The No Ringgit Traveler

Ask any kids who they are terrified most. Chances are, more than half of them will say dentist. Forget kids, I've known a fully grown adult who also scared of visiting a dentist. He'd rather take panadol to relief the ache!

Am I scared of dentist? Boastfully I got no reason to scared of them (unless there's a clown in their office! Oh yeah. I developed a clown-o-phobia and this thanks to Stephen King's IT!). Anyway, I wasn't religiously visiting them as per recommended every sixth month. To be frank I can't even remember when was the last I had my teeth check. What I remembered I had a filling at IIUM Dental Clinic. Was it 2005 or perhaps 2006. In short, it was more than 2 years.

This few months, I keep gettting toothache especially at the top right and sometime bleeding even when I merely gargle. Considering it has been awhile since the last visit, I gave a serious thought to visit one (dentist) in here. This morning, I called one clinic at Quay St which I saw when I taking bus and asking about the treatment cost. They quoted me NZD$250 for scaling, polish and X-ray.

Then I asked my friend about her dentist and rang them. The clinic is at K' Road which is nearer to me. The lady that answered the phone told me it will cost me about NZD$150 for the same treatment quoted at Quay St clinic. I am being calculative, so I went to the later clinic.

I appeared at the clinic at about 5 minutes to 10. Judith, the receptionist asked me to fill up a form since this is my first visit. Then I was ushered to a dentist room and was introduced to Dr. Tammy. She's an asian. I'm not sure what she is; chinese, korean or japanese but one thing for sure she's from far east asia.

I bet she not an immigrant considering her age, she looks young and her impeccable kiwi english. Perhaps she was second generation or third kiwi.

Dr Tammy was really professional. When we done the check up she constantly asking me if it hurts. I still remember when I was in IIUM clinic, they don't bother to us how I was feeling.

The gadget in the clinic was pretty modern. She done the X-ray for record. She then checked each individual teeth and once she discover some cavity she used camera (very high definition and allow me to view it.) It was pretty amazing to be able what's inside our mouth especially those are that we can't reach. A small cavity look like a crater in Mars. I was quite embarrass when she showed me the images of my wisdom tooth. There were stained.

"I hardly can reach there even when I floss" My simple excuse.

She then told she will teach me how to brush our wisdom tooth and that added my embarrassment. I would rather know how (to brush teeth) rather keeping my ego. Well to some it might sound like an insult. But who cares. It your teeth, let the professional do their job.

She started scaling my teeth to rid the plaque away. Followed by polish which leave a tingling effect on my lips. Then she told me I need to do 2 fillings. It was tiny mini actually. But hey, better do now before it gets worst.

It took about almost an hour for the whole process. When finished, as promised she demonstrated on how to brush my wisdom tooth. Now I know how.

Then the scary part- billing time. When calculated, I have to pay total of NZD$430 approximately RM1075 for 2 X-ray, scaling, polish, and 2 fillings. My mistake. I should have done the cleaning only. The dentist even recommended that but I was like, "just do all in one" and now I'm paying all in one!

I was quite worried. I'm not sure my credit card carry that much balance. I told her, the receptionist, to try swapping my card. But declined. Then I asked her can I arrange installment and she said I could. So I just paid half of that sum and the remaining will paid next week. Solve billing problem.

One thing about New Zealand healthcare, it extremely expensive in here. Healthcare professional are in scarcity. This dentist is one of the cheapest considering I'm living in city central. You can't get any cheaper (unless it's done by non-credible dentist. I wouldn't risk that).

In Malaysia, I remember when I was a kid going to dentist cost us about RM1 at the government clinic but I'm sure how it is now. You tell me.

Anyway, no matter where you are be it Malaysia or overseas. I think we should make it a habit to have it frequent check for our own good. Remember, we only get one set of teeth and it won't grow anymore like hair. Once your tooth aching your whole body is aching.

So now there's a big hole in my pocket and it burn again for the next 6 months.