Recently I've been going to the dentist. Sigh. I don't have great faith in Japanese dentists but to be truthful most of the dentists I've gone to have been pretty good. So why don't I think highly of them?Just by reputation; talking to people who have had both American and Japanese dental care, hearing stories from friends whose children (and my own) have gone to the States and the American dentists shuddered to see what Japanese dentists had done, seeing some of the results of Japanese dental care (decaying children's teeth, gold rims on front teeth, very fake looking crowns) I have a feeling dental technology is higher in the States. I remember once I went to a Japanese dentist and noticed a diploma on his wall that said he'd been trained in periodontics. Oh good, I thought, an up-to-date dentist. But a closer look at his diploma showed that he'd taken a one week course and been certified! Hmmm.
The interesting thing is that two summers ago one of the reasons Takumi came back to Japan was to go to the dentist. The reason? It costs too much in the States and he even has dental insurance! He said the dentist he'd been going to was so horrified at his mouth and wanted to schedule so much dental work that it was just easier and cheaper to come back to Japan and get what absolutely needed to be done, done.
And now we have the same dilemma with Leiya. She needs dental work done. She hasn't been to the dentist since she was in high school. But even when she had dental work two years ago we were floored by the costs and couldn't afford the after care that she needed. Leiya no longer has dental insurance. Recently we've been talking about Leiya coming back to Japan this winter vacation just so that she can go to the Japanese dentist. This is a conundrum. I think the kids would get better dental care in the States. We can't afford the care so they come back to Japan. Very strange.
My most recent dental work has been to have silver fillings replaced with white ceramic ones. My dentist very kindly informed me that insurance policies changed and ceramic work will be covered by our insurance. Okay. That sounds good. For each new filling and dental work I've been paying about $20. Yep. It is a lot cheaper for the kids to fly back to Japan...
Tetsu also went to the dentist last month when he chipped a tooth. He hasn't been to the dentist in over 15 years!!! You'd think there would be some major work to do or some cleaning or plaque removal or something. Nope. The dentist happily fixed the one tooth and told Tetsu to come back if anything ever hurt. Even Tetsu was surprised.
Japanese medical care may not be as advanced at American (but that's not really true. Some of the Japanese hospitals have amazing technology... just not easily accessible to everyone) but at the very least everyone can afford it. It is a quandary.
9 comments:
Today you struck a nerve with this posting...I've been struggling with dentists who seem to want to replace every filling, etc. Several of my friends also comment on how dentists seem to be such a community referring you back and forth to each other. Of course in the US there is dental insurance, but many of us have such little coverage, such as $1500 a year, that we often have at least that much to pay. I'm hoping that if we ever have health care reform they will move on to Dental reform. Since unlike doctors who must accept what the insurance pays and takes a contractual discount due to usual & customary costs, dentist can charge as much as they want and the patient is stuck with a large bill.
No kidding - I'd have them come home to get dental work!
I don't have dental insurance, or ANY insurance. I've been going to my dentist for 30 years, he's wonderful and painless. He even gave me a bridge for free. He knocks his price way down for me and I do appreciate it! But it still adds up.
When I was working in China, my colleague got an xray done for US$5 and a personal physician to come to her apartment and her total bill including medicine was less than US$30. I had dental cleaning done and it was the best cleaning I have ever had for US$40. The dentist did the cleaning unlike here in the US where the nurses does it and the dentist took his time and was very patient with me as I was afraid of pain. He spent about 3 hours cleaning my teeth unlike here in the US where it only took the nurse about 30 mins. I feel the US dentists are always pushing me to do cosmetic and unneccessary work on my teeth just so they will get paid. Also before the end of the year, they always send me a reminder of how much left I have to spent on my insurance and if I don't use it, I will lose it so I have chose to lose it. I really don't care for their greediness.
Gee, maybe I'll come to Japan with Leiya over Christmas and get my dental work done, too :) (have no dental insurance and need some stuff done :) Pat H
We're sort of in between here in the UK, though I know Americans think that our teeth are pretty bad. There are National Health Service dentists, but they are subsidised, not free, unless you fit certain criteria. But more and more dentists are becoming private only. At the moment we have dental insurance for which DH's company pay half. But at least most UK dentists don't push you to have unnecessary work done. Dental care was so poor when I was a child that all my teeth are breaking up now and I think I've got as many crowns as teeth!
Congratulations to Tetsu on having such a good report from the dentist. Well, at least you will have Leiya home for a visit when she comes to get the dental work done. Much, Much cheaper.
あぁー・・・このPostでもっと日本に行くかどうか分かんなくなっちゃったよぉー
この間まで日本には行かない!って決めてたのにー、どうすっぺぇぇええ＞＜？？
Gee - is my relationship with my dentist that unusual? He is talented, very up to date, not very expensive (on par with the usual and customary for my dental insurance) and never pushes me to do more than I want to do. In my 30's he told me if I didn't like how crooked my teeth were he could put braces on them, but when I asked if there were any functional problems, not just cosmetic, he agreed that there weren't and braces were optional. His practice is small and human-scaled, and I feel very comfortable there. He does beautiful work and although I have moved 90 miles from him, I still go back to his office for all my dental work and cleanings. I've been his patient for over 27 years. In fact, he's one of only three health professionals I have ever worked with in my life that I didn't detest. Lucky me!
Have you thought of your children being seen at a University where there is a dental college? I remember when my daughter needed braces. With 5 kids and the cost out of the question. We went to UCSF, they have a dental college. The students earning their degree in dental actually perform the work under the strict supervision of a licensed/certified dentist who is their instructor. Cost was approx 500.00 for complete orthodontics! compared to the 7500.00 if we had gone to a regular orthodontist. Just a thought, don't know what college your children are in.
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