neech7

Actually, 'gigi' means teeth in Indonesian. So 'Dr gigi' would be teeth doctor, or dentist.

deniah

Anyone know the price of 4-quadrant root scaling? (basically deep gum cleaning)

Even though I have generally very good insurance from my employer, that procedure is a 700$ out-of-pocket expense here

I figure if its in South asia (singapore, kl, etc) as opposed to South EAST asia, the quality is no different than at home in the US



I might do the same for Lasik procedure... the trip might pay for itself?

aleaf

I am always very leery of the sites and recommendations that turn up when I search for that term. I never know who is a shill for a particular doctor or clinic. I much prefer to get recommendations here.

I also go to a dentist in Mexico and have been very happy with him (although a cleaning if much more than $25) but it's only been for routine stuff.

MatthewClement

They definitely offer the service in Phuket:

http://www.phuketdentalthailand.com/gum-disease.html

Drop them a line to find out the cost, but I suspect it is a small fraction of what you've been quoted.

Turquoise

This is very common where I live (Amman, Jordan) - Jordanians working in the US often arrange to have dental and basic medical procedures done during their vacations home, because it's significantly cheaper. I doubt you want to come here (though I can recommend an excellent dentist if you do), but I have some general advice and comments.

A Western-quality standard of care is available, though it tends to be more expensive than cheaper options in the same country. It's still significanty cheaper than in the US (sometimes by a factor of 10), but the fact that a doctor charges more than the average for that country is no guarantee of quality. The quality of care (and even basic hygiene) is pretty much a crapshoot in countries lacking American-style malpractice laws. Yes, you can save a lot of money, but you need to carefully check into the doctor/dentist's qualifications and record - I could tell you stories that would make your toes curl. Do not just pick someone out of the yellow pages.

I would not do this with lasik - there's only so much damage that can be done to your teeth, but for a procedure that could cause permanent blindness if performed incorrectly, I wouldn't take the risk. I know someone here who is functionally blind in one eye due to botched cataract surgery (a routine procedure). The doctor has done the same thing to other patients, but he's still practicing (and probably still blinding people) because there's legally nothing to be done about it. I've lived here for six years, and I'd still choose to go back to the US for a procedure like that.

Bottom line: if you are able to choose an honest, competent doctor, you could save a lot of money. However, it's a big risk, and you'll be SOL if anything goes wrong.

Rampo

In Thailand, root planing for the entire mouth should run between $150 and $200 USD.
(I believe that SOUTH Asia is comprised of the countries below the Himalayas. Singapore and Malaysia are considered to be SE Asian countries, hence their membership in ASEAN.)

pinworm

Medical Tourism is a growing economy and a popular practice in the US...it speaks to the problems with the Health Care system here.

Many people I know have gone to Mexico for root canal work..what costs 800 in the US costs 300 in Mexico..I live in a border state, and almost everyone does it. This has made the dental industry in Mexico take off like crazy. The quality of work is just as good..if not BETTER than in the US. Same technologies, same equipment, just as skillful dentists.

Fear of it is mostly based on cultural bigotry, not facts. If Americans think of Mexico as some dirty, third world hole they are mistaken..It's technically "second world", not third, and the US dollars flowing into their medical industry has made it one of the worlds best.

Americans also tend to belive the medical and dental industry in the US is the best in the world if you can afford it.it's not really. The systems are just as good as in the US in most of the western hemisphere...and better in Japan. For the same quality of care they still overinflate the prices in the US.

It doesn't get more free market philosophy than medical tourism! Even places you would think are shady have grown amazing facilities as a result of the medical tourist industry. The Carribbean in particular has very attractive facilites for cosmetic surgeries.

Go for it, but do your research..look for specific practices in whichever country you choose to do this in.

deniah

corrected ^

Omyai

About 6 or 8 years ago, I broke a molar the day before I was to leave for one of my frequent business trips to Bangkok. Having no pain and unable to make an appointment with my dentist in US, I decided to make an appointment with a dentist my (US citizen) Country Manager stationed in Thailand suggested.

Ultimately, I had to have a crown made. Painless, done in 2 visits during evening hours. Cost for porcelain crown was $350 (probably over $4k with my US dentist). During the initial visit, the Thai dentist (US trained) noted I needed deep root cleaning and gum work, so I scheduled a check-up at my next visit 3 weeks later. Three weeks later I met with a Periodontist at my new dentist's office and we agreed he would do opposite uppers and lowers in two (long) visits as opposed to 4 normal visits. Again both done at night. Again approx. 1/10th cost in US.

Whereas I would be lucky to get to my dentist annually for a cleaning, I now average 4 times a year. Cleaning (by dentist, not assistant) costs me about $18 - less than my co-pay in US.

Also have my eye exams in Thailand (but would not do Lasik there).

tfar

This might sound strange but I'd consider Germany. As you may know a lot of dental tech equipment, research and education in dental medicine comes from there. Costs are modest compared to the US. Most dentists will speak English rather well.

My GF had a complicated surgery done in a dental clinic in the south of Germany, Lake of Constance region, very beautiful. It was a complex wisdom tooth extraction where they needed to give her full anesthesia and do micro-surgery on a nerve that had to be severed in order to even get the tooth out. The operation was about two hours long. Clinical and service conditions were as good or better than in the US. Cost was around $2000.

If I compare that to a neighbor of mine who had to pay $4500 for a somewhat complex root canal, that's very cheap.

Till

tjl

$4,500 for a root canal seems extremely expensive even by US standards. (Never had to have one done, but that price seems to be about three to five times the prices that I have seen listed.)

$2,000 is the ballpark cost in the US for a four wisdom tooth extraction under general anesthesia by an oral surgeon (including impacted teeth requiring surgical extraction, but no microsurgery on nerves).

tfar

Interesting figure comparison. I've had two done with local anesthesia by my dentist in Germany. Was done in less than 30 minutes and I think it cost less than $300. But that was almost 20 years ago. The GF thing is more recent.

A root canal in Paris with two visits necessary cost me $200 ten years ago.

Till

goaliemn

I've thought about doing orthodontics overseas/in mexico but wasn't sure how followup visits would work. Has anyone done that?

biggestbopper

A root canal in Southern California (one of the most expensive places in the US), done by a specialist costs around $1100 with an additional charge of around $900 for the required crown by a general practice dentist.

I am amazed by the unworried approach of many posters in threads such as this one who seen to have zero concerns about the issues in perhaps getting very sub-standard care overseas.

Several years ago I saw a story in one of the Thai English language papers about an American guy who came to Thailand for eye surgery and was blinded by the "top-notch" surgeon. When he considered some legal action to get some compensation he was basically laughed at by the Thai lawyers who explained that the Dr. was "connected" and the foreigner's complaint would go nowhere.

mrx900

My uncle did that in Mexico....he paid a fraction of the price he wouldve paid in San Diego. I do suggest however going to a major city in Mexico (i.e Guadalajara, Mexico City, etc)......steer clear of TJ....