I am torn between liking the dentist and dreading the dentist. I love the results afterwards, feeling so squeaky clean, looking shiny. Even without whitening effects I feel like my teeth should be plastered on every tooth-health related ad after a trip to the dentist. Even though I’ve never missed a bi-annual appointment, I still have to keep myself from chickening out the week of. Things that bother me:
- Guilt about flossing
- Guilt about gums bleeding after being pricked and poked with sharp objects
- The pricking and poking with sharp objects
- The plastic X-ray wings that cut the inside of the mouth worse than most breakfast cereals
- Holding the vacuum thing in the corner of your mouth that never actually sucks up any saliva and so one chokes and contorts their mouth for nothing
is it any better in germany?
Yes! I really enjoyed my experience. I avoided the dentist until I was disgusted with myself (I won’t lie, it was two years) and finally picked a dentist to visit. I picked one that had an office in the building of my old job and made my appointment. I’d heard there were differences between “American cleanings” and “standard cleanings” and had decided I’d like to go with what I was familiar with. The difference is, the American version is much more detailed, more thorough and more attention from the dentist.
A standard cleaning in Germany, done only once a year, is what I would consider step one of a standard dental visit. Using the pick to scrap plaque, quick visual check of teeth, dentist comes in and hears if there are any issues (or maybe not, depending on the health of your teeth). I’ve experienced this once, and I felt for me personally I always need the deeper clean.
The American cleaning (I’m not sure if that phrase will work anywhere outside of larger populations of Americans) includes much more pick cleaning, flossing, sand blasting with a baking soda type mixture (my personal favorite reason for going) and the brush and polish.
Because the deeper clean is outside of a normal treatment, this is not covered by insurance. I pay 90 € for this service. That price to me is excellent, especially considering I can also have my standard cleaning, for free, once a year should I so choose. Part of the reason dental care seems so affordable to me is there is no shortage of dentists. While finding a doctor can sometimes be a challenge with full schedules, getting on a dentist’s calendar is generally no problem.
Dentistry is just as modern and up to date as the states, and perhaps more thorough if they sense a problem might be starting. There is also the efficiency standard, meaning I still haven’t had X-rays done here, as they haven’t seen any problems and my teeth don’t meet the profile of needing them done. Whereas in the states, I was getting them every two years. Germany does not believe in exposing people to radiation except in needed circumstances, and their version of need is different than ours.
non standard care
Major dental work is not covered under state plans. I’m fortunate to not have had to have any so far and therefore am unsure of actual costs in Wiesbaden. I did learn though that fillings are now not always covered under state plans, or if they are they are almost never the non-silver or gold types. However this is also similar in the states – one has to pay more for the bone colored fillings there too (often).
Since Germany is the land of insurances, there are plenty of private options and combinations you can buy to supplement your state plan. Dentist offices are familiar with these combinations and can work with both systems.
my dentist in germany is great
I think I’ve just found a really awesome dentist. Don’t get me wrong: I liked my dentist in VA a lot, she’d worked with me since high school. My new dentist is nice, quick, I feel I’m getting a professional experience and his office is quite modern and comfortable, something I haven’t found much here.
There’s a Sonos system going in all the exam rooms, the front desk staff are incredibly friendly and work with simple German and English. Plus, his assistants are consistently impressed with how clean my teeth are (“Americans take such good care of their teeth, they’re always so white!”).
And, it’s free, when I don’t go for the super clean.
If you’re looking for a dentist rec in Wiesbaden, I highly recommend this practice. (No affiliation, just really like them).
German dental vocabulary
Let’s grow the Wortschatz!
Teeth – Zähne
Tooth – Zahn
Mouth – Mund
Gums – Zahnflesich (yup, “tooth meat”, gross)
Plaque – Zahnstein OR Zahnbelag
Tongue – Zunge
Smile – Lacheln
Toothbrush – Zahnbürste
Floss – Zahnseide
Toothpaste – Zahnpasta
Filling – Plombe
Cavity – Loch
Crown – Krone
