Wednesday, August 03, 2005

It will be MY turn next week...

Last week my DH got a wisdom tooth pulled and yesterday he got his stitches out. Yesterday we went to a nearby dentist about two blocks away and got a consultation for my teeth. I have to get my two lower ones pulled! They have caveties already and it won't be long before the nerves are affected. I'd been told by dentists for years that I needed to get them pulled, but always chickened out. In the US, we don't plan on getting dental insurance, so now's the time to do it. I will get one pulled next Thursday (a week from today) and the other the following Thursday. If Golf's dentist charges about the same as this one, then each tooth pulled will cost only 2,500 Baht, or $61. The pain relief drugs will cost about $5. Go to a dentist in the US for the same service and I shudder to think what they would charge. Hence the rush to do it now before we go back! I will report my experience here....

This Tuesday the shippers come to get our stuff. Two cubic meters of books, CDs, DVDs, clocks, a wall altar, and our wedding portrait. Hopefully it will all fit. The service costs more than double what I expected, but oh well, we have to do it and it's a one time thing, we aren't planning to move back to Thailand once we are in the States...

7 comments:

Thailand Voices said...

Amy, why so expensive for the tooth pulling?

I had a tooth pulled last month and it was 500 baht at my dentist ($12). And it was impacted pretty deep. I have to go back next month to have a bridge put in - which will be about 6,000 baht ($150).

And yes, get them both done at once. The pain from mine wasn't bad at all. He gave me free Tylenol and that took care of it. It was absolutely fine by the day after.

Amy T said...

Really, only 500 Baht? I went to that website you had mentioned on your blog, and (I thought I remember that) his prices were like what Golf paid. Hmm... I dunno. :(

I will see next Thursday if both can be taken out at once. I don't teach the following Saturday so it will give me more time to recuperate. I don't like the thought of having to go through the ordeal twice. :(

Thanks for the cabbage advice, Darshani. It is quite a miracle vegetable!

Running2Ks said...

Good luck! I hope it all goes well. At least you know your wallet won't be in pain :)

Indiamommy said...

Ouch! I agree, get them both taken at the same time. I made the mistake to get my wisdom teeth removed at different times and I still have one because I chickened out! I couldn't go through that again.

Good luck!

Amy T said...

Darshani -- is that cost WITH dental insurance??? Holy Moly, medical costs are just ridiculous in the United States... :(

Thailand Voices said...

Amy,

I checked with 8 Thai parents I was teaching yesterday and asked "how much one should pay to have a tooth pulled?"

They all said "No more than 500-700 baht" and when I mentioned what you were going to be charged they said "incredibly expensive - no way should she pay that".

Look at the website I gave you again www.bangkokdental.com. For a regular toothpull, it's 500-800 baht at my dentist. If it's badly impacted, the charges are higher - but mine was a bitch to get out and he still only charged me 500 baht.

Amy T said...

Michelle -- you're right. I think Golf's tooth pull was expensive because it was a complicated surgery. I had a consulatation and the dentist said that my teeth looked simple to extract, so I imagine my price will be around what you quoted. Golf will call today to ask. I will let him know you asked 8 Thai people and got the same quote if the dentist quotes anything higher. Thank you for asking on my behalf! :)