[gizmomagico]

Your new venture seems very thoroughly thought-out, and I wish you good luck with it! I bet you've grown tired of hearing "you're an inspiration to us all".

But $770 for a 45-minute dentist's appointment?! Is that normal in Japan?

[patio11]

No, it is rather substantially cheaper here. Until recently I had not been wowed by Japanese dentistry, so I got some long-delayed work done last time I was in America on a cash basis. (Happily, when one of the fillings that cost $~X00 popped out and I had to visit the first dentist I found on Google Maps by my office, I had a wonderful experience but for the searing pain of losing a filling, and will be going to him from now on.)

None of the above is intended as a commentary on the relative merits of national health insurance.

[gizmomagico]

Alright, I can imagine dental care being expensive in America. I suppose that side is run by the insurance companies too?