Going to the Dentist in the USA
---MIMI: 宾夕法尼亚, 美国
It is well known that the U.S. dental services are mad expensive! Living in the U.S. for more than seven years now, I''''''''ve only visited a dentist twice! For those who are not familiar with the American dental culture: a normal American usually visits a dentist at least twice a year to have their teeth cleaned. An American teenager usually visits his or her dentist at least once every three months to adjust his or her braces. Of course none of these services are free. In addition to a copy fee that is charged each time you visit a dentist, the average dental insurance costs anywhere from 500 dollars to up to 2000 dollars per year.
I still remember the first time I visited a dentist in the United States. It was when I decided to finally get my teeth cleaned as well as experiencing the dental services after paying for dental insurances for four years. Unlike in China, I had to find a dentist whom accepts my dental insurance plan (because dentists choose the type of insurance plan they accept). On the day of my appointment, I went to the dental office alone, expecting nothing too different from my prior dental experiences in China.
I was TOTALLY wrong! Things were nothing like what I expected. When I stepped into the dental office, it was almost like stepping into a family friend’s home. The office did not look like a clinic at all. It’s small, cozy, and friendly. The reception room looked like a living room of a house; there were a table and several chairs, a magazine rack, and photos of the dentist and her family. Unlike the clinics I went to in China, which were usually large and hospital-like, the small dental office brought me a warm feeling with no intimidation at all.
Before I met the dentist, a receptionist who looked like the husband of the dentist came out and gave me a stack of forms to fill out. Then the dentist finally came out. She smiled and looked at the forms that I just filled out. Then she invited me to walk into the operation room. The room was again very small, consisting one dental operational chair only.
The cleaning process went smoothly and the best part was when I was leaving the clinic, the dentist gave me a small “goodie bag.” There were many “treats” such as a sample tooth paste, dental floss, a small tooth brush, and some post cards with the dentist’s contact information.
My first dental experience was definitely positive. I finally understood why American kids are never afraid of going to dentists. The family-like environment made me feel like visiting a relative’s home instead of going to get my teeth checked. And the small gift at the end definitely made the whole experience even better!
