Jeffrey, this essay would be a highlight in a travel magazine. I don't think anyone but you could have made visits to dentists' offices here, there, or anywhere a more felt experience for your readers. Ninety or more minutes of effort to pull a single tooth must be some sort of record, one of incompetence perhaps more than anything else. And K San? She sounds like a wonder best kept secret.
I, too, had a sports-related experience, mine sending me to a surgeon when I was in 7th grade. It involved a basket ball, going up for a jump shot, and falling to the floor after an elbow hit me hard on my upper gum line, breaking two front teeth and chipping a third. After that, I gave up playing basketball, a game I love, figuring that at 5'2" I'm just too small. No contact? Mouth guards, anyone?
Your basketball experience sounds grim! I don't think anyone wears mouthguards for cricket, but they were standard for rugby when I played in my teens. I'm pretty sure mine saved me from further trips to the dentist!
Thank you, David! I'm aware of the scene (as I mentioned in my reply to Rona), but I believe my poor guy had only the best of intentions. Although, as we know, that's never quite enough, is it?
I agree with Maureen. You should definitely pitch this article to a travel magazine. “Japan, Your Dental Care Destination,” is a headline that comes to mind. (Good thing I’m not a magazine editor!) My husband had some serious dental trauma throughout his childhood that caused him to avoid dentists until very late in life, with heartbreaking consequences. My own experiences were typically mixed until last year, when I found a dental clinic staffed entirely by female dentists. Every visit was an actual delight. Not a nap, but these young women were so pleasant and skilled that I looked forward to seeing them. Almost no pain, and the Novocain lasted just long enough that I could feel my face before I walked out of the office. But, even with insurance, not cheap. (I came close to titling one of my recent posts “Between a Refrigerator and a Root Canal.” 🤣 Again, good thing I’m not a magazine editor.) What a country I live in. Thank you for another delightful journey.
Thank you, Mary. I'm glad to hear that you have found a dental clinic that you like! I'm sure every country has its good and weak points when it comes to dentistry (or anything else). But I'm grateful that, having paid quite a lot for the mandatory health insurance here, I don't have to worry about further hefty out-of-pocket costs.
For what it's worth, "Between a Refrigerator and a Root Canal" works for me as a title!
There are some cynical policies (and powerful lobbies) behind the fact that most health insurance plans don’t include teeth, ears, or eyes among the parts of the body that require care. You can buy supplemental coverage in some cases, if you can afford it. I’d say it’s unimaginable, but in this country, it’s life as we know it.
I do like the title. But am continually advised against cleverness. Sigh.
In Britain, “clever” titles are the goal for many publications, The Economist included. It can be overdone, certainly. My choice for this story, Mind the Gap, which refers to the expression used to warn people on the London Underground about the gap between train and platform, is my own weak effort within this tradition!
I’d say it’s an intriguing title. It arouses curiosity. I would never have guessed the source, but that’s okay. I’ll read your articles if the header’s blank.
Although recently retired now, my much older brother was a dental surgeon and for most of my life he took excellent care of my smile. I never once experienced discomfort or the apprehension so often reported. This came to an abrupt and startling end, when I visited a dentist in the UK (who somehow came highly recommended!) Before he set about tending to a filling, he produced something from the floor between us resembling a cross between a unicycle and a sewing machine pedal. I honestly had no idea what was coming and certainly did not realize he was going to manually pump the drill in this manner. He was also getting on a bit and could not go very fast ... Loved this highly entertaining global view of dentistry far and wise, Jeffrey. Be sure to ask for K San, always!
How amazing that your smart watch registered a stay in the dentist's chair as a nap. Somehow I would have guessed that the Japanese would solve the problems of dentistry as they seem to have solved most of the problems of how to live well.
It did amaze me! But I was pleased that Ann Collins (in another comment) said that was a good sign. Japan has solved many problems and one reason I live here is that they have possibly solved more than most. But the low birthrate is leading to new challenges which human societies haven't had to face in recent times.
Yes, as an old person myself, I am aware of some of the issues of longevity in Japan. The rest of the world is catching up with Japan in some of the problems, but fewer of the solutions. Much to the surprise of my generation, who could never have enough sex, it looks like it is going out of fashion all over the world. That part seems very odd to me.
Beautifully expressed, and I can so relate to this, Jeffrey! I smashed one of my front teeth (diving into the shallow end of a swimming pool?! 🙃) as a kid, and had to withstand several surgical procedures in my teens/twenties to sort that out. And then, earlier this year, they had to replace it completely - the stuff of nightmares! 😆 This cost the price of a small car, but, like yours, my dentist was brilliant, and I'm feeling so appreciative now.
