Job Discussion Forums

[zipper]

I have. Today, I went in for the third visit for my lower front tooth, the dentist finally found what he thought was the passage way to the end of the tooth root, but instead he struck gold by drilling vertically and then out through the side of the tooth. But at first he thought that he hit his mark and gleefully left his drill bit in it and took an X-ray of it to substantiate his victory. After awhile, I said, �Well, did you finally hit home?� He replied, �No, still problem.� Okay, so he went after it for another 20 minutes realizing that it was 1:30 and his staff suffered hungry stomachaches, so he called off the search mission for that ever elusive root canal passage way. He scheduled me in for next week.

Just before I said good bye, I asked to see the X-ray to check out where he was at. OMFG! I laughed out loudly, because it was too dam funny, but I am not laughing now. He genuinely apologized, but I just couldn�t wonder why such a great reparable dentist with 20 years of experience ended up missing my root canal completely and ended up boring a hole through the side. I could only speculate that he was tired and hungry.

Now, I am considering having it pulled, because it has a few cracks in it; which I am sure that it will get worse if he drills any further. Besides, I hate going to dentists. I always have them not only anesthetize the tooth, but also the entire jaw, because my teeth are supper sensitive to pain and what they use seems to never work that good.

Some advice, always get a second opinion, and watch out for the dentists and orthodontists that have degrees and certifications from the US plastered all over their walls. They think that having US certifications or certificates from other Western countries entitles them to charge more to foreigners. They will always try to screw you by saying, �In the US you would pay 5000 USD for a compete job, so 40000 NT is a bargain.� To which I reply, �I am not in the US. I am in Taiwan, and when I am in the US I go to Mexico where I get it done for cheaper than what you offer. Good bye.� I was quoted by another dentist with a heck of a good reputation that graduated from Taiwan dental school for half the price of 20,000 NT and that is for 4 porcelain crowns; cheaper if I want to get the metal stuff.

[creztor]

Was he going to put a cap on the tooth or something after doing the work? I am just curious because I had some work done on a tooth and he pulled out all the nerves etc and asked if I wanted it capped. Capping it was going to cost the amounts you mentioned, so I just told him to plug it back up and don't worry about a cap. NHI covered everything so it was the usual 150NT or whatever, it was only if I wanted a cap done was it going to cost something stupid. Sounds like you won't be going back to see him again. I also ask for extra shots when I see the dentist and get drugged up. My teeth are sensitive and the amount they usually use to numb teeth etc just doesn't do it for me. I always need more.

[zipper]

No cap on this particular tooth, but now it looks like either I will have to have a cap or have it pulled.

If you shop around stay away from the dentists that brag about their Western credentials, you can find dentists that will do crowns/caps for as low as 2000NT a piece. The orthodontist I visited before this last guy is like a fisherman looking for the big fish. His office is always empty, because he doesn�t want to bother with anything covered by NH insurance such as fills and root canals. But he did lazily clean my teeth covered by the NH insurance, but not before he tried selling me some BS bleach whitening for 15000 NT. He is only after suckers that want orthodontic treatment such as implants and expensive bridge work.

I know that this sounds strange, but the dentist that made a mistake on my tooth is really a good dentist and his appointment book is always full. Parents bring their children to him all the time. He quoted me some fair prices for crowns or dentures you can remove nightly. Twenty thousand NT for four crowns isn�t too bad, and as I mentioned earlier I could go for the ones that are a little cheaper; say around two or three thousand NT.

Lidocaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine and bupivacaine are commonly used in dental clinics throughout the world. But the dentist that botched my root canal today uses some kind of �caine� that begins with �Za� I have forgotten its name. But yeah, it�s difficult to find a dentist that knows how to apply anesthesia effectively. Feeling anxiety, nervousness and sweaty is always part of my dental experience; not to mention that they always seems to touch a nerve that sends me through the roof. So, I might just have my tooth extracted for now, and get bridge work done on it later.

[KaiFeng]

Sounds like it might be too late but I had very good work done at the Elite Dental Clinic, with Drs. Ling, H. Chueh, and Luo. They were at 4-9F, Jen-Ai Rd., Sec. 4 in Taipei. Reliable and conscientious. No screw-ups whatsoever.

I had an implant done by another star with a stellar clientele, on the second floor of an office building near Cave's on Chung-shan N. Rd., but cannot find her business card right now.

[zipper]

[ncaraway]

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[KaiFeng]

Ncaraway, it's been a long time, but I'd say maybe $1300 tops. Great professionalism, and strong follow-up. Over ten years later it's stll going strong.

[adogadie]

50 to 60,000 NT per implant.

[beenthere96-2005]