Comments on: My Trip To a Japanese Dentist http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/ "Occasionally I am callous and strange." Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:06:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Mr. Blithe http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/comment-page-1/#comment-3551 Mr. Blithe Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:22:13 +0000 http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/02/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/#comment-3551 My experience with dentistry was limited to this one incident, so when I talk about my dismal view of Japanese dentistry I am focusing more on the poor condition of my students' teeth and the teeth of the people I worked with. I don't know what part of the country you live in, but in Iwate I saw some of the gnarliest chompers I'd ever seen in my life. This isn't entirely the fault of dentists, but it's so much more pithy to make a direct causal relationship between crappy dentists and wacked-out teeth rather than examining other factors. I'd been told about having to go in for multiple visits by several different people, but this was not the case for you, which is probably good; at the same time, opinions differed as to whether having to have, say, a cavity take up multiple trips to the dentist was really a bad thing anyway. But you're right, going to the dentist in Japan is wicked cheap, especially since, as you say, the quality of care is not that much worse than it would be in the United States for several times the cost. Anyways, thanks for the comment. Stick around; I promise that I'll actually post new stuff here at some point in the near future. My experience with dentistry was limited to this one incident, so when I talk about my dismal view of Japanese dentistry I am focusing more on the poor condition of my students’ teeth and the teeth of the people I worked with. I don’t know what part of the country you live in, but in Iwate I saw some of the gnarliest chompers I’d ever seen in my life. This isn’t entirely the fault of dentists, but it’s so much more pithy to make a direct causal relationship between crappy dentists and wacked-out teeth rather than examining other factors.

I’d been told about having to go in for multiple visits by several different people, but this was not the case for you, which is probably good; at the same time, opinions differed as to whether having to have, say, a cavity take up multiple trips to the dentist was really a bad thing anyway. But you’re right, going to the dentist in Japan is wicked cheap, especially since, as you say, the quality of care is not that much worse than it would be in the United States for several times the cost.

Anyways, thanks for the comment. Stick around; I promise that I’ll actually post new stuff here at some point in the near future.

]]> By: Shaun http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/comment-page-1/#comment-3543 Shaun Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:44:16 +0000 http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/02/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/#comment-3543 I've been living in Japan for about 6 months now, and did not know anything about Japanese dentistry before I came. Like an ignoramous I simply figured it was comparable to American/Western standards. Well anyway, seeing that I can't afford dental work back in the U.S. I knew I was going to have work done while in Japan. I've had some bad cavities for years now, and they bothered me a great deal any time I used the left side of my mouth. Also, I was set to get my wisdom teeth out about 6 years ago, which never happened due to money issues. I've been to 2 dentists while in Japan. My first experience, the one with the cavaties, was spectacular. I called, made an appointment for that day, went in, had xrays, a dental exam, my cavity drilled and filled and an explanation of a possible root canal but he was going to try to do everything in his power to prevent it all within 70 minutes of the initial phone call. There was no multiple visits, other than he needs me back in to take care of other smaller cavaties, I never even felt the novacaine shot, and he used the white resin filling for my cavaties. All of this cost me less than $60USD. My second visit, just the other day was a slightly different experience. I went in to have my wisdom teeth looked at, and the guy ended up taking one out while I was there. Novacaine only. No laughing gas, no happy pills, no sleeping, just a towel over my eyes to "protect me" (his english was limited). Still, I have to admit the place was really clean, he was a happy guy who kept telling me it'll be fine and not to worry, and the whole extraction took less than 10 minutes from first crank to it popping out. I'm a bit terrified of my next visit for my next tooth, and I'm not sure I can handle getting my bottom ones taken out the same way, but overall I've been fairly happy with dentistry in Japan. Of course, I might just be one of the few lucky ones. I’ve been living in Japan for about 6 months now, and did not know anything about Japanese dentistry before I came. Like an ignoramous I simply figured it was comparable to American/Western standards. Well anyway, seeing that I can’t afford dental work back in the U.S. I knew I was going to have work done while in Japan. I’ve had some bad cavities for years now, and they bothered me a great deal any time I used the left side of my mouth. Also, I was set to get my wisdom teeth out about 6 years ago, which never happened due to money issues.

