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Comments(0) Add Your CommentJan 13, 2012 By Steve Allison, eChinacities.com
Suzhou maintains its reputation as a foreign-friendly city with its excellent choices for dental care and highly trained dentists. Most of the English-speaking dental clinics have been in operation for years, and have a great deal of experience dealing with the needs of foreign patients. You'll be happy to find dentists trained in the UK, Canada and Japan. All three foreign-oriented clinics have orthodontists as well as dentists, and offer a full range of services, from cleaning to braces to periodontal care.
Photo: topnews.in
It is true that all this quality and professionalism does come at a cost – a simple cleaning can run you up to 300 RMB, which is not much less than a cheap $50 cleaning in America. Although this article does not review any Chinese-run dental clinics (since none of them have English service), it should be noted that you might get a better deal at some of the hospitals which offer dental work. Hospitals One, Two, and Three all have English services, but how high the orthodontist's English level is and how much experience he or she might have with foreigners is questionable. In the end, it may be best to shell out for a place with a proven record.
1) SS Dental Clinic
SSDC has been in the same location for a number of years, and is recommended by most of Suzhou's expat websites. The chief orthodontist, Dr. Susan Su, is probably the most highly trained dentist in Suzhou. Her studies took her to America, England and Canada, where she worked before returning to China. Their website lists a number of local awards she's won for her work in various hospitals. Their office is indistinguishable from one back home, right down to the magazines. They also follow the American Dental Association's guidelines for sanitation and using X-Rays.
The assistants have clearly been trained with Western standards of service and are both knowledgeable and professional. This writer first went to SSDC in 2008 for periodontal surgery. The entire operation cost almost 3,000 RMB over three visits, which, again, is about equivalent to the cost in America. Dr. Su also recommended a cleaning agent popular in Japan but not widely used elsewhere, which might actually be an advantage over getting treated in the West. SSDC also has a doctor on call 24 hours a day for emergencies.
SS Dental Clinic
Add: 3rd Floor, Business Facility, SISPARK, 1355 Jinjihu Avenue (former Jichang Road), Suzhou
地址: 苏州工业园区金鸡湖大道1355号(国际科技园四期,科技新天地商业配套楼三楼)
Tel: 512-62929757; Emergency Number: 131-82618281
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00-20:00
Price: A cleaning is 300 RMB, a filling is from 450-800 RMB
Website: http://www.ssdc-suzhou.com/index.htm
2) Well Dental
Located in the rarely-tread southern part of town, Well Dental is a cheap but professional option if you don't mind a bit of a drive from SIP. It's a 20 minute taxi ride from there, not far from the old visa medical check centre. Still, you shouldn't let the distance dissuade you from taking advantage of the substantial savings offered by Chief Dentist Dr. Lu. Well Dental also receives consistently positive reviews on expat websites, and while their orthodontic services are not as complete as SSDC, they can do most things like braces and root canals.
While the waiting room at Well Dental might be a little less like home, they've definitely made the effort to make foreigners feel at home. The in-chair TVs are a pretty nice bonus. Well Dental also sees a fair number of Chinese customers – they say they get about 10 foreigners a week. The receptionist also recommends trying to come during the week, as they can get over 20 patients a day over the weekend.
Well Dental
Add: 177 Dongwu Beilu, Suzhou
地址: 苏州东吴北路177号
Opening hours: 9:00-20:00, Monday-Sunday
Tel: 512 6856 7660
Price: A cleaning is 120 RMB, fillings start at 300 RMB
3) Tokushinkai Dental Clinic
Tokushinkai is probably the most recognisable clinic in Suzhou, in the heart of SIP next to the Starbucks at Singha Plaza. It also has a branch at the Emerald City Mall in SND. A long-renowned family clinic, Tokushinkai has seven dentists in Suzhou and a full range of dental services. Each clinic sees up to 15 customers a day, and the offices run like well-oiled machines.
What some customers might not know is that Tokushinkai is a major dentistry corporation and research organisation that has been in operation for over 30 years. They have offices in eight countries, including the US and Australia. Impressively, material used for operations – ranging from crown restoration to dentures – are produced in their own labs. This may explain why some procedures like teeth whitening can run 3,000 RMB. You'd be hard pressed, however, to find a better dental clinic anywhere in the China. The staff are friendly, helpful and speak Chinese, English and Japanese.
Tokushinkai Dental Clinic
Add: 1F Suxin Building, 88 Jinjihu Lu, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou
地址: 苏州市苏新大夏金鸡湖路88号苏州工业园区
Opening hours: 9:00-20:00, seven days a week
Tel: 512 6763 5720
Price: Cleanings are 300 RMB and fillings are from 350-800 RMB
Add: 3F-10 Emerald City, 436 Chanjiang Lu, Suzhou New District, Suzhou
地址: 苏州市绿宝广场3楼10号长江路88号,苏州高新区
Tel: 512 6803 2501
Opening hours: 9:00-20:00, seven days a week
Price: Cleanings are 300 RMB and fillings are from 350-800 RMB
Website: http://www.tokushinkai.or.jp/english/clinic/guide.html#suzhou
Remember that all of these clinics have a high turnover, and appointments are required.
Related links
Expat-Friendly Hospitals in Suzhou
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The Ultimate Pampering: Suzhou's Best Spa and Massage Venues
