Went to the dentist for another round of root canal treatment today. I couldn’t help it, but isn’t this the eighth visit already? Okay, I get it that there are four teeth to be treated, but after eight visits, and still unfinished?

I really don’t get it why the clinics here in Japan will give you increment treatments and have you coming back over and over again OVER an extended period of time. A tidbit here, a tidbit there. Expect to come two, three times, even for simple treatments.

Take my case, for example. I am hoping to get all four teeth restored, which unfortunately has been taking a painstakingly long time since it started in September (yeah, it’s been two darn months!). I stay at the dentist’s office for say, 30 or 45 minutes at a time, then end up scheduling another appointment for the following week. Most of the time, there isn’t any available slot the following week, so I could only book for a slot two weeks after. There was a time when the dentist was on holiday, so there was no choice but to wait for another two weeks.

I know rct’s can take a long time, nevertheless, the norm here in Japan is for treatments to be spaced out and carried in stages. At one time I went to the dentist for cleaning, and they only cleaned my lower teeth during that visit. I had to come back at another time to get the upper teeth done. Why the heck didn’t they just do everything done in one visit, and send me on my way? What’s with this staggering method? Sure, they probably get to treat more people per day compared to when they perform everything to the finish for each patient. But for the patient’s side, it is highly inefficient and inconvenient. Just think of all the time consumed commuting, plus the fact that you have to pay for each visit! A money drain, believe me.

I shudder to think of how much more extrenuous dental treatments (like braces) would entail. Is that a possible reason why I see so many crooked teeth around?

At any rate, I better make sure I take care of the rest of my teeth, if only to avoid getting on another maddening series of treatments.