Dentists In LOS: A story of pain and discrimination.

[KhunProletariat]

Ok, so here's my story. A few weeks ago I needed a wisdom tooth removed that had become fully impacted and had decayed to the point of pain. I needed to get it out as soon as possible and didn't want to wait for appointments at a clinic so I decided to check in to an international hospital to have it removed within the hour. The dentist said she would see me that day and within 3 hours it was removed and the source of pain gone. Phew. But she told me that due to the wisdom tooth decaying and due to it being fully impacted, it had also caused a cavity on my other tooth that needed a filling asap. She asked if I would like to see the filling specialist and I said yes. She booked the appointment for two weeks after the tooth removal to give my mouth time to heal.

 

Now I would like to stress that the woman that did my extraction was fine, really nice, spoke good English and was very thorough in her work, but unfortunately fillings were not her specialty, that was the job of the 2nd woman who I was to see in two weeks time.

 

Now the fun begins. I arrived on time for my appointment, sat in the chair and explained to her what needed doing. She seemed rather confused but began to drill.....wait, what, no injection? 'oh, you want injection? normally thai people no have.' I said yes, I need it. She then proceeded to attempt to numb the tooth. Not once, not twice, not even 3 times.. by the forth injection she gave up and walked out of the room to tend to another patient and left me waiting there for a good 30 minutes. She came back in the room and asked "is your mouth numb yet?' I replied no, maybe you are not using enough Lidocaine or whatever. She then fed me some BS story about my blood pressure being high (it isn't) and that she couldn't inject me anymore. At that point, with my blue bib still in place and mouth no number than when I came in, I left. She then said to her assistant in Thai "why foreigners always make a problem." I heard her and confronted her. (Just a quick point on Blood Pressure monitors in Thai hospitals. I am always skeptical about nurses checking my BP, especially before having a filling or something of that nature, as it seems to be done for some reasons totally unrelated to the reason I am there in the first place. I have my own BP monitor at home due to them constantly telling me my BP is high over the years, and according the my home monitor - I am right on the line - 120/80).

 

Now what I would like to know is, did I make a problem? Was it my fault that she couldn't numb my tooth adequately and thus perform her duty for a paying customer? Was I in the wrong when she left to tend to another patient, leaving me sat there like an idiot for well over half an hour? Has anybody else had a similar experience? If so, what happened?

 

The real stinger was when I was about to leave - she gestured toward a Thai woman who was sat in the waiting room and asked her in Thai "you are next, right?" she nodded, to which the dentist replied, "good good, Khun Thai de kwa." Yet again it seems that my being white has some bearing on the fact that she couldn't numb my tooth properly and do a filling. What has the fact that I'm not Thai go to do with it? The whole experience left me totally perplexed and wondering about the professionalism and general attitude of dentists in Thailand.

 

KP.

[canthai55]

Ah ... the Joys of living where I do.

Two excellent Doctors - one who teaches at Suan Dok in the day and has a clinic at night. One who works every day until evening.

A great team of Dentists - all ladies - who have specialists arrive on the weekend for crowns, bridges, etc.

Really good Physio Therapist.

 

 

[canthai55]

If you left your wisdom tooth to rot to the point it needed extraction I would look in the mirror for the cause.

[malt25]

I've had major dental work both in Chiang Mai & Sakon Nakhon. Both times female dentists & assistants. Have to say better service & treatment than back in Oz. Not that there was any problem back there. Have to agree with above post !

[KhunProletariat]

7 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

If you left your wisdom tooth to rot to the point it needed extraction I would look in the mirror for the cause.

As my tooth was fully impacted and the cavity hidden from view, I didn't see any signs of decay until it was too late and the pain was prevalent. At which point I did look in the mirror, many times, but still could not see the cavity.

 

KP.

[FritsSikkink]

There we go again, Let his teeth rot until it hurts and blames all Thai dentists. 

[KhunProletariat]

8 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

There we go again, Let his teeth rot until it hurts and blames all Thai dentists. 

Have you never needed a filling, Frits?

[FritsSikkink]

4 minutes ago, KhunProletariat said:

Have you never needed a filling, Frits?

I had a tooth extracted in BKK, had my whole set of teeth renovated, years ago in Phuket and have been treated excellent.

[metisdead]

Moving to the Health forum where the OP might find better answers. 

[lopburi3]

Blood pressure at time of treatment is what matters for surgery - so dental check is valid.  I have the same white coat issue and at home normally about 110/70 but can get into the 160's at hospital.

 

Waiting for shot to take effect is normal and in USA in the 50's towns local dentist had extra chair fitted for that reason - so could attend next patient while waiting.  But expect you may have had some infection present which prevents numbing (been there and not pleasant - but have never had happen in Thailand).

[BestB]

Bud, I can not help but wonder what the hell do you do or say to piss people off ?

 

the taxi story was funny and not uncommon but the dentist is takes the cake .

 

yes , have had an unpleasant dealings with a doctor on occasion but never to a point like you.

 

as I told you on your taxi thread I knocked out a guy who swore at me and broke my pinky .

 

finally went to clinic to fix it up. Wanted to be cheap Charlie so went to local clinic, doc wrapped band aid around it , told me it was now fixed and 400 baht bill.

 

i am still laughing .

 

moral of the story is lighten up, plenty of incimpetent people around, educating them or explaining what you think is right will not get you anywhere .

[KhunProletariat]

6 minutes ago, BestB said:

Bud, I can not help but wonder what the hell do you do or say to piss people off ?

 

the taxi story was funny and not uncommon but the dentist is takes the cake .

