How much will it all cost?

When I started enquiring about 'fixing' my jaw I first did a lot of research on pricing.  While the costs have worked out to a little more than I originally expected (well OK around 40% more), I still had a fair idea of what I was letting myself in for.

So for those of you out there who are looking into SARME/SARPE, orthodontics and bi-max surgery - here is the cost for each stage along with a breakdown of what fees make up the total.  All prices are in Australian dollars before any rebates from my private health fund or Medicare.

Stage 1 SARME = $6,250

Surgical fee = $3,000

Teeth removed x 5 = $550 (total)

Day surgery fees = $1,800

Anaesthetist fees = $900

Stage 2 Orthodontics = $10,800

Braces, adjustments and all appointment fees = $10,800 ($3750 initial deposit then $470 per month for 15 months).

While the orthodontics sound expensive this also includes consultations for two years after orthodontic work is completed.

Stage 3 Bi-maxillary (double jaw) surgery = $23,000 (approx.)

Pre-op surgical appointment = $1,500 (approx)
Surgical fees = $17,000

Hospital and anaesthetist fees including 1 night high dependency unit and five night stay total = $4,000 (approx.)

Other fees for x-rays, consults, veneers, cleaning and general dental = $3,000 (approx.)

Grand total for entire treatment = $40,000 (before any rebates)

Expensive?  Well yes it is - but remember these fees are before any health fund or Medicare rebates.  I can expect to receive about $8,000 in total from these rebates.  Then there are the tax refunds on top of that - the Australian government will give 20% back on all medical expenses over $2,200 in any tax year (after rebates from health funds and Medicare).  The cost of these procedures will be spread over two years, but I can still expect to receive another $5,000 or so back, which brings the grand total out of pocket to around $27,000 which is much more manageable.

If you are still reading but unsure of the prices I think its a matter of putting things into perspective.  Some people would not think twice about spending this much money on a brand new car.  Some people will easily spend $10K on an overseas holiday.  This is something that will last me for the rest of my life, so I definitely think it is a wise investment.

Well that's all for now - it's late here in Sydney and time for bed.  If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line or leave a comment.