Dental Cost

[Mr Lee]

I agree Dave, to a point, however many posters, here and elsewhere, do not live in the Philippines....Lee and Tom as two prime examples. I also asked where would be other suggestions other then Cebu, as this is not like that other site where it revolves around Cebu, but the entire Philippines. Personally, I'm in Davao City and would love to hear of a dentist there, and as I also mentioned....I too liked the dentist Lee went to, as far as the simple stuff.This is a great debate among expats, and why many who do have health issues should choose where they live, either IN the Philippines period, such as province vs city versus, vs splitting time in two places.Ask Lee where he would have say something like prostate cancer treated if it was discovered in Cebu, or the Philippines....and if he would be the " I don't know anyone there who would fly off to the US or any other country for treatment" person. I am quite sure it would be in Florida. :yes:There was an old saying among the retired military living up near Subic, if you get "really" sick and can get on a plane...get to your home country...or at least Thailand. :th_thholysheep:

To answer your question, because of my insurance, I would have most medical procedures done in the states, and somewhere where it would be covered because my copay would be under a few hundred dollars for hospital and all involved, but if I did not have US insurance included in one of my pensions, and if I lived here in the Philippines full time, then I am a fatalist, so I would probably opt to have them done at a big hospital here and what would be would be. After all, if it had been meant for me to die at an early age, then I would have died a long time ago, and besides, only the good die young. Complications can happen anywhere, READ THIS, Drug-Resistant Bacteria Discovered at Southern California Hospitals. And READ THIS 9 Dead After IV Infections at 6 Ala. Hospitals I have watched practices at my US dentist that worry me at times, so no place is totally safe and especially when people try to save money by cutting corners. One such corner is not changing the cover on the handle of the light, so they reach up and touch the handle of the light with the same hand they had used on the patient before you and then on you, so transfer comes about. Life is a crap shoot, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Edited March 30, 2011 by Kuya Lee
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[Inspector]

Well, even if you did not have insurance, and it was prostate cancer or some sort of complicated surgery....I'm guessing you would at least try and find the "best" doctor wherever that may be...or in the case you just presented, the best "dentist"...one you feel is the best, or good enough to suggest on a site to others. That is my entire point, and you support it with this dentist...finding the BEST....and getting the BEST CARE.Now, if you are comparing apples to apples, and a person has NO insurance and wants to pay as needed, then NO DOUBT you are not getting anything done in the USA...well, unless you are an illegal immigrant. :photo-109:However, MOST people are not maintaining your beliefs in the "only the good die young"...and worry about things such as simple haircuts, and weather they are sanitary or not....and DO care about living and enjoying their retirement. For these people, I simply suggest that they find the BEST care that is possible, and if it is life threatening, or complicated...they should weigh all their options, and make a decision based upon their survival and costs when locating their best.Your best is this dentist, in Cebu...and as said...I would agree that for what my needs were, and not having any dental coverage...if I was in Cebu, I would have him fill a cavity. However, if I needed an implant requiring a sinus lift, I would await other suggestions for expertise, and if needed, fly to a place where a dentist has done this procedure many times, with the latest technology and equipment, and still maintaining a third world cost, knowing that this surgery has many risks that I would not want a dentist doing if he was not qualified, and wanting to save as much money.That is where medical tourist destinations are good places.Hey, I had a few operations done at Tripler Army hospital way back when in Hawaii, one a complicated knee operation that I tore up in Japan playing softball...I had no choice, and that was all I had, unless I wanted to pay a fortune for a top knee guy in the private sector...so your point about insurance and cost is valid. Some might decide to not pay the flight, hotel ect...and stay put as Dave suggests. BTW, for the old timers that are collecting social security from the states, how do get medical living in the RP with medicare, knowing it only covers US doctors and services?

[Mr Lee]

BTW, for the old timers that are collecting social security from the states, how do get medical living in the RP with medicare, knowing it only covers US doctors and services?

I split that question to HERE, so we can stay on topic of dental costs in this thread.

[4thDan]

Had some extensive dental work done at Bright Smiles in Cebu City....had the work estimated in the States before moving here....Estimation there was over $5000 USD. Total bill here was about $400 and the workmanship and the dentist were MOST EXCELLENT. I honestly would recommend them to anyone .....they seem to be able to handle almost all languages also. Heard a good discussion going on twixt a dentist and patient in German.

[MikeB]

Had some extensive dental work done at Bright Smiles in Cebu City....had the work estimated in the States before moving here....Estimation there was over $5000 USD. Total bill here was about $400 and the workmanship and the dentist were MOST EXCELLENT. I honestly would recommend them to anyone .....they seem to be able to handle almost all languages also. Heard a good discussion going on twixt a dentist and patient in German.

