Know a Western-Trained Dentist?

Post by **430xc** » July 20, 2013, 1:00 am

Can anyone give me an idea what it costs for a crown on a molar tooth? I need one now and am faced with paying about $600 AFTER my dental insurance in the USA. I will be in Udon in about a month.

Suggestions? Thanks

430xc

Post by **BigBubba** » July 20, 2013, 11:56 am

430xc wrote:Can anyone give me an idea what it costs for a crown on a molar tooth? I need one now and am faced with paying about $600 AFTER my dental insurance in the USA. I will be in Udon in about a month.

Suggestions? Thanks

430xc

If it were me, I'd get it done there, even if I had to go into debt. Even the very best care and service here are not up to par with a good American dentist. That's just my own humble opinion. It also depends on your own level of "tolerance" for the conditions. Just equipment alone, the chairs I've seen look like the ones I sat in as a teenager. You wont get nitrous oxide, or any other anxiety reliever, but maybe you don't need it, I do. Just something to think about. Don't let price alone make your decision.

Post by **fdimike** » July 20, 2013, 2:43 pm

I don't know about nitrous but they sure will give you anesthetic (sp). All you have to do is ask for it.

Post by **rick** » July 21, 2013, 6:27 am

I had a tooth capped after it broke last year, at Bangkok hospital in Udon. True the equipment looks a bit obsolete ( i would say about 20 years old) but the care i received was pretty good and no real pain. But they take their time - It took about 8 sessions to complete it. Cost - about 4000 baht plus the cost of the crown - and that depends on the material and size - gold molar cap would be about 10,000 baht, but cheaper options available. Also had a tooth pulled, that only required one session and healed up nicely with time. Got injections as standard and they do x-rays as well. Out in the villages just tooth pullers though.

Post by **milkman** » July 22, 2013, 11:58 pm

When people ask for help here, I like to know what they ended up doing. So since I was the original poster on this topic, I'll tell you my happy ending. As you may recall, I broke a tooth. I have a regular dentist here in Udon, but she does not do caps or inlays, so I had to find someone else, and I asked for recommendations.

I didn't feel confident going to any of the dentists any of you recommended. No offense to any of them or to any of you. I don't know any of them, but my wife said the best dentists will be found in Bangkok, and I tend to be squeemish about pain and dental problems. So I wanted to be really really sure to get good treatment, even if it cost more.

My wife called around to her friends in Bangkok (she lived there 13 years), and one dentist gave a tremendous recommendation to a Dr. Chanin at Dentaland. And that's who I chose to go to. The guy was fantastic, like the captain of a ship steering us through dangerous waters, he really was in full command. His English was excellent. He really listened to me and my concerns. He made me feel confident I was getting excellent care- and I was. The equipment he had was ultra-modern, far more advanced than my excellent dentist in San Diego has. For example, he takes digital x-rays, which use 1/10th the radiation. And he has a little camera that showed me two cavities that had formed in a crack in another tooth. In 1 1/2 hours, he took care of the broken tooth and the fillings. (He could have recommended a cap or inlay, but he solved my problem much less expensively another way.) He wasn't cheap, but he was worth it. I've decided to stick with my usual Udon dentist, but see Dr. Chanin when something major turns up. So thanks to all you for your help, and that's my happy ending!

Post by **faranginUTH** » December 27, 2013, 10:32 am

I tried to make an appointment with wattara dentist by the bus station and after a couple of calls and asking to speak to the doctor, I get placed on hold and my call ignored by the childish acting phone receptionist that said she did'nt understand.

I used the word emergency as in toothache then I get told "you make appointment" then the silly phone games started

Post by **faranginUTH** » December 27, 2013, 10:39 am

I just called Rakfan Clinic (042-222-935), spoke to the doctor and appointment taken, no phone games or drama!

Post by **milkman** » August 21, 2014, 8:21 pm

Just to give an update, I again went to Dr. Chanin in Bangkok last month. I have a long-time crack in a front tooth, and we discussed if I should have a transplant or a cap. We decided to do nothing at this time. I appreciate that, so many dentists just want to do something, nevermind it'll cost you a fortune and give you a lot of pain and trouble.

Post by **GT93** » August 22, 2014, 2:02 am

It's the same in farangland chaps. Too many dentists are greedy bastards. There's a lot of doubt about their advice which usually involves the patient paying them a lot of money. I have just had two crowns in NZ and I now wonder if it was that necessary right now.

Maybe I could have waited 5 years. He said there was a risk of the teeth cracking and that they were starting to crack. I probably should have had them done in Udon. Too expensive here. I doubt it's difficult doing crowns. Fingers crossed they were needed doing anyway.

Post by **Khun Paul** » August 22, 2014, 8:19 am

I have a dentist here in Udon, I hate dentists with a passion, so if I tell you I have a good dentist, trust me she is good.
She is the one near to the KK bank on Phrosri Road same side as KK bank but just before it, i think her prcatice is called MC something or other. She is also a trained orthodontist which means she does the whole works. last time a molar crown was only 8000.00 baht, a root canal which I shy away from was only 14.000:00 baht that included the crown gold as all my crown are.
if it hurts she puts in more numbing juice, personally I am quite happy to recommend, she is Thai Chinese and also speaks good english, no games on the phone, but if appotment needed suggest go in and talk,m a far better option.

