上班族必備軟實力

[Richard has a few implants. He also has an irrational fear of people in white coats carrying pliers.]

A visit to the dentist is distressing. You know it will hurt, and the dentist has the power to control how much it will hurt. If you only have a minimal comprehension of basic Chinese, then going to a dentist here just adds another layer of fear, dread, and uncertainty.

Sometimes you can be fooled by the cuteness of their signage.

It has been said that people in Taiwan don’t like to be given anesthetics. They think that it is unhealthy, but Americans expect it. We demand it. That knowledge, whether it’s true or not, just makes it that much scarier.

Finding a good dentist is important. I ask other Westerners about recommended dentists. I look at the advertisements and try to find one that contains some English in their descriptions. Once I picked a dentist because the sign on his office claimed that he was educated in New York and had worked there for many years. He turned out to be quite good.

I have never encountered a bad dentist in Taiwan. I just worry that I won’t be able to communicate with them and that I will have to endure unimaginable pain and suffering. My worst nightmares have never come true, though. I have always been treated kindly and professionally. Dentists and doctors are usually able to communicate in English. They were in school for a long time, and they are all pretty smart.

I have had a lot of work done in my mouth here in Taipei, from several different doctors. It was all superior work with minimal pain. My phobias still live on and I end up not going to the dentist until I am experiencing horrible pain, which is what I wanted to avoid in the first place. It doesn’t make any sense, but that is the way mental operates.

Remember to brush and floss at least once, or sometimes, whichever comes first. Thank you for reading.