The Dental Clinics in Japan Thread

[Mogura]

We all know how horrible Japanese dentists are. The Japanese probably know it, too. After all, they are forever covering their mouths (concealing their teeth) whenever they open them, except when coughing or sneezing . And of course, we all know about the 3-visits to get a cavity filled routine (1.Diagnoses, 2. Drilled, 3. Filled). That's old hat...

I thought I would start a thread to see if anyone has had any positive experiences with dental clinics in Japan. Surely, there must be a few places around that offer Western standards/style of service, no? Has anyone been to one of these type of clinics (if they exist)? Are there any places/dentist that you would recommend? Do they provide anesthesia (i.e., novocaine injections) to deal with the pain? Do they provide options in fillings selection (metallic vs. ceramic)?

Please provide links/contact info if you've got them...

[S-B]

I can highly recommend this one, based in Ginza:

http://www.fdclinic.com/english/

Never had a problem and treated very well. I was always nervous about finding a Japanese dentist too, but I was recommended that place by a friend. Never spoken down to, never patronised - was much much better than my dentist back home. Not so badly priced either. For dental work though, I don't put a price tag on it. The process has been painless so far too!

(No, I don't work for them!)

[Mogura]

I can highly recommend this one, based in Ginza:

http://www.fdclinic.com/english/

Never had a problem and treated very well. I was always nervous about finding a Japanese dentist too, but I was recommended that place by a friend. Never spoken down to, never patronised - was much much better than my dentist back home. Not so badly priced either. For dental work though, I don't put a price tag on it. The process has been painless so far too!

(No, I don't work for them!)

Do they give you a shot of novacaine before drilling?

Do they give you an option of metallic or ceramic fillings?

[Billy Smolesworthy]

Posting from Hamamatsu, I have a fine dentist here, with technology superior to my one back in Oz, and practicing painless dentistry. I think the days of poor oral health are becoming a thing of the past. I also think those days were the result of poor health education rather than poor dentistry.

[Mogura]

Posting from Hamamatsu, I have a fine dentist here, with technology superior to my one back in Oz, and practicing painless dentistry. I think the days of poor oral health are becoming a thing of the past. I also think those days were the result of poor health education rather than poor dentistry.

Please provide links/contact info. My aim for this thread is to be an information resource for all. Thanks...

[S-B]

Do they give you a shot of novacaine before drilling?

Do they give you an option of metallic or ceramic fillings?

Not sure about for drilling, but I wouldn't be surprised. For my first clening, because of the state of my gums, they used gas. If they did that for cleaning, they probably have the option for drilling. (Bear in mind I know zilch about dentistry, not having had much work done on them during childhood. Not even a filling.)

And yep, they offer ceramic/metallic fillings...

More info here: http://www.fdclinic.com/english/services-cosmetic.html

[vadarfone]

Good thread (I hope we can get all these types of threads put in one place for people. I have already had a few people PMing me about the STD thread)

I don't know anything about dentists in Japan, so any resources on such a thing would be great.

Between us, we can de-mystify this place!

[allblacks]

My dentist is in Umeda here in Osaka. Ono Dental Clinic. I will find the site and post it. The guy studied in Harvard or something. I got root canals done. Filling put in too. Very good.

http://onodental.com/for_alien01_1.html

http://onodental.com (Japanese)

[Wage Slave]

My dentist is very good as well. Lot's of technology and lots of painkilling injections before he does anything. He also manages to explain in detail what he is going to do even though his English isn't fantastic. Oh almost forgot, all the assistants are friendly, young and rather pretty too. Let's enjoy teethcleaning.

Don't think he has a webpage but if anyone needs a good dentist in northern Mie drop me a PM.

[Ozintokyo]

I highly recommend my dentist, he is VERY good. His English is pretty good, but more importantly, his dentistry is top-notch.

For any work requiring drilling, he uses a cotton swab to numb the area a little, and then gives you the novacaine injections, basically all work I have had done there from time to time was painless. He also gives you a choice of fillings, but of course not many types are actually covered by regular medical insurance, but nevertheless, the options are there.

His dentistry is only a few minutes walk from Tokyo Station, in Chuo-ku.

Site is here: http://www.perio.ne.jp/

[exUsagiCoalMiner]

I use a dentist in Namba (in the same building as the old MMC). His English is pretty good, he uses drugs for major work, is very patient/understanding about dental pain, a really likes to use his laser scalpel.
I've had two root canals/tooth replacements with him - both worked out fine. And, even though I went with titanium for the cap and prosthetic, he has a range of options for material.
Dunno if he has a web site. I'll look at my "patient card" and put up his info:
Shizu Dental Clinic
Tel: 06-6636-4182
Fax: 06-6636-4183
The office is on the ground floor of the Kintetsu Shin-Namba building (on the corner that faces the boxing gym).
He and his receptionist speak passable/good English.

