Oct 22 2009Japanese Dentist

I went to the dentist yesterday. I asked at customer services what the procedure was, as I cant speak enough Japanese to explain what is wrong to a dentist. But luckily there is a dentist just around the corner that employs a kiwi, (someone from NewZealand).
I dont have anything majorly wrong, well apart from the wisdom tooth, but that’s coming out in December. What a joyfully Christmas it will be. But anyway, my gums have been really tender since i got here, red and sore. So I thought seeing as I had joined the National Health Insurance Scheme I may as well make use of it.
So I arrive at the dentist, put my slippers on, and attempt to get seen. The receptionist doesn’t speak any English, but i was warned about that, but when I asked about the Kiwi dentist, she had no idea what i was talking about. She disappears and a few minutes later a Dentist appears, he doesn’t look very Kiwi like, that’s because the Kiwi doesn’t work there any more. But this guy speaks some English and eventually he seems me.
Its pretty normal dentist stuff, he asks what wrong I tell him, he has a look, calls out some numbers to his dental nurse, and then says “you have very pretty teeth”, and then puts his hand on my knee. Just kidding, obviously that would only be appropriate on a crowded train. But he says that I have good teeth, which coming from a Japanese dentist isn’t really high praise. He asks if my parents have dentures, give my teeth a quick swab with something. And then asks if I brought a new Toothbrush with me to Japan, because that’s the problem, its too hard.
So there is nothing wrong, I got a new tooth brush and its all good.

Those are not my teeth…..