The Dreaded Dentists

[Leroy]

The thing that I'm afraid of is NOT being able to see the dentist on a regular basis. I normally visit a hygienist every 6 months to keep tabs on everything, now that won't be possible since I lose my insurance coverage this summer. I hope I get a new job with a dental plan soon.

 

[John Clark]

My current dentist is fine but I'd avoided going til I had this one recommended to me. My first dentist had to remove a couple of teeth and the anaesthetic didn't take. It put me off the whole experience

 

[Colonel Midnight]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the excellent Bill Cosby skit on dentists until now...

*Dentist inserts huge needle of novacaine*
'Soooo -- do you do any fishing???'

*Classic*

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[JAG]

I love my dentist. I have to go for cleanings 3 times a year to stop plaque from building. Many years ago, I had to have my teeth scraped for it and since then, I go regularly.

 

[Scout101]

was just at the dentist wednesday, don't see the big deal. Nothing to be afraid of, and 20 minutes with them 2 times a year prevents me from having a disgusting mouth of rotting teeth...

 

[Cayla]

I work for a dentist, so it doesn't bother me. I get my teeth cleaned 4-5 times per year because I get it for free, and I am on the clock while I am getting them cleaned. I also get teeth whitening done for free. I don't have any major dental issues other than two fillings from when I was a kid.

 

[Lindley]

I go approximately every six months. I do need to have fillings with disturbing regularity, despite my best efforts; I brush plenty often, but don't keep up with the flossing quite as much, and that catches up with you eventually.

 

[Gertch]

I've not been to the dentists in about 8 years and unfortunately i'm paying the price. I have a build up of plaque behind my bottom front teeth and it's started rotting and spreading around the rest of my teeth so I have no choice but to go to the dentist. I just signed up yesterday and got an appointment in 2 weeks and i'm scared. I hate the dentists with a passion, the thought of having them drill my teeth to put fillings in sends me into a panic attack. If they tell me I need fillings when they come to put them in i'll probably go ballistic .

Anybody else fear the dentists? well that's probably a retarded question, i'm sure everybody does.
When was the last time you visited?
Did you need fillings? Did it hurt?
How would you rate your teeth?

My teeth aren't bent of mishaped or even discolured, my only problem is the plaque build up at the bottom and the fact it's started to rot and spread, it's not too bad at the mo I suppose, i've seen worse but if I leave it the eventual outcome won't be pretty.
I probably should have gone a few months ago, now I fear I will pay the price.

We just took my 6 and 8 yo daughters for fillings this morning. Neither one required novocaine or gas and went through it fine like the tough girls they are.

It helps that our new dentist is a professional who knows how to work on young and old kids.

 

[Holdfast]

I've not been to the dentists in about 8 years and unfortunately i'm paying the price. I have a build up of plaque behind my bottom front teeth and it's started rotting and spreading around the rest of my teeth so I have no choice but to go to the dentist.

Five words: Extra Strength Oil of Oregano.

Hat-tip

IMO toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouth wash should all be free on the NHS to all UK citizens. It might cost less money doing that than what it costs to repair peoples teeth.

There probably aren't enough NHS dentists left to make that equation work.

I didn't go to the dentists for 10 years, and when I did it was all totally fine and I didn't need any fillings. So I figure I just saved myself a hell of a lot of needless expense and effort.

I do go every six months now though, I'm early 30s and I figure I have to be more vigilant now.

Put me in exactly the same camp - didn't go for 10 years; no fillings, now in 30s and go more regularly. Only difference is that I go yearly, not 6 monthly (they always try to remind me after 6 months, but I ignore them). Actually I only started going regularly, because I wanted to get my teeth whitened and they wouldn't do it without doing a check-up first. And now I'm back in the habit of going regularly.

I only brush once a day , and don't use floss, mouthwash or gum. Touch wood, I have lucky teeth. I'm sure sooner or later my luck will run out but I doubt going to the dentist more frequently will make a significant difference.

 

[Pegaritaville]

I was terrified of dentists (had a sadistic one growing up) and ended up not going for many years. I finally worked up enough courage to go last May, and by then I had some pretty major problems. The root canals really sucked. It took 23 appointments and $24,000 dollars, but I finally finished up last month and now I now have one of those "Hollywood smiles". The dentist who did all the work was great. Had I known he'd be that good, I wouldn't have waited so long in the first place.

 

[WillsBabe]

For several years I had excellent teeth, and I think they are pretty good still. About 10 years ago, I had a terrible experience with a dentitst (who later got jailed for his practise). Since then I have been utterly terrified of them, so much so that even booking an appointment makes my heart thump. A little while ago the denitst gave me a painkilling injection and left the room to give it time to kick in. While she was gone, I got so afraid I got off the couch and was in the process of leaving when she came back into the room. Recently, to be fair, my current practise has been reasonably good. I ever had 2 root canals in my lunch time and it didn't hurt a bit.

