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What do you think of the quality of dentistry in Japan?

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Well, 30 years ago, finding a person without eccentric choppers was rare and I often used to wonder what dentists were doing but now I often see good sets of front teeth. But molars are often full of fillings.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Excellent!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Yep... excellent and good value!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Once you find a good one....no complaints!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I really love the metal wire bridgework that allows you to see exactly how some people's teeth are held in.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well many "smiles" would make you believe there are no dentists in the country. I was suprised to meet patient and talented senseis. That was also very quick and convenient to obtain appointments and they charged me, in average 1/3 of what their French buddies ask.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Right on, Bernie and Haaa Nemui ! My experiences were ALL excellent !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tony's comment is right. Find a good one and he/she will be very good.

My current is nothing short of great in manner, skill and communication.

But barbarians do exist as my wife will attest to with her terrible treatment last year (dentist couldn't accurately diagnose a cavity after a 3 visits), but she's all smiles now after changing to my doc.

Seems like many of the old butchers are dying out, but there are some young desperados being churned out by the seemingly mass spread of dental schools.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I was told when I first got here (by a Japanese man) that if you go blindly looking for a dentist aim for one that has been around for more than ten years, but not one that has been around for more than 40. Less than the former and they will likely be paying off debts accrued in setting up their practice, and will recommend the most expensive treatments, necessary or not. The latter he did not expound upon. In any case, he said try seeing what dentists a number of people approve or disapprove of, and why (especially the latter), and if you don't know a dentist or a friend/family member of one, use your best judgement.

I've had friends who at one dentist were told they needed 800,000 in treatment, and at others told they could use the health insurance and really only needed about 3000 yen or so in treatment. The disparity is ridiculous sometimes. But if you find a good one the quality of dentistry here is pretty good, I find.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The last idiot I had tortured me. He insisted on not using anesthetic to drill a molar, because he said the tooth was too delicate and my flinching was an indicator of when he could hold back on pressuring the tooth(!). One of the most painful experiences of my life. I ended up shouting at him a lot during treatment. Then he stuck a steel crown on it, because ceramic ones were exorbitant and required a few more weeks waiting. Ridiculous.

lots of dentists here dont use saliva dams, so root canals often get infected during treatment and need to be redone.

I just go to Bangkok when I can.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You've been very unlucky JeffLee. My dentist stops at the first sign of pain (which has been very minimal) and the first time I felt any pain at all he offered to give me an anesthetic. He even went ahead and fixed some discoloring in my front tooth which I had had since I was eight years old. No dentist in NZ ever offered our tried to do that for me... and if they did I'm sure it would have cost an arm and a leg. I couldn't ask for better treatment from a dentist I think.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I suppose it depends on the dentist but I'm more than happy to have found an excellent one in a dental university and have been with him for over a decade. He explains everything, and has given more useful advice than any dentist I've had back home.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Here's one blogger's take:

https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Tomuu/G6ZWG

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If you have time for weeks or months if going back and waiting hours and hours it's not too bad now but much faster to use a Thai dentist...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I agree. Its not the quality that's bad. Its the number of visits that it takes to get a small thing done..

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The number of visits, the pain, the lack of efficiency AND quality, plus it is expensive for what we get.

I am desperately searching for a half decent dentist in Japan... I lost 2 teeth because of Japanese dentists! I don't know what to do anymore. I can't afford going abroad to get treatment, I guess I am just going to lose my remaining teeth one by one...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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