[allblacks]

This thread should be made a sticky. I cant do it. SHAWN!!!!!

[MacGyver]

This clinic in Shibuya is spotless, new, and uses modern equipment. I've only been there a few times to have my teeth cleaned and have 2 wisdom teeth pulled (I don't have any fillings so can't give any useful information about that) but both times he was good and used novocaine (or some other painkiller). In fact for one wisdom tooth the novocaine didn't work after several injections so he gave me a nerve blocker! Made half my face go numb but I didn't feel a damn thing!

His assistants also were very nice and caring. Don't know about his English ability though but he was young so I'm sure he'd know the dentistry terms in English.

[Julio Midnight]

I have a great dentist near Sendai, better than my trips to the dentist back home in fact. Got a root canal & bridge put in. Explained everything in English. No problemo, and super cheap!

[Mogura]

I have a great dentist near Sendai, better than my trips to the dentist back home in fact. Got a root canal & bridge put in. Explained everything in English. No problemo, and super cheap!

Contact info, por favor...

[rafael calderone]

I can highly recommend this one, based in Ginza:

http://www.fdclinic.com/english/

Never had a problem and treated very well. I was always nervous about finding a Japanese dentist too, but I was recommended that place by a friend. Never spoken down to, never patronised - was much much better than my dentist back home. Not so badly priced either. For dental work though, I don't put a price tag on it. The process has been painless so far too!

(No, I don't work for them!)

I also recommend this clinic too! 4 wisdom teeth pulled, cleanings, and a full set of braces for me. Going from crooked, stianed, and funky teeth to TV quality choppers by the end of 2008 -- priceless!!!

[Big Shane]

I dont trust dentists in Japan. I was having a tooth removed in Gunma and the "dentist" injected the anesthetic into a nerve inside my gum which caused my heart to speed up and me to hyperventilate. Needless to say I havent been to the dentist since (that was 6 years ago).

[Mogura]

I dont trust dentists in Japan. I was having a tooth removed in Gunma and the "dentist" injected the anesthetic into a nerve inside my gum which caused my heart to speed up and me to hyperventilate. Needless to say I havent been to the dentist since (that was 6 years ago).

Too much epinephrine (or derivative thereof)... It's used to constrict blood vessels to prevent the nerve-deadening agent (novacaine) from rapidly dissipating into your blood stream. A side effect of a large does epinephrine is increased heart rate...

[AmishChief]

Earlier this year I went in for a long-overdue cleaning at a dental clinic in Nagoya that was recommended by the American embassy. I have to agree with their recommendation, the place was pretty good and the staff very friendly. The head dentist went to school in St. Louis, so if you're really worried about speaking English you could talk with him a little.

I liked it though. I really should have gone earlier instead of listen to the horror stories, which I did and kept me out of a proper cleaning for too long

Dr. Kuniaki Miyajima
(052) 681-4618

His office is in Atsuta ward, not too far from the famous shrine.

[PanicInducingGaijin]

There are good dentists and bad dentists in Japan, just like there are back in whatever country you're from.

For an example of a bad one, never go here. This is in Chiyoda-ku.
http://www.tdc-andworks.com/

I went there with a toothache eight years ago, and they said I had several cavities and recommended a months-long course of fillings, caps, etc., going on about how bad my teeth were and how advanced the problem was. Only one tooth hurt, and I'd never had a cavity before, so I decided to go seek a second opinion. Glad I did.

I went to a place in Suginami-ku recommended by a friend.
http://www.mochizuki-do.jp/

The dentist there took an X-ray, looked at my teeth, asked me to describe the pain, and then told me that he couldn't see anything wrong -- I'd probably bitten down hard on something and aggravated the nerve. Give it a couple of days and see if it feels better. (It did.) He didn't even charge me anything.

[Are they the lemmings?]

Matsuura Dental Clinic in Nakamozu, Osaka, is very good (they have other locations in Osaka, too). Clean, efficient and painless.

I have no idea if they speak English, but I highly doubt it.

[Tall Tall Tree]

The dentist there took an X-ray, looked at my teeth, asked me to describe the pain, and then told me that he couldn't see anything wrong -- I'd probably bitten down hard on something and aggravated the nerve. Give it a couple of days and see if it feels better. (It did.) He didn't even charge me anything.

Wow, didn't charge for an X-ray? That doc must have been in a very good humor.

[Stick-Swinging Incident]

The dentist there took an X-ray, looked at my teeth, asked me to describe the pain, and then told me that he couldn't see anything wrong -- I'd probably bitten down hard on something and aggravated the nerve. Give it a couple of days and see if it feels better. (It did.) He didn't even charge me anything.

Wow, didn't charge for an X-ray? That doc must have been in a very good humor.

