Japanese Dentistry

[wernst]

I was told the Japanese dentists are among the best in the world but from personal experience im deeply disappointed.

It takes 2 appointments to fix 1 teeth. And in between those appointments they stuff a hole they drilled in your teeth with some gooey soft white stuff that you are not suppose to take out but eventually goes out because of eating, drinking and brushing your teeth.

Very expensive compared to back home where almost everything is insured.

I dont know if its my dentist but he cant give the anesthetic shot. Every time he gives a shot he only manages to numb the wrong parts of my mouth. So he needs 2 or 3 shots. Im fed up with it.

Anyone have bad or good experiences?

[hennagaijin]

Yep.
That is pretty much the deal.
Bedside manner is non-existent.
And was he running from room to room dealing with 3-4 patients at the same time??
Comes back and sticks wet hands in your mouth?

Mine did all that..
until one day I stood up and walked out.
I was polite about it.. just told him I could see he was very busy and would come back when he had more time.

Also insisted he use gas every time he treats me.
He now uses the gas at full power and is more careful.. not so bad.

Just keep changing dentists until you can find the least of the bad.

[Chromedome]

I was told the Japanese dentists are among the best in the world but from personal experience im deeply disappointed.

It takes 2 appointments to fix 1 teeth. And in between those appointments they stuff a hole they drilled in your teeth with some gooey soft white stuff that you are not suppose to take out but eventually goes out because of eating, drinking and brushing your teeth.

Very expensive compared to back home where almost everything is insured.

I dont know if its my dentist but he cant give the anesthetic shot. Every time he gives a shot he only manages to numb the wrong parts of my mouth. So he needs 2 or 3 shots. Im fed up with it.

Anyone have bad or good experiences?

I think you'll find there are very few dentists in the world who can fix one teeth in one sittings.

[wernst]

I think you'll find there are very few dentists in the world who can fix one teeth in one sittings.

Not true. My dentist back home could do it and she delivered stellar work.

Yep.
That is pretty much the deal.
Bedside manner is non-existent.
And was he running from room to room dealing with 3-4 patients at the same time??
Comes back and sticks wet hands in your mouth?

Mine did all that..
until one day I stood up and walked out.
I was polite about it.. just told him I could see he was very busy and would come back when he had more time.

Also insisted he use gas every time he treats me.
He now uses the gas at full power and is more careful.. not so bad.

Just keep changing dentists until you can find the least of the bad.

Exactly. 4 patients at a time. WTF. Mine doesnt use gas, nor have I ever used gas in my life, we dont have gas in holland.

[edin日本]

If you're in Adachi ku then you could visit my GF's clinic.

[Mr. Ludd]

Dentists are not allowed to spend a whole lot of time on one person because of the socialized medicine rules. Most would prefer to do everything in one go, but the time spent would be depriving others of care. I've spent a lot of time at dentists and also was also unhappy at having to be told to come back next week. As others have mentioned, keep looking around until you find a dentist that will give you service you are happy with. A former student told me of a dentist she was happy with, and have been using him now for several years. Still need multiple visits but does good work and has a good attitude and bedside manner.

[cucashopboy]

Dentists are not allowed to spend a whole lot of time on one person because of the socialized medicine rules. Most would prefer to do everything in one go, but the time spent would be depriving others of care. I've spent a lot of time at dentists and also was also unhappy at having to be told to come back next week. As others have mentioned, keep looking around until you find a dentist that will give you service you are happy with. A former student told me of a dentist she was happy with, and have been using him now for several years. Still need multiple visits but does good work and has a good attitude and bedside manner.

As Mr Ludd said, keep looking around, not just for dentists but all forms of medical care (my wife uses about 5 different doctors for herself and the children depending on the problem). Since we've lived in the same area for 8 years, they are now all good ones but we've had very bad experiences with a pediatrician and a dentist before finding good ones.
The standard of doctors and dentists seems to vary more in Japan than in western countries.

In my case, the first dentist I went to was young, had just opened a new practice and I imagine had a mountain of debt. I've had virtually problem-free teeth since a child but one check-up with him resulted in another four trips of 'urgent' treatment. I described what had happened to a British dentist back home, who shuddered and suggested that I didn't go there again. Since then, I've found a good dentist in Japan.

[wernst]

I want to try other dentists but I feel sorry if the other dentist hears about it, he might be disappointed. Hes not a bad guy.

[cucashopboy]

I want to try other dentists but I feel sorry if the other dentist hears about it, he might be disappointed. Hes not a bad guy.

But he is a bad dentist! Harden your heart, you've got your teeth to consider!

[ericson]

Back home I also use to get the gooy stuff for a few days. I really cannot say there is anything bad about dentists here and really I do not have a clue why you guys complain about the cost. Do you have NHI? They also cover pretty much everything.

[hennagaijin]

I want to try other dentists but I feel sorry if the other dentist hears about it, he might be disappointed. Hes not a bad guy.

Compassionate of you.. but maybe it will make him lift his game.. but probably not..

But a good dentist is worth his/her weight in gold... bad ones are worth nothing..

Would be interested to hear if anyone has found any English speaking dentists, too.

[cucashopboy]

Compassionate of you.. but maybe it will make him lift his game.. but probably not..

But a good dentist is worth his/her weight in gold... bad ones are worth nothing..

Would be interested to hear if anyone has found any English speaking dentists, too.

I've heard good things from a colleague about Dr Naoko Freeman in Nishi Eifuku.
She's also been recommended in previous threads.

http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...-Good-Dentists

[Klausdorth]

If it was in the Ehime area .....

.... I got me a GREAT dentist.

