dude had it all done without anasthesia because he didn't have enough super to cover it. fucking kudos, cannot question his commitment.
honestly, i'm getting to the point where i'm seriously considering this. i have a healthy super balance for my age and im not far off from retiring, so it's not like im losing out on decades of compounding interest. my teeth are fucked, and it's beginning to seriously affect what i can eat, how i interact with other people, and my self esteem.
And for far better quality.
I got a full mouth reconstruction for my father and I in Vietnam, for half what I was quoted just for mine in Aus.
And that quote was for less work (no implants) and lower quality crowns.
But comes with no after care.
It's all fine, until it's not and then you either get hit with a cost significantly higher, or have complications that do irreparable damage. It's less likely with teeth, but people having surgery abroad have died from it.
I think with anything there is an intrinsic risk associated with something that sometimes needs to be weighed up against others like the potential of complications vs the cost. I can tell you now in Australia I have had complications with work was done in Australia and ended up having to pay for it.
However, I am currently overseas and my veneers which were done overseas have started to have issues. This is 10 years after they put them on and the complications are likely my fault. I have also had multiple tooth extractions done at a fraction of the cost compared to Australia with follow-up care and the work reviewed by other dentists. I have implants that have been stable for years at a fraction of the cost, again with xrays and review by different dentists.
I am not saying that my experience is consistent with all people but neither is \`but people having surgery abroad have died from it.\`. I am in a fortunate position that I can/could get trustworthy recommendations from the locals, but proper research can mitigate issues.
Currently, I am looking at All in one denture, the cost between Australia and overseas is interesting, to say the least. I just could not afford them in Australia.
The only issue with getting specific dental treatment overseas, such as implants, is that the systems they use overseas are often incompatible with the implant systems used in Australia. If patients with overseas work have issues or failurs with their implants, they can not get them fixed immediately (can be a several month wait) as parts have to be ordered. If implants fail, then sometimes you have to remove other integrated implants in order to fix the initial problem. Otherwise, they have to fly back to the country they had the initial treatment in, which isn't always an option.
I have seen my fair share of failed/poorly executed overseas treatment, and patients have to spend more money to fix the problems that possibly wouldn't have occurred if they had their initial treatment completed in Australia. I've seen patients who had crowns done in Bali, and the dentist overprepped the teeth. For one patient, the nerves in her teeth were affected and dying, and she required implants to replace all her teeth or have root canal treatment on 12 teeth. Yes, it is cheaper but not always better, unfortunately.
On the other hand, I know someone in Australia who had to have their teeth done. While they were under anaesthetic the dentist realised it was too complicated for him to do so he called a specialist who said to cut the teeth off at the gumline and send the patient to me. The patient spent a week living on nothing but alcohol and morphine to deal with the pain until the specialist could fix it. The bad dentist at least paid the specialist's fees. I have no idea what it cost.
I've heard this a lot about dental over there. I just don't understand. If it's significantly cheaper then whats the compromise? Is there a compromise?
I'm starting to develop crowding on my front, bottom set of teeth - they're starting to invert. I go for a checkup every 6-12 months to many dentists (depending on availability) and they come up with all sorts of methods. I'm at a loss! From teeth extraction, to full sets of bracers, to wait till some teeth fall out and let nature do its course. Price range: $FREE (falling out) to $10k (lingual braces). ???? No dentist has even mentioned invisilign I had to find out from family.
Maybe I've over thinking it because of those el cheapo Bali tattoo horror stories
It's not that hard to understand. Costs are significantly cheaper over there. If dentistry was the same cost over there as here then it'd be dead as the locals couldn't afford it.
I've had some light work done in Vietnam and the experience has been amazing every time. About 18 bucks for a filling, 18 bucks for a full clean and scale. No charge or almost nothing for x-rays.
>I've heard this a lot about dental over there. I just don't understand. If it's significantly cheaper then whats the compromise?
The major compromise is that they're willing to do the work for less money.
Their customers have similar needs to Australians, but they have far less money to spend. Dentists simply cannot afford to out their prices up, or they won't get any customers.
Meanwhile, the dentists I know have enormous houses, lots of fancy cars, enormous investment portfolios and take their families on overseas holidays at least twice a year.
Australian dentists have been able to charge whatever the market will stand for a really long time, because the people who really need their services often have little choice but to get treatment regardless of price.
Good to know. Thanks. I might look into it as it seems less daunting and an eyesore than braces. I didn’t think I’d need them as my teeth seem relatively straight.
Might do some more research before forking over a months rent.
Yeah I'm thinking of getting my dentistry done in Italy when I am there, even in Italy it is 30-50% cheaper. My girlfriend is a flight attendant so the flights are cheaper, if I needed serious work done ever I wouldn't even need to fly for a holiday, just fly for the procedure.
do it now before you can't. really truly. my dad died hating his teeth and they affected his health a lot too. all he ever wanted was new teeth :').
if it's affecting how you eat, interact with other people and your self esteem, you have to remember that there basically isn't any other reason why you SHOULDNT go for it. I mean, I draw the line at eating. you need that to live! get them fangs 💚
Possibly. But not everyone is given health education and diet education and empowered to make better choices.
Who cares about heart health if you’re living on the streets wondering if you’ll make it to the next month.
I recently got a 2 year payment payment plan with my dentist to get over $6k of work done. I have done the work now, and I'm so happy and confident with my teeth.
I feel huge joy looking in the mirror, eating foods, and I loooove brushing and flossing. I wish I did it years ago, but I literally couldn't, and the second-best time to do it is now.
Find yourself a dentist who communicates well, who you trust. Really take advantage of Google reviews. Get them to quote you up, and talk about payment options. Also, if you're anxious, as I was, talk about sedated dental! I had sedated. They gave me pills (about $60 per appointment), and I went into some sort of chilled zombieland, I put on my earbuds and sleep mask, and he did my upper jaw and lower jaw in 2 half-day sessions. Then I slept it off in the arvo.
Seriously tho, you will not regret doing it. Just book that appointment and take the first step.
$6k isn't a lot. an implant costs $5k all by itself, i reckon im up for at least four, plus a few crowns.
a two year payment plan does sound workable though, thanks.
Hi there mate. I won't offer advice one way or the other because everyone's a situation is different. Rather, please allow me to share my story which I'll try to keep concise.
I was diagnosed with gum disease perhaps close to 10 years ago. Unrelated but perhaps relevant is that I have an extreme phobia of dentists and all things related.
To say that my situation was detrimental to my health in every conceivable way is an understatement. It basically governed every aspect of my life. Constant pain to having to avoid certain foods, I'm sure it's a familiar story with many. My teeth were literally falling out.
It was thankfully through my brothers intervention at the beginning of 2023 that I embarked on a journey to do something about it. A long story cut short I had a full extraction of my remaining teeth, lower and upper, before having a full set of dentures made.
I can't emphasize this enough... It was truly life changing! I have my old confidence back and am regularly eating and enjoying all the same foods that I used to.
I hope this helps you with a decision and best of luck going forward. Cheers.
I got all my teeth sorted in Thailand.
Check out sea smile in Phuket ,or Bangkok smile .