Well if he took an x ray of your arm he'd be really "humerus"

Sorry, had to, not sober enough to resist at the present time.

[Keleidoscope]

I actually had a positive experience!

After I woke up one morning with blood all over my face and a smashed tooth (yeah, don't go to the 800 yen an hour karaoke place then attempt to ride your bike home) I had to go to the dentist and it was pretty painless (the experience and the actual tooth repair).

Looked at it, put white stuff on it, dried it with the UV light, buffed it and I was out of there 10 minutes later, only 6000 yen poorer and with a nice new tooth. That cap actually came off about 6 months later and I had it re-done in Australia with some drilling involved (for more than double the cost) but it's been all good ever since.

I was terrified they'd want to put a big metal blob on it and was pleasantly surprised that getting it fixed was so easy (and looked decent too).

[RandyDickson]

if you live in okayama, I highly recommend Momo Dental Clinic; http://www.momo-dc.com/top.html Momo Dental Clinic

The dentist I had each time was Tsuyoshi Sato, and he can speak enough English to get by. He's patient, kind and does a good job.
He will sit down with you and explain what he's going to do, and will draw diagrams to explain.
The injections are painless, as was my root canal.

In Tokyo, Nihon University School of Dentistry Dental Hospital: http://www.dent.nihon-u.ac.jp/hospital/j-hos00.html
It was reasonably priced, and the service is good.
The dentists lecture at the school, and instead of being assisted by cute dental hygienists, they are assisted by dental students.
Most dentists here speak Japanese, however they will find one that speaks English if you can't speak Japanese. Dr Yamase speaks extremely good English and lived in America for a few years.

[99red]

I'll recommend Jo-Shika in Tanashi, Nishi-Tokyo

http://www.jo-shika.com

The dentist there has good English skills, not great technical ability, but gets the point across (I mean he doesn't use the technical terms). He charges 10x the NHI fee if you don't have it, which is actually not much, and he will make sure you understand the costs and give you a complete breakdown if you need. My work yesterday cost just under 8000yen for a back tooth filled (majorly ), that included a panoramic xray (3000yen by itself), check-up, pain-shot, and composite filling, and polishing. Around 1200yen of that was also a "first time" fee, which will only be 400 next visit.

The work seems good so far, he'll only do one filling at a time (I have 2, yay...) but that not too bad since it takes 45mins or so anyway. Not the most modern looking place once your in the chair, but has all the equipment.

[senshisteph]

I'm in the midst of a round of dentist visits arising from complications from a botched root-canal I had a while ago. I'd like to give a big thumbs-up to Hiramitsu Dental Clinic in Ichinomiya, Aichi (phone no. and map - http://local.yahoo.co.jp/detail/spot/39 ... c2d9ac094/ )

Not a swish place by all means, just a little family dentist, they don't speak very much English but the guy does sweat blood trying to explain what he's going to do. He also seems to like using the latest techniques and only charge cost for any procedure he sees a real clinical need for. So far my running total is about 16000Y uninsured, but this includes - repair and re-filling of root-canal, panoramic x-rays, resin filling (matches my natural tooth colour), 2 courses of antibiotics, 3 days supply of prescription-strength painkillers, 1 local anaesthetic when he drilled a tooth to relieve pressure from an abcess (which seemed very fast-acting compared to shots I've had back home), a clean-and-descale (with the ultrasonic water-jet gadget), and laser surgery on the gums round 2 teeth.

The laser surgery was most impressive - it really was urgent and he had the equipment to hand, so he just did it and only charged me for his time (a little under 3000Y!)

[Tall Tall Tree]

Dang, my dentist charges me about half that for just a typical check-up and polishing back here!

Dare I ask, how does oral laser surgery work?

[exUsagiCoalMiner]

For an abscess (at least with my dentist in Osaka), they use the laser to cut and cauterize the swollen part of the gum around the infected tooth.
The one my dentist has looks like a large light pen attached to a long metal coil. It can be painful at times, but more disturbing is the smell/taste of cooked meat you get...

[senshisteph]

For an abscess (at least with my dentist in Osaka), they use the laser to cut and cauterize the swollen part of the gum around the infected tooth.
The one my dentist has looks like a large light pen attached to a long metal coil. It can be painful at times, but more disturbing is the smell/taste of cooked meat you get...

Yep, same here. Not painful as such, but definitely felt hot if he stayed too long on one place. Not bad enough to need an aneasthetic, anyway, and the process only took a couple of minutes. My gums were a little tender for a couple of days, but the improvement was almost instant - from swollen and angry and generally manky to tight and pink and normal-looking - and now (a week later) my gums are in better condition than they have been for a long time. Google 'LANAP' to find out more - I'll warn you the live video is only for the strong of stomach and even the animation made my toes curl a bit