 

yes , have had an unpleasant dealings with a doctor on occasion but never to a point like you.

 

as I told you on your taxi thread I knocked out a guy who swore at me and broke my pinky .

 

finally went to clinic to fix it up. Wanted to be cheap Charlie so went to local clinic, doc wrapped band aid around it , told me it was now fixed and 400 baht bill.

 

i am still laughing .

 

moral of the story is lighten up, plenty of incimpetent people around, educating them or explaining what you think is right will not get you anywhere .

Should I have just knocked her out instead then?

 

KP.

[BestB]

3 minutes ago, KhunProletariat said:

Should I have just knocked her out instead then?

 

KP.

You should have shut your mouth and left instead of confronting and educating her on what you thought was right or wrong 

 

and no, not all fillings require injections , only when there is pain, in your case tooth was healthy , so injection was not necessary, unless you a drama queen who can not handle slight discomfort 

Edited December 29, 2018 by BestB

[canthai55]

It may be just me, but I discern a pattern here ...

House falling apart - incompetent dentist, ...

Wonder what will be next when the other shoe drops.

Lived here over 15 years and NEVER had one problem remotely near what has been described in these threads.

Smile, be polite, speak softly ... all will be remedied.

Jump up and down, assert your 'rights', insult and abuse people and do not be surprised that help is not forthcoming.

Altho 115 grains may be.

[KhunProletariat]

18 minutes ago, BestB said:

You should have shut your mouth and left instead of confronting and educating her on what you thought was right or wrong 

 

and no, not all fillings require injections 

To your first point, sorry bud, that ain't my style. If I am insulted by a racist individual, dentist or taxi driver then they will get the same treatment.

 

And to your second, yes they do. Why in this day and age with the technology at our disposal should someone have to sit through agonizing dental procedures without an injection? Seems like you would prefer to have your dental work done in 1850. But judging by how you react to people when they swear at you it comes as no surprise, fisticuffs.

 

KP.

[poohy]

cant comment really on OP 

But just had tooth removed dentist ok no problems BUT it took him 4 injection to numb my mouth i haven't had any dental work for years but from memory in UK your Gob is numb more or less instantly so am wondering they are using les spotent stuff here

 

As for going to dentist that tried to do any work apart from a clean without injection he need to be struck off !!!!

[poohy]

27 minutes ago, BestB said:

and no, not all fillings require injections , only when there is pain, in your case tooth was healthy , so injection was not necessary, unless you a drama queen who can not handle slight discomfort 

I cannot disagree vehemently enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BestB]

2 minutes ago, KhunProletariat said:

To your first point, sorry bud, that ain't my style. If I am insulted by a racist individual, dentist or taxi driver then they will get the same treatment.

 

And to your second, yes they do. Why in this day and age with the technology at our disposal should someone have to sit through agonizing dental procedures without an injection? Seems like you would prefer to have your dental work done in 1850. But judging by how you react to people when they swear at you it comes as no surprise, fisticuffs.

 

KP.

Well you showing them, are not you? 

 

Notice the pattern of being disliked? With where ever you do or touch?

 

So you have a problem with my style and prefer your style of being thrown out from everywhere ? Keep up with your style as it’s ckearly getting you results ????

 

oh yes, few mins of discomfort is agonising pain , it’s a good thing you not a drama queen then????

[BestB]

6 minutes ago, poohy said:

cant comment really on OP 

But just had tooth removed dentist ok no problems BUT it took him 4 injection to numb my mouth i haven't had any dental work for years but from memory in UK your Gob is numb more or less instantly so am wondering they are using les spotent stuff here

 

As for going to dentist that tried to do any work apart from a clean without injection he need to be struck off !!!!

And I get plenty of dental work done and back in Oz nothing but pain while here nothing but smooth, painless work and half of the time without injections. 

 

Root canals back home put you out of actin for days , root canals in Thailand  and I am chewing steaks 4 hours later ????

 

just as surgeries, 2-3 days in bed in hospital back home and 3-4 hours outside smoking after 9 hour surgery here.

 

makes you wonder where it’s more advanced ????

[KhunProletariat]

20 minutes ago, poohy said:

 

 

As for going to dentist that tried to do any work apart from a clean without injection he need to be struck off !!!!

Absolutely. 

 

How can anyone think that this is acceptable practice in 2018? Thing is, it seems to be commonplace in LOS, many dentists have tried the same thing with me over the years either because they didn't have any numbing agent or they can't be bothered setting up the needle.

 

Struck off with a capital S!

 

KP.

Edited December 29, 2018 by KhunProletariat

[fisherd3]

Avoid 'International Hospitals' at all costs .????

[Nyezhov]

6 minutes ago, KhunProletariat said:

You type like a 4 year old child. Did you even finish primary school, punchy?

 

Typical wife beating, goon drinking aussie. The kind I hate with a passion in the likes of Samui & Phuket. White trash to the max.

 

KP.

Dude you have got the biggest chip on your shoulder I have ever seen.

 

How have you not had your ass kicked out there in the real world to date?

 

Please tell me you arent a Yank, if you are, Ill fly to the Cote D'Ivoire and see if I can buy citizenship there.

 

If he is a Yank, I apologize to all of you beer swilling Aussies that are half as understandable as Brits. He is not representative of the USA

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, metisdead said:

Moving to the Health forum where the OP might find better answers. 

Op doesn't want or need answers, OP just wants to bash Thailand.

[ezzra]

Your story was riveting indeed, but not as the story of "No ice cream to foreigners" fiasco of yesterday...

[metisdead]

Ok, that's enough bashing already.