Your own account, buttressed by those of commenters, clearly opens up the availability of a "secret lives of dentistry" creative compilation. I was already thinking of my tale of wisdom tooth extraction woe when you got to yours. In my case, the roots of the tooth had somehow circled the jawbone and joined. The dentist was literally up in the chair on his knees, straining for a very long time at extraction until the roots finally cracked apart. Need I go on?
Because I enjoy your writing so much, my normal wish is to want you to write more. But I think in this case you have given enough detail for me, Jay! It must have been a gruesome experience for you.
You make dentistry sound like literature Jeffrey! I was captivated, equally so with the hairdressing piece, perhaps because for a short period of his life my father was a barber, as kids we never visited the hairdressers, it was short back and sides every time — we were three girls, you can imagine the consequences. But he taught us all how to cut hair — albeit 'only' short back and sides — but I think in my entire 61 years I have visited a hairdresser barely a handful of times, my son never.
I agree wholeheartedly when you say "dentistry is one of those jobs I feel lucky others are willing to do. I couldn’t do it, and someone has to. So thank you, dentists!"
I have an horrific dentist story, an extraction also — too long to tell here — suffice to say it was an eight hour ordeal ending in Manchester's dental infirmary. Evidently I lived to tell the tale though I wasn't convinced I would at the time.
I was interested to hear about your history with hairdressing! During the pandemic, like many people, I had home haircuts for a while but soon gravitated back to the hairdresser's.
Oh Jeffrey, reading this brings back all the different dental chair experiences I have had, ranging from horrifying to impressive, but none could be registered as “a nap” 😊.
Thanks for this post. Root canal in Shanghai seems like one of those 1940 noir detective film titles or the Marathon Man dental scene. Glad you had such good dental care in Japan. I'm lucky to have a dentist, whose parents came to the U.S. from India and whose dental mentor was from India. He always asks I seem at all in pain and is okay with my not wanting too much novocaine. Root canal pain is bad but not quite so bad as finishing the last mile of a marathon when you've undertrained. I do have a pain threshold but Marathon finishing helps you endure more pain at least until you finish. But the Asian attitude towards less painful and more painless well being is comforting compared to Western medicines sometimes awkward indifference to mental, physical or dental pain. The low birth rate in Japan is in stark contrast to the high birth rate in India that results in a 1.4 billion population although 50% of that population lives below the poverty line. Japan seems so small compared to India. Also technology is highly developed in Japan and the birth rate of robots and technology seems so much higher than that of humans. Only comforting thought is that AI could probably not produce a dentist as competent as the lady dentist you had in Japan.
Thank you, Larry. I'm glad you have a good dentist, too. I have no experience of marathon running and have never veen tempted to try one. My early experiences of competitive running, which I will be writing about soon, possibly put me off for life. That figure of 50% of he population below the poverty line - is it changing at all?
Would like to see your article on competitive running. Don't know it will be British Cross Country running you will be talking about I understand is way more rigorous and challenging with running through bogs and up hills and out in the woods without a properly trail cleared and numerous sharp hills towards the end making going all out a bit more grueling than it's American counterpart. But I can just read your post when it posts to get all the answers on that.
Excellent question. Glad you asked because apparently my 50 per cent living below the poverty line is outdated and incorrect. Prime Minister Modi has had numerous programs implemented to reduce poverty. Also there is poverty and extreme poverty. Extreme poverty is defined as living on $2.15 per day. The poverty rate at $3.65 a day has now been estimated at 40%. The World Bank reports that 171 million Indians have been lifted out of extreme poverty over the past decade. But not everyone agrees on the exact numbers. Apologies that I am incorrect. Thanks so much as that is a great idea for an India Street post. My challenge is to get as much actual info as possible so people can make up their own minds as to what is actually going on. I admit though I have never been there, that I am a well wisher and supporter of India and I believe significant progress verified as much as possible should be acknowledged. But to answer your question it seems a lot has been done and there will be more. Thanks again for questioning my percentage. My apologies because it is extemely important to get all the information and not so easily accept a figure that seems correct without cross-checking it against all available data. Human nature often grasps for the most alarming percentage because travelers often see very cruel poverty in the rural areas and in the city slums that is often so shocking to them that they can only assume nothing is being done.
No apology necessary! Though I agree it's important to start any discussion based on facts. It's good to know there is action being taken and a trend towards improvement. I guess we've learnt that wealth doesn't just trickle down according to the old 1980s fable. Governments need to take action, too. China has also been successful in this.