Even took care of my dental-phobia!!

[hennagaijin]

I've heard good things from a colleague about Dr Naoko Freeman in Nishi Eifuku.
She's also been recommended in previous threads.

http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...-Good-Dentists

Thank you.

Her website appears to have disappeared..

[BackDoor_Man]

This is very simple advice; If you do not like or are disappointed with the dentists in Japan, then get your butts "back home". You choose to live in this country, so learn to live with it!

[Mr. Ludd]

I want to try other dentists but I feel sorry if the other dentist hears about it, he might be disappointed. Hes not a bad guy.

Don't worry about it. It is your body and you should go someplace you feel comfortable. Had a dentist I was happy with for several years until her handiwork started to self destruct (a tooth literally fell out onto a student's desk while checking a paper). Just stopped going to her and found my nice dentist. Ask/shop around for medical service. There are some real quacks out there along with some really good ones.

[edin日本]

This is very simple advice; If you do not like or are disappointed with the dentists in Japan, then get your butts "back home". You choose to live in this country, so learn to live with it!

Is that the same way you pick out a car? Take any old clunker on the lot or do you go for the best one your money can buy?

Back in the 60-80's era the government was rather lax on qualifying dentists and a lot of very bad ones slipped through the cracks. If you find a good dentist keep him/her.

[Deathblob]

I'm pretty happy with the dentist I've got here.

Especially because the dental assistant rubs her t!ts up against me while she does the teeth scraping/polishing thing. Sure helps take my mind off any incidental pain from getting poked in the gums!

[Glenski]

This is very simple advice; If you do not like or are disappointed with the dentists in Japan, then get your butts "back home". You choose to live in this country, so learn to live with it!

I disagree. Just do what others have said -- find another dentist.

I've had no problem with the 2-3 dentists that treated me.

Yeah, they mill between me and another patient(s), but it never takes long, and in between the dental assistant always has something to do.
Never had anyone even OFFER to give me gas, and the painkiller shot is always in the right place.
Temporary fillings are the norm in most of the world. They usually have to mold the filling while you are away, so it takes 2 sittings.

The only real problem I have had is that one dentist seemed to want to do things in smaller piecemeal jobs than I'd like. Up to me to tell him otherwise, I guess, not go back to America!

Keep shopping if you have bad luck.

[Bella Bowtruckle]

I agree that it's well worth looking around until you find someone that you are satisfied with - or go with a friend's recommendation if they are happy with a certain dentist. The first three dentists I went to in Japan I really didn't have a good experience. I have strong teeth apparently and I've never had a cavity in my life but I did have to have a wisdom tooth out here and that was a nightmare. The dentist I went to (that my Japanese ex recommended) miscalculated (maybe) the strength of my teeth and I ended up with a black eye and swollen face when she tried to remove the tooth using only local anaesthetic and her physical strength. Not a good look for a teacher. It took more than two hours to finally remove every last bit after finally drilling/cracking the tooth apart bit by bit and lots of follow up appointments. I went to a couple more different dentists after that but still felt that they weren't quite what I wanted - the above mentioned being seen at the same time as other customers didn't sit well with me either. I finally saw an advert in an English language magazine for my area and decided to try that dentist out. He's an orthodontist actually and specializes in cosmetic dentistry, which I don't actually need but despite the prices being high I much prefer him. I get individual attention and he doesn't recommend unnecessary treatment which was something else I was worried about. Yes, I pay a lot to get my teeth checked and cleaned professionally three times a year but I'm much less nervous now. I actually prefer to see him than my dentist back home who is so busy that it takes weeks to make an appointment and who won't perform any dentistry now that isn't absolutely essential.

[the tokyo ape]

I was told the Japanese dentists are among the best in the world but from personal experience im deeply disappointed.

It takes 2 appointments to fix 1 teeth. And in between those appointments they stuff a hole they drilled in your teeth with some gooey soft white stuff that you are not suppose to take out but eventually goes out because of eating, drinking and brushing your teeth.

Very expensive compared to back home where almost everything is insured.

I dont know if its my dentist but he cant give the anesthetic shot. Every time he gives a shot he only manages to numb the wrong parts of my mouth. So he needs 2 or 3 shots. Im fed up with it.

Anyone have bad or good experiences?

anywhere you can know a good lawyer

i know a good lawyer and he always tells me who the good dentists are

and who are the ones who you shouldn't go to

then he told me once that even the best dentists make mistakes and kill their patients

if they are having an off day

good luck

[twelvedown]

They're not too bad. The price is quite wonderful compared to home.

It's stupid. Everyone knows that a population having access to cheap dentistry is good for the economy but not many countries make it happen.

Dentistry here is lacking some of the bells and whistles.... they tend to put in metal fillings instead of the tooth colored ones, you're expected to be able to deal with a bit of pain in the chair etc.

[John Grey]

This is very simple advice; If you do not like or are disappointed with the dentists in Japan, then get your butts "back home". You choose to live in this country, so learn to live with it!

You are always so intelligent and really helpful!

I always love your posts....

[Effected After]

After shopping around, I've found a dentist I'm quite happy with. Good work at reasonable prices, and he's really good at what he does.

ILet's take 2 half days off from work to get our teeth cleaned by scheduling two 15 minute cleaning sessions instead of one 30 minute session because the Dentist wants to milk the system.

Your disgruntledness is misplaced - the government requires two visits, the dentists just follow the rules they are set.

They're not too bad. The price is quite wonderful compared to home.

I agree. It's quite cheap here.

...they tend to put in metal fillings instead of the tooth colored ones

I've had both - but the tooth colored ones break/chip over time. I prefer the metal ones myself.