1150zl (inc. 10% off) for 8 fillings in a Krakow dentist

don'tpanic

Mar 10, 11, 14:41 #1

With this big neon tourist sign flashing above my head I can never be sure...

Over the course of two appointments I was given 3 or 4 different quotes (not including the final amount paid). The reason this price seemed strange is that they couldn't even do the sums themselves - stating that mistakes were made in the previous quotes. The fact that they both spoke English but chose to speak in Polish was very unsettling too.

Is this a normal price to pay? (it was a respectable practice by the way)

Thanks

Zman	Mar 10, 11, 14:47 #2
Sounds about right to me.

AjbThreads: 12 Posts: 340 Joined: Jul 14, 08 ♂	Mar 10, 11, 14:51 #3
It's hard to say but i can give you my dentist experiences! I had 1 tooth out and one filling in a nice clinic, but in a small town, no one spoke English so i had to take my partner to translate (hardly ideal!) It all came to somewhere around 175zl including OPTIONAL anesthetic! If you are 100% pleased with the work they've done then i wouldn't worry... It's not like you can return them now :)

♀

Mar 10, 11, 14:52 #4

LOL!!!
so, wait, you're a "tourist" and while on your way to see the royal palace, you decided that you need 8 fillings??? LOL! something's really not adding up here...
where are you from? I'm going to start a toothpaste business there...
anyway, I have no clue how much a dentist charges in Poland; PLN 1150 is like US$400. that's like $50/filling; I say you got yourself a bargain. Maybe because it was wholesale...

don'tpanic

Mar 10, 11, 15:03 #5

Yeah, I suppose you're right. I do think they went a little trigger happy with the drill but what's done is done...

They just seemed to be pulling figures out of their heads. and in fact, the price quote randomly jumped at one stage from 860zl to 1300zl!!!

And by tourist I mean an obviously English native person in Krakow fresh from the eurozone...I find Poles tend to take advantage of this hoping I'm still in the "everything is so cheap here" mindset. Not all, but some.

ItsAllAboutMEThreads: 4 Posts: 358 Joined: Apr 30, 10 ♀	Mar 10, 11, 15:25 #6
don'tpanic: I find Poles tend to take advantage of this hoping I'm still in the "everything is so cheap here" mindset. Not all, but some. that's kind of interesting. are things really cheaper? and are people really prone to praying on foreigners?

don'tpanic

Mar 10, 11, 15:32 #7

Not in relation to cost of living - but if you are coming from the euro or the dollar everything appears very cheap because the currencies are so strong against the zl.

I think people are prone to preying on foreigners - with the amount of visitors that come through Krakow with big money to spend (again, stronger currencies) there is potential for a lot of profit...why wouldn't they try and cash in on it?

♂

Edited by: JonnyM Mar 10, 11, 16:59 #8

don'tpanic:

I think people are prone to preying on foreigners - with the amount of visitors that come through Krakow with big money to spend (again, stronger currencies) there is potential for a lot of profit...why wouldn't they try and cash in on it?

Think how much 8 fillings would have cost you at a private dentist back home. A hell of a lot more than 1150zl. I remember here on this forum you asking for (and people helping you find) an emergency dentist who speaks English.

We thought had toothache. People were helping you. But 8 fillings? Eight!! Now it seems you only wanted to get something cheap.

We should have charged you for the advice, cheapskate.

frdThreads: 8 Posts: 1,956 Joined: Feb 3, 09 ♂	Edited by: frd Mar 10, 11, 17:13 #9
doubt that, private dentists take 100 - 200zł for a filling, it could have been worst it seems. I'd say it was not very expensive to be honest..

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER ♀	Mar 10, 11, 17:18 #10
don'tpanic: 1150zl (inc. 10% off) for 8 fillings in a Krakow dentist - did I just get ripped off? seems OK to me...

MEMBER ♂

Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Mar 10, 11, 17:20 #11

it depends on the type of fillings when it comes to pricing, 8 sounds a lot although the price is about right for 8 fillings.

I would say they went nuts with the drill then claim 8 fillings, although you probably only really needed 3, dentists are worse than dodgy builders when it comes to over charging and down right lies.

frd:

doubt that, private dentists take 100 - 200zł for a filling,

depending on the type, some fillings need flat and side drilling for one.

don'tpanic

Mar 10, 11, 20:38 #12

Jonny. I went to one of the dentists recommended in that thread - good website, seemed like a good place.

I went because one of my fillings fell out and I could feel it - I thought it important to get it filled asap. Next thing I know, I'm being told I need eight fillings as there was bacteria getting under the surface of my molars... I too was shocked when they said eight as I have always been told I have excellent teeth, thinking back, my consultation was vague in terms of both price and work needed to be done. I have had very few fillings in the past so I suppose didn't immediately think of how serious non-necessary dental work could be. silly, I know!! As soon as I had my appointment she just started drilling. Now I have eight holes in my teeth that I probably didn't need to begin with.

