Today I went to the dentist. I chose this one nearby rather than go to the previous one which required a long drive. I had been requested to do a Covid-19 rapid test first thing in the morning and WhatsApp the result over to them before going for the appointment.
I rang the bell on the table outside the clinic when I arrived for my 1030 appointment. The receptionist came out, took my temperature, checked my vaccination record and did the paperwork.
I was then allowed into the waiting room where there was only one seat (no companions allowed generally). This was the first time I had to take my shoes off at the dentist, as it worked like visiting someone’s home. Combined with the rapid test beforehand, this was a dentist with a difference.
The dentist, Dr Hanipah, was gentle in her work. I ended up having one new filling and one replacement filling in addition to a check-up and scaling. All that came to MYR350 which is less than what I would pay in New Zealand for a check-up and scaling or a filling.
It would have cost MYR2 for a check-up at the government clinic and also MYR2 per filling. The facilities are good but there is often a wait of several weeks to secure an appointment.