Korean Job Discussion Forums

MA_TESOL · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Location: Seoul

I had a toothache and went to the Dentist above Seoul Pub and they began the root canal process. I have a few root canals before and this is VERY different. First of all I was told, "No alcohol during the root canal process." How long is this process? This is the fun part. It will take weeks for one canal. First they drill the hole and remove the nerves and fill it with a temporary. Then you return about 3 or 4 times and have it drilled and refilled again. Finally, you get the permanent filling and a temporary crown. Then you go back your final time for the permanent crown. I asked about the longevity of the project and was told "it is the Korean way of doing it." Wow! Guess I better delay any holiday travel.

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

That was my experience as well. I don't know why that's the routine in Korea but in Japan it's very similar due to the socialized healthcare scheme. What happens in Japan is that the government mandates that the dentist can only bill the government for a 30-minute treatment. As a result, if the procedure takes 35 minutes, they'll make it 2 sessions.

jbpatlanta · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Location: Daejeon

My root canal was done the same way. When I mentioned that in the US, most of it would be done in one day, they replied this is the Korean way.

However, I did not interrupt my travel plans. I spent two weeks in the states with a temporary crown on my tooth.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

There are also many dentists who make big money off of replacing amalgum fillings. They'll fill you with a bunch of bull about how they need to be replaced because they're amalgum. Then they'll only fill it with something much more expensive. The amalgum is what the gov't covers, but they won't cover gold. They can't overcharge for the amalgum work, because there is a set amount that the gov't will pay for it.

Get 2 or 3 opinions before you fall for that crap. Usually, these dentists have a photo ready to show you, showing an amalgum filling with rot around it. It's often a sales job. They usually pull it off and claim you need a full root canal.

Another thing to anyone coming here -- buy toothpaste with flouride. Many Korean toothpastes don't have it. The gov't has been fighting the dentists over putting flouride in the water for years. The dentists don't want it in there, fearing it will curb their profits. Keep in mind, there are certain radical fringe groups worldwide who try to convince everyone that flouride causes cancer, etc.. They claim that central Europe doesn't put flouride in their water. The truth is, they put it in their salt. It's there -- just in a different place.

Buy flouride toothpaste, or your teeth will rot within a year. I learned this the hard way.

sojourner1 · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

Dang, talk about protectionists securing their incomes. That's just like the government contracted construction laborers at home taking years to do a 1 year road job. Is dental covered under health care insurance here? It's not in the states as they're 2 different things due to the assumption that dental is a cosmetic luxury. They could not be any more wrong, because an abscess is a life threatening situation. I had a root canal due to abscess back in the states like 9 years ago. I went to a VA hospital and they drilled it the same day(very painful), gave me percocets for 4 days, and had me come back on the 4th day for a tiny titanium post and filling.

Wallah! I was finished and back to work on day 5. My only complaint was it is their policy not to use anesthesia so it was so excruciating when the dentist cut into the gum line to release the abscess. I don't even have VA dental benefits, but I went to their hospital ER because it was a serious health issue. Normally veterans get health care, but not dental until 100% disabled, but they were good to me. Had I not had VA benefits, this would had costed a few grand I didn't have if uninsured in the states and dentists will turn you away. Before I went to the dentist, this abscess was so bad I couldn't sleep, I just screamed for 2 days straight, and couldn't drive a car until I got it drained.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

I had a couple of root canals done the same way - visit after visit after visit to have the tooth opened up and filed/reamed out again and again; plus so many X-rays I now glow in the dark! They sure know how to 'milk it'.

MA_TESOL · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Location: Seoul

Did they tell all of you not to do any drinking during the process - anotherwards, no drinking for a month

Alan Partidge · Joined: 29 Nov 2005

No drinking sounds like boll*cks.

I had mine done at Yonsei Severance and we specifically asked about that because my birthday was coming up. The dentist almost seemed amused that we would ask that. He just said to be careful when eating because the temporary cap wasn't that strong.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

People, people, people. For anything serious get the *beep* out of this country. You are only asking for trouble. This is the place where teachers aren't allowed to fail more than a couple students per class... do you really want these people cutting and drilling into your body?

My gf went to a certain big-name hospital attached to a college recently, for a very routine procedure. They (the staff with my gf in tow) walked around for half an hour... because no one knew what room they were supposed to be in. Then when they found the room, she was told to wait because they didn't have the necessary tools for the job. This was the point where she walked out.

Mind you this was after two months of her telling them she needed this operation and them telling her she didn't... and then after multiple unnecessary tests that proved nothing (besides that she didn't have a hearing problem... which we knew already), they told her... she needed to have the operation after all!

ellegarden · Joined: 01 Sep 2007