Dentist visits avoided due to cost

28 Feb 2012 10:41a.m.

Rad wrote:

I hope no one is assuming that anywhere else dentist do not have uni training or have to pay for the equipment etc. Question is why is the dentistry so bloody expensive in New Zealand?

05 Aug 2011 08:17a.m.

Yumna Van Niekerk wrote:

AUT has an Oral Health Department at their Northshore Campus that offers A full assessment incl. X Rays, treatment plan, individual homecare as well as a full scale and polish for only $53 Call 921 9155 for an app.

02 Aug 2011 12:31a.m.

Eric wrote:

To: Evan, I totally disagree with your statement of "However training as a dentist takes 5 yrs at uni, during their training they are not paid so income lost over 5 yrs is around 200k, then the uni fees altogether approx 60k then living costs around 60k. So most dental students are poss in debt 320k compared to someone who didn't go to uni." --> Dentist students are not the only ones who can not earn anything when studying at university. If you take university years into account, then most students should all be in debt of $160k (for their 4 years at university). You talk about living cost debt of $60 k, so dentist students can not apply for student allowance (SA) ? Or perhaps these pre-dentists already have to buy their "own expensive equipments" (that the SA money, which most students should live on comfortably, can not cover) for clinical training ? I think the problem of this country is that we are giving too much power to dentists by limiting the number of dental school to be 1, and thus limiting the number of dentists graduate per year. I strongly believe that dental care is just like any other business that when there is competition, the price must drop. If the government can open 2 more dental schools say like one at Auckland uni and another at Canterbury uni, then NZ can 3x the number of dentists graduate each year ---> cost should immediately reduce. Or the government can recruit good dentists from other country such as those in Thailan (as Jo mentioned) and translators. I am sure that the "professional dentists in NZ" (in fear of losing their power) counter my suggestions above as "if increase the number of dental schools ---> reduce the quality of dental treatment" and "these oversea dentists are quite bad and can not be up to the standard here in NZ". ----> I am sorry to say that the average dental treatment here is quite bad anyway. No competition ---> no difference between good and bad dentists, competition ---> customer has options to choose...

30 Jul 2011 10:21p.m.

Evan wrote:

What a dentist earns is dictated by supply & demand. If they had no patients they wouldn't earn anything so the fact that they earn a reasonably good wage means they are needed. However training as a dentist takes 5 yrs at uni, during their training they are not paid so income lost over 5 yrs is around 200k, then the uni fees altogether approx 60k then living costs around 60k. So most dental students are poss in debt 320k compared to someone who didn't go to uni. Then they have to pay staff a good wage & the cost of equipment is high. Just for example a dental chair costs around 30-40k! For a low cost model. A dentist running a priv practice does well to take home 60% of what they earn from patient fees. Some receive about 40%. So whilst they do well compared to the average person the figures are often misleading. As for going to have dental work abroad, it is important to remember that often maintenance is required and if you don't go back regularly you could end up paying more in the long run.

29 Jul 2011 09:32a.m.

Alien wrote:

come to the south island. dental work is cheaper down here. At least it is at my dentist. a dentist fee has to cover the nurse if required, the medications if required, and typically the rental the dentist pays for the room in the clinic.

28 Jul 2011 07:30p.m.

lara millar wrote:

I think that this dentist has lost part of his body up a cotton bumble bee if he thinks that dental care is affordable for the average New Zealander let alone those who are in the lower socio economic earning bracket. I assume that either he did not present himself well in explaining that $160,000 covered his dental facility and staff costs before his wage is withdrawen or he is seriously out of touch with what the average wage is and the costings the average family can plan for.

27 Jul 2011 07:29p.m.

Jo Hueston wrote:

I co-ordinate Medical Tourism and have a lot of satisfaction in helping clients restore their smile at a saving of up to 70% of the cost if they had the procedures done here in NZ. Many of us have put our families first and fixing the decay is past affordability in NZ. Don't hesitate to contact us (Restored Beauty Getaways)for a quote - we deal with top clinics in Thailand who guarantee their work. Forward thinking dentists in NZ, who have client health as a prioritory, realise their costs are beyond the affordability of many of us 'baby boomers' who have neglected our teeth for years. These Dental Surgeons endorse our services and support their clients decision to go through us and get their dental work completed overseas at a fraction of the cost they need to charge here in NZ (e.g for crowns : the full cost in Thailand is less than than the lab fee portion in NZ ).
With both Dental Work & Cosmetic Surgery, forward thinking NZ Surgeons realise it is better for their clients to book through us,a reputable Medcial Tourism company,than book directly on-line without guarantees and back-up.
Jo
Director
Restored Beauty Getaways NZ

27 Jul 2011 06:55p.m.

Steph wrote:

The dentist is expensive because you are paying for professional skills just like a lawyer, accountant, doctor, IT etc. Doctors are relatively cheap in NZ because the Govt. subsidises health care (obviously not including oral care). However, if you take care of your teeth and gums as recommended by the Government then you should only require a check up and at $200 a year is not that much. Dental services required for accidents eg. teeth knocked out are covered by the Govt. through ACC. Dentists provide a highly trained, specialised service that requires expensive equipment which is why they cost so much.

27 Jul 2011 06:05p.m.

Marie wrote:

Please tell me how the Father of 3 in the previous story(Campbell last night) could pay for any dental treatment for himself, even though the dentist in tv interview felt that the costs were not too expensive in NZ!! Yeah right!

27 Jul 2011 04:02p.m.

Sara wrote:

I recentley had a filling repaired and it cost me $290. Dental costs are ridiculous in this country. You can't tell me that the materials and 1/2 hour of labour costs = $290. Outrageous. No wonder people let their teeth rot.