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Hygine in Japanese Dentists
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2008/3/5 17:48
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After moving house recently, I sought out the local dental clinic for treatment.
I left feeling concerned and confused and would like some opinions please.
At no time during my examination and treatment did any of the staff members wear gloves. I witnessed my nurse washing her hands but that was it. None of the staff attending to other patients were wearing gloves either, in fact, in a discrete look around the room, I couldn't even seen any boxes of gloves.
My question is a)is this common/accecpted practice in Japanese dental clinics and b)would it have been impolite to ask them to wear gloves when its obviously not their standard practice?
Why anyone would want to stick their naked fingers into a strangers mouth is beyond me, especially with all that blood and saliva...eeek!
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by Kate
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Old Doctor
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2008/3/6 01:01
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Old Japanese Dentists are like that. There are many dentists in Japan who wear rubber gloves and face shields but there is no law in Japan requiring them to do so.
Change dentists.
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by Jupiter Rising
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Although it was 10 years ago now, I went to a very modern dentist with all kinds of computers and things who also did not use gloves. This was true with doctors doing examinations, too.
Perhaps this trend is changing, but even at that time, I was told that the reason doctors/dentists don't wear gloves is that they don't want the patient to feel like they're afraid to touch them, i.e. make the patient feel like they are dirty.
However, they do keep gloves on hand, and if you want them to wear them, you shouldn't hesitate to ask them to do so.
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by kyarinchan
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shop around
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2008/3/6 08:03
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I agree, change dentists- there are widely varying levels of hygiene among dentists here so you might need to look around. I went to a dentist about 8 years ago who wore gloves, but he didn't change them when going between patients! The floor was also filthy, covered in hair and dust and the instruments were all really low tech and looked 20 years old.
I now go to an Australian-trained English-speaking dentist now but among Japanese-trained dentists there are plenty with modern instruments and high standards of hygiene as well.
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by Sira
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just wondering
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2008/3/6 10:13
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At the dentist I went to for 25 years, all the nurses wore gloves while the head dentist never did. I recall that a younger dentist wore them. So I suppose it depends on the preference, or in other words how comfortable it is FOR the dentist.
I'm wondering that while if you request them to wear gloves they can, it might interrupt their skills. Perhaps it's better to just shop for different dentists, asking for recommendations from friends and making sure they use gloves as you make the appointment over the phone.
But personally I don't mind if the hands seem clean enough. To me, what counts is their skills and informed consent.
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by Uco
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