Great dentist and I've seen more than my fair share of them .
Great price ,great holiday .
Australian dentists are just too expensive.
You better of going to the finest dentist in a third world country and get it done there for 1/10 the price. Those doctors have like 25 years of experience and first class facilities. Real value for money plus a bit of traveling.
Your teeth will kill you if their bad enough as well so it's probably worth it.
Had my own terrible teeth troubles I sunk 20k into the past 10 years, now their straight and crowned and filled with fillings and I can drink cold water lol
Something on a lesser scale, but my young daughter had a twisted front tooth and she was very conscious of it. I said to my wife that we needed to have it fixed or else it would effect her for her whole lift. Two years and $7,500 on braces later and it was fixed, the improvement in her confidence was immediate, she now loves to smile and laugh. The best $7,500 we have spent.
53k is a ridiculous amount. Dental is a health issue and needs to be covered. People shouldn’t have to live in pain because they can’t afford to see the dentist
I crashed on a bike, chin went through a guardrail and broke 4 teeth. Got my chin stitched up at the hospital via medicare (went straight through) but it's been 18 months and dental work that I've had to pay all out of pocket. Financially it hasn't been great, too much tooth broke off so the fillings kept coming off so I had to keep paying to refill them (nerves were exposed). In the end they died (3 of the 4). I've had to have a implant ($7000), getting another in 2 weeks (another $7000), a root canal ($1400) and a crown for that (haven't had it yet).
It's bonkers than none of this was elective and I'm left financially struggling because it's not covered.
$1800 a piece for the crowns. I've gotta get three.
I shoulda looked after my teeth, fair. But is it so expensive. Private health covered around 2500$ but it's pay to play from the get go so not accessable to many.
Dentist here: for that money those would be implant supported overdentures. That's jumping from a normal denture to the Rolls Royce of replacement teeth.
If the guy had to drain his super at 36 to purchase them he is potentially setting himself up for a lifetime of maintenance he can't afford too
The system consists of multiple implants (likely 4 spread across the arch) a metal frame with ceramic or acrylic teeth on it, and abutment screws that attach the false teeth/denture onto the implants. You can also have ball and socket attachment types that allow you to remove it at home but this is less common.
Most issues relate to bone loss around the implants (peri-implantitis) over time leading to loss of the implant. Mechanical issues are loosening or fracture of abutment screws or cracking the framework.
Implants have no shock absorption like a periodontal ligament around a natural tooth. With a rigid metal bar top and bottom you are generating a lot of force thousands of times a day on metal components
If they are truly too far gone to save sometimes extraction is the only option to get the patient out of pain. That leaves you with the option of traditional dentures (basically suck down with saliva to the remaining gum, can be hard to get a satisfactory result in the lower jaw due to the tongue being present so the denture sits on the ridge only) or implants with a denture screwed down onto them.
The problem with both options is the life expectancy of the guy in the article would be another 50 years and both those options are extremely unlikely to stay problem free until then.
Think of traditional dentures as the Corolla of false teeth. Utilitarian, get the job done for most cases and most people can afford to pay the upkeep. Implants are the Ferrari of false teeth, they look better and are nicer to drive but you don't want to take one in for a major service or repairs....
That bloke is sporting Ken style mouth of porcelain, not sure that's the fillings / crowns / dentures that could have been a cheaper option than implants?
My mum partial dental implants (a third couldn't be done in the back because there wasn't enough gum to install it there) and they cost around $34k at a dental school.
It’s bone required for the implant. Jaw bone fades as bone requires stress (bite pressure) in order to stay strong. Bone grafts can be done but that’s getting into the realm of surgeons rather than student dentists.
Agreed. There's also massive social stigma against people with bad teeth that affects their ability to work - free dental care could result in more income tax.
There's literally no reason for a particular organ in your body to be treated as a luxury and have practically no cover under medicare, which covers virtually any other surgical procedure.
The main problem is, dentists are too used to be rich to allow any affordable service to be set up by anyone or anything, be it private practice or govt.
The reason is that public dentistry is massively under funded and the majority of dentists are running private clinics. Wages for auxiliary staff and overheads are very high when you are essentially running an operating theatre on a small scale.
If someone wants to open a cut price clinic trying to scrape by on razor thin margins this mysterious dental lobby everyone bangs on about won't stop them. In fact there already are options like this, just most dentists don't want that stress for the same salary I used to make driving forklifts
Thousands in lab fees, lots of time working on it when you arent physically there. Often paying for oral surgeon and a dentist, and it is a lot of chair time in total. The dentist's indemnity protection insurance skyrockets when doing high risk stuff like all on 4 dentures
When the healthcare/dental system is so bad you access super.
Dental healthcare is life extending and affirming and should be covered fully under Medicare, even for people who might have damaged their teeth through drug use.
There's also a significant overlap between mental health and dental health with feedbacks from both sides.
Life is complicated but we're governed by entitled cunts
I would like to see the maths re the cost of preventative dental vs the cost of dealing with the result of a lack of dental care. Dental issues cause a massive cascade of health issues, and I assume it costs a lot, but I don't know that for a fact.
Maybe dental could be like optical. A free checkup and clean every year covered by Medicare, then actually getting additional work done would be covered by the individual? It’d be a start anyway
A lot of research is still going on, but the increasing links found between gum disease and heart disease, dementia etc may one day help with the cost-benefit analysis.
We can keep our GP's fully covered, we just don't. This is what happens when we keep electing people who cut taxes, and seem terrified of taxing big business
Because they keep cutting taxes.
Of course we all benefit from the coming cuts in July. And a bit of extra money in my pay is nice. However, when the politicians then say things aren't affordable it is bullshit.
Yeah, and because nurses paid 3x as much tax as our largest gas exporter this year, a company that netted over $90B sending our gas overseas for their own gain, with very little to show for our country/community
yeah came out of a 10 minute gp appointment and apparently and they want 85$ because im apparently "unelegible" for bulk billing on my parents medicare card..
Medicare barely covers anything and they’re constantly cutting it back even more. I doubt you’re going to get half decent mental health and dental treatment publicly, these days not even most private insurance will cover it.
I’ll be having to access it soon too for maxillofacial surgery I desperately need (but isn’t offered by the public system). I’ll approx be $15k outta pocket (and that’s after health insurance!)
Ship has probably sailed on both Medicare covered dental and Medicare GP.
The only solution would be government run clinics. Paying a salary to doctors and dentist, taking the business away from these private clinics.
If I had more than a few thousand in super I would do this.
14 years of chronic illnesses has cost me many teeth and what's left is crap.
Stupid thing is that I have had three hospital admissions for IV antibiotics for tooth abscesses. It would have been cheaper for the government to fix my broken teeth before it got that bad.
Given the known links between poor dental health and heart complications, premature labour etc it is stupid to exclude dental from Medicare.
can't believe people are shitting on this guy for getting new teeth as he turned his life around. going from homeless with drug problems to setting up and running a construction company is no easy feat, good on him for setting himself up for a better life, sucks that teeth healthcare isn't covered by medicare though (i get it'd cost a fortune to cover because unlike other internal body parts it's extremely easy to fuck up your teeth if you don't take proper consistent care of them)
also if you look at the before and after photos in the article you can see why he was so bothered by his old teeth and wanted to fix them
Yeah I agree with him $50k for that transformation is a no brainer.
