Holy crap - That's expensive.

I have Dental coverage at work. I pay about $60 a month and that covers all dental for my family of four. Some extreme things have an extra cost but $150 for a crown is nothing compared to New Zealand.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/18/f-marketplace-dentists-treatment-plan-variation.html

a bit about Canadian dentistry

Yes, I heard about this when Marketplace released it.

But let's be honest. No one goes to Dentists they've never been to before out of the blue for random surgery. What they suggest is purely a suggestion. Like any other business, the up-sell for cosmetic reasoning will always be available and just because they offer it, doesn't mean you have to do it.

The prices they quote are also the price before or without dental coverage. (I do understand not all coverage is the same)

There is also going to be overzealous Dentists, usually new dentists who just want to do all those big procedures because they enjoy the bigger jobs.
No one should be rushing into these procedures. You should stay with one dentist over time and build a relationship with them. I've never had a issue with any of my dentists. I've heard of people being offered specific services but they are all elective - and few move forward with them unless necessary.

I avoid any dental work for my family or myself if it's purely for cosmetic reasons (especially whitening- teeth aren't supposed to be white). You don't want to do it? Don't do it. But they are going to let you know your options. I think this is different than being told, "You must do it, if you don't, all your teeth are going to fall out and you will be in pain for the rest of your life."

-just doesn't happen.


>> ^jan:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10
/18/f-marketplace-dentists-treatment-plan-variation.html
a bit about Canadian dentistry

Things really are global now.

I've lived in Thailand for almost 6 years now, and I was a poor college student/graduate prior to that. So, I hadn't had any dental treatment whatsoever for about 10 years. At that time in the US in my small hometown, I figured that a cleaning with nothing else done would cost $100. Plus the dentists wanted to do x-rays every year that would be another $50-$100. So, basically $150-200 yearly assuming that I didn't get anything other than a simple cleaning.

So far I've been lucky to have teeth that stay in pretty good condition. I hadn't had any cavities in adult teeth, but 10 years without a trip to the dentist was pushing it. So, I figured it was time to bite the bullet and visit a dentist here in (upcountry) Thailand. I walked in and they said that I had 3 cavities and 2 small weak spots that could turn into cavities.

They asked me if I would like old-style metal colored fillings or new tooth-colored stuff (I didn't even know that existed). I opted for the old style since it was slightly cheaper, but the doc was upset about the prospect of putting the first visible fillings in my otherwise pristine teeth so she said she would give me the tooth-colored ones for the same price as the other type.

In and out, far less pain and discomfort than I remember being standard at my dental visits in the US (to be fair I had a lot of cavities and problems with my baby teeth when I was a kid, plus braces and lots of orthodontic work). Total cost -- about $40 USD. For yearly cleanings, I think the local clinic here will charge about $15 USD. So, I'm well pleased with the results.

American Dentistry is a huge racket. A single dental implant, (not covered), mysteriously cost right around $1700 USD. The price is the same at any dentist you go to in the entire country.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

I had a wisdom tooth pulled in Chiang Mai. It cost about $20.

Admittedly, they did attach a string to my tooth and then an elephant - and told it to start running.

No, actually - really high tech, competent dentistry over there.

Got fillings and a crown free. Yay socialism. Getting an implant would have cost me a grand though, but that still seems like a lot less than these auzzies are paying.

Routine clean today cost me just shy of 60quid tho, but yah, hardly worth flying to Thailand for that