日本にいた４月、ストレスのなかで悪夢を見た。
歯をくいしばって、目が覚めると、下の前歯が小さく欠けていた。
ロックダウン中のニューヨークに戻り、少しずつ痛みが増していった。
渡米して20年近く、虫歯で歯医者に行ったことがない。
定期検診とクリーニングだけなら、保険の補助が出るけれど、
かかりつけの歯科医も、友人に紹介された医師も、休診中で連絡が取れない。
ようやく見つけた歯科医が「緊急時の処置のみ」対応してくれるという。
ミッドタウンのオフィスまで、片道50分の道のりを、歩いて行った。
フェイスシールドとマスク、防護服を着たスタッフによる問診。
検温で規定の100.4(摂氏38.0)度にやや近い数字が出て、驚いたのは私自身。
バックオフィスから出て着た医師が、丁寧にもう一度問診を始め、
体調と歯痛による微熱と判断して、奥の診察室に入るよう指示される。
さらに既往症の問診が続き、その間ずっと私もマスクをつけたまま。
なかなか、肝心の歯を診てくれないのだ。
そしてようやく患部を一瞥すると、医師が言った。
「これはコロナによるストレスが原因だから、エマージェンシーに当たるね」
欠けた部分を削って補填して、15分程で治療は終了。
歯科保健に入っているけれど、基本的に半額しかカバーされない。
日本では想像できない程の高い治療費を支払って、帰路に着く。
冷たい雨が降るなか、またもや徒歩50分。
今度虫歯になったら、日本で治療してもらおう。
日本の優れた医療制度が、きっとコロナ感染を抑えている一因にちがいない。
I had a nightmare by the stress, when I was in Japan in April.
I clenched my teeth and woke up finding a small chipped front tooth.
After I came back in New York City during the lockdown, the pain was increasing bit by bit.
In nearly 20 years of moving to the United States, I have never been to the dentist for cavities.
If it's just regular checkups and dry cleaning, it's covered by insurance.
I couldn't get in touch with my dentist or the doctor referred by a friend because they were closed.
I finally found a dentist who would take care of "emergency procedures only".
I walked 50 minutes one way to his office in Midtown.
First, I got an interview by a staff member wearing a face shield, mask and protective gear.
I was surprised myself when my temperature reading came out slightly closer to the prescribed 100.4 degrees (38.0 degrees Celsius).
The doctor, came out from the back office, politely began to question me again.
He judged it to be a slight fever due to my physical condition and toothache, I was instructed to go into the back examination room.
More questions about pre-existing conditions followed, and I was asked to keep wearing a mask the whole time.
He took long time by when he see my teeth.
Finally, after a quick glance at the affected area, the doctor said.
"This is due to the stress caused by the COVID-19, so you need emergencies treatment."
The treatment was completed in about 15 minutes.
I have dental insurance, but they basically only cover half the price.
I paid for the treatment, which was unimaginably expensive in Japan, and headed home.
It was another 50-minute walk in the cold rain.
The next time I have a cavity, I should have it treated in Japan.
Japan's excellent health care system must be one of the reasons why corona infections are suppressed.
人気ブログランキングへ
海外永住 ブログランキングへ "
歯をくいしばって、目が覚めると、下の前歯が小さく欠けていた。
ロックダウン中のニューヨークに戻り、少しずつ痛みが増していった。
渡米して20年近く、虫歯で歯医者に行ったことがない。
定期検診とクリーニングだけなら、保険の補助が出るけれど、
かかりつけの歯科医も、友人に紹介された医師も、休診中で連絡が取れない。
ようやく見つけた歯科医が「緊急時の処置のみ」対応してくれるという。
ミッドタウンのオフィスまで、片道50分の道のりを、歩いて行った。
フェイスシールドとマスク、防護服を着たスタッフによる問診。
検温で規定の100.4(摂氏38.0)度にやや近い数字が出て、驚いたのは私自身。
バックオフィスから出て着た医師が、丁寧にもう一度問診を始め、
体調と歯痛による微熱と判断して、奥の診察室に入るよう指示される。
さらに既往症の問診が続き、その間ずっと私もマスクをつけたまま。
なかなか、肝心の歯を診てくれないのだ。
そしてようやく患部を一瞥すると、医師が言った。
「これはコロナによるストレスが原因だから、エマージェンシーに当たるね」
欠けた部分を削って補填して、15分程で治療は終了。
歯科保健に入っているけれど、基本的に半額しかカバーされない。
日本では想像できない程の高い治療費を支払って、帰路に着く。
冷たい雨が降るなか、またもや徒歩50分。
今度虫歯になったら、日本で治療してもらおう。
日本の優れた医療制度が、きっとコロナ感染を抑えている一因にちがいない。
I had a nightmare by the stress, when I was in Japan in April.
I clenched my teeth and woke up finding a small chipped front tooth.
After I came back in New York City during the lockdown, the pain was increasing bit by bit.
In nearly 20 years of moving to the United States, I have never been to the dentist for cavities.
If it's just regular checkups and dry cleaning, it's covered by insurance.
I couldn't get in touch with my dentist or the doctor referred by a friend because they were closed.
I finally found a dentist who would take care of "emergency procedures only".
I walked 50 minutes one way to his office in Midtown.
First, I got an interview by a staff member wearing a face shield, mask and protective gear.
I was surprised myself when my temperature reading came out slightly closer to the prescribed 100.4 degrees (38.0 degrees Celsius).
The doctor, came out from the back office, politely began to question me again.
He judged it to be a slight fever due to my physical condition and toothache, I was instructed to go into the back examination room.
More questions about pre-existing conditions followed, and I was asked to keep wearing a mask the whole time.
He took long time by when he see my teeth.
Finally, after a quick glance at the affected area, the doctor said.
"This is due to the stress caused by the COVID-19, so you need emergencies treatment."
The treatment was completed in about 15 minutes.
I have dental insurance, but they basically only cover half the price.
I paid for the treatment, which was unimaginably expensive in Japan, and headed home.
It was another 50-minute walk in the cold rain.
The next time I have a cavity, I should have it treated in Japan.
Japan's excellent health care system must be one of the reasons why corona infections are suppressed.
人気ブログランキングへ
海外永住 ブログランキングへ "