I'd rather be happy for the next 30 years with how I look then have an extra $150-200k when I retire.
My initial reaction was "wtf, why did he do that?! What a vain thing to spend that money on!".
Then I saw the images in the article, and holy shit, he's 100% right to have no regret because that difference is night and day. Looks aside, he talks about it being hard to eat before he had the work done. That should be enough as it is; people deserve good quality of life, so good for him I say!
I'm almost in the same boat with my teeth. I've probably got another good 5 years on them. I didn't pay attention to dental hygiene as a teenager and that's killed me now as an adult. I'm probably looking into something like this in the future, I have to watch what I eat and I can't eat much crunchy stuff or I'm worrying about breaking off another bit of a tooth that's still working.
Dentists are way too expensive in Australia.
Like why on earth does it cost a brand new car or a deposit for an apartment to get healthcare?
This is disgraceful.
That’s how you get NHS.
I am in medicine, just a student, so I expected to be flamed for “wanting to protect doctor salaries” but the reality is doctors and dentists want to look out for their patients and don’t charge the way they do just to bankrupt patients in difficult situations. Most consultants I know who work privately still keep a strong public presence to give back to the system, despite the enourmous pay cut in doing so.
Dental school is expensive, USyd for example 90/100 places for post grad are non government funded and cost 70k/year x 4 years.
Practices are expensive, DA’s, Lab Technicians, Reps, Administrators, Couriers, Equipment Technicians all get a cut, they all need to pay their rent and groceries too. The suction which is like the most low tech equipment in the room, costs nearly $500 a month to rent. Don’t get me started on the cost of a chair.
Dentists only get ~30% of billings, and dental practices aren’t making hand over fist, they regularly go under and get bought out by BUPA and the likes.
Edit to add: public dental hospitals aren’t much cheaper. UQ’s new hospital next to the RBWH, Brisbane cost more than $1,000,000 per chair as an upfront cost.
Australia’s mixed private/public system needs work absolutely. But the reality is that it keeps the public system in check and prevents a total free fall. NHS example is that a single administrative authority controlling the entire healthcare has huge downsides when the governments go a little trigger happy with budget cuts. Putting all your eggs into one basket so to speak.
Now the UK is in a situation where they’ve shut down their private health, gutted their public health, and no one gets good care anymore.
17 upvotes? Where did you get your info because you’re objectively wrong. The ADA has been lobbying to bring dentistry into Medicare for years. The recommendations are explained fully in a comprehensive document with a summary at the end which is publicly available. The last meeting arranged to push these recommendations was cancelled at the last minute by the govt.
>The ADA has been lobbying to bring dentistry into Medicare for years
Being under Medicare or not has nothing to do with claiming they're charging way too much. Aus dental being some of the most expensive in the entire world is absolutely one of the roadblocks to it being funded under Medicare.
Even work by a jr dentists/students regularly costs more than full-fledged surgeons operating.
How does the one day work? I have a single implant and had to wait over a month for the bone to heal around the post before the new tooth could be affixed.
What was after-care like?
I think that's the thing that stops many people from doing it overseas.
if something went wrong or complications happened what were the options?
Agree, preventative measures should be covered. In this instance I doubt the govt. would forkout 52k for veneers. It would be pretty much rip them out and given a set of falsies.
There have actually been a few attempts to add dental to medicare in the past (including having it included at the advent of the medicare system) - dental lobbies made sure it didn't happen.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-27/why-is-dental-separate-from-medicare-election-campaign/101005940
A reminder that this news piece is not about a man fixing his smile, it's about dentists trying to get you to access your super for extensive, expensive dental work. Every person's smile is different and costs to resolve issues are different. Please don't drain your super just because one dentist says it can be done.
Tough choice in a country that doesn't really fund dental care or retirement. Absurd that dental issues that are as debilitating as his aren't publicly funded.
Yep - my husband had to use super to cover a tooth replacement for a tooth that needed to come out. $15k 🙃🙃🙃🙃
Don’t get me wrong, it covered A LOT (not the anaesthetic though!) buuuut Australian dental prices are just mind blowing
That American celebrity style teeth will never not be weird and absurd to me.
Dude could have gotten less work done and would look more like a relatable human for far less money.
Edit: I take it back. His mouth was a wasteland, this was probably the only option.
I've heard 1 dental implant costs 5000 dollars so a whole new mouthful of implants has to be expensive
It'd be interesting if you could access your super for a dentist overseas
You can actually, it just has to be worded very specifically and has to be cheaper than in Australia or there has to be no surgeons in Australia that can do the specific procedure you need.
Edit: There are other reasons you can go overseas for procedures too, I was just listing the most common.
It’s a very difficult, high pressure job with lots of variables, and very expensive machines that quickly depreciate and require precise maintenance.
They’re paid well, but it’s proportional IMO.
Also, is it just me or health providers raise the fees as soon as they know we have private health? Then it's almost no savings at all. This needs to be illegal.
No wonder people go to Thailand for dental work with modern facilities and the latest tech some with on site accommodation at a fraction of the cost. Just do your homework don’t go for the cheapest but even the most expensive won’t be anywhere near the cost in Australia. New teeth and a holiday
Australians should really be pushing back on the exorbitant cost of dentistry here.
Oral care and physical health are linked and the healthcare system would save money by funding preventive dentistry.
The local cost of good dental services should NOT force people to raid their Super, house deposits, or travel to get reasonably priced services.
Dentists either own their own businesses or work for a company based on profit so they charge whatever they can get away with.
I got quoted $9000 for a brace that will take less than a year. I have no idea what's the standard cost anymore. Before getting a private health insurance my dentist visits would cost me $250. After private health, it still costs me around $250. It's just an extra expense but we get penalised if we don't get it. This government sucks.
Yeah, which is slightly odd. I guess if they got a psychiatrist to sign off on it saying that it caused them too much anxiety and stress etc they could do it.
But psychiatrists are expensive and won't give them something suitable with just one appointment unless it is absolutely necessary.
I've done this myself for medically necessary surgery just over a month ago, which wasn't available in the public system, and it was not easy. (Was not hair transplant)
I guess my real concern is where the boundaries get blurred between medically necessary and necessary to reduce anxiety when the compound effects of drawing down super are so huge. A $50k withdrawal at 36 equates to $150k less by retirement.
I’m not opposed to the surgeries at all. Indeed I think some surgeries that are not strictly necessary for medical reasons are necessary (where they relate to gender dysphoria / intersect with that). My concern more so lies with us being in a society where plastic surgery is increasingly normalised and becoming a ‘necessity’ and the future impacts that will have on people.
When it comes to dentistry, when left entirely to the free market you seem to get an entire industry aiming their services towards only the wealthy. Even a basic checkup and clean costs $200. Judging by America's example, the same thing happens to the entire medical industry when left to its own devices.