I'm starting to think I may have been conned. I have had the same honest dentist my entire life so I guess my guard was down and I trusted what they said....stupid stupid mistake...one which I am now quite upset about!

Wasn't looking for cheap dental work at all, I like my teeth as are (or rather, were).

JonnyMThreads: 16 Posts: 4,487 Joined: Mar 9, 11 ♂	Edited by: JonnyM Mar 10, 11, 20:55 #13
In that case, you shouldn't worry. The price seems OK. My dentist doesn't charge me, but I'm always surprised about the amount of work she does - it's a Polish thing, and touch wood, you won't need to go for a while!

Spaceman77Threads: 3 Posts: 73 Joined: Sep 12, 09 ♂	Mar 10, 11, 21:02 #14
I think you ripped off the dentist. That's way cheaper than what you pay in other countries. Not to mention in the U.S.

don'tpanic

Mar 10, 11, 21:06 #15

Thanks, I need some reassuring words (cheapskate didn't help :) ). When I told my brother he couldn't believe it...he has an innate ability to spot dodgy situations a mile off and is making me feel terrible....deservedly so. One bad dentist can lead to a lifetime of problems...I should have been more assertive. A hard lesson in naivety and ignorance learned!

I'm spending what little money I have left after today's fiasco on a beer. Needed it!! :)

don'tpanic	Mar 10, 11, 21:09 #16
Spaceman77: I think you ripped off the dentist. That's way cheaper than what you pay in other countries. Not to mention in the U.S. Yeah but when you are initially told it will be 150zl, then 600zl and then unexpectedly end up paying twice that it is a large and expensive hit to your budget. I'm not made of money!

JonnyMThreads: 16 Posts: 4,487 Joined: Mar 9, 11 ♂	Mar 10, 11, 21:14 #17
don'tpanic: Thanks, I need some reassuring words (cheapskate didn't help :) ). I was probably being a bit unfair. Out of interest, how many visits did the 8 fillings take? Or did she do it in one brutal marathon?

don'tpanic	Mar 10, 11, 21:19 #18
She did 5 in one hour (initially meant to be three I think but she replaced one which was discoloured and filled in a gap between my gum and tooth which was fair enough) Then the remaining three this morning.

♂

Edited by: JonnyM Mar 10, 11, 21:23 #19

That's quite fast going really. I've only used one Polish dentist, who's a friend, but they seem very thorough and the price is low compared to the UK.i

I don't think t's a rip-off, price wise, but she was probably taking a few liberties doing the lot if all you wanted was a quick fix for toothache. Nevertheless, Polish doctors and dentists tend to be thorough, and it was probably good value for money.

HavokThreads: 14 Posts: 1,508 Joined: Mar 12, 10 MEMBER ♂	Mar 10, 11, 21:26 #20
don'tpanic: As soon as I had my appointment she just started drilling. OMG, are you serious? Why didn't you get a second opinion? I’ve heard dentist do that even here in the US, just not on that scale. I’m sorry to say that but I think you got ripped off and damaged in the process bud.

♂

Mar 10, 11, 21:40 #21

don'tpanic:

She did 5 in one hour (initially meant to be three I think but she replaced one which was discoloured and filled in a gap between my gum and tooth which was fair enough)
Then the remaining three this morning.

I heard a similar story, about a brit that visited the dentist here in PL and they informed he had to have serious excavation work on his teeth. He was so shocked he booked a appointment for the next day and took his polish girlfriend along. After speaking to the dentist it transpired the reason for all the fillings was that his dental work had been done on the NHS in the UK, quite some time ago. His fillings were the old Amalgam type, that is banned here in PL, so they got to work removing them all, after explaining the negative impact of mercury.

don'tpanic

Mar 10, 11, 21:41 #22

Havok:

OMG, are you serious? Why didn't you get a second opinion?

Because they seemed like a very knowledgeable, professional practice who knew what they were doing. As I said earlier, I trust my dentist in Ireland 110% and my guard wasn't up. :( Hindsight eh?

You're right Jonny, price wise good value considering (that was my initial thought process and interfered with my judgment) - what I really should have asked was "did I get conned" but I thought I was jumping the gun...

HavokThreads: 14 Posts: 1,508 Joined: Mar 12, 10 MEMBER ♂	Mar 11, 11, 01:26 #23
don'tpanic: Because they seemed like a very knowledgeable, professional practice who knew what they were doing. As I said earlier, I trust my dentist in Ireland 110% and my guard wasn't up. :( Hindsight eh? I'm sorry bud this happened to you.

don'tpanic

Mar 11, 11, 12:40 #24

Thanks Havok. It's one thing to get taken advantage of on a tour or on a haircut or something like that, but when it comes to something as important as teeth it is infuriating. It's not like my enamel will grow back!

I was even thinking about it last night, and I remember being under the impression that I was going to have a shield fitted because I grind my teeth and just two fillings...everything happened so fast I didn't have a chance to stop and think!

