1. I am looking for an affordable (preferably English speaking) dentist in Lugano. Any suggestions? I need two filling and I am not sure if they need crown or root canal
2. Where can I find information about TPW of a dentist?
3. I know there is a lot info about dental price on the forum, but still a quick question: How much does it cost to visit a dentist for the first time and ask for a price? Do they provide an estimate before starting?
4. Considering that I do not have any insurance from Germany or Italy, would it be better if I travel to these countries?
TPW (I guess) is Taxpunktwerte (I found it somewhere on the forum and don't know the meaning) and it has something to do with dental prices. I don't know more!
and to clarify my last question, if I need a root canal, would it be cheaper to do it in Germany or Italy?
I think in newspapers like 20 Minutes, I've seen adverts for health care (including dental treatment) in Germany and some of the CEE states - so there must be some demand for certain treatments.
a root canal might require multiple treatments and aftercare - consider that too
I recommend the S tudio dentistico Campana - Cremona in Vezia (bus no.5 15 min from Lugano) not sure they speak English though, but I can check if you are interested? However the practice is new with latest equipment and good focus on hygiene. I imagine you can pay over time in case the work needed is extensive.
As for going abroad, well, I've often read that one should beware unscrupulous dentists so unless you've been given a safe name I probably wouldn't risk it.
If you do need a bigger job done you are certainly entitled to get a quote before giving it the 'go-ahead'.
A 'plain' filling shouldn't be too much but, then, whether this is is done in the context of a check-up or as a simple one-off job could make a big difference. Why don't you give them a ring and tentatively find out? I'm sure these days it's not such an unusual question...
make sure you always submit it to insurance as well. i didn't think a dental visit was covered but they paid half. just in case! Dr. Prati in via Pico, Cassarate speaks perfect english as do the hygenists - one is american!
As I said previously the price is not that bad if you don't go to a super fancy dentist. I was really scared at that time. I thought I have to pay 5'000CHF for a root canal. but for sure that is not the price everywhere. Just get a quote from your doctor before he/she starts.
Wow - I am really surprised to see that people were able to get affordable dentistry. We got a quote from a cap replacement (the tooth had already had a root canal - just needed to replace the cap). The cost was a whopping 1,900 Francs... So, it ended up costing me less to fly to California and get it done there (900 US dollars plus the plane ticket).
In addition, I have been to three different dentist offices here in Lugano and at each it looked as if I had stepped back into 1979. The equipment was completely outdated. It's an even bigger contrast when the dentists back home are using lasers to drill teeth... Probably a lot better in Zurich.
If anyone finds a modern dentist in Lugano, I would love to know.