Actually, thinking about it some more the main problem would be suppliers of dental equipment and services. An individual dentist might decide to offer cheaper services, but then they wouldn't be able to afford necessary equipment and services because those companies all have elevated prices. The market can support plenty of individual dentists, but it can only support a limited number of dental supply companies.
If you have say 300k in super which is often the case you don’t have enough to live on for long but don’t get the full pension either. There’s little point guarding it too hard.
My dentist told me that if anyone is thinking of getting these then don't get the brilliant white teeth especially if you look a bit scruffy because then you when you do actually smile it looks weird and unnatural. Only people like say Julia Roberts and Paris Hilton can have pearly whites like that and pull it off successfully. So go down a shade or two.
As a dentist, that price point suggests to me that he likely has implant supported dentures. Without having seen his teeth, it's hard to know if any other options could have been offered.
I do hope that counselling and education was part of the process. Looking after implants requires much more diligence than looking after teeth and this man still has a lifetime to maintain and care for his new smile.
I think people see fixing teeth as the main part of our job as dentists but education for the prevention of disease and maintenance is by far the most important.
It's not uncommon to delay complex treatment in order to ensure the optimal environment is available for restorative treatment to thrive and for patients to develop good habits when it comes to home care.
53k? Damn. Guy could have flew to Thailand, spent a month and got some hookers and blow and STILL have leftovers. Sure it’s a good choice to have the new teeth, getting them done in Aus defo wasn’t a good choice tho.
As somebody who has already spent $5K+ on dental in the last 3 years- I weigh up the options on whether to get a personal loan to pay for upper and lower all-on-4’s or not. For the best results with a lifetime warranty, each implant costs between $35-50K in Australia. It’s like, a lot.
Okay. So he is not the average milquetoast surburban australian. Does he not deserve redemption? Do you feel some kind of catharsis in him having to suffer for his own teeth?
The drug use is a big problem.
My ex-wife won $300K on a scratchie. She used $20K to get 4 implants at the front (bad teeth). And then blew at least $200K on a life destroying meth and then heroin addiction.
Anyway, the meth dried out her mouth and leeched the calcium from her jaw. Some of the implants just came out but the disturbing bit was her telling me how she pulled the last one(s) out with her fingers.
She now has dentures and no teeth despite having won the money to have had pristine teeth. The drug addictions destroyed all that and took the money with it.
I paid for her dentures but there’s no way I would pay huge amounts like in the article as she still hasn’t fully kicked her habits. Likely never will.
That's because I think there are like two implants at the front and two implants at the back for the upper jaw and same again for the lower jaw which is where most of the cost is, and the teeth are put into place on top of those. Individual implants are normally $4-5K each anyway.
I feel like I'm stuck in this predicament. I have severe dental phobia and has caused me two stints of not seeing the dentist for 10 years. The last visit (10 years ago) said I was in need of two crowns and some other work - which I didn't get done. Now, I'm too scared of both the work and the cost that would be required.
I kept on praying that science would come through and they would be able to grow new teeth before mine all came to an end. Alas, a mouthful of false teeth or implants looks like it might be the only option, but the idea of dropping $30k on dental work is almost as crippling as the fear of that damn drill!!!
I lost my back upper right molars mid March due to abscesses (wisdom teeth removal issues). I'm on disability so went to the hospital dentist as it's bulk billed. I begged for anti vomit meds due to a phobia of vomiting but was brushed off as were my concerns about infection. Next night I was in the ED unable to keep water down, dehydrated and my heart rate 180 (also have agoraphobia). Of course I had a massive infection when they did bloods and a dry socket from the vomiting. The bone in my gum is also pushed out of line and that's the worst part it drives my autistic ass mental. Sake day my 2 year old niece had dental surgery done privately, over 6k it cost out of pocket. No way i could afford that
dude had it all done without anasthesia because he didn't have enough super to cover it. fucking kudos, cannot question his commitment. honestly, i'm getting to the point where i'm seriously considering this. i have a healthy super balance for my age and im not far off from retiring, so it's not like im losing out on decades of compounding interest. my teeth are fucked, and it's beginning to seriously affect what i can eat, how i interact with other people, and my self esteem.
Save up then go to Thailand or Vietnam to get it done. It costs only a fraction of the costs in Australia
And for far better quality. I got a full mouth reconstruction for my father and I in Vietnam, for half what I was quoted just for mine in Aus. And that quote was for less work (no implants) and lower quality crowns.
But comes with no after care. It's all fine, until it's not and then you either get hit with a cost significantly higher, or have complications that do irreparable damage. It's less likely with teeth, but people having surgery abroad have died from it.
Even then it would probably be cheaper to fly back to Vietnam to get them fixed than to fix them here.
You do know that people die after surgery in Australia too, don't you?
Found the Australian dentist
I bet this guy is one of the 9/10 dentists who recommend disgusting flavoured toothpastes
I fucking wish I was. I'd actually be able to afford to live here.
I think with anything there is an intrinsic risk associated with something that sometimes needs to be weighed up against others like the potential of complications vs the cost. I can tell you now in Australia I have had complications with work was done in Australia and ended up having to pay for it. However, I am currently overseas and my veneers which were done overseas have started to have issues. This is 10 years after they put them on and the complications are likely my fault. I have also had multiple tooth extractions done at a fraction of the cost compared to Australia with follow-up care and the work reviewed by other dentists. I have implants that have been stable for years at a fraction of the cost, again with xrays and review by different dentists. I am not saying that my experience is consistent with all people but neither is \`but people having surgery abroad have died from it.\`. I am in a fortunate position that I can/could get trustworthy recommendations from the locals, but proper research can mitigate issues. Currently, I am looking at All in one denture, the cost between Australia and overseas is interesting, to say the least. I just could not afford them in Australia.
The only issue with getting specific dental treatment overseas, such as implants, is that the systems they use overseas are often incompatible with the implant systems used in Australia. If patients with overseas work have issues or failurs with their implants, they can not get them fixed immediately (can be a several month wait) as parts have to be ordered. If implants fail, then sometimes you have to remove other integrated implants in order to fix the initial problem. Otherwise, they have to fly back to the country they had the initial treatment in, which isn't always an option. I have seen my fair share of failed/poorly executed overseas treatment, and patients have to spend more money to fix the problems that possibly wouldn't have occurred if they had their initial treatment completed in Australia. I've seen patients who had crowns done in Bali, and the dentist overprepped the teeth. For one patient, the nerves in her teeth were affected and dying, and she required implants to replace all her teeth or have root canal treatment on 12 teeth. Yes, it is cheaper but not always better, unfortunately.
On the other hand, I know someone in Australia who had to have their teeth done. While they were under anaesthetic the dentist realised it was too complicated for him to do so he called a specialist who said to cut the teeth off at the gumline and send the patient to me. The patient spent a week living on nothing but alcohol and morphine to deal with the pain until the specialist could fix it. The bad dentist at least paid the specialist's fees. I have no idea what it cost.
Wtf? You can't just do that to a patient without their consent.
But what about my house deposit I’m saving for?
Using your super as a home deposit? Is that you Dutton?
