LIFE IN KOREA: Never Thought I'd Love My Dentist!

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I once had a dentist whose office artwork consisted of a small wooden plaque that said, “Ignore your teeth, and they’ll go away.” Although impressed by the plaque, I hadn’t heeded the warning. High dental costs in America left me blissfully hoping the dentist’s plaque had simply been mistaken and that ignoring my teeth didn’t have to mean they really would go away.

But the time finally came when ignoring dental treatment could last no longer. The need for dental records for an application first took me to my now beloved dentist, Dr. Kim, but the need to redress the years of avoiding dental treatment kept me going back. 

I’m not sure what it is, but something seems to happen to foreigners once they meet the two-year mark in Korea. Like some sort of rite of passage, they start losing teeth. So, when it became apparent that I would have to get a several crowns, Dr. Kim insisted on gold. “Gold lasts longer and is cheaper,” he said. He held a mirror in front of my mouth and let me imagine having gold teeth. In Korea, gold teeth seem to be a reasonable alternative to natural pearly white, but no one… I mean no one in North America, with the exception of rap artists, wants a gold tooth. It’s just not trendy where I’m from. Like my friend said, “it’s like having jewelry in your mouth.” Luckily, I dodged the gold-tooth bullet and was fitted with a fine set of made-in-Korea, porcelain teeth.
 
As tooth decay seems to be contagious among the foreign community in Korea, it was not long after I started seeing Dr. Kim that my friend and later, her coworker started seeing him too. We’ve all had major work done, and we’re thinking of starting a support group for foreigners in Korea with fake teeth.

Dr. Kim knew we were all friends, and each time one of us visited, he would talk about the other two. Now, whenever I see Dr. Kim, he promises to take us out for Chinese food, a promise that has never materialized, but one that is well intentioned nonetheless. I can’t imagine any American dentist spending much time talking to me much less inviting my friends and me out for Chinese food. When Dr. Kim went away to a dental conference in Canada last year, he promised to bring back souvenirs for my friend and me.

The last time I saw Dr. Kim, he refused to finish all my dental work, saying he wants to stretch it out. “I want you to be my patient for a long time,” he said. Maybe I will get that Chinese dinner and Canadian souvenir after all. 

Photo by Dean Poulson

10 comments | Add your comment

Jay, 2008-12-22 16:00:43

How is the act of a dentist asking you to spend time with him relevant to his skills and proficiency of being a professional? What you've written has no merit or evidence to provide users of this site any type of helpful direction in choosing a thorough and honest dentist. Canadian souvenirs and Chinese food dinners don't make a good dentist. Furthermore, Dr. Kim's comment that he wants to "stretch it out", with regards to your dental work, sounds as though he needs to bill enough so that his kids can get braces or buy a nicer car. That's the most dishonest method of a dental practice. Going forward, I hope the articles on this site will be more relevant, coherent, and competent.

Louise, 2008-12-28 10:06:53

I enjoyed reading about your experiences with your dentist and thank you for sharing this little slice of your life in Korea. Please do keep writing. Articles like these and the rest of the information I've found on this site have really helped me.

Brandon, 2008-12-29 09:43:49

I'd have to agree with Jay. Sorry, but nothing really indicates how good this dentist is. Plus, it looks like he hasn't even kept two verbal promises to you. The article would of been a bit more meaningful and a better recommendation if it explained why he was so good. Then again, maybe the intention was just to say he fell in love with his dentist?

Teresa, 2008-12-30 16:28:04

I enjoyed reading this article. I think Brandon and Jay are being a little harsh here. The title of the article is "Never Thought I'd Love My Dentist" not "I Found the Best Dentist in Korea". Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Dr Nick, 2009-01-04 00:23:13

I wonder WHY these teeth keep falling out after the 2 year period for foreigners. Korea has nothing but good healthy food so why just stop going for the easy option of sugar filled western unhealthy food. EAT KOREAN FOOD. problem solved.

William, 2009-01-04 14:07:10

At what point in this article was there information such as a contact number or address of this dentist that would cause people to think this was a recommendation? It's just a feel good story about a person who enjoys the relationship with their dentist. The very point of the article is "Life in Korea" which is based on experiences by expats, not a forum for recommendations of services or products. To criticize the writer, and even to go as far as to criticize the site because some failed to see the article for what it is (a feel good story) is shameful.

irish, 2009-01-04 20:29:12

Ummm I have been living in korea for 3 years and have perfect teeth .What is this about foreiners contracting bad teeth?.Have you ever seen a native Koreans teeth?Maybe you should take care of yourself a little better and buy a tooth brush

james, 2009-01-08 19:31:37

jay is clearly an idiot, this is an anecdotal story, not an indepth article on high calibre dentists and where to find them!

"with regards to your dental work, sounds as though he needs to bill enough so that his kids can get braces or buy a nicer car." - jay

Braces are probably the last thing his kids need being a dentist and all- hahahahaha

Peace

traveler197, 2009-01-24 13:26:11

Jay...You are not an idiot but right on. The scarey part is the comments from these other people and the fact that they teach here.

george, 2009-02-02 23:21:18

Why are people so angry about this? If you didn't like the article, you could have stopped reading it. If you thought it was a waste of time, why did you comment on it, thus spending more time on it? I think that it could be nerve-wracking to go to a dentist here. So, a comment on the kindness of a dentist is helpful in that sense. This site is supposed to be to promote a nice and helpful foreigner community, and by people belittling other people's seemingly innocent narratives, the point is being missed. If you want to get into arguments on a comment feed, then watch political videos on Youtube. But please, don't do it here.

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