I didn't use to fear the dentist, as my visits were always pleasant and painless, until I needed work done on my lower jaw. It turns out that I have an extra nerve in my lower jaw, meaning the standard anesthetic delivery doesn't work. The first dentist who encountered this problem just kept injecting more anesthetic in the same place until the bridge of my nose went numb, but the pain didn't stop. So, I was having trouble breathing due to the nasal, and trying to endure the pain in my mouth. The next dentist was much better, and figured out a way to numb the extra nerve, but since that experience, I feel very vulnerable in the dentist's chair.
You poor thing. And I can say this because I, too, have clocked in many painful and uncomfortable hours in the dentist chair ~ just a quick rundown: braces TWICE, gums scraped (who knew?), root canal, and a mouth full of metal, and wisdom teeth extracted, naturally.
Apparently the dental work in Cambodia is decent so we need to go. I've been avoiding it --- well, like the dentist. But I love your essay, I was thinking, Ohh, in Japan they must be good. I'm glad it was a pleasant? experience. I mean, your watch said you were napping! Mine would say I was going into cardiac arrest.
What I love about this is everyone, pretty much everyone, can relate! I'm inspired to write my own dental essay ~ 😁 Well done, Jeffrey. You hit this one out of the park!
Jeffrey, this essay would be a highlight in a travel magazine. I don't think anyone but you could have made visits to dentists' offices here, there, or anywhere a more felt experience for your readers. Ninety or more minutes of effort to pull a single tooth must be some sort of record, one of incompetence perhaps more than anything else. And K San? She sounds like a wonder best kept secret.
I, too, had a sports-related experience, mine sending me to a surgeon when I was in 7th grade. It involved a basket ball, going up for a jump shot, and falling to the floor after an elbow hit me hard on my upper gum line, breaking two front teeth and chipping a third. After that, I gave up playing basketball, a game I love, figuring that at 5'2" I'm just too small. No contact? Mouth guards, anyone?
Thank you for your generous words, Maureen.
Your basketball experience sounds grim! I don't think anyone wears mouthguards for cricket, but they were standard for rugby when I played in my teens. I'm pretty sure mine saved me from further trips to the dentist!
Loved this piece. Could not help thinking of that awful dentistry scene in The Marathon Man!
Thank you, David! I'm aware of the scene (as I mentioned in my reply to Rona), but I believe my poor guy had only the best of intentions. Although, as we know, that's never quite enough, is it?
You were stoic!
Agreed, David. I was squirming.
I agree with Maureen. You should definitely pitch this article to a travel magazine. “Japan, Your Dental Care Destination,” is a headline that comes to mind. (Good thing I’m not a magazine editor!) My husband had some serious dental trauma throughout his childhood that caused him to avoid dentists until very late in life, with heartbreaking consequences. My own experiences were typically mixed until last year, when I found a dental clinic staffed entirely by female dentists. Every visit was an actual delight. Not a nap, but these young women were so pleasant and skilled that I looked forward to seeing them. Almost no pain, and the Novocain lasted just long enough that I could feel my face before I walked out of the office. But, even with insurance, not cheap. (I came close to titling one of my recent posts “Between a Refrigerator and a Root Canal.” 🤣 Again, good thing I’m not a magazine editor.) What a country I live in. Thank you for another delightful journey.
Thank you, Mary. I'm glad to hear that you have found a dental clinic that you like! I'm sure every country has its good and weak points when it comes to dentistry (or anything else). But I'm grateful that, having paid quite a lot for the mandatory health insurance here, I don't have to worry about further hefty out-of-pocket costs.
For what it's worth, "Between a Refrigerator and a Root Canal" works for me as a title!
There are some cynical policies (and powerful lobbies) behind the fact that most health insurance plans don’t include teeth, ears, or eyes among the parts of the body that require care. You can buy supplemental coverage in some cases, if you can afford it. I’d say it’s unimaginable, but in this country, it’s life as we know it.
I do like the title. But am continually advised against cleverness. Sigh.
In Britain, “clever” titles are the goal for many publications, The Economist included. It can be overdone, certainly. My choice for this story, Mind the Gap, which refers to the expression used to warn people on the London Underground about the gap between train and platform, is my own weak effort within this tradition!
I’d say it’s an intriguing title. It arouses curiosity. I would never have guessed the source, but that’s okay. I’ll read your articles if the header’s blank.
