USC (University of Southern California) dental experience

Speaking of dental care, I have to talk about my dental experience at the University of Southern California, which can be considered as a little reminder for future generations. I came to the United States around July. I discovered a cavity a week before I came. At that time, the doctor said it was too late to repair it, but he did a temporary treatment. The dentist warned me repeatedly that I must go home for repairs during the winter vacation. However, I was more playful and decided to gain more "experience" in the United States, and shelved the idea of ??returning home. It may also be that he had a premonition that he would have dental problems in the future and purchased the optional school dental care insurance at that time. Since the school's dental care insurance can only be purchased for a full year in the first half of the semester, and cannot be purchased halfway through the second half of the semester, I was still struggling at the time, and now I am really sweating for myself.

After taking out the insurance, I didn’t worry about it until one day, my teeth started to hurt. I guessed that the temporary treatment in China had expired. What is supposed to come may still come, so after I couldn't find an appointment channel anyway, I directly visited the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry Of USC. When I arrived at the dental school, I learned that it is best to make an appointment in person or by phone for the first time. Okay, now that I'm here, I'll fill out the form. I thought that after filling out the form, I would be able to arrange a doctor's visit for me just like in China, but I didn't know that the front desk smiled and told me to go home and wait for the text message. Wait, shouldn't a doctor be arranged? Fortunately, the tooth did not hurt that day, so I was not in a hurry to see the doctor, so I went home and waited for the report, just like a terminally ill patient. I would like to remind you that if the patient is in special pain, you can directly ask for urgent care. There is no need to be shy like me. Even if it can't be completely repaired that day, it can at least relieve the pain.

Then, about two weeks later, the dentist contacted me and made an appointment for a dental appointment. By the way, when I read the text message, I was too rough. I thought the person contacting me was the front desk, but it was actually a student doctor at the USC School of Dentistry. So what I want to say is that all the people who treat patients at the USC School of Dentistry are students. Oh, if you really mind, go to another dental clinic in LA. I thought it was finally the day to get my teeth filled. After all, it had been a month since my first appointment. Although I knew that American medical care was such a mess, it was really not that pleasant to have this efficiency fall on me. Except I complained in my heart, but there was nothing I could do. After all, I was a poor student. It turned out that my thinking was too naive. I should have reacted when the dentist just "knocked" the teeth and took pictures twice. The day you come here should only be for screening. Since they were all student doctors, and we patients were just "teaching materials", the whole process took 4 hours, that is, one morning, because we had to wait for the professors to give their opinions on operation and treatment. At this time, I was really convinced, and it would definitely be put into practical use in China at this time. Then, the dentist told me that fortunately I had insurance, otherwise the Screening alone would have cost $100. Therefore, I was very grateful for my wise decision at that time, and I felt that I really had the wit of a "dog-headed strategist".

Then, about three weeks later, the dentist asked me to meet in the treatment chair again. I calmly faced the "imminent" repairs, and then I wanted to say, is it really that I think of the problem too simply, or do foreigners think of the problem too complicated? The day was just a matter of "beating things up" again, and then confirming the treatment plan and telling the estimated cost. I still remember that the condition of my teeth was not very good at that time, but I reluctantly felt that I did not need urgent care.

Finally, a week before the final exam of last semester, I officially got my teeth filled. After all, it had been a whole semester since I started making appointments for fillings. It really proved that things are impermanent. What is completely different from dental clinics in China is that the doctor here will set up a mini surgical booth on the patient's diseased tooth, apply an "anesthesia lollipop" on the gum near your diseased tooth, and wait until the anesthesia is gone. After the attack, an anesthetic is injected, and then the surgery begins. Although my dentist brother is not very skilled in the technique, he will consult a different teacher every step of the way, and then carefully explain to me the reasons for doing so.

Finally, the service attitude and politeness are beyond words, unlike domestic doctors who roll up their sleeves and get to work without saying a word, catching us as patients off guard. Because it took too long and my urethra was really short, I asked to go to the toilet at the right time, and the doctor put a mask on my mini surgical stand. Come to think of it, it's quite interesting. After a 4-hour operation, the dentist told me that this was a temporary treatment (temporarized), but it would avoid my pain. At this time, my inner thoughts were racing through me again. After all, the next official stay will be three weeks after the start of school. I am truly a Buddha.

Then, I spent the winter vacation without any surprises, and I mistakenly thought that the official repair time was the opening day of my college. In fact, it was three days before the opening of my college. Who would have expected that it would be my own mistake? The pain behind me laid the foundation for great trouble.

