I never imagined I would be writing a post about the dentist. How different can it be? But the dentist turns out to be a great venue to describe the practical differences between the Finnish and American medical systems without mentioning cost and insurance. I am lucky to have rather uneventful teeth, and I see the private system in both countries, so it’s a relatively fair comparison. For those who aren’t American, I’ll also review what is typical for an American dentist appointment. Check in: America: First, get to the appointment at least 15 minutes early in case they need you to fill out paperwork or rescan your insurance information. You definitely drove there, and it is probably in a building that only has other medical things. At most dentists or doctors, you won’t enter the actual office until at least 5-15 minutes after your appointment time. You wait in a common waiting room by the check in desk with some bad magazines and usually some basic children’s toys. Ev...
Expat adventures and commentary of an American in Finland