When 35-year-old Do Pham Thanh Long was a boy he went to watch his uncle, who was a dentist, at work.  It was then that Long decided that he wanted to follow in the same profession.  He spent 6 years studying at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City – 2 years of general medicine, followed by 4 years of dentistry.

Dr Long

After he qualified, he was invited to work for the East Meets West Foundation, an international development agency serving disadvantaged people in Asia.  For 3½ years he provided free dental services for disadvantaged people in Da Nang, Hue, and the surrounding provinces.  “I love helping poor people, and worked from the heart …” says Dr Long.

He then worked at a private clinic in Da Nang for 2 years, and in October 2009 opened his own practice which he named ‘Golden Smile’ – an apt name considering that this kind and gentle man is forever smiling.  At that time his only assistant was his wife, Trang, who is a qualified dental nurse.  As business increased he was able to take on another dental nurse, 26-year-old Phi, and he has recently employed his third nurse, 22-year-old Nhi.

When his practice first opened, his patients were mainly Vietnamese.  However, Dr Long has become very popular with foreigners living in Da Nang, who are impressed with his high level of skill, his kind and gentle personality, and his very good English.  They now make up 20% of his patients.  “The difference between Vietnamese and foreign patients”, says Long, “is that Vietnamese people only usually go to see a dentist when their teeth become very painful.  Foreigners come for regular check-ups.  I am trying to teach my Vietnamese patients that regular check-ups will keep their mouths healthy.  Leaving problems untreated could make them more difficult to treat in the future, so it's best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them altogether.”

From right: Dr Long, Nhi, Phi and Trang

Golden Smile offers a full range of dentistry, including cleaning, fillings, extractions, crowns, bridges, root canal treatments and periodontal work.  Prices start as low as 150,000 VND for a clean or a filling, and check-ups are free. 

The practice is located at 365 Le Duan Street, Da Nang, and is open from Monday – Saturday, 7.30am – 11.30am and 1.30pm – 7.30pm.  Non-English speakers can make an appointment by ringing 0511 3705059, and English speakers can ring or text Dr Long’s mobile on 0908 371871.  If you should go with a toothache, you’ll leave with a Golden Smile!  

Written by Carole Kendal