After another long two weeks, I received my second appointment this semester. I nodded on the phone because my tooth hurt again, and it was worse than usual. The faintness before became obvious, it was the obvious faintness. Of course, there was no unexpected check-up this time, but to my surprise, my brother told me that my previous fillings could not save my teeth and I could only do root canal treatment. Therefore, he just helped me order a comprehensive plan that day and informed me of the estimated price, including the price of a dental implant for another tooth. Although the overall price is still very favorable, the duration of my program is short and it is not enough for dental implants. Thinking that I would not be put in a difficult situation when the time comes, I politely rejected my brother's dental implant plan. Therefore, I only arranged the plan and who would perform the subsequent root canal treatment that day. In this regard, I really feel so helpless, because the formulation of the plan cannot be solved in 1-2 hours. It must take 3 hours of serious research.

Next, I didn’t receive any news for about two weeks. So, one day after I overindulged and ate spicy food twice, my teeth completely improved. Speaking of toothache, I believe that friends who have experienced the growth of wisdom teeth, pulpitis or periodontitis will never forget this unforgettable feeling, which can be described as heart-breaking pain. I remember that day was Friday, and I started to have a toothache that was affecting my sleep. Fortunately, the medicine I brought from China was able to suppress the pain, so I just took two pills. But starting from Saturday, I had frequent insomnia and couldn't fall asleep at three or four in the middle of the night. Even taking strong American version of painkillers didn't help. The saddest thing is that it was Presidents' Day that week, Monday was a holiday, and the dental school was not open at all. Although, I have made an appointment with the guy at the dental school for another girl to do a root canal on Wednesday.

Finally, I endured the pain until Tuesday. I went to the dental school excitedly and seriously asked for urgent care. Then the receptionist pulled my hair and said casually that it would only be available at one o'clock in the afternoon. Then I returned to class in disgrace. I don't know whether it was luck or misfortune. I even took sick leave for this class, but I fell asleep intermittently for a class, which was no different than not attending class. After class, I struggled over and over again and decided that even if I could do a root canal on Wednesday, no matter how reluctant I was to give up the afternoon class, I still had to win, otherwise I was really afraid that I would commit seppuku in the United States. Then, with a poor appetite, I didn’t even eat lunch, so I registered at the dental school and waited for the doctor’s emergency treatment. Maybe it was another "two centuries" of waiting. When everyone around me went to see their own doctor, when I dozed off a few times, when the chatty uncle next to me came in to see me. After my classmates came and left, it was finally my turn to see the doctor. The person who received me was a very handsome "uncle", a mature and charming married man to be precise. I, who have always been so handsome, had no intention of licking him. I subconsciously stretched out my old farmer's hand and shook the leader's hand deeply with tears in my eyes. Then, I was directed to a treatment chair and continued to wait. Then I explained to the handsome guy that I had an unbearable toothache and if it could be cured, they would be my reborn parents. The young man expressed his sympathy, and then with the coordination of the doctors, the young lady who was supposed to do my root canal changed her shift to treat me and expressed her understanding of my pain. Then, the young lady helped me find a free chair and started a journey of skilled treatment.

Of course, a simple examination is inevitable before treatment, and the guidance and personal operation of the old professor are also inevitable during the treatment process. However, this fourth-grade girl is really skillful in her skills. She is crisp and clear in the whole process. She does not mess around and is not sloppy. She is simply a chivalrous woman in my heart. She saves me from fire and water. And during the whole process, I kept dozing off, and my eyes narrowed several times. At first, I was attracted by the beautiful color of the young lady’s eyes, but later I was just hypnotized by the ceiling. After three hours of treatment, I was out of the sea of ??pain. Although I still had residual injuries, they were within the range that a normal person could tolerate. That day, I drank some porridge and went to bed at 7 o'clock Pacific time. I don't know if it was because of the anesthetic or the lack of pain. I had no dreams all night and slept peacefully.

Next Friday afternoon, I will have my second and final root canal treatment. Wish me luck. Finally, I hope this article can give some inspiration and guidance to children suffering from dental torture in Los Angeles. Dear shoe monks, firstly, be sure to do a preventive dental check-up before going abroad; secondly, if you encounter toothache abroad, please seek medical advice as soon as possible and reasonably calculate the time-consuming procedure; thirdly, use your own subjective initiative and contact the doctor more actively , depicting the disease as seriously as possible, attracting the attention of foreign doctors.

Finally, I wish everyone good health, no taboos, and delicious food!