When I set off for Asia in 2022, the thing that worried my friends and family the most – who knew no more about Asia than I did – was the medical aspect.

“What if you get ill, or have an accident? Will you be able to get proper treatment?”

Even my doctor made it a cause for concern and sent me for a special consultation at the hospital. I then set off with a large first-aid kit. I now realise that I could easily have obtained all the medicines in that kit anywhere here. I used these medicines when I needed them, but looking back, I had no reason to take them with me. The only ‘pills’ I didn’t use and will eventually throw away are a supply of Micropur intended to ensure I always had safe drinking water.

In reality, whilst tap water is still rarely safe to drink in Thailand, there’s no trouble finding it anywhere.

And above all, my concerns about the quality of medical care now make me laugh.

I’ve already had the chance to recount the exceptional care I received at Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin for my cataract operation
As well as the excellence of our local medical centre.

Today I’m going to talk about my dentist, and I’m afraid I’m going to make a mockery of almost all French dental practices.

Dr Nana is a young dentist who has opened an ultra-modern practice (Nana Dental) where she works alongside another dentist and an implant specialist.

Her name, Nana, may seem strange to a French speaker, but it is simply the diminutive of her first name. Almost all Thais use their diminutive. Her full name is Nannapas Durongpongkasem. Dr Nana is simply easier.

She is a very gentle and friendly dentist, but above all, there are several points worth highlighting.

I have never seen such a modern practice in France. I did, however, visit a brand-new practice in Saint-Cyprien just before I left in 2022, but this is on a whole other level.
Everything is ultra-modern, ultra-clean and perfect.
Some examples:

• the waiting room is incredibly comfortable
• the X-ray room has the most modern equipment
• you’re always given a lead apron for X-rays
• the doctor always has at least two assistants with her in the treatment room, sometimes three
• at reception, several young women look after the patients

Patient care means, for example, that once the paperwork has been sorted out, whilst we wait in the room, they are very attentive.
This week I had an appointment at 4 pm.
At 4.10 pm, one of the young women came to see me to apologise for the delay.
At 4.15 pm, another one came to find me to ask if I’d like a drink (water, tea, coffee)

As in most places in Thailand, the service is absolutely exceptional, with, of course, the constant smiles and charm of these young Thai women.

And then, on this occasion, I had the chance to see once again just how proud the Thai people are of what they do. It is a characteristic of the Thai people: they are very proud of their country, proud of what they do every day, and hate being caught out or having people think they have done something badly.
This week I went to see Dr Nana because I had a gap between two teeth that seemed to be getting wider and where food was always getting stuck. It had been rather annoying for several weeks already.
She first said that it was a crown that had deteriorated and needed replacing. She struggled to remove it, then spent a long time taking measurements, making adjustments and cleaning the area in preparation for fitting a new crown.
After fitting a temporary filling, she booked me in for an appointment a week later to fit the permanent crown, which I suppose she had to order from the dental technician.
But before I left with my new appointment, she asked me to wait in the waiting room as she needed to check something. A moment later, she came and sat next to me and confirmed that, upon checking, this crown had been fitted in her practice last year (in reality, it’s been about a year and a half).

She told me that it was unacceptable for this crown to already be damaged and that I would therefore not have to pay anything for its replacement.
Do you know of any dentist in France who would do that?

What a pleasure it is to be treated here.