photo/unsplash]
there's always been a shroud of fear when it comes to dentists. maybe it's the pain or the sound of the drill or the sight of a massive needle entering your precious mouth. who knows. either way, when you add a language barrier to that existing, wide-spread stigma, the result is that many foreigners living in beijing put off going to the dentist for as long as possible/forever.
of course there are fantastic international dental hospitals in beijing, but the price difference between international and local clinics are jarring. if you've got good insurance or are simply loaded, by all means, go to an international hospital. otherwise, go to a local clinic and treat it as a way to learn a bunch of new vocabulary.
your local options
there are two types of local treatment centers that you can visit in beijing when the teeth hurt: local hospitals or local private clinics. if you've been to a local hospital in beijing, then you'll be familiar with the process; it involves a lot of queuing and being passed back and forth. local hospitals are the cheapest option, but hygiene is not their best suit and the doctors won't coddle you since they h**e an unending line of patients. the second option is a local private clinic, which we highly recommend. they are affordable, cleaner than local hospitals, and there's no queuing involved. costs vary depending on the clinic, but are still significantly cheaper than at international dental hospitals.
***an appointment and procedures
if you're going to a local hospital to seek dental treatment, there's usually appointment required. simply go to the hospital, take a number, and wait in line. on the contrary, if you're going to a local private hospital, the process is the same as going to any dentist in the world: you h**e to make an appointment ahead of time. you can do so by calling ahead or stopping by the clinic yourself.罗克福特 Akelinik Uzid Ben Lachho Pitts Withert Mouth Hospital （kǒuqiāngyī Yune）， Simpli Minin'dental hospital.'
i would like to make a dental appointment.我想预约看牙医。 wǒ xiǎng yù yuē kàn yá.
if you already know which procedure you need, it's best to let the receptionist know and ask for an approximate quote (how much is it?*多少？jià gé duō shǎo qián?) instead of going into the appointment blindly. here is how to say some basic dental procedures:
i want to get an oral check up.我想做牙科检查。 wǒ xiǎng zuò kǒu qiāng jiǎn chá.
i h**e a c**ity.我有蚯蚓牙。 wǒ yǒu chóng yá.
i need to get a tooth filling.我需要填充。 wǒ xū yào bǔ yá.
i need a root canal.我想要一个根管治疗**。 wǒ xiǎng yào zuò gēn guǎn zhì liáo.
i need a tooth extraction/wisdom tooth extraction.我需要拔掉智齿。 wǒ xū yào bá yá/ bá zhì chǐ.
i need to get braces.我需要牙套。 wǒ xū yào dài yá tào.
i want to get my teeth cleaned.我想清洁我的牙齿。 wǒ xiǎng yào qīng jié yá chǐ.
i want to get my teeth whitened.我想要牙齿美白。 wǒ xiǎng yào yá chǐ měi bái.
i need veneers.我需要牙条。 wǒ xū yào yá tiē.
source: the beijingereditor: wanwan
*：the beijinger