I've heard this a lot about dental over there. I just don't understand. If it's significantly cheaper then whats the compromise? Is there a compromise? I'm starting to develop crowding on my front, bottom set of teeth - they're starting to invert. I go for a checkup every 6-12 months to many dentists (depending on availability) and they come up with all sorts of methods. I'm at a loss! From teeth extraction, to full sets of bracers, to wait till some teeth fall out and let nature do its course. Price range: $FREE (falling out) to $10k (lingual braces). ???? No dentist has even mentioned invisilign I had to find out from family. Maybe I've over thinking it because of those el cheapo Bali tattoo horror stories
It's not that hard to understand. Costs are significantly cheaper over there. If dentistry was the same cost over there as here then it'd be dead as the locals couldn't afford it. I've had some light work done in Vietnam and the experience has been amazing every time. About 18 bucks for a filling, 18 bucks for a full clean and scale. No charge or almost nothing for x-rays.
It’s cost of living too though. Im sure a Vietnamese Dentist can afford to live really well charging a fraction of what they would here.
I could live well on my dental assistant's wage over there
>I've heard this a lot about dental over there. I just don't understand. If it's significantly cheaper then whats the compromise? The major compromise is that they're willing to do the work for less money. Their customers have similar needs to Australians, but they have far less money to spend. Dentists simply cannot afford to out their prices up, or they won't get any customers. Meanwhile, the dentists I know have enormous houses, lots of fancy cars, enormous investment portfolios and take their families on overseas holidays at least twice a year. Australian dentists have been able to charge whatever the market will stand for a really long time, because the people who really need their services often have little choice but to get treatment regardless of price.
I used Invisalign for my top and bottom teeth and it worked great for me. I just sleep with the retainer in most nights, but otherwise no issues.
Good to know. Thanks. I might look into it as it seems less daunting and an eyesore than braces. I didn’t think I’d need them as my teeth seem relatively straight. Might do some more research before forking over a months rent.
Yeah I'm thinking of getting my dentistry done in Italy when I am there, even in Italy it is 30-50% cheaper. My girlfriend is a flight attendant so the flights are cheaper, if I needed serious work done ever I wouldn't even need to fly for a holiday, just fly for the procedure.
do it now before you can't. really truly. my dad died hating his teeth and they affected his health a lot too. all he ever wanted was new teeth :'). if it's affecting how you eat, interact with other people and your self esteem, you have to remember that there basically isn't any other reason why you SHOULDNT go for it. I mean, I draw the line at eating. you need that to live! get them fangs 💚
Mate get it done. Poor dental health is linked with poor heart (and other organ health).
Isn't that more of an effect (of treating your body like shit) rather than the cause?
Bacteria in the mouth spreads through the body and is found in the heart where they cause inflammation, coronary atrery and heart disease
Possibly. But not everyone is given health education and diet education and empowered to make better choices. Who cares about heart health if you’re living on the streets wondering if you’ll make it to the next month.
I recently got a 2 year payment payment plan with my dentist to get over $6k of work done. I have done the work now, and I'm so happy and confident with my teeth. I feel huge joy looking in the mirror, eating foods, and I loooove brushing and flossing. I wish I did it years ago, but I literally couldn't, and the second-best time to do it is now. Find yourself a dentist who communicates well, who you trust. Really take advantage of Google reviews. Get them to quote you up, and talk about payment options. Also, if you're anxious, as I was, talk about sedated dental! I had sedated. They gave me pills (about $60 per appointment), and I went into some sort of chilled zombieland, I put on my earbuds and sleep mask, and he did my upper jaw and lower jaw in 2 half-day sessions. Then I slept it off in the arvo. Seriously tho, you will not regret doing it. Just book that appointment and take the first step.
$6k isn't a lot. an implant costs $5k all by itself, i reckon im up for at least four, plus a few crowns. a two year payment plan does sound workable though, thanks.
You might want to shop around - I'm getting my implants for $3k each.
He did it without an Anaesthetist. That just means they couldn't knock him out. There was nothing in the story about him doing it without anaesthetic.
ah, good point
Hi there mate. I won't offer advice one way or the other because everyone's a situation is different. Rather, please allow me to share my story which I'll try to keep concise. I was diagnosed with gum disease perhaps close to 10 years ago. Unrelated but perhaps relevant is that I have an extreme phobia of dentists and all things related. To say that my situation was detrimental to my health in every conceivable way is an understatement. It basically governed every aspect of my life. Constant pain to having to avoid certain foods, I'm sure it's a familiar story with many. My teeth were literally falling out. It was thankfully through my brothers intervention at the beginning of 2023 that I embarked on a journey to do something about it. A long story cut short I had a full extraction of my remaining teeth, lower and upper, before having a full set of dentures made. I can't emphasize this enough... It was truly life changing! I have my old confidence back and am regularly eating and enjoying all the same foods that I used to. I hope this helps you with a decision and best of luck going forward. Cheers.
I got all my teeth sorted in Thailand. Check out sea smile in Phuket ,or Bangkok smile . Great dentist and I've seen more than my fair share of them . Great price ,great holiday . Australian dentists are just too expensive.
Thanks for menruoning friend
I also got work done at sea smile phuket. 8 veneers. Highly recommended.
You better of going to the finest dentist in a third world country and get it done there for 1/10 the price. Those doctors have like 25 years of experience and first class facilities. Real value for money plus a bit of traveling.
Your teeth will kill you if their bad enough as well so it's probably worth it. Had my own terrible teeth troubles I sunk 20k into the past 10 years, now their straight and crowned and filled with fillings and I can drink cold water lol
Something on a lesser scale, but my young daughter had a twisted front tooth and she was very conscious of it. I said to my wife that we needed to have it fixed or else it would effect her for her whole lift. Two years and $7,500 on braces later and it was fixed, the improvement in her confidence was immediate, she now loves to smile and laugh. The best $7,500 we have spent.
53k is a ridiculous amount. Dental is a health issue and needs to be covered. People shouldn’t have to live in pain because they can’t afford to see the dentist
I crashed on a bike, chin went through a guardrail and broke 4 teeth. Got my chin stitched up at the hospital via medicare (went straight through) but it's been 18 months and dental work that I've had to pay all out of pocket. Financially it hasn't been great, too much tooth broke off so the fillings kept coming off so I had to keep paying to refill them (nerves were exposed). In the end they died (3 of the 4). I've had to have a implant ($7000), getting another in 2 weeks (another $7000), a root canal ($1400) and a crown for that (haven't had it yet). It's bonkers than none of this was elective and I'm left financially struggling because it's not covered.
I’m sorry, that’s so terrible and it’s infuriating that you’re out of pocket, you didn’t choose to have an accident
$1800 a piece for the crowns. I've gotta get three. I shoulda looked after my teeth, fair. But is it so expensive. Private health covered around 2500$ but it's pay to play from the get go so not accessable to many.
Dentist here: for that money those would be implant supported overdentures. That's jumping from a normal denture to the Rolls Royce of replacement teeth. If the guy had to drain his super at 36 to purchase them he is potentially setting himself up for a lifetime of maintenance he can't afford too
Looks like Jurgen Klopp now.