Thanks for the information and here is a link to their site. Interesting that 7 out of the 8 dentists are women. Do you (or anyone) know if they or another dentist in Cebu does quality cosmetic work? I have some porcelain crowns and I'm concerned about needing to have them replaced over there. They advertise veneers but not crowns. Veneers are a poor choice, imo, compared to crowns. Thanks.

[The phantom menace]

I've used this dentist...IMHO, not as good as you would get in the states, or even any dentist here, where 20,000 aged american snow birds cross every day during the desert cool months including my dad who just got a bridge done....but he was very polite, the office neat and the work pro like despite the lack of equipment you would see in a western office. Anybody know of a good dentist elsewhere in the Philippines other then Cebu?Davao City?Manila?...where I would assume the western equipped dentists would be.Subic Bay?

I have used the dental services of Tin Garcia at MetroDental at Robinsons Mall in Malate,Manila.Although i only had cleaning and light activated teeth whitening done,i was very happy with the outcome.I saved nearly $650 compared to the same procedure in Sydney.On the service and outcome i would recommmend her.Cheers.

[joeatmanila]

I have terrible teeth. I am a frequent visitor to dentists almost all over the world.As for Philippines and everywhere else it needs attention to what your dentist tells you. Do not forget they do business and not a social service. The most they can tell you, convince you and have you do, then the most they get paid.Manila has lots of quality dentists and very skillled, even in the dental clinics in the malls, do not get scared of it, they are much better than a few i went in the US (a butcher in Honolulu and a rip off brazilian in miami).Two weeks ago i was in the dentist chair in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) at a so called american hospital. all looked good, nice clean and elegant place, until the mexican dentist came in....he tried to convince me he can do a root canal on one single visit....i asked him to temporary fill the cavity and will fix it at manila, my beloved dentists here!!!!!My only concern visiting a dentist here is if the place is clean, sterilized. I had a bad one in a nice dentistry, trying to pull out a tooth broke it in half and then the dentist told me she has to stop and i have to wait until they call a specialist dental surgeon to remove it. 1 hour after he arrives and oh my my....he killed me!!!! Never went back there again...

[Candyman]

When in Cebu, we all use Dr Dean Ceasar. He is also an othodontist. I forget his address, now, but he is located in an acade over the footbridge from Robinsons, at Fuente Osmena, turn left as soon as you go down the steps, and follow the street up towards Chowking. He is in the first arcade on the right. Go right up the end, and he is the last office on the left. If you go through the arcade, Appletree Suites will be on your left, and if you keep going straight ahead, you will come out near the National Bookstore on Mango. I hope this helps.He has been extremely helpful to us, and his work is top quality. I would not bother going anywhere else !

[The phantom menace]

I have terrible teeth. I am a frequent visitor to dentists almost all over the world.As for Philippines and everywhere else it needs attention to what your dentist tells you. Do not forget they do business and not a social service. The most they can tell you, convince you and have you do, then the most they get paid.Manila has lots of quality dentists and very skillled, even in the dental clinics in the malls, do not get scared of it, they are much better than a few i went in the US (a butcher in Honolulu and a rip off brazilian in miami).Two weeks ago i was in the dentist chair in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) at a so called american hospital. all looked good, nice clean and elegant place, until the mexican dentist came in....he tried to convince me he can do a root canal on one single visit....i asked him to temporary fill the cavity and will fix it at manila, my beloved dentists here!!!!!My only concern visiting a dentist here is if the place is clean, sterilized. I had a bad one in a nice dentistry, trying to pull out a tooth broke it in half and then the dentist told me she has to stop and i have to wait until they call a specialist dental surgeon to remove it. 1 hour after he arrives and oh my my....he killed me!!!! Never went back there again...

Having worked in operating theatres for many years here in Sydney,I can tell you that bad things can happen anywhere.I recall one patient here in sydney, coming in to have their wisdom teeth removed only to leave with a broken jaw!.....When i visited the dentist in manila, i asked if they were using distilled water? "yes".Was the yankauer sucker disposable?(single use only)"yes"The sucker and instruments were opened in front of me from their sterile bags"yes".This indicated to me that the instruments have been sterilized on a wrapped sterilization cycle.This cycle should be of at least 4 minutes sterilizing time at 134 degrees and 10 minutes drying time...this is the standard AS4187.If the instruments are not wrapped(or bagged)it is possible that they have been processed on a "flash cycle"(4 minutes sterilizing time)no drying.This sterilizing cycle should NOT be used .........As i was only having minor cosmetic work done,i thought this was a good start.....I hope this info is of some help when visiting a new dentist for the first time.........Cheers Edited October 8, 2011 by Mr. Lee
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[joeatmanila]

Back to manila and keep on fixing my terrible teeth!!!here are some prices and will keep on updating so we have a "price List"Root canal and of my left upper canine tooth 4800pCleaning of all the teeth 300pCrown jacket of the two left upper canine teeth 9800p.