Wisdom tooth woe...

The_Assimilator

The_Assimilator

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Went to a specialist this morning to get info on having my partially-disintegrated wisdom tooth removed. He quoted me over R 6,000 for a 1-hour procedure with general anesthetic (apparently my tooth is partially in my sinus so he has to clean that out as well) - this excludes hospital stay and anesthesiologist fees. I have no medical aid so I'm going to pay through my a$$.

Apparently this amount is par for the course for such a procedure - can anyone on medical aid who's had a similar procedure tell me how much you ended up paying? And more importantly, why, why, why does it cost so much just to remove a bloody tooth? I get the feeling that private dentists are making a fortune off poor saps like myself.
 
Having no medical do sucks. Extremely expensive, only ppl with healthy salaries will manage. We can't.

Rear left molar (bottom) lost its filling a month or so ago. Last week I went to the dentist.

Option was a root canal @ R2k or pull it out @ R400.

I opted to have it pulled as R400 is far cheaper than a root canal. Final bill was R280 odd.

Medicross Silverton.

Maybe you should shop around a bit?
 
Not sure if this will help but a couple of years ago, my ex mother-in-law was having huge dental issues... She had no medical aid and needed to have quite a bit of dental reconstruction work done. She ended up going to the university hospital in Pretoria. Other than the obvious inconveniences, they did a really good job and the price was right.

EDIT: Just noticed you're in Cape Town... check that last bit of advice then and good luck. Be really careful with the sinus issue 'tho. I had the same problem when I had my wisdoms out years ago and I still have sinus issues today.
 
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i got all four removed last year plus an impacted molar removed, had a day admission with general anasthetic, was not a fun experience, luckily my medical aid covered all of it, final bill was approximately 20k... stiff :-/
 
The_Assimilator said:
Went to a specialist this morning to get info on having my partially-disintegrated wisdom tooth removed. He quoted me over R 6,000 for a 1-hour procedure with general anesthetic (apparently my tooth is partially in my sinus so he has to clean that out as well) - this excludes hospital stay and anesthesiologist fees. I have no medical aid so I'm going to pay through my a$$.

Apparently this amount is par for the course for such a procedure - can anyone on medical aid who's had a similar procedure tell me how much you ended up paying? And more importantly, why, why, why does it cost so much just to remove a bloody tooth? I get the feeling that private dentists are making a fortune off poor saps like myself.
Click to expand...

Try Googling for a Dr. Smook in Durbanville. I am using him now for all my dental requirements since he charged less than the other lot in Cape Town - and gave me better service. Go see him, explain your situation. You also have 3 months to pay your account so you won't have to pay everything in one go.
 
Check my response and those of others here:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/archive/index.php/t-249530.html

Mine was on medical aid so it would be a bit cheaper if you're not.
If you're really strapped for cash and willing to wait in a queue from say 6 the morning, go to the Tygerberg or Mitchell's Plain dental faculty.
You'll probably pay a few hundred.
 
I feel your bad bud. I was lucky enough that the dentist down here by the coast seems to be a young decent guy who is not out to drain everyone financially.
I recently had my top left wisdom pulled. It cost me R680? That sounds extremely ridiculous that they could charge that much but obviously I am not a dentist and your problem may be way worse than mine was.

It's at times like this when I look at some of my friends who just scrape month by month .What happens when something major like this pitches up? But no...they would rather have the latest Iphone or BB.damn. Good Luck
 
I had 4 of my wisdom teeth taken out in May.Everywhere i went for quote's in
the Bellville/Durbanville area was reaaaaaaaaaaly expensive.

Ended up going to some1 in Claremont who was alot cheaper, Although it still came
to about 20K.It could have been cheaper if i had it done in the chair, but my dad was
paying so i decided to rather go to the hospital and get put under :).
 
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