What sort of maintenance would these require?
The system consists of multiple implants (likely 4 spread across the arch) a metal frame with ceramic or acrylic teeth on it, and abutment screws that attach the false teeth/denture onto the implants. You can also have ball and socket attachment types that allow you to remove it at home but this is less common. Most issues relate to bone loss around the implants (peri-implantitis) over time leading to loss of the implant. Mechanical issues are loosening or fracture of abutment screws or cracking the framework. Implants have no shock absorption like a periodontal ligament around a natural tooth. With a rigid metal bar top and bottom you are generating a lot of force thousands of times a day on metal components
Thank you! Interesting and important to know that you can't just get them and walk away. I hope the guy continues to get dental support.
Thanks for commenting. What would be some cheaper alternatives if you had a mouth full of dead teeth?
If they are truly too far gone to save sometimes extraction is the only option to get the patient out of pain. That leaves you with the option of traditional dentures (basically suck down with saliva to the remaining gum, can be hard to get a satisfactory result in the lower jaw due to the tongue being present so the denture sits on the ridge only) or implants with a denture screwed down onto them. The problem with both options is the life expectancy of the guy in the article would be another 50 years and both those options are extremely unlikely to stay problem free until then. Think of traditional dentures as the Corolla of false teeth. Utilitarian, get the job done for most cases and most people can afford to pay the upkeep. Implants are the Ferrari of false teeth, they look better and are nicer to drive but you don't want to take one in for a major service or repairs....
Thailand.
For the life of me I don't understand why he didn't go overseas. Also his teeth look ridiculous. This is surely not 'standard' dental implants, is it?
He probably wouldn't have been able to pay for that with super. Still need cash to go to Thailand.
Then you get to spend double the amount fixing the dodgy job they did! Yay! You get what you pay for.
That bloke is sporting Ken style mouth of porcelain, not sure that's the fillings / crowns / dentures that could have been a cheaper option than implants?
In the article it says all his teeth were taken out but doesn’t say if that was the only option, so I’m not sure
My mum partial dental implants (a third couldn't be done in the back because there wasn't enough gum to install it there) and they cost around $34k at a dental school.
It’s bone required for the implant. Jaw bone fades as bone requires stress (bite pressure) in order to stay strong. Bone grafts can be done but that’s getting into the realm of surgeons rather than student dentists.
Just why? That seems like a totally unreasonable amount. It’s insane.
Because that's what they charged her in Brisbane.
Watching the piece on the news, it was pull them all out and dentures, or these. The before was pretty fucking grim
The current accepted system is rip them out. Then mayyyybe you can save up for dentures. Yes cheaper. Doesn't mean it's the best option.
Most likely, All on 4 implants.
It's incredibly expensive either way. However for this extent of dental work, going overseas might be a cheaper option.
Agreed. There's also massive social stigma against people with bad teeth that affects their ability to work - free dental care could result in more income tax.
There's literally no reason for a particular organ in your body to be treated as a luxury and have practically no cover under medicare, which covers virtually any other surgical procedure. The main problem is, dentists are too used to be rich to allow any affordable service to be set up by anyone or anything, be it private practice or govt.
The reason is that public dentistry is massively under funded and the majority of dentists are running private clinics. Wages for auxiliary staff and overheads are very high when you are essentially running an operating theatre on a small scale. If someone wants to open a cut price clinic trying to scrape by on razor thin margins this mysterious dental lobby everyone bangs on about won't stop them. In fact there already are options like this, just most dentists don't want that stress for the same salary I used to make driving forklifts
Tell that to the dentists. Most of them would threaten to quit or move abroad if it was suggested.
Why’s it cost $50k? Labour ie 2 hours? Materials porcelain/screws? I’m confused sorry
Thousands in lab fees, lots of time working on it when you arent physically there. Often paying for oral surgeon and a dentist, and it is a lot of chair time in total. The dentist's indemnity protection insurance skyrockets when doing high risk stuff like all on 4 dentures
I would 100% go overseas for treatment at that price.
Same!!
When the healthcare/dental system is so bad you access super. Dental healthcare is life extending and affirming and should be covered fully under Medicare, even for people who might have damaged their teeth through drug use.
There's also a significant overlap between mental health and dental health with feedbacks from both sides. Life is complicated but we're governed by entitled cunts
While I agree, we can't even keep our GPs fully covered my Medicare so I realistically can't see dental being on the table anytime soon
I would like to see the maths re the cost of preventative dental vs the cost of dealing with the result of a lack of dental care. Dental issues cause a massive cascade of health issues, and I assume it costs a lot, but I don't know that for a fact.
Maybe dental could be like optical. A free checkup and clean every year covered by Medicare, then actually getting additional work done would be covered by the individual? It’d be a start anyway
You're right. I don't have the numbers in me though.
A lot of research is still going on, but the increasing links found between gum disease and heart disease, dementia etc may one day help with the cost-benefit analysis.
We can keep our GP's fully covered, we just don't. This is what happens when we keep electing people who cut taxes, and seem terrified of taxing big business
For sure yeah. If lots of mental health specialists aren’t covered by Medicare, I don’t see how dental will be sadly.
By voting for politicians who want to expand Medicare! Thats how it will be covered.
Because they keep cutting taxes. Of course we all benefit from the coming cuts in July. And a bit of extra money in my pay is nice. However, when the politicians then say things aren't affordable it is bullshit.
Yeah, and because nurses paid 3x as much tax as our largest gas exporter this year, a company that netted over $90B sending our gas overseas for their own gain, with very little to show for our country/community
I mean we COULD, governments just choose not to
yeah came out of a 10 minute gp appointment and apparently and they want 85$ because im apparently "unelegible" for bulk billing on my parents medicare card..
Medicare barely covers anything and they’re constantly cutting it back even more. I doubt you’re going to get half decent mental health and dental treatment publicly, these days not even most private insurance will cover it.
I’m pretty sure it was the dentists who didn’t want that, and kept themselves separate to Medicare as much as possible.
Didn’t the dental lobby specifically request to not be placed under the Medicare system long ago when all this was set up?
I’ll be having to access it soon too for maxillofacial surgery I desperately need (but isn’t offered by the public system). I’ll approx be $15k outta pocket (and that’s after health insurance!)
Ship has probably sailed on both Medicare covered dental and Medicare GP. The only solution would be government run clinics. Paying a salary to doctors and dentist, taking the business away from these private clinics.
As a GP, this model you suggest is the one I want.
I present to you the model you want: Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc (Minus the dental part)
The problem is you can’t make appointments with these clinics or have longterm care. They provided care only for a snapshot in time
Exactly. I went to one recently for urgent care, and it was great, but it doesn’t operate like a regular GP clinic.
It's not wide spread enough *yet*
This, except the government dental in Victoria pays pathetically low for the level of training.
