Life in China 🇨🇳 First Dentist Visit at Age 40 😱| Cost, Process & Lunch Nearby

sensitive and painful. I've been using this toothpaste, a Guangdong brand, fairly cheap and fluoride-free. >> sensitive thing >> Then, 2 days ago, I bought this new one. Growing up, we were told that fluoride-free toothpaste was the safer choice. So, that's what I did. And I'd never paid any attention to dental health until now. This is the first time I've ever had a dental problem. So, I searched online and bought this fluoride toothpaste everyone was recommending. 2 days in, the pain and sensitivity are already much better. Here I am, heading to the

dentist. The internet says it's likely early stage decay, but the surgery videos and horror stories about massive dental bills that people share online really freaked me out. They all say they ended up in that chair because they didn't act fast enough when it wasn't that serious. So, even though my symptoms have calmed down, I rushed to book an appointment. No putting it off. >> We are at the hospital now. >> This is an old hospital built back in 1949. Compared to the one I went to in my previous video, this place definitely looks a lot older. But

they've brought in this new smart parking system to make up for the fact that old buildings were never designed with enough parking spaces in the first place. Very thoughtful, I have to say. >> I need to find the dental department. >> Oh, by the way, this Ford ambulance, produced in partnership with Jiangling Motors, makes up over 80% of all ambulances in China. I'm curious. What kind of ambulances do you have where you're from? I remember back in 2021 in Guangzhou, I had to take an ambulance once for respiratory alkalosis, and it was this exact model.

The ride was less than 4 miles and cost me about 17 US dollars and 40 cents. There it is, finally. In China, every public hospital has a dental department, and there are plenty of private clinics, too. They all offer pretty much the same services, from routine cleanings to complex surgeries. The main difference is that private clinics tend to be a bit more affordable. I'm going to the hospital for my checkup, but if it turns out I need surgery, I'll have to search for a well-regarded private clinic in this city. Usually, you need to arrive at the

hospital a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time. The first thing you do is check in at the self-service machine. Normally, you can just scan your ID card or medical insurance card, but I forgot mine. So, I just type in my ID number instead. Then you get a ticket with your number and wait for your turn to be called. In China, as long as you're not insisting on a specific top-tier expert, you can usually get a specialist appointment the same day or the next. But the dental department, that's the exception. See, this is the hospital's app. You

can just pick the specialist department, choose a doctor, confirm, then appointment made. But look at the dental department. Three days from now, all fully booked. Day four, one opening. Day five, also one opening, which are probably just spots that other people canceled. >> Didn't know so many people have teeth problems. >> All right, it's my turn now. I'm so nervous. I'm terrified my teeth might need surgery. First, because I've seen those dental surgery videos and they scare me. Second, because I'm worried it's going to cost me a ton. Walking down the

corridor toward the clinic, I can hear that whirring sound of the dental drill working on someone's teeth. It sends chills down my spine. So, bad news first. That tooth has a crack. It's exposed the dentin, which is why it's been sensitive and painful. Good news is it's not decay. The doctor thinks it was caused by years of brushing the wrong way and way too hard. So, here's what the doctor said. First, to learn the bass brushing method online. Second, to continue using the new toothpaste I bought because it can seal the dentinal tubules and reduce

sensitivity and pain. Since it's not a cavity, it won't get seriously worse soon. So, I can wait and see. If the pain doesn't go away, I'll need to get a filling then. Well, no surgery for now. That's worth a little cheer. A lot of hospitals have switched to a see first, pay later system now. This visit cost me a total of $1.63. All right, time to grab lunch nearby. Too much to do this afternoon. No time to cook. Everyone, we really need to start taking care of our teeth as early as possible. I asked the doctor about the cost of dental work. So

expensive. A filling starts at 30 US dollars per tooth. A ceramic crown costs at least 150 US dollars. And if you want the cheapest imported ones from Germany or the US, that's 230 dollars. I've heard it's even more expensive in some other countries. People actually fly to China for dental work plus a vacation. And the total cost is still less than getting it done locally. That's crazy. So, we really need to start protecting our teeth starting with the little things like how we brush. I walked a big loop looking for somewhere to eat. And well, it was

right across from the dental building the whole time. These self-service cafeterias are everywhere in Shenzhen. They're mainly for office workers and blue-collar employees with relatively lower incomes. I used to eat at them all the time when I first moved to Shenzhen. >> There are so many choices and everything looks appetizing. It's really hard to pick. What would you choose if you were here? The rice is free refill, but $4.40. This is a second-tier city. It's more expensive than similar restaurants in Shenzhen. How come? To be honest for a second, I

felt a bit disappointed and like I'd been ripped off. Well, now I do like it. Might as well enjoy it. One bite and I totally got it. The texture and flavor of this duck leg are on a completely different level from those similar cafeterias in Shenzhen. >> >> The braised pork belly is so flavorful, salty, fragrant, tender, and bouncy. A piece of that with a mouthful of rice, perfect match. >> >> The mapo tofu is silky and springy, and not as numbing as the Sichuan version. So, when it melts in your mouth, you can really get that rich, spicy, and savory

kick. The bitter melon stuffed with pork is a local specialty. The combination has this refreshing, clean taste. >> >> Remember how you first tried coffee and ended up loving that bitter taste? Well, give bitter melon a shot. You'll fall in love with it, too. >> >> The food is way better here than the similar ones in Shenzhen. I guess it makes sense. Compared to Shenzhen, there are almost no office towers or manual laborers around here. So, even though this restaurant looks the same in format, it's targeting a completely different market. No wonder it

costs more. Well, it's worth every penny. So, really, we shouldn't just judge things so quickly by their surface and assume the outcome is wrong, only to feel disappointed. Sometimes, if you just go with the flow and take one more step forward, you might find an unexpected joy, and you'll be glad you made that choice. >> Hey. >>