I am having horrible, awful tooth pain on the left side of my mouth. I can't chew anything, not even soft stuff because it hurts too bad. I suspect that I have either a really, really bad cavity requiring a root canal OR a problem with a crown. A couple of years ago I cracked a tooth and had pain exactly like this in the exact same location.

First. I'm worried about the cost. Hubby and I just got done paying a lot of huge bills this month that required dipping into our already-small savings. Do dentists here generally offer payment plans or do you have to pay it all at once, or does it just depend on the dentist? (I'm not too familiar with this sort of thing as previously I have only ever gone to the same dentist throughout my entire life...but being as he is in California that's not really an option ha ha)

Second...I am terrified of going to a new dentist. I don't know why, but I am. So, if anyone has any recommendations for dentists in, around, or near the Thurgau or St. Gallen area, please let me know! Additionally I have read here before that Germany is sometimes cheaper to get dental work done. Does anyone have any experience with this? English speaking would be great but not required as my Swiss hubby could do the talking if need be.

Lastly. Can someone please come knock me out and wake me up when all the pain is gone

Kate.. sorry I can't help at all with recommendations up your way but after a few years of putting off a visit "to the big chair" I finally worked up the courage about a month ago...

the whole plan for me.. initial visit, hygienist, two fillings and the rather odd sounding "further consultation" is running to a total of just under 2K .

the good news.... not a touch of pain, unlike my last dentist who I believe was using a foot powered drill this guy has everything state of the art.

best of luck

I can't speak for the cost of treatment in Germany, but treatment in France is significantly cheaper than Switzerland. If you can find a dentist who is conventionné (that it, who charges according to the health service guidelines) you will pay the following for treatment:

http://www.ameli.fr/assures/soins-et...-dentaires.php

If you can make it as far as Basel, I've recommended a dental practice there which charges the conventionné rates.

Good english-speaking dentist in Basel?

The English-speaking dentist no longer works there, but I have been very happy with her colleague, Dr. Santilli.

If you are living in Amriswil, I would go to a dentist in Konstanz as it is probably much cheaper than Switzerland.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Hubby wants to get me into the dentist ASAP so we are just going to a local one here in town this afternoon.

please let us know the damage done... to your mouth, and purse.

Shouldn't emergencies be covered by basic health insurance?

I am fairly sure that for severe dental illness, emergency work is covered by the basic sickness insurance KVG. Ask your dentist to select the correct tariff on the invoice!

www.comparis.ch Except for certain cases, dental treatments are not covered by the basic insurance. The benefits of the basic insurance are covered by private health insurances and are identical with all health insurance companies, as they are strictly defined through the Health Insurance Laws

http://www.visana.ch/de/private/ange...uebersicht.pdf page 3 "Zahnbehandlung"

I am not really terribly familiar with what exactly our insurance plan covers. I'd have to ask my husband.

I went to a local dentist here that was able to get me in on Monday. He was very nice as was the rest of his staff, and they all spoke pretty good English (he apologized once for his English while trying to give me recovery instructions, but I told him that his English was much much better than my German lol).

Apparently I had a very bad cavity on the molar in the very back of my mouth. Could have gone the root canal + crown route but he said the cavity was so deep that it would probably take quite a bit to repair and end up costing a lot. So I just had it pulled instead, which was my first experience getting a tooth pulled and insanely terrifying. It didn't hurt at all though- had lots of novacaine

Not sure yet what the cost will be...I didn't think to ask while I was there (the whole "getting a tooth pulled out" thing REALLY freaked me out). I expect a bill to come shortly but I think it will probably be less expensive than a root canal. At least I hope

I believe tooth pulling comes under dental emergency work and the basic health insurance will pay their share.

Well that would be totally awesome

I agree. Dental tretment in France is reasonably priced-as far as any dental work can be said to be reasonably priced.

Update for those who wanted it. Got the bill today. Only 131 CHF. I was pretty shocked that it was that cheap!

I generally find Dr's to be reasonably priced, Chiropractors too relative to everything else here. Probably rather less than rediculous American medical costs. Can you even get medical insurance if your ill for 300 a month? I suspect not!