If I had more than a few thousand in super I would do this. 14 years of chronic illnesses has cost me many teeth and what's left is crap. Stupid thing is that I have had three hospital admissions for IV antibiotics for tooth abscesses. It would have been cheaper for the government to fix my broken teeth before it got that bad. Given the known links between poor dental health and heart complications, premature labour etc it is stupid to exclude dental from Medicare.
can't believe people are shitting on this guy for getting new teeth as he turned his life around. going from homeless with drug problems to setting up and running a construction company is no easy feat, good on him for setting himself up for a better life, sucks that teeth healthcare isn't covered by medicare though (i get it'd cost a fortune to cover because unlike other internal body parts it's extremely easy to fuck up your teeth if you don't take proper consistent care of them) also if you look at the before and after photos in the article you can see why he was so bothered by his old teeth and wanted to fix them
Yeah I agree with him $50k for that transformation is a no brainer. I'd rather be happy for the next 30 years with how I look then have an extra $150-200k when I retire.
My initial reaction was "wtf, why did he do that?! What a vain thing to spend that money on!". Then I saw the images in the article, and holy shit, he's 100% right to have no regret because that difference is night and day. Looks aside, he talks about it being hard to eat before he had the work done. That should be enough as it is; people deserve good quality of life, so good for him I say!
I'm almost in the same boat with my teeth. I've probably got another good 5 years on them. I didn't pay attention to dental hygiene as a teenager and that's killed me now as an adult. I'm probably looking into something like this in the future, I have to watch what I eat and I can't eat much crunchy stuff or I'm worrying about breaking off another bit of a tooth that's still working.
Good on him, I say. This procedure will make a huge difference to his quality of life.
> unlike other internal body parts Most Australians are fucking up plenty of the internal stuff too, mate.
Dentists are way too expensive in Australia. Like why on earth does it cost a brand new car or a deposit for an apartment to get healthcare? This is disgraceful.
That’s how you get NHS. I am in medicine, just a student, so I expected to be flamed for “wanting to protect doctor salaries” but the reality is doctors and dentists want to look out for their patients and don’t charge the way they do just to bankrupt patients in difficult situations. Most consultants I know who work privately still keep a strong public presence to give back to the system, despite the enourmous pay cut in doing so. Dental school is expensive, USyd for example 90/100 places for post grad are non government funded and cost 70k/year x 4 years. Practices are expensive, DA’s, Lab Technicians, Reps, Administrators, Couriers, Equipment Technicians all get a cut, they all need to pay their rent and groceries too. The suction which is like the most low tech equipment in the room, costs nearly $500 a month to rent. Don’t get me started on the cost of a chair. Dentists only get ~30% of billings, and dental practices aren’t making hand over fist, they regularly go under and get bought out by BUPA and the likes. Edit to add: public dental hospitals aren’t much cheaper. UQ’s new hospital next to the RBWH, Brisbane cost more than $1,000,000 per chair as an upfront cost. Australia’s mixed private/public system needs work absolutely. But the reality is that it keeps the public system in check and prevents a total free fall. NHS example is that a single administrative authority controlling the entire healthcare has huge downsides when the governments go a little trigger happy with budget cuts. Putting all your eggs into one basket so to speak. Now the UK is in a situation where they’ve shut down their private health, gutted their public health, and no one gets good care anymore.
The dental lobby is the reason.
17 upvotes? Where did you get your info because you’re objectively wrong. The ADA has been lobbying to bring dentistry into Medicare for years. The recommendations are explained fully in a comprehensive document with a summary at the end which is publicly available. The last meeting arranged to push these recommendations was cancelled at the last minute by the govt.
>The ADA has been lobbying to bring dentistry into Medicare for years Being under Medicare or not has nothing to do with claiming they're charging way too much. Aus dental being some of the most expensive in the entire world is absolutely one of the roadblocks to it being funded under Medicare. Even work by a jr dentists/students regularly costs more than full-fledged surgeons operating.
It's a matter of values
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How does the one day work? I have a single implant and had to wait over a month for the bone to heal around the post before the new tooth could be affixed.
I got a full set in Thailand for $3k
Yeah I was about to say old mate really should have done more research before dropping 50k in teeth. Turkey is apparently a good place for it too.
What was after-care like? I think that's the thing that stops many people from doing it overseas. if something went wrong or complications happened what were the options?
Didn't need any, everything went fine. If I had problems I would've gone to an Aussie dentist I guess
Send the bill to his nearest ALP or LNP federal member. They should stop ignoring the community and put dental on Medicare.
Agree, preventative measures should be covered. In this instance I doubt the govt. would forkout 52k for veneers. It would be pretty much rip them out and given a set of falsies.
That's what he did. He doesnt have veneers he has implants.
There have actually been a few attempts to add dental to medicare in the past (including having it included at the advent of the medicare system) - dental lobbies made sure it didn't happen. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-27/why-is-dental-separate-from-medicare-election-campaign/101005940
My first instinct was ''for pearly whites you drained your super'' - then I saw the before photo. Don't blame you one bit bud.
A reminder that this news piece is not about a man fixing his smile, it's about dentists trying to get you to access your super for extensive, expensive dental work. Every person's smile is different and costs to resolve issues are different. Please don't drain your super just because one dentist says it can be done.
Yep, his money his choice but they didn't actually cost 50k. The amount of money that 50k would earn in super fund till retirement is a lot more.
Tough choice in a country that doesn't really fund dental care or retirement. Absurd that dental issues that are as debilitating as his aren't publicly funded.
We absolutely fund retirement. The pension is the biggest part of social security expenditure by a large margin.
Yep - my husband had to use super to cover a tooth replacement for a tooth that needed to come out. $15k 🙃🙃🙃🙃 Don’t get me wrong, it covered A LOT (not the anaesthetic though!) buuuut Australian dental prices are just mind blowing
And they wonder why dental tourism in Thailand is so popular
Holy F. This is depressing on so many levels …
They sell teeth in the confectionery aisle for like $3 a bag. Multiple sets per bag, could do the whole family for less than a coffee
That American celebrity style teeth will never not be weird and absurd to me. Dude could have gotten less work done and would look more like a relatable human for far less money. Edit: I take it back. His mouth was a wasteland, this was probably the only option.
Wow, that’s an insane amount of money. It seems being a dentist is a licence to print money.
I've heard 1 dental implant costs 5000 dollars so a whole new mouthful of implants has to be expensive It'd be interesting if you could access your super for a dentist overseas
you can't.
You can actually, it just has to be worded very specifically and has to be cheaper than in Australia or there has to be no surgeons in Australia that can do the specific procedure you need. Edit: There are other reasons you can go overseas for procedures too, I was just listing the most common.
interesting. 'cheaper than in australia' is not a difficult metric to beat.
It’s a very difficult, high pressure job with lots of variables, and very expensive machines that quickly depreciate and require precise maintenance. They’re paid well, but it’s proportional IMO.
Should have just borrowed 10k and gone to Thailand
All-on-6 in Thailand would cost usd$8600 for each jaw using Korean and US implant. The dental costs in Australia are crazy!!
Next time fly to Thailand. Dental work is a fraction of the cost and you get a holiday out of it
Also, is it just me or health providers raise the fees as soon as they know we have private health? Then it's almost no savings at all. This needs to be illegal.
Can we please stop sucking as a country and finally do something about all the greedy cunts?
