Six days to go until the Candlelight Vigil in Lefkosa. This is to seek Property Justice for all in the TRNC……………..BE THERE IF YOU CARE. see link
In spite of the fact that I broke one of my teeth in half last Wednesday, I waited all this time to have it looked at……yes, a total coward where the dentist is concerned. So, Mal and I decided to go to the Near East University, Faculty of Dentistry, as we had heard good reports. We went along with directions (which turned out to be all wrong) but finally made it. If coming from Girne to Lefkosa, turn left at the first main roundabout, next turning left after the metal footbridge and follow the road up. Past the karting centre, keep going up basically following the ‘H’ for Hospital signs. There will be a green building on your right at the roundabout where you turn left. Turn into the car park where you see the building below. With this building in front of you, to the left is ‘TIP FAKULTESI’ and the dental faculty is the large building to the RIGHT.
As you go in the entrance, turn to the left reception desk (ground floor) and tell them you have come for a check up and haven’t been before. YOU MUST take your passport with you. They take your details and in exchange for your passport, you are given a patient number tag to wear around your neck. Next thing we were taken into a room with several examining chairs. Mal was asked to sit on one and me on another. It seems that here females are treated by females and males by males. They checked our teeth and then took us along to have a full 360 degree X ray. By the time we arrived back to the check up room, all details including X ray were on the computer screen overhead. They then explained in great detail everything that needs doing. For the first time in 60 years I was informed that I have always been two pre molars short!! No they have never been taken out and no I have never worn braces. Two of my root fillings have not been done correctly( and that was the UK) and while they are telling you all this, they are showing you on the X rays above you. I need some periodontal work, obviously my broken tooth to come out and talk of an implant.
I hate the dentist and tend to ‘swich off’, so asked them to explain to Mal, which they did. They then give you a sheet of paper with their ‘plan’ for future dentistry work, listed as each department and which floor it is on.
So, from ground floor to third floor ‘surgery’. We both sat in dentists chairs next to each other again, Mal assuring me that this was just for them to check what was required and no they wouldn’t be doing anything today….Don’t you believe it. A very charming girl came over and asked me what the problem was, she looked at the X rays, ah yes, next thing the injection was in my mouth ready for the extraction. I did look over at Mal while my mouth was deadening…of course he wasn’t looking at me!!
I have to say, no pain, she was very good, took the half a tooth out, packed the hole and told me instructions of what to do for the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Mal was being told that he needed 4 wobbly teeth out and he told them he couldn’t have them out yet as he is due to go to the UK in a month and didn’t want gaps. (He got away with it!……just for a while!)
I think the place is a little confusing but as was explained to me, you work through their plan which is given to you on a sheet of paper. I was told I then go downstairs and make an appointment with the periodontist for any time after 2 weeks (as I had just had the extraction). I am sure it is fine when you get the hang of it, that each area of dentistry is on a seperate floor of the building. The staff are lovely, are very good at explaining everything to you, the place is very airy and spotlessly clean. The bonus is that the prices are good! I highly recommend and believe very few people know of the facility there. Mal and I appeared to be two of only six ‘patients’ in the entire building.
There is no need to make an appointment on your first visit. You just turn up there. They are closed between 12.30 – 13.30 for lunch. Mal and I arrived at 10.30 and didn’t come out until 12.30 and were being attended to all that time, no waiting around. Value for money if you ask me!
When the days work is complete, you return to the ground floor, the reception where you started off, you pay the bill and they exchange your security tag for your passport. Total cost of my extraction 90tl, the cost for a detailed check up including the X ray,60tl. Oh and 1% VAT added to the bill. So, the total for me 151.50tl.
I can honestly say I have never had such detailed care taken of my teeth and I know you can’t put a price on health but implants and major work seems to be a lot cheaper than Girne dentists.
Thought for the Day: “Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.” Edmund Burke