou to Central. You would think that dentists were a service industry but my experience was anything but. I was ignored in many centres as I patiently waited in reception with my Xrays in my hand. You would think a guy with Xrays was serious but no one was interested.

 

Apart from a lack of interest in my problems it turns out that ALL the prices amounted to the same. The ones quoting 23,000 baht didn’t include the crown etc. Finally after a few hours I went back to my room and dropped in to Dr Hollywood on the way. He was available and his girls spoke english. I sat in his chair and explained to situation.

 

Now I had made mistakes. I should have had him take out my tooth and he could have put in the stump for the in plant almost immediately. As it was I needed to wait a few weeks to get to this point. I made arrangements to return just before I left to go home. He wanted me to wait for 3 months before fitting the crown. The good news is that he only asked for 20,000 baht and I had three months to save for my crown.

 

I am a diabetic and he used a special injection which turns out works great and wears off very quickly.

 

The funny thing is that on my first session I told the nurse that I hate pain and she would have to hold my hand. We all laughed and I promptly forgot making the comment. During the in plant procedure I had the dentist and his assistant looking down my throat. Then there was the girl with the suction pipe who took her job very seriously and I’m sure someone was swabbing my brow. Just as we got started I felt another hand snake through the mass of bodies and latch onto my left hand to hold it just as I had joked a week earlier.

 

All in all I managed to get my in plant and had a great excuse to return in a few months for the crown.

 

Dr Hollywood has very good english and in the middle of the procedure he would turn off the light and put on his serious face and explain everything he had done and was about to do. He didn’t need to do it but it was good to boost my confidence in his ability,

 

I have recommended him to many other guys on other forums and only had good words.

[BeerBelly 1,026]

Now I had made mistakes. I should have had him take out my tooth and he could have put in the stump for the in plant almost immediately. As it was I needed to wait a few weeks to get to this point. I made arrangements to return just before I left to go home. He wanted me to wait for 3 months before fitting the crown. The good news is that he only asked for 20,000 baht and I had three months to save for my crown.

 

 

That is interesting. At BHP, she told me that I had to wait for the bone to heal before they could install the stump, then another three months after that before the crown. I didn't even think to ask the dentist today about that. I do know the clinic does do implants as well.

[graymatter 153]

 

That is interesting. At BHP, she told me that I had to wait for the bone to heal before they could install the stump, then another three months after that before the crown. I didn't even think to ask the dentist today about that. I do know the clinic does do implants as well.

 

It might depend on which tooth and perhaps your jaw.

 

Best to ask the dentist whats the situation in your case. I can only say what was good for me.,

[Hub 203]

I'm having a very similar procedure done outside of Pattaya in a few weeks time.

 

Extraction (1,000) and bone graft (6,000-12,000) first visit, and later (3-6 months?) come back to install the post at then the crown (40,000+).

 

Kinda sucks getting it done on vacation, but maybe an excuse to take a few nights easy, and will likely be saving $3,500+ US dollars. I had a friend go to the same place a few years back and was very successful. I will report back on my experience.

[short 215]

Beerbelly, sometime people get a "dry socket" after having a tooth pulled and it is very pain full. I don't know what it actually is or what causes it, you will know if you get it. Be ready to go back to the dentist if necessary.

[jacko 8,786]

The going rate for a dental in plant is 45000 baht so it seems the price has dropped a bit but there is definitely a set price all over Pattaya.

 

Cut.....

I recall having my hand stroked as I was receiving my 'painkiller injections' at my dentist, I find that the most uncomfortable part! And what Beerbelly said rings with me, at one of the 'Smile' places they seemed to make more effort with my comfort, there I too received a topical application at the site of the injection which made receiving it much better.

[MM 6,562]

I recall having my hand stroked as I was receiving my 'painkiller injections' at my dentist, I find that the most uncomfortable part! And what Beerbelly said rings with me, at one of the 'Smile' places they seemed to make more effort with my comfort, there I too received a topical application at the site of the injection which made receiving it much better.

The somewhat famous Dr. Aree was the best I ever had when it came to the Novocaine injections. She used to apply the topical number, then spent some time rubbing the spot where she planned to do the injection, and when she actually did the injection, I was none the wiser.

 

She also used to do her work barefooted, while singing softly in my ear...I miss her so.

 

[rb 20]

The somewhat famous Dr. Aree was the best I ever had when it came to the Novocaine injections. She used to apply the topical number, then spent some time rubbing the spot where she planned to do the injection, and when she actually did the injection, I was none the wiser.

 

She also used to do her work barefooted, while singing softly in my ear...I miss her so.

 

Ya, it seems the entire staff at PIH dental clinic has changed---and not for the better!!!

