Dental Work in Bali

Dental Work in Bali

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2015-07-19 by Nadine Cresswell-Myattfollow


A guy in Melbourne was telling me about the woes with his teeth. He'd just spent $1800 getting a root canal only to find that it didn't work-out and after paying all that money he would still have to have the tooth pulled and then pay to get a part denture.

I shuddered because I knew my own time was nigh. For months I'd been trying to ignore the sensitivity in my gums. I'd treated them with every home remedy known to woman including rubbing them with bicarb, coconut oil and weird concoctions bought from a hippy market at Nimbin.

When I gave into the fact that I couldn't put it off any longer I dragged myself off to see the periodontist. That visit alone cost me nearly $400.



The final report and costing came by mail. I had two abscesses that needed draining (told you it was bad) and required two root canals and two caps, extensive periodontal cleaning and plenty of follow up appointments at $300 a pop.

I was looking at paying around $9000.

What I hated most about it was that it wasn't even my front teeth. Nobody was ever going to peer down my gullet to see where that $9000 had disappeared to.

As a keen researcher I tried all kinds of ways to find a cheaper way to do it. Did you know the public health system has a four year wait on periodontal work?



I also found that a lot of people go overseas and get their dental work done at a fraction of the price.

Suggestions that came up included Thailand, India and Indonesia (Bali).

Bali was the closest.

When you start searching for dentists in Bali the name that consistently comes up is Bali911 a branch of which is situated in the ultra modern Galleria tourist shopping centre. Link to their site.

I didn't end up using them but I want you to know that based on my research people rave about them.

I spoke to friends of friends who couldn't speak highly enough of the gentleness, the sterile equipment and the good prices.

When I arrived in Bali I also got talking to a group of women around the pool. They go to Bali every six months for the $5 cocktails, massages, facials, manicures, pedicures - all at ridiculously low prices. But they increasingly also go to get their teeth done, especially cleaning, whitening and implants.

One woman touched what she described as her miracle tooth. A pearly white front tooth, presumably an implant, that she would never have been able to afford at home.

So by all recommendations it seems a good place to go.

But I was taking a different option. A Facebook friend, a local who lived in Bali raved about a local dentist that expats regularly used. You won't find much about her on the internet in English as she is more word of mouth, so to speak.



So off I went to see Dr Syamsiar Adam at Kuta Dental (tel 0361-764848, Jalan Patih Jelantik 81, Kuta). Link here.

First looks were alarming this was nothing like the flash Galleria I mentioned earlier. It was a dirt lane. A couple of mangy dogs and a few people squatting down besides buildings.

But opening the door all was wonderful. Friendly young women with great English behind reception, walls lined with dental reference books and the latest magazines on the topic. (Something I must say I have never seen in a Melbourne dentistry). Everyone I spoke to in that waiting room in over the next few weeks had nothing but praise for Dr Syamsiar Adam and all her associates, her dental equipment and the quality of the materials she used.

The dentist chair was plush leather, with an abundant array of modern equipment.

Dr Syamsiar Adam was quite pragmatic. "You have chronic abscesses but it is better to keep the teeth and we will try and save them."

In between her humming and drilling I also learnt a few things about dentistry in Bali. Apparently dentists are not as highly regarded as in Australia. Therefore in Bali you will find a lot more women in the profession than men. The advantage is that females are often gentler, meticulous and good at such finely detailed work.

I had fives session in the dentist's chair over two weeks and some of them were up to an hour and a half long but then again I really was in a bad way.

The cost was roughly $700 dollars Australian for that long list of complaints I shared with you earlier, rather then the $9000 I would have needed to have paid at home.

Dr Syamsiar Adam and her colleagues did save by two teeth. Well at least they are still there three months later and I use the tip of my tongue to feel their smoothness and perfection with glee

The other day I was reading an advertorial on dentistry in the newspaper and the writer said something like: ' Don't go overseas for dental work, as you will find yourself having problems within weeks of coming home."

The fact that this statement was chucked into what was virtually an ad strongly suggests that patients are heading overseas in droves and Australian dentists are trying to curb that huge amount of money leaving their practices.

I am sure there are some overseas horror stories. But no-one I interviewed in my research had any. And think back to the beginning of this article where I told you about the poor guy who had gone to an Australian dentist and paid thousands only to have his tooth ripped out in any case.

I believe there are good dentists everywhere, but better prices in Bali.

Other tips:

Credit cards can be used for larger items only. Something small like a filling will need to be paid for in cash.

This is the only scary part of this story. Don't assume you will get an injection. If you want one you may have to ask for one. It isn't a given in Indonesia as it is here. However rest assured you will be given one if you ask however.

I noticed some patients in Bali getting receipts to claim with their health insurer. Not sure of their chances but worth a try I guess.

If you do go to see Dr Syamsiar Adam I'll recommend the small hotel we stayed at which was RamaGarden. It was about 15 minutes walk away or a very cheap taxi fare.

It had a lovely pool and most of the people who work there are from the same village so it was a little like staying with one big family. By phoning the rate is around $100 a night even less.

There are of course lots of cheaper places than that. Another place we looked at Wayan's House although less salubrious was only $40 a night but it was a set of new villas, with air-conditioning, a pool outside your room and an outside kitchen if you wanted to cook. Small-scale, cosy and friendly.

A trip to Bali, if you organise it properly, will not cost you a leg and an arm and it might just save your teeth.

Given recent events in Bali I understand why people are boycotting the country but I went just before the executions so I didn't get around to researching other countries for dentistry. Although this is something you may well choose to do. Here is a starting point .



If you bookmark this article you can check back in a few months to see if my teeth are still safe and if I'm still smiling. I'll certainly put a comment up if I have any issues.

#cheap
#frugal_friday
#health_beauty
%wneverywhere
87747 - 2023-06-11 07:42:48

Tags

Music
Free
Arts_culture
Film_tv_reviews
Outdoor
Random
Nightlife
Family_friendly
Festivals
Community
Food_drink
Fundraisers
Educational
Holiday
Markets
Copyright 2022 OatLabs ABN 18113479226