Dental treatment costs here vs the North

Anon47

I have been advised by my dentist (after a filling that did not work) that I need a root canal/filling/crown. The cost of this runs to approximately eur1400. I phoned a few dentists in the Newry area and the average cost for the treatment is around 650 pounds. Would like to be patriotic and support my local dentist but can anybody explain why a Dublin dentist is twice the price of one in the North. There doesnt seem to be any recognition that the celtic tiger is dead.

Welease

Been covered a million times.. Market forces.. they will charge what people are willing to pay.

FYI my wife's recent root canal and crown cost ~900 Euro in Kildare, so it might be worth checking outside Dublin also.

dudara

Moved to Rip Off Ireland

dudara

aquascrotum

My gf saw a dentist in Armagh last week (she's moved here for a bit for work). She's been putting off getting root canal that her Dublin dentist has been reminding her is required for 2 years plus due to occasional and infrequent pain around a filling.

The new dentist advised that her filling was fine and that he was sick of hearing of "root-canal happy Dublin dentists" and that in his opinion, the more expensive dental procedures in RoI were rapidly becoming a racket.

Initial consult fee and a visit to the dental hygeinist for full clean up and polish set her back £55.

So the lesson was 1) You might not even need root canal and 2) Price around if you do need it.

eth0_

aquascrotum wrote: »

The new dentist advised that her filling was fine and that he was sick of hearing of "root-canal happy Dublin dentists" and that in his opinion, the more expensive dental procedures in RoI were rapidly becoming a racket.

Exact same thing happened to me. Went to a Dublin dentist who had lot of flashy tech including a little camera that showed you on a screen above your head what she was doing. Cue much head shaking and sucking of air through teeth (like a dodgy mechanic) "Oh you're going to need a root canal and a crown" and then quoted me a HUGE price for this and packed me off with a prescription for painkillers.

I was so upset at the price quoted to me I rang a dentist i'd been seeing for a bridge and crown and she told me to come up the next day, x-rayed it and showed me why a root canal was not necessary and a small filling was all that was required. Five years later and i've not had any further trouble with that tooth.

You can find significantly cheaper prices outside Dublin. It's not just dentistry that's expensive in Dublin, after all!

Anthony16

Anon47 wrote: »

I have been advised by my dentist (after a filling that did not work) that I need a root canal/filling/crown. The cost of this runs to approximately eur1400. I phoned a few dentists in the Newry area and the average cost for the treatment is around 650 pounds. Would like to be patriotic and support my local dentist but can anybody explain why a Dublin dentist is twice the price of one in the North. There doesnt seem to be any recognition that the celtic tiger is dead.

Just pay the money and be loyal to your dentist.He/she has to make a living too,so dont be a miser

extra-ordinary_

Anthony16 wrote: »

Just pay the money and be loyal to your dentist.He/she has to make a living too,so dont be a miser

Well said*















*may contain lies.

marinbike

Anon47 wrote: »

I have been advised by my dentist (after a filling that did not work) that I need a root canal/filling/crown. The cost of this runs to approximately eur1400. I phoned a few dentists in the Newry area and the average cost for the treatment is around 650 pounds. Would like to be patriotic and support my local dentist but can anybody explain why a Dublin dentist is twice the price of one in the North. There doesnt seem to be any recognition that the celtic tiger is dead.

Irish Dentists are allowed charge whatever they like, thats why we are the most expensive in Europe for Dental treatment. Being 'patriotic' to support rip off dental rates sounds like a good catch phrase... I mean, why else would the Irish Dentists say that other than for their own corporate greed.

A simple solution that would force them to lower their Dental Rates should come in next weeks budget (increase the tax rates on Dentists/Doctors/Lawyers). These are the very ones who are still charging extremely high rates.

mossfort

Anthony16 wrote: »

Just pay the money and be loyal to your dentist.He/she has to make a living too,so dont be a miser

they are not being a miser.
im sure the irish dentist is making a very good living.
the attitude here in ireland is that you should just pay up no matter how high the charges are.
i had the same experience with a local dentist who turned a simple filling into 750 euros worth of work.
he took numerous x rays at 40 euros each , did a few fillings then refered me to a consultant who charged 150 euros for a 5 minute consultation.
i eventually ended up having two of my teeth extracted in hospital and thank god i had health insurance.

mcaul

If you were a dentist in the UK, your public liabilty insurance would be mnostly paid by the state as would the salary of your dental nurse as would a portion of your other costs.

In Ireland there is no state aid for dentists.

But then, we have lower direct taxes, a FAR superior free education system, better general heathcare (NHS is worse, I can assure you!), no £3000 a year council tax, no private water rates.

Give me Ireland anyday - as before I speak from experience of both UK (6 year) and Ireland.

Anthony16

mossfort wrote: »

they are not being a miser.
im sure the irish dentist is making a very good living.
the attitude here in ireland is that you should just pay up no matter how high the charges are.
i had the same experience with a local dentist who turned a simple filling into 750 euros worth of work.
he took numerous x rays at 40 euros each , did a few fillings then refered me to a consultant who charged 150 euros for a 5 minute consultation.
i eventually ended up having two of my teeth extracted in hospital and thank god i had health insurance.