Post by **BigBubba** » October 15, 2014, 11:04 am

I did not ask where she was trained, but I just had a tooth extracted by a very nice lady dentist at AEK. Jun calls her Dr Orapin (her first name). Her last name is Wanapiyuiuwat (I think, because the writing is very small). She's not a beautiful lady, but very competent, and articulates what the condition is and what procedures are required in such a soothing manner as to be almost mesmerizing.

If I told you my level of fear about dentists in general you would swear you were talking to an 8 year old. However, ones perception is his reality, and I HATE being in a Dentist's chair, for ANY reason. Because of this, and a couple bad experiences with previous trips to dental offices here, I had let a decayed tooth progress to a point that it was causing daily pain. Quite severe pain. I'm embarrassed and a little ashamed I let this condition continue for almost a year.

Monday's appointment was for 11:30. I begrudgingly got in the chair about 12:15 after begging (actually groveling) for Valium or any other drug for relaxation, but to no avail. I told the Dr that in America Dentists use nitrous oxide and as I cupped my hand over my nose and mouth to demonstrate, she said. oh you mean laughing gas. I was told that is not allowed in Thailand. Well, she was very patient with me and after injecting the local anesthetic and waiting a few moments for it to take effect she began the extraction. It took all of about 20 seconds! Still, my hands were white knuckled on the hand rails. A few minutes to put in a stitch and it was over.

Tuesday afternoon I got a phone call... FROM THE DOCTOR! She wanted to check on my condition and make sure I was taking the antibiotics. I've got an appointment for next Monday to have the stitch removed and have the same tooth on the other side of my mouth removed, as it is well on it's way to being in the same condition as the one just removed.

Dr Orapin also explained the various options for replacing the extracted teeth, from implants to prosthetic devices, and the prices.

Monday's visit included 2 x-rays, the extraction, antibiotics, and a "pain killer" (ibuprofen). Total cost, 1720 baht.

Post by **Jed** » October 15, 2014, 2:47 pm

Although I've had mixed experiences at AEK, a Dr. Janejira took good care of me there. This was a few years ago, however, so not sure if she's still there.

Does anyone know how BKK Hospital dental dept. is? Think I'm gonna need a hospital next time for multiple extractions, etc.

Post by **FrazeeDK** » October 15, 2014, 7:57 pm

I've used Bangkok Hospital for a cleaning and a filling.. Efficient and didn't cost that much.. In fact, I wasn't planning on going to the dentist but was at BKK for something else and asked the front desk if I could schedule the dentist. They called upstairs to the dental clinic and asked, "do you want to go now?"... I've used AEK in the past for cleanings, fillings and a couple of crowns.. They were good too but usually quite busy so a walk-in there was much more difficult.

Post by **Allen A Hale** » October 16, 2014, 10:48 pm

Dr Wongchan Lapanun - Udom Clinic (second dentist office past the jail) "Cert. In Prosthodontic" University of Michigan - I have been to him twice and recommend him.

Post by **wiking** » October 17, 2014, 9:35 am

we are many who have gone to ORAL-B - some off them have study in Australia, but the man who only have study is Kon khaen is very good and speak perfekt english same as the boss who study australia

Post by **Jed** » October 31, 2014, 1:07 pm

Allen - How far past the jail is Dr. Wongchan/Udom Clinic & on which side of the road coming from the roundabout?

Tried finding him and failed the other day. Any other landmarks or indicators I could watch for? Pretty congested around there. On Phosri Rd., yes?

I assume he has the latest equipment and can handle big jobs?

Many thanks.

Post by **papaguido** » October 31, 2014, 3:01 pm

Through the round about, heading west, next block after the prison on the left hand side.

Post by **Jed** » October 31, 2014, 4:24 pm

Most appreciated Papa G - thanks.

Don't need to visit another one who says, "Cannot fix."

Time to bite the bullet, so to speak. (You know what I'm talkin' 'bout, Bubba!)

Post by **Macca** » November 26, 2014, 10:55 am

Toof a trip to this place today, following a number of recommendations.
Clean & scrap plus 2 large fillings.
Well impressed by the standard and no problems going back again if required.

Total cost 2,700 baht

Post by **GT93** » November 26, 2014, 2:59 pm

Interesting thread. In New Zealand I use a dental surgery just down the road from my office. It's usually staffed by locums so I often see a different dentist. One day I have an appointment that's booked where I'm going to have a tooth out.

I bowl in and find I'm facing a big fat Filipino female dentist who I haven't seen before. I relax. She looks strong and I think if she was trained and worked in the Philipines then she might be really good as she might be used to pulling teeth out for patients with little or no anaesthetic. The tooth came out with no problems. And you guys want a western trained dentist? I'm not fussed.