#40 - Dental treatment

02.02.2010

Today took half day leave to go for dental treatment at government clinic in Kulim. I planned to go the dental appointment which was scheduled to be at 2.30pm, then go to pay insurance and road tax for motor then go to Bank Islam in Kulim to replace a new ATM card as I had lost mine.

So after work, I went straight back home and changed into a pair of jeans (I don’t like wearing slacks, don’t know why) then head straight to the government dental clinic. That is where all those unlucky things happen..

First, I don’t know why they don’t practise the ‘first come first serve’ concept. It seemed that you will only be treated by the dentist who checked your teeth upon initial inspection last time. So the unlucky me got to wait for Dr Daniel to appear. He appeared but kept on going here and there. In the end, I only entered the dental room at 3.30pm. One hour gone to waste. But what do you expect right? So I told myself not to complain.

Going inside, Dr Daniel looked cute and quite good-tempered. Too bad he is not tall la. Hehe..He spoke nicely and everything so I thought things will get better from then on. Mana tau, when he did my teeth filling, he did it too high and had to redo a bit. OK lo, I thought maybe I was destined to be the unlucky one. But really, it was really tiring and sore to open the mouth wide for so long (he asked me to open my mouth wider for so many times, lucky he didn’t lose his temper). I wonder how can those with braces stand opening their mouth for so long.

OK, after settle the ‘high’ filling and made two fillings already, he told me to gargle and it seemed like that was the end of the story. I was surprised. So I asked him what about the 3rd filling? This time he was the one surprised. He said I should told him earlier and since there were other people waiting then I should come for another appointment. OMG, I wonder why I didn’t retaliate back and show my dissatisfaction.

Helloo…. you are the dentist. When you started the filling, you didn’t explain a thing. Didn’t say how many teeth fillings will there be, what will be done, etc. So….is it proper if a patient told the doctor what to do? Won’t it be like an insult to the doctor, or ppl will think that the patient is acting clever in front of an expert? And I rmbered during the intial inspection, he asked me why I come. I said it was for dental filling and the teeth for the 3rd filling (which he missed out) was the first teeth I showed to him. I thought he took note already. Either he was a very blur person or his assistant didn’t inform him there should be a total of 3 dental fillings to be done.

Gosh, ppl keep on telling me what do you expect from a government clinic? I keep on reminding myself also. I don’t mind about the waiting time. But I can’t accept the recklessness lo. Hmm…so fine, I just wait for the next appointment date, which is on 03/03/2010. Was actually thinking of not going already. Maybe just visit the private clinic la. My dental treatment session lasted for about 30 minutes and I only need to pay RM4, very cheap if compared with private clinic charges, which I think should be around RM50. That’s the price you need to pay for a cheap service I guess.

So this is what people describe as ‘penny wise pound foolish’….

P/S: In the end, I left the clinic at about 3.50pm. Managed to renew my motorcycle insurance at Boon Liang and pay for the road tax at post office (about 4.45pm). Bought more stamps for CNY cards but can’t make it on time to the bank. Huhu…