Dentists - very simple q

A

alkit

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Hi,
I recently went to my dentist. I was told that because I was brushing too hard, I exposed a nerve between the tooth and the gum.
Instead of putting a crown on it, the dentist suggested putting on some chemical which hardens and covers the nerve.

I went ahead with the procedure. Took only 15 minutes.

What would be a reasonable amount that the dentist should have charged for that?
 
A crown would cost you an arm and a leg, so I would guess that would cost you an arm only. (unless you go private - then it would cost you only one finger)
 
I went ahead with the procedure. Took only 15 minutes.

What would be a reasonable amount that the dentist should have charged for that?
Click to expand...

are you happy with your dentist's service
 
alkit said:
What would be a reasonable amount that the dentist should have charged for that?
Click to expand...

It depends on what the chemical costs.
But it can easily rack up to R600.

Consultation fee, fees for instruments used, fees for materials used.
 
The least simplest perhaps, however hard to answer by the took of things :p

If I had to guesstimate, I'd say it would be no more than R1000
 
The best place to go for dentists would be a medicross in my opinion, private dentists charge an absolute fortune.

I got quotes for 6 front veneers from a private dentist, 25k plus a few extra's if needed. Medicross 12k no extra costs and they let me pay it off over 3 months.
 
I'm guessing around R500 although it all depends I guess. Was it private or a medical aid practice?

Now you need to tell us what it actually cost...
 
alkit said:
Hi,
I recently went to my dentist. I was told that because I was brushing too hard, I exposed a nerve between the tooth and the gum.
Instead of putting a crown on it, the dentist suggested putting on some chemical which hardens and covers the nerve.

I went ahead with the procedure. Took only 15 minutes.

What would be a reasonable amount that the dentist should have charged for that?
Click to expand...

It doubt a nerve was that is exposed, more than likely youve exposed the dentine of the tooth which often due to improper brushing leads to the sensitivity you were experiencing. A full coverage crown might work but is often overkill and a desensitizing resin can be applied med aid rates are R66, but they dont work very well to be honest. Most of the time the resulted abrasion lesion is filled with a resin filling which costs R240.

However you can add R165 for consult to that and depending on what xrays were taken and how many, maybe R260. If you needed an injection its another R64.

Please know that a dentist doesnt charge by time, charge by what gets done and which material gets used. If you want cheap dentist you pay for what you get. Cheaper materials are cheap for a reason, they dont have same technology as more advanced more expensive materials. Medicrosses are great, since the dentist dont buy their own materials, medicross does and he/she can choose what they want without affecting their take home salary. This translates into best materials available at medical aid rates, whereas other dentists will charge a copayment to cover the more expensive materials.
 
Last edited:
About R350. I have to fill a cavity a few weeks ago and it cost about R300 at MediCross dental
 
JasonK said:
It doubt a nerve was that is exposed, more than likely youve exposed the dentine of the tooth which often due to improper brushing leads to the sensitivity you were experiencing. A full coverage crown might work but is often overkill and a desensitizing resin can be applied med aid rates are R66, but they dont work very well to be honest. Most of the time the resulted abrasion lesion is filled with a resin filling which costs R240.

However you can add R165 for consult to that and depending on what xrays were taken and how many, maybe R260. If you needed an injection its another R64.

Please know that a dentist doesnt charge by time, charge by what gets done and which material gets used. If you want cheap dentist you pay for what you get. Cheaper materials are cheap for a reason, they dont have same technology as more advanced more expensive materials. Medicrosses are great, since the dentist dont buy their own materials, medicross does and he/she can choose what they want without affecting their take home salary. This translates into best materials available at medical aid rates, whereas other dentists will charge a copayment to cover the more expensive materials.
Click to expand...

Spot on.
 
images
 
JasonK said:
It doubt a nerve was that is exposed, more than likely youve exposed the dentine of the tooth which often due to improper brushing leads to the sensitivity you were experiencing. A full coverage crown might work but is often overkill and a desensitizing resin can be applied med aid rates are R66, but they dont work very well to be honest. Most of the time the resulted abrasion lesion is filled with a resin filling which costs R240.

However you can add R165 for consult to that and depending on what xrays were taken and how many, maybe R260. If you needed an injection its another R64.

Please know that a dentist doesnt charge by time, charge by what gets done and which material gets used. If you want cheap dentist you pay for what you get. Cheaper materials are cheap for a reason, they dont have same technology as more advanced more expensive materials. Medicrosses are great, since the dentist dont buy their own materials, medicross does and he/she can choose what they want without affecting their take home salary. This translates into best materials available at medical aid rates, whereas other dentists will charge a copayment to cover the more expensive materials.
Click to expand...

Hi. Original OP here.

Thanks for a very detailed break down of the fees.

The xrays and consult etc had been done a few weeks back. I went in merely to get that dentine covered up. That is why it took only 15 minutes. I had no injections. The dentist just put the stuff on the tooth, dried it thoroughly, and polished it down a bit. That was it.

So according to the above, it should have cost around R240+R165 = R405. And that's what I was expecting - around R400 for the procedure.

Now (drum roll...) when I checked my medical aid statement, I found that the dentist had charged R800!!
That's DOUBLE what I expected.

What makes it even worse is that the dentist just did this 1 tooth as a trial to see if it will hold. I need to go back next week for 2 more teeth. I can imagine that bill will be over R1000?!

What can I do - should I just go to a different dentist? Any recommendations? (Jason - are you based in Joburg)?
 
Zenbaas said:
I'm guessing around R500 although it all depends I guess. Was it private or a medical aid practice?

Now you need to tell us what it actually cost...
Click to expand...

Check post above for more detail... It cost me R800. No xrays or injections :(
 
@alkit: I have more than 8 of those done usually in one appointment. I normally pay in cash a maximum of R250 each if a large area of the tooth is exposed (whole side of large lower molar etc.) and less for smaller ones. I normally visit Dr J I Sacks at Sandton City (011-883-3005). Just telephone him and discuss the cost before you decide to make an appointment. He has also redone some of them free of charge if they come off within 6 months. If the area is small and the tooth is very smooth the resin may not always bond very firmly. I do have some surface fillings that have lasted between 5~10 years but unfortunately they don't usually last this long. I would not recommend having the dentist do anything else (drilling etc.) that will cause any further damage to the tooth surface although this might improve the bond you may regret it later when the filling breaks off.
 
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