Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic

[pakjohn]

I think I've done a pretty good job of searching the archives for previously posted information but didn't see anything....

I've visited 4 different dental restoration clinics here in Singapore, (including the ones posted here..), extremely nice clinics-even a bit posh, but the prices are SO high! I'm now looking in Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. My insurance company lists coverage for Bangkok Smile Dental Clinic and I'm wondering if anyone has news, good or bad, about this place or would be willing to share their experiences abroad related to budget dental work. Nice website and plenty of testimonials but no contact information to talk personally with the referrers.

I need deep tissue cleaning, crowns, 4 implants and 4 fillings. (I was in an accident in 91 and had restorative repairs then, now it's all worn out and needing replaced.)

Pakjohn

[Thaiclan]

I've heard great (first hand) accounts about Smile Dental in Bkk. I myself recommend Bumrungrad Hospital Bkk for first rate cosmetic and medical procedures. Theres also a great South African dentist who works at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital that my best friend has used for past 6 years and swears by.
Good Luck

[pakjohn]

I appreciate the input... noting no one popped up to say anything bad about the work being done there is a bit encouraging as well.

Pakjohn

[cpawl]

HI, I'm from Canada and i went all the way to Bangkok this June. I had oral gum surgery,crown work and bridge work. In Canada they wanted over 7000.00 for this. I went to B. I. D .C . The cost was 1800.00.Same work that i needed at home is what they did. They do not charge farngs more like most of the other dental clinics do, including smile dental clinic.B.I.D.C has a very nice web page with all there prices and info.
I hope this helps.

Cindy

[pakjohn]

It does help... I've only found a couple of negative incidences so far. I will go B S D C the end of this month for nearly the same work as you describe. I can't pm you since I'm a newbie but would like to hear more about your experience if you don't mind?

I chose Tai-pan hotel for 9 day stay... should be long enough. Also, I'm keeping notes and will post a visit report during and after the stay.

Would you consider p.m.'ing me contact info?

John/Singapore

[cpawl]

John, I wanted to let you know that it took 3 weeks to get every thing done. After my gum surgery i needed one week for it to heal and for the stitches to come out before they could continue.I also wanted to let you know that i stayed at the Beverley Siam hotel it is right across the street form the clinic.
Im also new and can not pm you.

cindy

[gf]

hi pakjohn
I am a dentist practising locally, just thought i might be able to give you some advice.

Bangkok Smile dental clinic is quite reliable, i personally do know a colleague who was working there previously. So you can be assured you'll be in good hands.
But from the amount of work u said you require, you'll prob need a much longer treatment time than the 1 week or so you're planning.
Depending on what the dentist planned for you, you might have to go home and return to bangkok again subsequently if the treatment duration is too long for you. You can book an appt there and get a consultation done, but be prepared to lengthen your stay for the treatment and healing to be completed.
cheers

[pakjohn]

Thanks for the information Cindy and Thaiclan. Between the two of you I know most of what I need to know now. I'm staying at Tai-pan, seems to be okay there. The biggest question was on the amount of time I need to be there. 9 days is probably too much for first visit but not enough to do more than gum work. Glad I'm only a couple hours away by air.

Hoping now the political situation doesn't deteriorate much further. I got trapped at Phuket when they shut the airport down... no danger but what a bummer to be stuck at the airport!


Pakjohn

[cpawl]

Good luck john with your dental work. keep us posted.

cindy

[pakjohn]

Sorry, meant to thank GF also for valuable information as well.

I'll post again from Thailand.... see ya Cindy!

[pakjohn]

I wanted to return to this thread and give an update for anyone thinking of travelling to Bangkok or Phuket to get dental work done.

There are some drawbacks, but nothing that would prevent me from doing it again.

If you need a lot of work done, prepare for hours in the chair or split the work up into segments.
You'll most likely only get local anesthesia and there is some discomfort due to occasionally tapping a nerve ending or just from lying with your mouth open for hours on end.
I paid each day for the work done that day... that night I would examine the bill to make sure I understood the charges. They were always billed correctly but doing this helps with peace of mind.
The clinic's are open 7 days a week and hours are normally 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The best price in Singapore for the work I needed done was 45,000 SGD. My total cost in Bangkok was 12,700 SGD, very definitely worth the trip.

Plenty to do and see in the area if you chose to take on some sightseeing. The sky train is 5 min walk from the clinic and it's easy to use, just go on the BTS website for instructions.

Over all, I'd say I'm quite satisfied with the work done, the facilities were very clean, the staff well trained and made sure I understood and accepted each step of the process prior to doing it. No language barrier to speak of and the area around the clinic is a expat area of Bkk so plenty of diversity. If you want details, pm me and I'll help where I can.

Pakjohn

[gf]

I wanted to return to this thread and give an update for anyone thinking of travelling to Bangkok or Phuket to get dental work done.

There are some drawbacks, but nothing that would prevent me from doing it again.

If you need a lot of work done, prepare for hours in the chair or split the work up into segments.
You'll most likely only get local anesthesia and there is some discomfort due to occasionally tapping a nerve ending or just from lying with your mouth open for hours on end.
I paid each day for the work done that day... that night I would examine the bill to make sure I understood the charges. They were always billed correctly but doing this helps with peace of mind.
The clinic's are open 7 days a week and hours are normally 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The best price in Singapore for the work I needed done was 45,000 SGD. My total cost in Bangkok was 12,700 SGD, very definitely worth the trip.

Plenty to do and see in the area if you chose to take on some sightseeing. The sky train is 5 min walk from the clinic and it's easy to use, just go on the BTS website for instructions.

Over all, I'd say I'm quite satisfied with the work done, the facilities were very clean, the staff well trained and made sure I understood and accepted each step of the process prior to doing it. No language barrier to speak of and the area around the clinic is a expat area of Bkk so plenty of diversity. If you want details, pm me and I'll help where I can.

Pakjohn

if the patient requires extensive surgery, general anaesthesia is an option too. so its not always local. but general has its drawbacks too, for example some patients can experience slight temporary memory loss after the anaesthesia wears off.

Sounds like you had a good experience overall.

glad to hear that everything has gone well and you are recovering.

[kukee]

Hi John,

I will need to get some fairly extensive work done soon as well...any detailed info you can give would be very much appreciated. I am not even sure what questions i should ask at this point...

[gf]

Hi John,

I will need to get some fairly extensive work done soon as well...any detailed info you can give would be very much appreciated. I am not even sure what questions i should ask at this point...

why don't you give us details of what kind of extensive work you require?

[pakjohn]

I suggest you go to a local dentist and get a panoramic x-ray and photos done. I told the dentist here why I wanted them and they didn't seem to mind... make sure they give you the x-ray film along with photo's or you'll have to have them done again when you get your work done.

I e-mailed photo's of the panoramic x-ray and dental photo's to 3 different clinics in Bangkok but ended up choosing the one I did because they gave the most detailed information and clearest description of what needed to be done. You can google their name from earlier posts and get the website. The other two I checked on was Bangkok international dental clinic and Bumangrad <spelling> hospital. Both had very good references as well.

If you have any dental insurance, I'd recommend going before the end of the year for a visit then getting the rest done in January since most insurance plans give a calender year maximum.

If you decide to go to Bangkok Dental.... Tai-Pan hotel is a cheap but clean and comfortable place just right around the corner. They provide car service to and from the airport for about 30 dollars US, well worth it for first time traveler to Bangkok. Tiger airways had the cheapest flights that I could find and is very easy to navigate to and and from BKK. The dentist is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but often stays later if the patient needs to get done in time to make a flight.

Hope this helps!