I am never fond of dentist. It is basically a bad romance. Not that there was ever any romance, but I don't like to see a dentist. They are not exactly the people who make your days glowering with sunshines and happiness. They drill you. They inflict pain on you. And then, they make you pay them. Not cheap, I might add.
I try to avoid seeing dentist. My experience with USM dentist still haunts me. It was my mistake. It was my stupidity. It was my third year in USM and it was the term holiday. I passed by the only dental clinic in the campus and decided that I should have taken advantage of the low student queue to get a check-up. BIG MISTAKE! Nothing free comes painless. I learnt that lesson the hard way.
The famous dentist was on leave. That should have been the first sign for me to back out. But I did not. I was stupid enough to walk in, to let the second dentist attend to me.. By the time I was done, my gum hurt, sore from cuts and I believe it was still bleeding when I left the dentist.. and the drilling she did on me.. I was gripping so hard on the chair-arms, that eventually she stopped and asked - sakit ah? I groaned for mercy. And then, when it was already done, she inspected her work, wanting to be proud, ignoring the bleeding gum. And she saw one more hole. She told me to come back again. I nodded. I lied. I never stepped foot into that clinic again.
So, when my tooth chipped a little, I realized the nightmare was coming. After more than 3 weeks, I paid a dentist a visit. There was a few suggestion, when I kept emphasizing on affordable and good. Good, as in as little pain as possible. Which is practically non-existent. I was suggested of Farlim area and internet mentioned Siak Dental in Bayan. How difficult it is to find a good recommendation of dentist in Penang? My godbrother suggested his girlfriend's aunt's dental clinic in Gelugor area - Teh Dental Surgery in Gelugor area, opposite the Hindu Temple, just beside the road that separates the clinic and the post office.
So, in good faith, I went. The friendly receptionist asked me of my status - if I was a diabetic patient.. or if I am allergic to several drugs she mentioned..
I told her I was allergic to dentist.
So, the ordeal began. I was told of my cavity and plaque (??). There would be a need for scaling (??). Why can't people just say 'cleaning'?? Pain, but bearable. I did not like it. Arghhhhh!!!!
And then, the filling was done. It was ok. More bearable than the scaling (?). For someone who is thought to be good in opening his mouth, I was almost tore up trying to keep my mouth wide open.. Sigh..
And the dentist was friendly. Really friendly. Even when I got the bill, and realized that it was RM10 more expensive for each treatment than what my godbrother had mentioned to me... perhaps it had been some time since his last visit. Still, I was only glad that the process was over... I paid up and left.
The treatment was friendly and nice. Does that mean I forgive all dentists in the world now? Unlikely that I am gonna love them. I don't hate them. But don't ask me if I am in love with them. Sigh...
Would I recommend this dentist to other fellow Penangites? Yes.
And get this! The dentist asked me how much I could claim (from my work place, I assume). I did not know that dentist can be funny. ;p
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