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I knew this day would happen! I had to go to the dentist. People who know me personally know that I didn’t go to the dentist much in the states due to the cost of it. Oh and other reasons as well. Well I developed a severe infection in my gums and it moved to my throat. I went to the doctor and he told me to go to the dentist. I had a bad tooth.
My colleague Hansen(aka Reformed Grumpy Old Man) just happened to have to go to the dentist that day. Jason was accompanying him. I have nicknamed Jason H.B. He is turning to his little errand boy. I find it hysterical.
I felt that it was an omen from above that I needed to take care of my teeth right away. I am aware what happens when you leave an infected decayed tooth in your mouth too long. It can end up affecting your heart and cause death. So this chocolate chick does not want to die just yet. I have no reason but finances that kept me delaying this process in the USA. Ok that and maybe fear of dental work.
I was ready to go at around noontime, Hansen called the hospital just to find out that we had to wait until 2:30. For my fellow expats in china you know that the Chinese tend to have nap-time from 12-2pm everyday. Americans before you chuckle, the Chinese are way more hardworking than your average American , so they deserve a rest!
So I napped. I love to nap! After my nap, Jason called and said we were leaving and the cab would meet us at the back gate. Then Cowboy said the cab was coming to the apartment building. Jason was getting impatient, he said we should go to the gate. i was in pain and evil. When I am in pain and evil watch out. so poor Jason because my whipping boy. I was yelling at him. easy target, i guess. He called Cowboy like 3 times. Cowboy came in the cab and we picked up Hanson. Cowboy didn’t come with us, William one of Hansen’s H.B came instead.
The name of the dentistry hospital that we went to was called Number One Dentistry Clinic (that is what Hansen said)l. I guess it has to be the best. When we got there I have to say it was modern and nice from a Chinese perspective. Americans would wrinkle their noses at it. Two nurses asked me why I was here I explained via William my translator(I really need to learn Chinese)
Oh, the mean time Hansen kept repeating,” VIP! VIP!VIP! We go to VIP.” I went to the cashier to pay for my book and card. Then we were told that we had to go to the third floor. Hansen asked if it was VIP. As we were in the elevator, Hansen explained that in China that usually interns do dentistry on people. Only as a VIP can you be guaranteed a doctor
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When we got to the third floor we saw tons of people waiting. Hansen walked back and then informed us that this was not VIP. He said it was on the 4th floor. Once we got to the 4th floor Hansen go walked like we owned the place. In China, there is this strange obsession with foreigners meaning that we get top service and quick service. I have not seen this happen to me unless i am accompanied by a Caucasian expat. Mostly, I am treated like everyone else. i never really got preferential treatment . So I would like to publicly thank Hansen for this!!!
Hanson was in the chair getting his work done, they looked at my mouth and told me I had to get my teeth pulled. I had to go down to the second floor. since William was occupied with Hansen, I was given a Chinese dentistry student that spoke adequate English to be my guide. Jason tagged along too.
When I got to the second floor William brought me right in. Wow VIP, I guess. i am not use to this, in the states i was treated crappy, less than a person. I was tearing up. I was examined and , I was told that I had to get x-rays on the second floor. The helpful lad brought me down to the second floor.
They gave me paperwork and I had to go downstairs to pay the cashier before I could get my x-ray. I was escorted down stairs. Then I was taken to the x-ray room. I don’t remember the last time i got a dental e-ray. I forgot that I had bobby pins in my hair, so I had to take that out. After x-ray i was taken back to the second floor. They doctors looked at it and told me that I had three bad teeth but two really bad ones. I opted to remove the two bad ones.
I was given a slip to take down to the cashier. So yet again, I was taken downstairs. I paid the cashier and was given a receipt and went upstairs. i don’t understand why i had to go downstairs twice. Why could I not pay for everything together. I guess it is The Chinese Way. Jason opted to stay upstairs and talk to the pretty dental intern that was pulling teach.I don’t think he scored the digits, i am not sure he tried. Jason has gotten domesticated lately(no fun)
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Oh , before I continue, I have to describe how this particular dentist clinic was set up. Maybe Jo, or others have different experiences than I did. Ok well in the US we have rooms where the dentist treats you behind closed doors. It is all very private. I like it that way. Well not in China, the operation was in cubicles. Everyone can see you! There is no privacy. In fact while I was waiting I watched some cute guy get his tooth yanked out. I was to go after him. Then guess what? The chair broke! They had to get someone to repair it. I was told to sit outside and wait. Jason was not helping the situation. He was telling me about how painful it was going to be. He made me even more nervous. i was wishing Cowboy came. Cowboy has such a calm demeanor.
Finally it was my turn the intern was going to pull my teeth. She told Jason it would take 20 minutes if I cooperated. Do you think I cooperated? Heck no!!! Firstly my gums and my throat were infected so it was hard to open my mouth. Secondly the needle was freaking huge. Thirdly since when has anything been easy for me??? So I was a challenge from the beginning. I was not able to open my mouth wide enough and the anesthesia needle hurt. I am a big baby so I started screaming. Someone came and opened my mouth for me. I heard Jason tell me to calm down.
I had to wait for a few minutes for the anesthesia to take affect. Finally they began to extract my teeth. The first one came out easy enough. The second one was a bit tougher, I still had feeling in my gums so I was injected with more anesthesia. I kept closing my mouth. The intern kept telling me to open my mouth. I thought that I was done, then she pulled a third tooth. This tooth did not want to leave. the roots were strong. This one was hurting I screamed in agony.
It wasn’t budging, she had to call over the dentist. He tried but it was not budging and I was screaming in pain, he was not relenting. I started to cry and Jason told me people were gathering around. They applied more anesthesia to the area. The demented dentist was at war with tooth. He was not gentle anymore. He pulled and and pulled he was being a bit rough now. finally he won the battle, the tooth was out that area was throbbing. I began to cry. I had cotton shoved in my mouth and was unable to talk.
I was waiting on the scripts. the doctor did not write out a script. They told me to get antibiotics from a pharmacy, they wrote down what I needed. in Chinese. Also the doctor felt that I did not need a painkiller. Americans are weak we need painkillers! I was crying shaking my head trying explain. Jason was trying to explain to the intern as well. When Hansen found out he went with William to get the scripts. I have a feeling Hansen went up there causing havoc. Gotta love him!!! He came down with the scripts which we got from the pharmacy down stairs.
Yeah so my first trip to the dentist was full of tears because I was a baby! I cried the whole way home in the cab. It was cheap though get a tooth extraction. It cost 160 kuai to get 2 teeth pulled. That is roughly 24 USD! It cost way more than that in the US. Oh and I paid for two teeth to be and they pulled the third one for free. Buy 2 get one for free what a deal! I wish though i had a sexy Chinese boyfriend to come home to and comfort me. I took my meds and went to sleep, I dreamed of handsome Asian men though!