Although recently retired now, my much older brother was a dental surgeon and for most of my life he took excellent care of my smile. I never once experienced discomfort or the apprehension so often reported. This came to an abrupt and startling end, when I visited a dentist in the UK (who somehow came highly recommended!) Before he set about tending to a filling, he produced something from the floor between us resembling a cross between a unicycle and a sewing machine pedal. I honestly had no idea what was coming and certainly did not realize he was going to manually pump the drill in this manner. He was also getting on a bit and could not go very fast ... Loved this highly entertaining global view of dentistry far and wise, Jeffrey. Be sure to ask for K San, always!
Thank you, Sue. I'll certainly ask for her! Your story of the pumping dentist is very funny, though perhaps not at the time!
How amazing that your smart watch registered a stay in the dentist's chair as a nap. Somehow I would have guessed that the Japanese would solve the problems of dentistry as they seem to have solved most of the problems of how to live well.
It did amaze me! But I was pleased that Ann Collins (in another comment) said that was a good sign. Japan has solved many problems and one reason I live here is that they have possibly solved more than most. But the low birthrate is leading to new challenges which human societies haven't had to face in recent times.
Yes, as an old person myself, I am aware of some of the issues of longevity in Japan. The rest of the world is catching up with Japan in some of the problems, but fewer of the solutions. Much to the surprise of my generation, who could never have enough sex, it looks like it is going out of fashion all over the world. That part seems very odd to me.
Perhaps we're willing ourselves to extinction?
Every time I think about dentists, I'm reminded of that film, "The Marathon Man." That should give you a clear idea of my feelings about them.
This said, I've only had good, painless experiences in Japan.
But whenever I feel uneasy in that chair, I zone out by picturing my girlfriend, my would‑be wife, on a sunny Sicilian afternoon long ago.
You're not the only one to mention that film! Dentists must hate it! And it's great to have a “place” to go when you zone out…
Ouch!
Beautifully expressed, and I can so relate to this, Jeffrey! I smashed one of my front teeth (diving into the shallow end of a swimming pool?! 🙃) as a kid, and had to withstand several surgical procedures in my teens/twenties to sort that out. And then, earlier this year, they had to replace it completely - the stuff of nightmares! 😆 This cost the price of a small car, but, like yours, my dentist was brilliant, and I'm feeling so appreciative now.
Ouch, that sounds pretty awful, James. I'm glad to hear that the recent treatment worked!
Your own account, buttressed by those of commenters, clearly opens up the availability of a "secret lives of dentistry" creative compilation. I was already thinking of my tale of wisdom tooth extraction woe when you got to yours. In my case, the roots of the tooth had somehow circled the jawbone and joined. The dentist was literally up in the chair on his knees, straining for a very long time at extraction until the roots finally cracked apart. Need I go on?
Because I enjoy your writing so much, my normal wish is to want you to write more. But I think in this case you have given enough detail for me, Jay! It must have been a gruesome experience for you.
Wonderful essay. I despise the time spent in a dentist's chair but you made it an enjoyable experience this once.
Thank you, Matthew. And I hope you don't have to sit in that chair for a long time or very often.
You make dentistry sound like literature Jeffrey! I was captivated, equally so with the hairdressing piece, perhaps because for a short period of his life my father was a barber, as kids we never visited the hairdressers, it was short back and sides every time — we were three girls, you can imagine the consequences. But he taught us all how to cut hair — albeit 'only' short back and sides — but I think in my entire 61 years I have visited a hairdresser barely a handful of times, my son never.
I agree wholeheartedly when you say "dentistry is one of those jobs I feel lucky others are willing to do. I couldn’t do it, and someone has to. So thank you, dentists!"
I have an horrific dentist story, an extraction also — too long to tell here — suffice to say it was an eight hour ordeal ending in Manchester's dental infirmary. Evidently I lived to tell the tale though I wasn't convinced I would at the time.
Thank you, Susie!
Eight hours! poor you! That sounds horrific.
I was interested to hear about your history with hairdressing! During the pandemic, like many people, I had home haircuts for a while but soon gravitated back to the hairdresser's.
I have a feeling there were many homemade haircuts through the pandemic and many long haired boys, my own included!
😊
I found I had to grit my teeth to finish this wrenching tale
😅
Thank you, Jeffrey!
Oh Jeffrey, reading this brings back all the different dental chair experiences I have had, ranging from horrifying to impressive, but none could be registered as “a nap” 😊.
