Hey everyone!
I finally have my internet up and running so I am aiming to write posts more regularly now.
It is getting pretty chilly here but I am persevering with not using the heater. It is likely that I will crack any moment now though or risk turning into a block of ice... after all about 60% of me is water.
This post will be a rather odd one but I thought I would talk about my recent trip to the dentist.
There are a lot of dentists and I was a bit lost over how to choose one, but I ended up opting for the the nicest looking one out of the two closest to my house.
Given the large number of dentists in the area I was surprised to have to wait a little over a week for an appointment.
When entering I found that the rumours were true! It appears that you must take of your shoes before entering a dentist or doctor's surgery. There were two sets of sliding doors, so I could struggle to take off my shoes without making a palaver in front of everybody. Once your shoes are off you take a pair of slippers out of a UV disinfecting machine.
I had to hand over my health insurance card and fill out some forms in the waiting room before I was admitted into the dentists room.
What surprised me was that the room contained three dentist chairs with curtain partitions. Yes, this means that 3 patients are seen to in the same room.
The dentist chairs were fairly fancy with a movable television screen positioned over the chair. Certainly not a bad move given the number of people who are squeamish about having work done to their teeth. The blanket for my lap was also a nice touch.
What I did miss was the clinical tasting neon pink liquid which was always given to me to clean my mouth out. Here, there was just what seemed to be distilled or treated water.
The check was pretty quick and the dentist seemed nice enough. However it was certainly not a place for those without any Japanese. There were a few words I had to get my phone out to check or risk coming out of there none the wiser.
There are a lot of dentists and I was a bit lost over how to choose one, but I ended up opting for the the nicest looking one out of the two closest to my house.
Given the large number of dentists in the area I was surprised to have to wait a little over a week for an appointment.
When entering I found that the rumours were true! It appears that you must take of your shoes before entering a dentist or doctor's surgery. There were two sets of sliding doors, so I could struggle to take off my shoes without making a palaver in front of everybody. Once your shoes are off you take a pair of slippers out of a UV disinfecting machine.
I had to hand over my health insurance card and fill out some forms in the waiting room before I was admitted into the dentists room.
What surprised me was that the room contained three dentist chairs with curtain partitions. Yes, this means that 3 patients are seen to in the same room.
The dentist chairs were fairly fancy with a movable television screen positioned over the chair. Certainly not a bad move given the number of people who are squeamish about having work done to their teeth. The blanket for my lap was also a nice touch.
What I did miss was the clinical tasting neon pink liquid which was always given to me to clean my mouth out. Here, there was just what seemed to be distilled or treated water.
The check was pretty quick and the dentist seemed nice enough. However it was certainly not a place for those without any Japanese. There were a few words I had to get my phone out to check or risk coming out of there none the wiser.
They decided to take an X-ray so I was guided into another room and given a lead bib. The apparatus was much fancier than the machines I had seen before. Your head is supported by a chin and head rests and horizontal and vertical laser lines guide you to keep your face central. The X-ray then goes in a circle around your face as it takes pictures. I had to keep myself from laughing and thus spoiling the scan as a music box version of a classical piece started emanating from the device. It seems that almost everything makes a tune here from the kettles at work down to X-ray machines!!
When I was done I stood in the waiting room to settle up the bill and was pleasantly surprised that the whole thing only cost around 2000 yen which at about ￡10 was cheaper than a checkup in England.
When I was done I stood in the waiting room to settle up the bill and was pleasantly surprised that the whole thing only cost around 2000 yen which at about ￡10 was cheaper than a checkup in England.
I was able to snap a picture of my X-ray so for those of you who are interested..........
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| My pearly whites in all their glory! |
Well I have probably grossed you out enough for today!
I wish you all good dental health!
