OK folks, this is it. I came to Bangkok to go to the dentist, and the time has arrived.
My first appointment is at 10:00 Monday morning. It's 20 past 9, we have finished breakfast, and heading down to the lobby for pickup.
Did I mention that this dentist has a free pickup service from your hotel? No? Well they do.
We arrive in the lobby, wondering how we will spot the driver. never mind, there's the van with the Dental Centre's name on the door. Out we go, and the doorman hails the driver for us. Can my wife come with? Sure, hop in.
Fifteen minutes later, and we are pulling into the car park. Escorted into the building, into the lift and up to the 2nd floor. Sit here, sir and fill out this form. Now please sit over there and we will call you.
Within minutes, I am in the dreaded chair. Looks good so far, modern equipment, young staff. I am soon off to the X-ray room, to get an inside look at what is going on in there. This is definitely more modern than what I am used to. When I used to go to my dentist (to be fair I had him since school), an x-ray involved what looked like a photographic slide wrapped in thin card, held between the teeth, so that a flash pointy object can be held against the cheek, and bzzzz. Done. Next slide. Now wait a few minutes to develop. Not long actually.
Different here. First, I'm given a heavy apron to protect the bits that they are not interested in. Next, a young lady takes a wired little pad off a hook on the wall, holds it there in my mouth, and someone outside the door hits the button. Bzzzz. Now hold it there. Bzzzz. Now up there. Bzzzz. Very fast. Very digital.
Apparently, my fat white mouth is a little awkward for this flash Asian equipment. So it's back to the first room and back up on the chair. Out comes a wee mobile x-ray unit, with another wee probe to stick in the mouth. Up there, bzzzz. Back a little, bzzzz. This side up here, bzzzz. Down there, bzzzz.
We now know what is going on, and what is to be recommended. We have a chat about the various options, and the cost. I will need 4 crowns, and 3 fillings. Sounds expensive.
Crowns start at 9000 baht each, and each filling is 1000 baht. That adds up to 39,000 baht. By today's conversion rate, that's just under NZD1600.
I believe that in NZ, a crown starts well over $1000. A filling is usually about $200.
Looks like a good deal.
Anyway, we begin. I'm in the chair till my bum gets numb, 2 crowns and a filling. There is a temporary crown to be fitted, and I get to wait in the waiting room with Sarah for about 45 minutes while that is being made. Back in for another 45 minutes to glue the temporary crowns in place.
That'll do for today. Back tomorrow at 1700. The driver will take us back to our hotel. From pick up to drop off, about four hours, thanks.
One thing that I had forgotten about. This sort of work needs anaesthetic. Give me heaps, thanks.
With my last dentist, the pain of the injection is up there with the pain of the drilling. Not here. She rubs something on the gum, and I don't feel the needle at all. Nice.
During the onslaught, there are periods when I'm asked to rinse my mouth. Simple stuff. Take a sip, swirl it around in your mouth, and spit it into the wee bowl. Been doing it since I was a kid.
Today, it's hard. Take a sip, swirl it around, and it all falls out!! I can't even keep my mouth closed, no matter how hard I concentrate. It doesn't help that I start laughing at this situation. Sheesh!!!
If you get a chance, listen to a story by Bill Cosby about going to the dentist. Always think about that when I'm sitting there, and it always makes me laugh.
My first appointment is at 10:00 Monday morning. It's 20 past 9, we have finished breakfast, and heading down to the lobby for pickup.
Did I mention that this dentist has a free pickup service from your hotel? No? Well they do.
We arrive in the lobby, wondering how we will spot the driver. never mind, there's the van with the Dental Centre's name on the door. Out we go, and the doorman hails the driver for us. Can my wife come with? Sure, hop in.
Fifteen minutes later, and we are pulling into the car park. Escorted into the building, into the lift and up to the 2nd floor. Sit here, sir and fill out this form. Now please sit over there and we will call you.
Within minutes, I am in the dreaded chair. Looks good so far, modern equipment, young staff. I am soon off to the X-ray room, to get an inside look at what is going on in there. This is definitely more modern than what I am used to. When I used to go to my dentist (to be fair I had him since school), an x-ray involved what looked like a photographic slide wrapped in thin card, held between the teeth, so that a flash pointy object can be held against the cheek, and bzzzz. Done. Next slide. Now wait a few minutes to develop. Not long actually.
Different here. First, I'm given a heavy apron to protect the bits that they are not interested in. Next, a young lady takes a wired little pad off a hook on the wall, holds it there in my mouth, and someone outside the door hits the button. Bzzzz. Now hold it there. Bzzzz. Now up there. Bzzzz. Very fast. Very digital.
Apparently, my fat white mouth is a little awkward for this flash Asian equipment. So it's back to the first room and back up on the chair. Out comes a wee mobile x-ray unit, with another wee probe to stick in the mouth. Up there, bzzzz. Back a little, bzzzz. This side up here, bzzzz. Down there, bzzzz.
We now know what is going on, and what is to be recommended. We have a chat about the various options, and the cost. I will need 4 crowns, and 3 fillings. Sounds expensive.
Crowns start at 9000 baht each, and each filling is 1000 baht. That adds up to 39,000 baht. By today's conversion rate, that's just under NZD1600.
I believe that in NZ, a crown starts well over $1000. A filling is usually about $200.
Looks like a good deal.
Anyway, we begin. I'm in the chair till my bum gets numb, 2 crowns and a filling. There is a temporary crown to be fitted, and I get to wait in the waiting room with Sarah for about 45 minutes while that is being made. Back in for another 45 minutes to glue the temporary crowns in place.
That'll do for today. Back tomorrow at 1700. The driver will take us back to our hotel. From pick up to drop off, about four hours, thanks.
One thing that I had forgotten about. This sort of work needs anaesthetic. Give me heaps, thanks.
With my last dentist, the pain of the injection is up there with the pain of the drilling. Not here. She rubs something on the gum, and I don't feel the needle at all. Nice.
During the onslaught, there are periods when I'm asked to rinse my mouth. Simple stuff. Take a sip, swirl it around in your mouth, and spit it into the wee bowl. Been doing it since I was a kid.
Today, it's hard. Take a sip, swirl it around, and it all falls out!! I can't even keep my mouth closed, no matter how hard I concentrate. It doesn't help that I start laughing at this situation. Sheesh!!!
If you get a chance, listen to a story by Bill Cosby about going to the dentist. Always think about that when I'm sitting there, and it always makes me laugh.
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