I've had tons of work done there with great results but on my last visit was not impressed with the "new" dentist I got or the work I had done. Use to be willing to pay the little extra $ for what I use to consider better work done at PIH, but I be looking else where in the future.

chers

rb

[midlifecrisis 4,040]

Beerbelly, sometime people get a "dry socket" after having a tooth pulled and it is very pain full. I don't know what it actually is or what causes it, you will know if you get it. Be ready to go back to the dentist if necessary.

Yes, I had one when my wisdom teeth were extracted. The clot breaks down leaving an exposed hole.

 

I had to have the wound packed. As the hole healed, the packing required less material until it was fully closed.

 

It is very painful.

[kuranda_bagman 135]

The somewhat famous Dr. Aree was the best I ever had when it came to the Novocaine injections. She used to apply the topical number, then spent some time rubbing the spot where she planned to do the injection, and when she actually did the injection, I was none the wiser.

 

She also used to do her work barefooted, while singing softly in my ear...I miss her so.

 

Have to agree 100% Martin I had so much work done by her and she was the best dentist I have ever visited.

 

As I had her private email address I contacted her to see if she was practising in Chang Mai as I was prepared to trave up there Sadly she advised she no longer practices.

 

However, she did recommend Dr Wongspat who she used to work with at PIH and has now set up his own practice.

 

As such, I made an appointment to see him in May and ended up getting a 3 crown bridge and rear molar crown.

 

The cost was 3 x bt 13,000 for the porcelain crown bridge & bt 18,000 for the heavy duty rear molar crown.

 

Whist Dr Wongspat is not Dr Aree he was very professional in his manner and I was extremely satisfied with the work he did.

 

Attached are his details for anybody interested I would certainly recommend him.

[rb 20]

Have to agree 100% Martin I had so much work done by her and she was the best dentist I have ever visited.

 

As I had her private email address I contacted her to see if she was practising in Chang Mai as I was prepared to trave up there Sadly she advised she no longer practices.

 

However, she did recommend Dr Wongspat who she used to work with at PIH and has now set up his own practice.

 

As such, I made an appointment to see him in May and ended up getting a 3 crown bridge and rear molar crown.

 

The cost was 3 x bt 13,000 for the porcelain crown bridge & bt 18,000 for the heavy duty rear molar crown.

 

Whist Dr Wongspat is not Dr Aree he was very professional in his manner and I was extremely satisfied with the work he did.

 

Attached are his details for anybody interested I would certainly recommend him.

Hey, thanks

this is the guy I had all my work done with in the past at PIH and have been satisfied with the work and would like to continue with him but when I asked the "new" at PIH staff about him I got the blank stare!!!

He's a little femmy but pretty good, I believe he got hid dental degree in Pittsburgh or somewhere in the US.

chers

rb

[Al_Davis 28]

I live in the states and have dental insurance. The problem is insurance says implants are cosmetic and won't pay. Everyone I spoke to says to get an implant instead of a bridge. The bridge destroys 2 good teeth to benefit 1 bad tooth. I was going to do the bridge because the insurance would pick up some of the cost.

What can I expect to pay for my situation in Thailand?..and its fucked: .... Bone graph, one extraction, two implants, one gum graph and two crowns/caps. My dentist called today to say my 2 tooth Flipper was ready. If this thing looks ok, I can wait it my next trip to see a Thai Dentist. I know China Southern LAX to BKK in September was about 630.00 RT.

[nkped 1,208]

A couple of years ago, my bill for 2 crowns and a root canal came to about $1,600 at Bangkok Hospital-Pattaya. That's certainly not the cheapest place to get dental work in town but the need arose without warning and I wasn't inclined to do a lot of research. I was very impressed with the root canal, no pain other than the sedation shot--it was in the upper jaw, OUCH! Nothing wrong with the crowns either.

 

No experience with implants. There are an awful lot of storefront clinics claiming to do them.

 

Take a close look at your dental coverage to see if they pay on overseas claims. It wouldn't be unheard of.

[aldriglikvid 5]

I'm glad it worked out :) It seems that a lot of members have experience of Thai dentists, in this thread. With that said - do you guys have any memories if the clinics were offering teeth whitening procedures, and what it cost?

[tallguy 1,460]

I'm glad it worked out :) It seems that a lot of members have experience of Thai dentists, in this thread. With that said - do you guys have any memories if the clinics were offering teeth whitening procedures, and what it cost?

 

Most of the clinics offer teeth whitening, most of which advertise prices for laser whitening. Never investigated any further than noticing prices advertised so can't give a recommendation. Prices seem to start around 5k baht from memory.

[yorta2 686]

This is by far NOT the cheapest dentist in Pattaya, but it is a good one. I think you can find prices for procedures (including whitening) on many sites. Have a look here and compare:

http://www.dentistbeach.com/