(no subject)
I went to a Japanese dental clinic today and they were clearly determined to show me the best damned dental experience of my life. The Japanese are not known for good dental hygiene and I was wary of visiting a Japanese dentist, but I tell you: it was fabulous.
I had one doctor who seemed thrilled to see me (this may be because I'm white and I speak Japanese...it happens) and who simply threw smiling shiny dental staff at me in droves. I had like four young dental assistants say good bye to me when I left.
They took xrays and (get this) full-on photographs of my teeth from every angle. A lovely dental hygienist with a killer smile took a bit of plaque from my teeth and put it under a microscope (with a tv screen) for me to watch the swimming bacteria. I was properly horrified. It also demonstrated how effective Listerine is. I'd thoroughly scoured my teeth with Listerine the night before and about 95% of the bacteria was still clearly dead. This seemed to mystify Ms. Sakana (I am not kidding about the name. For those not in the know, her name means "fish." This was pointed out to me as a good joke) until I mentioned the Listerine.
Then, for a demonstration of the evils of plaque, they dyed my plaque red to show me how much there was. Then they asked me to brush my teeth as usual and corrected my technique.
Finally, the doctor comes to show me that there's a little indentation in a molar that may develop into a cavity if I don't get a filling...so I'll be going again next week.
Of course, this was a really high-end clinic in a fabulously tall building downtown. Everything squeaky clean and happy smiles. I enjoyed myself. ^>^
I had one doctor who seemed thrilled to see me (this may be because I'm white and I speak Japanese...it happens) and who simply threw smiling shiny dental staff at me in droves. I had like four young dental assistants say good bye to me when I left.
They took xrays and (get this) full-on photographs of my teeth from every angle. A lovely dental hygienist with a killer smile took a bit of plaque from my teeth and put it under a microscope (with a tv screen) for me to watch the swimming bacteria. I was properly horrified. It also demonstrated how effective Listerine is. I'd thoroughly scoured my teeth with Listerine the night before and about 95% of the bacteria was still clearly dead. This seemed to mystify Ms. Sakana (I am not kidding about the name. For those not in the know, her name means "fish." This was pointed out to me as a good joke) until I mentioned the Listerine.
Then, for a demonstration of the evils of plaque, they dyed my plaque red to show me how much there was. Then they asked me to brush my teeth as usual and corrected my technique.
Finally, the doctor comes to show me that there's a little indentation in a molar that may develop into a cavity if I don't get a filling...so I'll be going again next week.
Of course, this was a really high-end clinic in a fabulously tall building downtown. Everything squeaky clean and happy smiles. I enjoyed myself. ^>^