That dentist put years of hard work into becoming the dentist he/she is today.If he/she deemed the x ray was needed then it was needed.Dentists deserve a good salary because they provide a great service.I hate the way people always undermine the decision of health professionals.and no, i dont have any friends or relations who are dentists,i just dont like the jealousy people have towards healthcare professionals who have big salaries.They try their best and shouldnt be down graded

Ally Dick

I paid €1400 for root canal about four years ago. I was able to claim a lot of it back on the MED2 form via the revenue though. I don't think you can claim a refund back on the higher rate any more though.

Big_G

marinbike wrote: »

Irish Dentists are allowed charge whatever they like, thats why we are the most expensive in Europe for Dental treatment. Being 'patriotic' to support rip off dental rates sounds like a good catch phrase... I mean, why else would the Irish Dentists say that other than for their own corporate greed.

A simple solution that would force them to lower their Dental Rates should come in next weeks budget (increase the tax rates on Dentists/Doctors/Lawyers). These are the very ones who are still charging extremely high rates.

As soon as taxes are raised, prices will go up. So that seems like a very well thought out solution.

Compare a dentist to a GP. The GP gets secretarial and waste allowances as well as other government subsidies and a pension for being part of the public health system. The dentist gets nothing. Your GP will still charge you 50 + euro for a visit, with a fraction of the overhead that a dentist would have including staff costs, materials costs, indemnity insurance, equipment costs, etc, etc, etc.

As for the comment from the dentist in the North, I've repaired enough shoddy NHS style dentistry that patients have paid private fees for from the North to know that there is plenty of a racket going on up there. Dentists in the North can incorporate and so pay UK corporate tax instead of income tax, thus keeping their costs down. Lab fees are generally less up there also.

aquascrotum

mcaul wrote: »

But then, we have lower direct taxes, a FAR superior free education system, better general heathcare (NHS is worse, I can assure you!), no £3000 a year council tax, no private water rates.

In fairness, the thread title is comparing NI dentist costs with those of the RoI - none of the bold text applies to NI. We do have "domestic rates" which are nowhere near £3k per year. A decent Belfast suburb would be £5-600/yr.

I (and my now NI resident gf) would take issue with your statement on the NHS going on personal experience, and also the NI education system is widely acknowledged to be superior to mainland UK.

Slightly off topic but felt compelled to flag that up.

Captain Flaps

Big_G wrote: »

As for the comment from the dentist in the North, I've repaired enough shoddy NHS style dentistry that patients have paid private fees for from the North to know that there is plenty of a racket going on up there.

I've heard that too. My mate's Dad is a dentist and he'll send people up North for Root canals because he says he can't price to compete with NI prices for those procedures. However, he warned us that you have to be very careful about where you go, because he makes plenty repairing botched jobs. Apparently the worst offender is fillings in an improperly cleaned tooth that's rotting from the bottom up, he gets at least 2 of thse a week.

Anon47

Went to Gentle Dental in Warrenpoint (couldnt get an appointment any time soon with a Newry dentist) The dentist removed the original filling and replaced it. He suggested that the original filling done by my dentist in Dublin failed because of micro cracks in the tooth which were not sealed. Have had the new filling for two months now pain free. All steps in the procedure were carefully explained and I have to give them 10/10 for customer service. Total cost £50 +€20 for petrol.

skibum

My wife needs to get two crowns, her dentist quoted her euro 1800, her friend recommended a dentist in newry. We went up last week and she has been quoted 800 sterling for the two crowns. So even allowing for the exchange rate, time, cost of diesel, tolls etc, she is very happy with the savings.

It has been mentioned about difference in cost of doing buisness here and the north, I got a timing belt and service on my passat done in Belfast last September, it cost me euro 330. At the time I was getting quotes ranging from 1750 (crowd in pottery road) to 650 by a local mechanic.....
I have recently noticed that a lot of garages have considerably reduced the cost for the same job. We will probably get the timing belt on my wifes car done here as the difference between the north is reducing all the time.

mudbingo

Having checked some Dublin prices e.g <snip>-and prices in Newry-I found that prices in Budapest are 30% of Newry charges and a lot cheaper than Dublin.Madenta dentists have a clinic in Dublin to do X Rays-give a costed treatment plan and do pre treatment work in Dublin-before you go to Budapest,they give all the details and arrange everything-their web site show prices at-root canal at 99 euro-implants at 449 euro-porcelain fused crowns at 250 euro etc etc.So even if we have lost our tax allowences -and Dublin dentists charge so much-Going to Krakow or Budapest-as a Dental Tourist,- could be an Irish persons solution to help our shrinking financial circemstances.

Captain Flaps

mudbingo wrote: »

Having checked some Dublin prices e.g <snip>-and prices in Newry-I found that prices in Budapest are 30% of Newry charges and a lot cheaper than Dublin.Madenta dentists have a clinic in Dublin to do X Rays-give a costed treatment plan and do pre treatment work in Dublin-before you go to Budapest,they give all the details and arrange everything-their web site show prices at-root canal at 99 euro-implants at 449 euro-porcelain fused crowns at 250 euro etc etc.So even if we have lost our tax allowences -and Dublin dentists charge so much-Going to Krakow or Budapest-as a Dental Tourist,- could be an Irish persons solution to help our shrinking financial circemstances.

