Dental for the poor :(

Arthur said:
What a mercy the taxpayer is not (yet) required to subsidise dentistry. TANSTAAFL.

Sympathies with the OP, though. Hope you find a way to fix your teeth.
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Thank you Arthur. I think teeth are the most precious things to have with regard to looks because they are the most expensive to replace and repair but I will never give up trying to find a way. Have yourself a blessed day.
 
saor said:
So all qualified professionals should only charge R100 per hour because that's what you charge? Ridiculous argument if that's what you're saying.
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No way, that is NOT what I was saying at all. What I was saying is that their markup on what it costs them to do the job works out to around 950%. My markup is 100% and so far in my life at every business I have worked at our markups have been between 50% and 100% on both services and products so I just think it is very strange that their markups are so high.
I mean, why do they get to have approximately 800% more money than a human needs to survive but the rest of us end up with 50% less money than the cost of living.
Just saying,... even if their markup was 200% then maybe the average person could afford to buy at least one tooth per year.
 
Lobodugald said:
No way, that is NOT what I was saying at all. What I was saying is that their markup on what it costs them to do the job works out to around 950%. My markup is 100% and so far in my life at every business I have worked at our markups have been between 50% and 100% on both services and products so I just think it is very strange that their markups are so high.
I mean, why do they get to have approximately 800% more money than a human needs to survive but the rest of us end up with 50% less money than the cost of living.
Just saying,... even if their markup was 200% then maybe the average person could afford to buy at least one tooth per year.
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How are you working out their markup on their time? How long did it take you to study for your profession compared to them? What level of insurance do you have to take out to protect you and your clients if you make a mistake?
 
ToxicBunny said:
How are you working out their markup on their time? How long did it take you to study for your profession compared to them? What level of insurance do you have to take out to protect you and your clients if you make a mistake?
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Doesn't change the fact that they are damn expensive. Whether it can be justified or not, I am not sure, but they are unaffordable. That is a fact. Like most of the medical industry. Doctors live luxuries lives build on top of people who can barely afford it. There are dentist and doctors who actually have a passion to see people get better. I grew up in a poor-middle-class family when I was a kid, and the dentist back then did a 15K job on my teeth + following years and I know my parents couldn't pay & didn't pay, she still continued to do it for a couple years until it was better.
 
RedViking said:
Doesn't change the fact that they are damn expensive. Whether it can be justified or not, I am not sure, but they are unaffordable. That is a fact. Like most of the medical industry. Doctors live luxuries lives build on top of people who can barely afford it. There are dentist and doctors who actually have a passion to see people get better. I grew up in a poor-middle-class family when I was a kid, and the dentist back then did a 15K job on my teeth + following years and I know my parents couldn't pay & didn't pay, she still continued to do it for a couple years until it was better.
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I make no judgement on their affordability or not really...

Merely on his bollocks assumptions of their profit margins...
 
My local dentist charges R100 per tooth + normal consultation fees, went for a cleaning and was only charged R200. A couple years back another dentist charged R450 for a cleaning.

I asked him about his prices, turns out he's a deeply religious man and that's his cash prices are so low as a service to the community.
 
Polymathic said:
My local dentist charges R100 per tooth + normal consultation fees, went for a cleaning and was only charged R200. A couple years back another dentist charged R450 for a cleaning.

I asked him about his prices, turns out he's a deeply religious man and that's his cash prices are so low as a service to the community.
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And crowns etc.?
 
ToxicBunny said:
How are you working out their markup on their time? How long did it take you to study for your profession compared to them? What level of insurance do you have to take out to protect you and your clients if you make a mistake?
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My dentist is a friend of mine and he has told me all about it, he has friends who are other dentists, some are dental technicians and some are maxillo-facial surgeons and he has told me how they brag about how much they are screwing their customers over and the massive profits they are making. My dentist has also studied how to be a maxillo-facial surgeon and also a dental tech so he was also able to work it out for himself and he told me.

I am not sure how long it takes them to study for their profession but it took me about 15 years to study and write all my exams in order to become as highly qualified as I am today in my profession.

I have never made a mistake before and I sure hope I never do because I cannot afford any insurance for my business as my customers refuse to pay more than R100 per hour of my time.
 
RedViking said:
@Lobodugald did you manage to find someone affordable? What did Prime Cure say?
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Hi there.
No I have had no luck yet. I phoned Prime Cure and it said the number does not exist. I then phoned 1023 to get their number and was told there is no number for them anymore. Today I had a little extra petrol in my car so I took a drive past where I remember Prime Cure used to be and I cannot see them there anymore.
 
Lobodugald said:
Hi there.
No I have had no luck yet. I phoned Prime Cure and it said the number does not exist. I then phoned 1023 to get their number and was told there is no number for them anymore. Today I had a little extra petrol in my car so I took a drive past where I remember Prime Cure used to be and I cannot see them there anymore.
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That is interesting. Now that you mention it. Our "Prime Cure" has changed its name to Something Medical Centre. But still the same doctors and prices.
 
RedViking said:
And crowns etc.?
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Polymathic said:
My local dentist charges R100 per tooth + normal consultation fees, went for a cleaning and was only charged R200. A couple years back another dentist charged R450 for a cleaning.

I asked him about his prices, turns out he's a deeply religious man and that's his cash prices are so low as a service to the community.
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That is wonderful, please tell me you are in East London? I've been quoted between R10 000 and R30 000 per tooth.
Where is your dentist?
 
I know someone who could not afford medical aid who had some awesome work done via Wits medical school. As part of qualifying the students need to do some actual procedures apparently so if you are willing to be a dummy and wait for the right time of year you can apparently get dentistry for free. The dentists doing it are inexperienced but the guys supervising are obviously some of the best and if they get it wrong they could fail. Worked out for the person I know who did it. Perhaps look into that.
 
Cius said:
I know someone who could not afford medical aid who had some awesome work done via Wits medical school. As part of qualifying the students need to do some actual procedures apparently so if you are willing to be a dummy and wait for the right time of year you can apparently get dentistry for free. The dentists doing it are inexperienced but the guys supervising are obviously some of the best and if they get it wrong they could fail. Worked out for the person I know who did it. Perhaps look into that.
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Oh darn it sounds wonderful but I cannot even afford to drive to work so i'll never ever be able to get to Johannesburg :-( What a pitty!
 
Hi guys and gals. I am on sh$t street without a paddle and my teeth are in a terrible state. I heard about Wits Dental School. I am prepared to go and sit and wait. I am currently living in Glen Austin in Midrand and would really appreciate any advice. Keep your cocky comments to yourselves please. Thank you.
 
Don001 said:
Hi guys and gals. I am on sh$t street without a paddle and my teeth are in a terrible state. I heard about Wits Dental School. I am prepared to go and sit and wait. I am currently living in Glen Austin in Midrand and would really appreciate any advice. Keep your cocky comments to yourselves please. Thank you.
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what sort of issues are you facing? do you have any form of medical aid / insurance related health cover etc?
 
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