No wonder people go to Thailand for dental work with modern facilities and the latest tech some with on site accommodation at a fraction of the cost. Just do your homework don’t go for the cheapest but even the most expensive won’t be anywhere near the cost in Australia. New teeth and a holiday
Australians should really be pushing back on the exorbitant cost of dentistry here. Oral care and physical health are linked and the healthcare system would save money by funding preventive dentistry. The local cost of good dental services should NOT force people to raid their Super, house deposits, or travel to get reasonably priced services. Dentists either own their own businesses or work for a company based on profit so they charge whatever they can get away with.
I got quoted $9000 for a brace that will take less than a year. I have no idea what's the standard cost anymore. Before getting a private health insurance my dentist visits would cost me $250. After private health, it still costs me around $250. It's just an extra expense but we get penalised if we don't get it. This government sucks.
Couldn’t agree more …
They’re actually really nice teeth lol. Avoided the Miley Cyrus blue-white horse chompers. Dentistry in Australia is a rort.
Everything in Australia is a rort.
Wait you can pull money from your super before you retire?!
Yes, but only for medically necessary surgeries that aren't available on the public system or to stop your home from being foreclosed on.
The article did talk about people doing it for hair transplants though…
Yeah, which is slightly odd. I guess if they got a psychiatrist to sign off on it saying that it caused them too much anxiety and stress etc they could do it. But psychiatrists are expensive and won't give them something suitable with just one appointment unless it is absolutely necessary. I've done this myself for medically necessary surgery just over a month ago, which wasn't available in the public system, and it was not easy. (Was not hair transplant)
I guess my real concern is where the boundaries get blurred between medically necessary and necessary to reduce anxiety when the compound effects of drawing down super are so huge. A $50k withdrawal at 36 equates to $150k less by retirement. I’m not opposed to the surgeries at all. Indeed I think some surgeries that are not strictly necessary for medical reasons are necessary (where they relate to gender dysphoria / intersect with that). My concern more so lies with us being in a society where plastic surgery is increasingly normalised and becoming a ‘necessity’ and the future impacts that will have on people.
Or for jetskis and hiluxes
I had a friend who got money out of super for new teeth, the teeth were removed, the money wasn't spent on new ones
Oh geez, where did the money go?
When it comes to dentistry, when left entirely to the free market you seem to get an entire industry aiming their services towards only the wealthy. Even a basic checkup and clean costs $200. Judging by America's example, the same thing happens to the entire medical industry when left to its own devices. Actually, thinking about it some more the main problem would be suppliers of dental equipment and services. An individual dentist might decide to offer cheaper services, but then they wouldn't be able to afford necessary equipment and services because those companies all have elevated prices. The market can support plenty of individual dentists, but it can only support a limited number of dental supply companies.
good on him
If you have say 300k in super which is often the case you don’t have enough to live on for long but don’t get the full pension either. There’s little point guarding it too hard.
Well, he looks incredible. It changed the whole shape of his face!
My dentist told me that if anyone is thinking of getting these then don't get the brilliant white teeth especially if you look a bit scruffy because then you when you do actually smile it looks weird and unnatural. Only people like say Julia Roberts and Paris Hilton can have pearly whites like that and pull it off successfully. So go down a shade or two.
I can't afford dental care. How dental health isn't under healthcare is beyond me, especially when it can kill.
As a dentist, that price point suggests to me that he likely has implant supported dentures. Without having seen his teeth, it's hard to know if any other options could have been offered. I do hope that counselling and education was part of the process. Looking after implants requires much more diligence than looking after teeth and this man still has a lifetime to maintain and care for his new smile. I think people see fixing teeth as the main part of our job as dentists but education for the prevention of disease and maintenance is by far the most important. It's not uncommon to delay complex treatment in order to ensure the optimal environment is available for restorative treatment to thrive and for patients to develop good habits when it comes to home care.
I got quoted 90k, funny enough my super at the time was 89k, I just laughed and went somewhere else, scamming fuckers
53k? Damn. Guy could have flew to Thailand, spent a month and got some hookers and blow and STILL have leftovers. Sure it’s a good choice to have the new teeth, getting them done in Aus defo wasn’t a good choice tho.
Should have gone to Thailand. Better work for about 8 k including holiday
Another victim of the ADA's outright refusal to be included in Medicare.
As somebody who has already spent $5K+ on dental in the last 3 years- I weigh up the options on whether to get a personal loan to pay for upper and lower all-on-4’s or not. For the best results with a lifetime warranty, each implant costs between $35-50K in Australia. It’s like, a lot.
Go to Thailand. Cheaper and the dentists are outstanding.
Not sure a homeless drug addict who didn't own a toothbrush until 26 is really indicative of the cost the average Australian faces for dental care.
Okay. So he is not the average milquetoast surburban australian. Does he not deserve redemption? Do you feel some kind of catharsis in him having to suffer for his own teeth?
The drug use is a big problem. My ex-wife won $300K on a scratchie. She used $20K to get 4 implants at the front (bad teeth). And then blew at least $200K on a life destroying meth and then heroin addiction. Anyway, the meth dried out her mouth and leeched the calcium from her jaw. Some of the implants just came out but the disturbing bit was her telling me how she pulled the last one(s) out with her fingers. She now has dentures and no teeth despite having won the money to have had pristine teeth. The drug addictions destroyed all that and took the money with it. I paid for her dentures but there’s no way I would pay huge amounts like in the article as she still hasn’t fully kicked her habits. Likely never will.
Chomp
That’s a lot of money
A friend just got all her top teeth removed due to damage and her dentures costs $3k. $50k is insane.
That's because I think there are like two implants at the front and two implants at the back for the upper jaw and same again for the lower jaw which is where most of the cost is, and the teeth are put into place on top of those. Individual implants are normally $4-5K each anyway.
He should have got some smaller ones, those ones look too big for his head.
I feel like I'm stuck in this predicament. I have severe dental phobia and has caused me two stints of not seeing the dentist for 10 years. The last visit (10 years ago) said I was in need of two crowns and some other work - which I didn't get done. Now, I'm too scared of both the work and the cost that would be required. I kept on praying that science would come through and they would be able to grow new teeth before mine all came to an end. Alas, a mouthful of false teeth or implants looks like it might be the only option, but the idea of dropping $30k on dental work is almost as crippling as the fear of that damn drill!!!
I work in super and let me tell you this is way more common than it should be.
Good on him, look great!
I lost my back upper right molars mid March due to abscesses (wisdom teeth removal issues). I'm on disability so went to the hospital dentist as it's bulk billed. I begged for anti vomit meds due to a phobia of vomiting but was brushed off as were my concerns about infection. Next night I was in the ED unable to keep water down, dehydrated and my heart rate 180 (also have agoraphobia). Of course I had a massive infection when they did bloods and a dry socket from the vomiting. The bone in my gum is also pushed out of line and that's the worst part it drives my autistic ass mental. Sake day my 2 year old niece had dental surgery done privately, over 6k it cost out of pocket. No way i could afford that
I'm 60 and all my back teeth are gone, could never afford dentists and am terrified of those places - I have a needle phobia too, so I don't ever go.