Job Discussion Forums

Wonder83 · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 23

Hi Guys,
At the moment I am having some problems with my wisdom tooth Evil or Very Mad

. I have visited the dentist here but they have informed me that it has not grown through enough for them to be able to remove it Crying or Very sad

I have had problems with this before and have had one wisdom tooth removed (I was really ill, as it got infected).The thought of this happening again and whilst in Japan is making me really worried. Ok so now to the point of the story, (before everyone falls asleep whilst reading about my dental history haha).

I was wondering if finding a dentist in Japan to remove my tooth (when it has come through enough) will be a difficult task and expensive. Ill have to research into whether health insurance covers that, but someone did inform me that dental care is not covered! I do know there will be the obvious communication barriers which will make this more difficult for me Surprised

Also my apologies if this is not really an appropriate question for this site but i do not know anyone else to ask Embarassed

Thanks in advance Surprised

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

If your wisdom tooth hasn't grown in then you'll need an oral surgeon instead of a regular dentist; they'll need to cut the tooth out. Your dentist SHOULD be able to recommend one to you. I had that done with a couple of mine, but not in Japan, so I can't recommend anybody, sorry.

If you have the national health insurance (kokumin kenkou hoken or shakai hoken) then dental IS covered. It will pay 70% of all your costs. If you have some private plan through your company, it might not be covered.

edit: To add my Japanese dental experience: I had a big hole randomly open up in the front of one of my teeth. I went to a dentist in the middle of the countryside and it was the quickest, least painful, most realistic-looking filling I've ever had. And it only cost 5,000 yen without insurance, and they apologized to me about how much it cost because I didn't have insurance.

Wonder83 · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 23

Thank you for your reply Bread. Everything is going wrong for me Evil or Very Mad

a few weeks before Iam leaving for Japan haha typical for me Surprised

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You have a few weeks. Do it at home. I did. I don't see the problem unless every oral surgeon you have asked is booked solid. Explain the situation if they are.

Otherwise, look up any recommendations from your government's embassy. The U.S. has some.
http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7119.html

Where in Japan are you going to work?

English-speaking dentists (who may give you advice/referral)
Roppongi: http://www.revahealth.com/dentists/japan
Ginza: http://www.fdclinic.com/english/index.html
Osaka: http://www.kono-dental.com/english/
more: http://homepage3.nifty.com/drleoking/kingslinks.html

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I agree with the above- get it done at home if you can. You do not want to be trying to teach English the first couple days after an extraction, especially one that needs to be done by an oral surgeon, and you won't have any paid holidays for a while after you get here.