But anyway, the damage is done and the money has been paid. There is nothing I can do about it now so I'll try to stop dwelling on it.

♂ [Suspended]

Mar 11, 11, 13:07 #25

Havok:

I’m sorry to say that but I think you got ripped off and damaged in the process bud.

Do you actually know anything about Polish dentistry? It seems that you know slightly less than sweet fucck all.

Having had years of experience, I can safely say that Polish dentists are better than dentists in any of the other countries which I have lived in: they do better work, take greater care and offer much better value for money.

don'tpanic:

But anyway, the damage is done and the money has been paid. There is nothing I can do about it now so I'll try to stop dwelling on it.

What damage? The first year I was in Poland, I went to two dentists to have fillings worked on. When I got back to the UK I immediately went to the dentist I'd seen there for years (who was also a family friend) and asked him to check that the work was OK: he told me that it was better than the work he would have done.

don'tpanic:

my dentist in Ireland

Would have charged you how many more times than 1150zl for eight fillings?

don'tpanic

Mar 11, 11, 13:31 #26

I'm not saying the work they did was bad or shoddy in any way (again, they seemed very knowledgeable and professional), but what I am saying is that the work was probably unnecessary.

The very random and changing price quotes due to "mistakes" makes me think that I was taken advantage of money wise. If I had gone in with the aim of eight fillings then I would say great value and be thrilled, but when I go in looking for one and somehow get eight, I have to question if they had dollar signs in their eyes.

If those fillings were not absolutely necessary, then I am now out A LOT of money and even worse, they have drilled away at vital enamel that could have been left there.

MEMBER ♂

Mar 11, 11, 13:37 #27

Harry:

Having had years of experience, I can safely say that Polish dentists are better than dentists in any of the other countries which I have lived in: they do better work, take greater care and offer much better value for money.

Ha a friend of mine had a tooth removed in Poland with no anesthetic, i was outside laughing my head off at the noises from within, i didnt think it was to funny once i knew what actually happened.

Dentists make a quick buck as and where they can i dont give a flying monkey weather theyre Polish or what ever. Your experience counts for nothing. Ive had 700 PLN's worth of work done in 90 minutes, only fillings, it was not required. I had a Swedish dentist claim i needed £1500 of work in the UK only for another to say £50. Dentists can usually and do get away with what ever the hell they wish.

don'tpanic:

Yeah but when you are initially told it will be 150zl, then 600zl and then unexpectedly end up paying twice that it is a large and expensive hit to your budget. I'm not made of money!

Thats typical.

♂ [Suspended]

Mar 11, 11, 13:41 #28

don'tpanic:

The very random and changing price quotes due to "mistakes" makes me think that I was taken advantage of money wise. If I had gone in with the aim of eight fillings then I would say great value and be thrilled, but when I go in looking for one and somehow get eight, I have to question if they had dollar signs in their eyes.

Polish dentists tend to be rather more proactive than British dentists: if work needs doing, they do it there and then rather than leaving it for another time. They also have rather higher standards when it comes to 'Shall I fix that or just leave it alone?'.

Frankly, if she'd wanted to rip you off, she could have easily just given you three fillings and charged you 400zl for each one: more money for less work. How would you know that 400zl is on the expensive side for Polish dentists? The fact that she actually did the work suggests that she's professional.

♀

Mar 11, 11, 13:43 #29

did they take x-rays? i say they should have, for that scale of dental work. if they did, you can take the x-rays and show them to another dentist, get their opinion. not sure how much leverage this will give you if they say the work was indeed unnecessary to potentially go after the place you went to, but it would be worth knowing anyway. it's not unheard of that dentists would talk people into getting unnecessary work done, just to ramp up their bill. but unless you have a way of verifying this, you will never know, so from this perspective, if you can't do anything about it, there's no point obsessing about it any more. go do something fun this weekend :)

hey, perhaps you can show the x-rays to harry, he seems to know more about everything that anyone else...

MEMBER ♂

Mar 11, 11, 13:47 #30

Harry:

if work needs doing, they do it there and then rather than leaving it for another time.

Some do some dont, many will take three easy filling and charge accordingly rather than take a more serious wisdom tooth for example for less and more difficult. Theyre not doing it from the goodness of their hearts harry.

Harry:

They also have rather higher standards when it comes to 'Shall I fix that or just leave it alone?'.

If thats the case its open for criticism, Polish or not im not having some dude poking around my mouth without knowing exactly what hes doing. its not a free friggin drill practice session.

Harry:

Frankly, if she'd wanted to rip you off, she could have easily just given you three fillings and charged you 400zl for each one: more money for less work. How would you know that 400zl is on the expensive side for Polish dentists? The fact that she actually did the work suggests that she's professional.

Crap she could have just touched the drill on 8 teeth and then composited them.

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1150zl (inc. 10% off) for 8 fillings in a Krakow dentist - did I just get ripped off?