Thanks for this post. Root canal in Shanghai seems like one of those 1940 noir detective film titles or the Marathon Man dental scene. Glad you had such good dental care in Japan. I'm lucky to have a dentist, whose parents came to the U.S. from India and whose dental mentor was from India. He always asks I seem at all in pain and is okay with my not wanting too much novocaine. Root canal pain is bad but not quite so bad as finishing the last mile of a marathon when you've undertrained. I do have a pain threshold but Marathon finishing helps you endure more pain at least until you finish. But the Asian attitude towards less painful and more painless well being is comforting compared to Western medicines sometimes awkward indifference to mental, physical or dental pain. The low birth rate in Japan is in stark contrast to the high birth rate in India that results in a 1.4 billion population although 50% of that population lives below the poverty line. Japan seems so small compared to India. Also technology is highly developed in Japan and the birth rate of robots and technology seems so much higher than that of humans. Only comforting thought is that AI could probably not produce a dentist as competent as the lady dentist you had in Japan.
Thank you, Larry. I'm glad you have a good dentist, too. I have no experience of marathon running and have never veen tempted to try one. My early experiences of competitive running, which I will be writing about soon, possibly put me off for life. That figure of 50% of he population below the poverty line - is it changing at all?
Would like to see your article on competitive running. Don't know it will be British Cross Country running you will be talking about I understand is way more rigorous and challenging with running through bogs and up hills and out in the woods without a properly trail cleared and numerous sharp hills towards the end making going all out a bit more grueling than it's American counterpart. But I can just read your post when it posts to get all the answers on that.
My own experience is more modest than that and involves ploughing across muddy farmland in the rain in my schooldays!
Looking forward to reading about it. You've done a lot of interesting things and written about them. Never know what you will do next. Which is great!
Thank you, Larry! It's great to have you here in the English Republic of Letters.
Excellent question. Glad you asked because apparently my 50 per cent living below the poverty line is outdated and incorrect. Prime Minister Modi has had numerous programs implemented to reduce poverty. Also there is poverty and extreme poverty. Extreme poverty is defined as living on $2.15 per day. The poverty rate at $3.65 a day has now been estimated at 40%. The World Bank reports that 171 million Indians have been lifted out of extreme poverty over the past decade. But not everyone agrees on the exact numbers. Apologies that I am incorrect. Thanks so much as that is a great idea for an India Street post. My challenge is to get as much actual info as possible so people can make up their own minds as to what is actually going on. I admit though I have never been there, that I am a well wisher and supporter of India and I believe significant progress verified as much as possible should be acknowledged. But to answer your question it seems a lot has been done and there will be more. Thanks again for questioning my percentage. My apologies because it is extemely important to get all the information and not so easily accept a figure that seems correct without cross-checking it against all available data. Human nature often grasps for the most alarming percentage because travelers often see very cruel poverty in the rural areas and in the city slums that is often so shocking to them that they can only assume nothing is being done.
No apology necessary! Though I agree it's important to start any discussion based on facts. It's good to know there is action being taken and a trend towards improvement. I guess we've learnt that wealth doesn't just trickle down according to the old 1980s fable. Governments need to take action, too. China has also been successful in this.
I didn't use to fear the dentist, as my visits were always pleasant and painless, until I needed work done on my lower jaw. It turns out that I have an extra nerve in my lower jaw, meaning the standard anesthetic delivery doesn't work. The first dentist who encountered this problem just kept injecting more anesthetic in the same place until the bridge of my nose went numb, but the pain didn't stop. So, I was having trouble breathing due to the nasal, and trying to endure the pain in my mouth. The next dentist was much better, and figured out a way to numb the extra nerve, but since that experience, I feel very vulnerable in the dentist's chair.
I'm sorry to hear about this, Holly. And surprised – I didn't know one could have an extra nerve. I'm glad you found someone who could figure it out!
You poor thing. And I can say this because I, too, have clocked in many painful and uncomfortable hours in the dentist chair ~ just a quick rundown: braces TWICE, gums scraped (who knew?), root canal, and a mouth full of metal, and wisdom teeth extracted, naturally.
Apparently the dental work in Cambodia is decent so we need to go. I've been avoiding it --- well, like the dentist. But I love your essay, I was thinking, Ohh, in Japan they must be good. I'm glad it was a pleasant? experience. I mean, your watch said you were napping! Mine would say I was going into cardiac arrest.
What I love about this is everyone, pretty much everyone, can relate! I'm inspired to write my own dental essay ~ 😁 Well done, Jeffrey. You hit this one out of the park!
Cardiac arrest! That made me laugh! It seems like quite a litany of dental woe you've had… Good luck with the next round!
Thanks, I need it. You too! Channel some of that gentle/nap time energy my way, will ya? 😅
Coming right up! 😅