Lower cost-of-living country in cheaper dental-care shocker!

escobar

mudbingo wrote: »

Having checked some Dublin prices e.g <snip>-and prices in Newry-I found that prices in Budapest are 30% of Newry charges and a lot cheaper than Dublin.Madenta dentists have a clinic in Dublin to do X Rays-give a costed treatment plan and do pre treatment work in Dublin-before you go to Budapest,they give all the details and arrange everything-their web site show prices at-root canal at 99 euro-implants at 449 euro-porcelain fused crowns at 250 euro etc etc.So even if we have lost our tax allowences -and Dublin dentists charge so much-Going to Krakow or Budapest-as a Dental Tourist,- could be an Irish persons solution to help our shrinking financial circemstances.

yeah I know someone who got some dental work done in Budapest recently to an Irish registered company.... She even gets checkups and treatment in Ireland afterwards if necessary........ already been for a check up.

You have some come back with the regulator ,small claims etc just in case...and you can claim back your tax allowance as well because it's Irish registered...pretty sweet really!!

Was incredibly cheap ......the north couldn't compete with it .... even got a holiday thrown in..... Budapest is lovely by all accounts..

you're prob looking at any any dental work from 300 euros being worth getting a free holiday for depending on flight price ......accomodation is really cheap and meals etc are for nothing in Budapest.

Fighting Irish

Welease wrote: »

Been covered a million times.. Market forces.. they will charge what people are willing to pay.

FYI my wife's recent root canal and crown cost ~900 Euro in Kildare, so it might be worth checking outside Dublin also.

:werd: Dublin is going to be most expensive part of the country

eightyfish

I went up north for my root canal. Service was brilliant, and it was about 1/3 the price here. However, I had to go up a total of 4 times on the train in the end to get it done, so it's cheaper but not really an option if you've a busy life.

mudbingo

While Hungary is Noted for its Dentistry-the quality is good and while only checked one such clinic in Seapoint -Dublin regarding such remedial type dental work -Dublin is so expensive v.s.Budapest -which can be 30% of the Dublin cost.Fed up of being ripped off?-Take a Dental holiday!

escobar

mudbingo wrote: »

While Hungary is Noted for its Dentistry-the quality is good and while only checked one such clinic in Seapoint -Dublin regarding such remedial type dental work -Dublin is so expensive v.s.Budapest -which can be 30% of the Dublin cost.Fed up of being ripped off?-Take a Dental holiday!

My friend saved a fortune......would have cost a a few grand here and is even getting her tax back ....... there's no justification at all for the prices here.

Captain Flaps

escobar wrote: »

My friend saved a fortune......would have cost a a few grand here and is even getting her tax back ....... there's no justification at all for the prices here.

Obviously higher cost of living and higher level of business tax don't come into it at all.

escobar

Captain Flaps wrote: »

Obviously higher cost of living and higher level of business tax don't come into it at all.

thanks captain ,you're ever vigilant....:D

though I was talking about the money you can claim back on your own personal tax on your wages....

because the budapest dentist was an irish registered company you can claim back your tax unlike n. Ireland..

making it even cheaper again

link and quote below...


http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/health/dental-aural-and-optical-services/dental_services

''If you do not have a medical card and have to pay for dental services from a private practitioner, you may claim tax relief for certain specialised dental treatments. ''

Anon47

escobar wrote: »

thanks captain ,you're ever vigilant....:D

though I was talking about the money you can claim back on your own personal tax on your wages....

because the budapest dentist was an irish registered company you can claim back your tax unlike n. Ireland..

making it even cheaper again

link and quote below...


http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/health/dental-aural-and-optical-services/dental_services

''If you do not have a medical card and have to pay for dental services from a private practitioner, you may claim tax relief for certain specialised dental treatments. ''

You can claim tax relief for Dental work done in Northern Ireland. Just bring a MED2 with you for work that qualifies for relief.

Anon47

Went back up to Warrenpoint, no need for root canal (hooray), temporary filling replaced, two more visits to size and fit crown. Total bill for visit £40!!.
Quoted £250-£400 for crown depending on type, compares with €500 - €750 euro quote in Dublin. Total bill (including petrol and tolls) likely to be <€700 vs €1500 original quote here.

Aviva_Lasvagas

A good freind of mine got two root canal fillings and Crowns fitted in the North for about 1100 Euro last year - he was quoted more than that for one in the South.:o

stepbar

Well I've had the full works done in my mouth. So far I've had....

3 root canals
2 gold crowns
1 cap
1 porcelain tooth and removal of bone (associated with same)

All done thank god. I guesstimate that I've spend no more than c2k to get this all done. Where did it get it all done you may ask?

The Dublin Dental Hospital. Now granted it took ages but it really didn't matter to me at the time as I was a student. If you have lots of time on your hands I would highly recommend the Dublin Dental Hospital.

Anon47

Thats interesting Stepbar how long did u have to wait?

Were you a Dental Student?