At the dentist!...

I've just witnessed first hand, the dental system over here, as I ended up with vertical fracture of one of my molars - it became quite painful, and decided I had to go and see someone quick-style - Rolling about in pain, after eating something hot followed by something cold is not my scene.

I ended up in a practice just across the road from our block, on the 4th floor of one of the service blocks which contain small grocery shops, hairdressers, Taikwondo classes to name but a few and a dentist! The service, as expected did not speak any English, but armed with a helpful scrap of paper which translated into "dont touch me unless you give me a numbing injection first!" and pointing at the offending tooth with much theatrical moaning seemed to do the trick.

I was whisked into the dentists chair, and given an X-ray by two lovely looking girls in matching uniforms and face masks. This X-Ray was no hand-me-down piece of kit from the local hospital, but a state of the art dinky little thing that was hand held and needed no lead aprons or protection whatsoever. The image appeared immediately onto a PC screen next to the chair! A fracture was very clear, and with some pointing and Konglish, the dentist made his case for a crown clear. Several numbing jags later, and lots of drilling, I was very gappy and a bit sore after the reaming to dig out the nerve. This was packed until then next day for a second reaming of the nerve endings. This went on for 3 sessions, and I now have a lump of acrylic as a temporary crown until I get bling this Friday. I plumped for the gold crown, as I was told that a porcelain crown could easily crack, given the molar's position and work it has to do. The cost for the gold crown? 470,000 KRW which is about £225 - around half the cost it would be back in UK. The best bit about it? I get bling, and my insurance company picks up the tab! You'll see my sparkle everytime I talk from now on. However, I'm not keen to do it again soon..