Hi,

my TW just got one wisdom tooth removed at a local clinic. So far so good, except for the price. She paid 7,500 Baht, which seems much too much to me. Does anyone know what to pay for this in Udon normally?

Thanks.

Difficult question to answer.

Removal of wisdom teeth can be a comlicated surgery - typically not the same as the removal of a regular tooth.

If the wisdom tooth was impacted - it requires a bit of surgery - or quite a bit of surgery - to remove the entire tooth and the roots. If all of the roots are not removed, it can cause complications later on.

If the root was wraped around the jaw bone - even more difficult to remove the tooth and the roots.

If there was an abcess with the wisdom tooth - that makes things even more complicated.

If the TW was given just zylocaine to deaden the nerves that is one thing. However, if she was also given what is typically known as "laughing gas" - that will add to the price.

Also - bear in mind that there may be follow up treatments involved - such as removing stitches if the disolving stictches were not used.

Where the tooth was removed is also a consideration. If it was done at a local hospital - remember that you also are paying for hospital fees.

Also, if drugs were given - pain killers, anti-bioticis, etc. at the dental office, that will also raise the cost.

No one here can tell you if the cost was too high - or appropriate - without knowing all of the information. Technically - the information needed would need to come from the dentist - and not you or your TW. The dentist is the only one that knows exactly what was done.

Theoretically - as long as there are no complications - such as "dry socket" or anything else - whatever the cost was really shouldn't be of great concern - especially after the fact.

There may be some here that will post that it is too much to pay - and they will give their own stories. The main thing to keep in mind is if the patient - the TW in this case - is comfortable with the person working inside of her mouth - that is the primary consideration. It is very easy to hate dentists - which can cause someone to refuse to go to a dentist for anything except for an emergency situaiton - such as a major tooth ache. So - if the TW is happy with the dentist - don't worry about the cost.

People get what they pay for. No doubt you can find a cheaper dentist - and have some recommended to you here - but in the long run, all that should really matter is if the patient - the TW is happy with what was done.

Doc wrote:Difficult question to answer.

Removal of wisdom teeth can be a comlicated surgery - typically not the same as the removal of a regular tooth.

If the wisdom tooth was impacted - it requires a bit of surgery - or quite a bit of surgery - to remove the entire tooth and the roots. If all of the roots are not removed, it can cause complications later on.

If the root was wraped around the jaw bone - even more difficult to remove the tooth and the roots.

If there was an abcess with the wisdom tooth - that makes things even more complicated.

If the TW was given just zylocaine to deaden the nerves that is one thing. However, if she was also given what is typically known as "laughing gas" - that will add to the price.

Also - bear in mind that there may be follow up treatments involved - such as removing stitches if the disolving stictches were not used.

Where the tooth was removed is also a consideration. If it was done at a local hospital - remember that you also are paying for hospital fees.

Also, if drugs were given - pain killers, anti-bioticis, etc. at the dental office, that will also raise the cost.

No one here can tell you if the cost was too high - or appropriate - without knowing all of the information. Technically - the information needed would need to come from the dentist - and not you or your TW. The dentist is the only one that knows exactly what was done.

Theoretically - as long as there are no complications - such as "dry socket" or anything else - whatever the cost was really shouldn't be of great concern - especially after the fact.

There may be some here that will post that it is too much to pay - and they will give their own stories. The main thing to keep in mind is if the patient - the TW in this case - is comfortable with the person working inside of her mouth - that is the primary consideration. It is very easy to hate dentists - which can cause someone to refuse to go to a dentist for anything except for an emergency situaiton - such as a major tooth ache. So - if the TW is happy with the dentist - don't worry about the cost.

People get what they pay for. No doubt you can find a cheaper dentist - and have some recommended to you here - but in the long run, all that should really matter is if the patient - the TW is happy with what was done.

That very well written. It is indeed complicated surgery work, and expensive everwhere.

Usually the following check-up is for free.

Yes I agree. I need to take writing lessons.

My wife had one extracted when she was in Udon last stay.
Baht 2000 for local pain killer, surgery, removal and stitching. Cheap enough but the whole thing ended up infected. She was in miserable health for the best part of three weeks with a mouth heavily swollen and sipping milk drinks for a week and then rice soups for the next week and a bit. She lost close to 2 kilo.

I will not ever allow her to go to basic thai dentist or doctors now. Would rather pay the extra to ensure that she is going somewhere that understands what the words hygiene and sterilised mean.

Unfortunately there is no guarantee wherever you go for any kind of tooth removal, but it is doubly so for wisdom teeth as the dentist simply doesn't know what he or she is going to come up against and as wisdom are notorious for being stubborn, awkward 'root in the bone' gritters to remove with often ensueing complications it is well worth the time to attend a hospital rather than a dental clinic.

Why so you may ask, IMHO many dentists are only simple dentists and not dental surgeons who have the qualifications to undertake dental surgery and prescribe the correct drugs that can be of narcotic nature where instructions for use need to be seriously heeded. Moreover, a hospital usually has better facilities in place if there are any difficulties during extraction, particularly if gas is used.

In terms of pricing a straight extraction without problems should cost between 3-5,000, that figure is based on my wife's extraction of a wisdom tooth at 4,000 baht six months ago at the military hospital near wing 23, however. Depending on the severity of any problems arising at the extraction stage and possible infection(s) afterwards, it is very hard to provide a standardised value level because individual cases by there very nature are after all different. Still comparing costs to Western Europe and America you are still saving a bundle and usually without waiting to long for an appointment.

Techland,

Where did your wife go for treatment and was she happy with the treatment?

I had mine done in England several years ago and the waiting time then was over a week and real "bodge" job done, got an infection too. Your wife will have to be very careful until healed fully. Worthwhile checking regularly, using antiseptic mouthwash and maybe a little salt. If it gets infected then can be very painful!

Thank you all for your valuable comments. It seems I had not been completely informed about what happened at the clinic. The removal itself had only been a few hundred baht. I will come back later with a full report of what happened where, the costs and the result.

Hi Techland,

Check out my thread from about a year ago about Wisdom tooth removal in Udon.

Regards
Conrad [/url]

This one . Conrads Wisdom Tooth Removal Thread.

l've had 24 root canals, no joke.Had work done in the US,Mexico,Thailand

OOUH!

the thread is back, good. to add to it, Ree had one (wisdom tooth) removed couple months ago. slight complication, as it had turned sidways under the gum and causing a bit of discomfort, in the past and flairing up again, which i told her many time, that's what dentist are for, go get it out before your face swells up like a football and you die. ok, bit of an exaggeration, but not a complete falsehood, as rare cases do happen. ok, the specifics, total cost 2500 baht, took a little slicing and had to break tooth, so came out in couple pieces, then 2-4 stitches to close, forget how many, so he had his work cut out for him. a couple antibiotics and pain pills, included and all was fine. actually just a bit of discomfort for day or so, return about 10 days and stitches removed, again included in original price.

we also go there now for cleaning and maintenance, as aek udon has increased their prices and paolo has also increased their prices that it is no advantage to go there. last time at paolo i think it was 800 each for cleaning then 200 more for Gem's flouride treatment. at new dentist, it's 500 for cleaning for me and ree, and Gem was 200 total, which included flouride treatment.

location of dentist is next to the dentist that is or used to be a sponsor, at the clock circle, you will see a driveway in between to dental offices, both having a colgate advertisement hanging outside. going into the driveway, the one on the right, i believe is/was a sponsor of udonmap, and the one on the left is our new dentist. quite happy with service and price.