 

[TGTheodore]

Yes, I live in constant fear of it. I take care of my teeth but have very bad genetics when it comes to them, so I've had dozens of fillings done and each one was very painful. They are collectively some of the worst experiences of my life.

Then you are DEFINITELY going to the wrong dentist. There's no excuse for not going these days between nitrous, and even prescription relaxants which some dentists can prescribe prior to your visit.

Also the "drills and needles" of today are so advanced, they're barely noticeable. (Alright, I'll give you the "noise" argument, but any dentist who is even remotely with the times shouldn't cause the effects you're describing.)

Others have already said it: ASK AROUND. The best referral is a friend who actually has been a patient.

You think going to the dentist now is a problem? Wait until you start going through the consequences. They're a million times worse and make the occasional half-hour in the chair a walk in the park.

--Ted

 

[Spot's Meow]

^I've had a variety of dentists throughout my life, my parents' insurance is always changing so we have to find a new one. It mattered very little where we went, they were all horrible experiences. I think that I have a very sensitive mouth, especially when it comes to shots. I feel sick just thinking about it.

I tried to convince my mom when I was a teen that it would be much better if I had gas, but everyone said it was too expensive and not worth the effort just to fill cavities.

I am not much older now (only 23), I don't have any money or insurance so I couldn't go to the dentist even if I wanted to.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I hate dentist also. I needed a root canal done and one day after work I was at a mall and saw a dentist office inside it. I couldnt take the pain any longer and went in.

The dentist was able to see me immediately and I just knew I was in for a torture session, especially with a dentist who works in a mall.

Well to my surprise this guy was great! He did a wonderful job and I felt no pain, just some pressure. When the novacane wore off I thought I was going to be in terrible pain, but my mouth was just slightly sore, but a couple of aspirins stopped it.

I recommended that guy to everyone I knew.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I had never been to a dentist (unless I had when I was little and simply forgotten), but a tooth started hurting so bad I could not sleep. That stuff you buy to ease the pain -- doesn't work worth a fucking shit and tastes bad. Finally it stopped hurting, but then another tooth started hurting after a piece broke off it. Eventually half the tooth cracked off and I couldn't chew on that side of the mouth.

I had no money, no job, was living in my car. Finally found a dentistry place for someone like me who had nothing to pay, since no docs arund were doing pro bono for the poor. They made an appointment, went there, they drilled to get the root out. Incase you are worried, Tachyon Shield, there is no pain when they drill the tooth. As I recall ther eis a lot of unconfortable preassure and it sort of feels like pulling at a lose nail that hs peeled away from the finger, but it's no big deal.

The only painful thing is when they use a needle and stick you a handful of times in the mouth with a numbing agent, and I think they stuck my gumline too.

Again, pain like removing a loe nail -- but more intense -- as they move tne tooth side to side hard with a pair of plyers. I had to ask the dentist whether it was out, because I never felt the tooth being removed.

You really got nothing to worry about with tooth removal, but the gunline wrotting ... you may be in for some pain. I recall a medical story of a guy who brushed his teeth so hard for so long, that he wore his gums away and they had to take flesh from his ass to make new gums and it all sounded painful.

 

[Tim]

"Is it safe?"



I get two cleanings a year, brush twice daily, and floss and use mouthwash once a day. So far, two first surface fillings, but that's it. The university dental clinic tried to tell me I needed two more fillings last year, but they always want "practice." A second opinion from a real dentist told me I was in the clear.

As for whitening, I've had good results using those Crest Whitestrips once or twice a year.

 

[Sledder]

Wow I'm surprised by the number of people here who don't go to the dentist or go a long time between visits. I've been every 6 months my entire life, I think my first appointment was when I was 2 years old and I'm now 33.

As for brushing I do it twice a day, morning and night. There are odd times when i'm getting to bed really late that I'll skip the night brush but it's rare.

 

[DBR]

Fucking Dentists...

 

[ScorpionMoon]

There's nothing like going to the dentist or visiting a doctor to make you wish you were an android with no nerve or emotion chips.

 

[Garrovick]

I have a build up of plaque behind my bottom front teeth and it's started rotting

It's not the plaque rotting, it's the tooth. And removal of long term plaque buidup is extremely painful. The plaque goes down below the gum and the Dentist will have to scrap way down under the gums around the roots of the teeth. Then when that first part is finished, each tooth will have to be restored.

Personally, I'd rather have them removed and get dentures before going through that "real world torture" again.