I’ve been to 2 dentists while in Japan. My first experience, the one with the cavaties, was spectacular. I called, made an appointment for that day, went in, had xrays, a dental exam, my cavity drilled and filled and an explanation of a possible root canal but he was going to try to do everything in his power to prevent it all within 70 minutes of the initial phone call. There was no multiple visits, other than he needs me back in to take care of other smaller cavaties, I never even felt the novacaine shot, and he used the white resin filling for my cavaties. All of this cost me less than $60USD.

My second visit, just the other day was a slightly different experience. I went in to have my wisdom teeth looked at, and the guy ended up taking one out while I was there. Novacaine only. No laughing gas, no happy pills, no sleeping, just a towel over my eyes to “protect me” (his english was limited). Still, I have to admit the place was really clean, he was a happy guy who kept telling me it’ll be fine and not to worry, and the whole extraction took less than 10 minutes from first crank to it popping out. I’m a bit terrified of my next visit for my next tooth, and I’m not sure I can handle getting my bottom ones taken out the same way, but overall I’ve been fairly happy with dentistry in Japan. Of course, I might just be one of the few lucky ones.

]]> By: Mr. Blithe http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/comment-page-1/#comment-3249 Mr. Blithe Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:35:20 +0000 http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/02/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/#comment-3249 I was reminded over and over before I even got to Japan that Japanese toothpaste sucked. So I made sure to bring several tubes of American toothpaste in my suitcase when I came over and never tried any of the Japanese stuff. In retrospect I should have probably tried some at least once just for the sake of intellectual curiosity, but the time for that has passed, I suppose. Your analysis makes me feel like maybe I made the right decision, though. I was reminded over and over before I even got to Japan that Japanese toothpaste sucked. So I made sure to bring several tubes of American toothpaste in my suitcase when I came over and never tried any of the Japanese stuff. In retrospect I should have probably tried some at least once just for the sake of intellectual curiosity, but the time for that has passed, I suppose. Your analysis makes me feel like maybe I made the right decision, though.

]]> By: Al http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/comment-page-1/#comment-3246 Al Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:31:25 +0000 http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/02/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/#comment-3246 What do you think of Japanese toothpaste? I've always found it extremely gritty and abrasive to the point of being painful. After about 2 months of using it, I think it's cutting into some of my teeth, due to it's abrasiveness. Anyone else have this problem? What do you think of Japanese toothpaste? I’ve always found it extremely gritty and abrasive to the point of being painful. After about 2 months of using it, I think it’s cutting into some of my teeth, due to it’s abrasiveness. Anyone else have this problem?

]]> By: rodanoS http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/comment-page-1/#comment-397 rodanoS Fri, 01 May 2009 01:48:31 +0000 http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/02/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/#comment-397 Well, I live in East, though that poster makes me creep, especially its unnatural connection between Pannel 1 and 2. Dancing on giant piano keys? What is it, did dentist used marihuana for anesthetic? Wierd. Well, I live in East, though that poster makes me creep, especially its unnatural connection between Pannel 1 and 2.

Dancing on giant piano keys? What is it, did dentist used marihuana for anesthetic? Wierd.

]]> By: Eric Herboso http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/03/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Eric Herboso Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:48:29 +0000 http://worsethancoleslaw.com/2009/02/my-trip-to-a-japanese-dentist/#comment-282 Every time you write about a severe cultural difference like this, I am utterly amazed. A few additional comments: - Dentists never do their own teeth, so the state of his teeth tells more of his standard of perfection than it does of his dental practicioning ability. - Shame on you for not getting a pic of that poster in the dentist's office. Your description is good, but it makes for such a weird image in my head that I desperately wish to see an actual picture of this poster. - According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous_teeth , most people lose their baby teeth by age twelve. This is proof that you must be some kind of freak. Every time you write about a severe cultural difference like this, I am utterly amazed.

A few additional comments:

- Dentists never do their own teeth, so the state of his teeth tells more of his standard of perfection than it does of his dental practicioning ability.

- Shame on you for not getting a pic of that poster in the dentist’s office. Your description is good, but it makes for such a weird image in my head that I desperately wish to see an actual picture of this poster.

- According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous_teeth , most people lose their baby teeth by age twelve. This is proof that you must be some kind of freak.

]]>