Wisdom Teeth extraction - advice?

sjbrophy

I've looked through some of the old threads and I haven't seen anythin definitive.

I wanted to use my PRSI before I lost it, so I booked in to my dentist to have my teeth cleaned and checked. They charged me 220 quid net of PRSI for xray, clean, polish and two fillings.

The dentist also recommended that I have 3 out of my 4 wisdom teeth extracted - they're all impacted. The fourth is not quite out protruding, so should be ok (I'm 26).

The consultation with their surgeon would be €100 and the treatment about €800. I just can't afford that

I called the dental hospital, but I need to get the referral in writing before they'll do the consultation and I figured that before I committed to that, I should ask for some advice on the best way to proceed.

Basically I need the cheapest possible extraction. I have a basic Quinn Healthcare package but I don't expect it to be covered.

Any input would be appreciated

southsiderosie

I don't know how old you are, but I put off having my impacted wisdom teeth pulled until I was 30 - for cost/insurance reasons - and it was one of the stupidest decisions I've ever made. The roots of the teeth grew big and tangled, and in one case were sitting on top of a nerve. The process to take them out was excruciating. And because they were there and growing for so long - and two were exposed - they caused permanent damage to my other teeth, pushing some out of alignment and making others impossible to clean properly (which damaged the enamel).

You're stuck with your teeth for life, so they aren't really worth screwing around with. Maybe you can get one side done at a time, and that way you could spread the cost out a bit?

sjbrophy

Ok, so I shouldn't wait - thanks for the warning

I don't intend to screw around with them, but then these 3 teeth I actually won't have for life; so surely any qualified surgeon will do a more than adequate job... I'd be more than happy to have it done by a student if that were possible, but I don't think the surgical stuff is done that way.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Had to edit post, no naming of Dentist or Clinics, see the charter.

Ring your health insurer and see if they cover oral surgery (I know VHI do) and they can give you a list of oral sugeons that partake in their insurance scheme. If not the dental hospitals are good but the wait can be long. This is one of those thing that tend not to get better, easier or cheaper with time.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

sjbrophy wrote: »

Ok, so I shouldn't wait - thanks for the warning

I don't intend to screw around with them, but then these 3 teeth I actually won't have for life; so surely any qualified surgeon will do a more than adequate job... I'd be more than happy to have it done by a student if that were possible, but I don't think the surgical stuff is done that way.

There are some risks with removing impacted wisdom teeth, they are not just simple extractions. Oral surgeons are specially trained to do these with as little post operative complications as possible.

sjbrophy

Legacy Incalculable Safari wrote: »

Had to edit post, no naming of Dentist or Clinics, see the charter.

Cool, sorry about that.

Legacy Incalculable Safari wrote: »

Ring your health insurer and see if they cover oral surgery (I know VHI do) and they can give you a list of oral sugeons that partake in their insurance scheme

I checked the policy on the net, and they cover trauma only

I may ask my dentist to send a referral to the dental hospital then...