i have not been to a dentist in probably 10 years

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i was told that i was RUINING MY GUMS because i brushed INCORRECTLY! i have been going side-to-side for my entire life. the dentist was like NO NO NO AAAAGGGH NO. brush in the direction your teeth grow he said. he said "be gentle."

yes, too much of the former, plus genetics, led to gum surgery for me. never had a filling, though.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 02:34 (nineteen years ago) link

If you want to make it out of this fucking place you will listen to people who know. You be an individual, and I'll be tagging your ugly, toothless face straight on its way to a long box with metal handles. Now BRUSH YOUR TEETH IN A RAPID VERTICAL MOTION!

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 02:58 (nineteen years ago) link

dan i'm not sure it's all that hard. my guy told me NEVER get wis. teeth taken out by a dentist, go to an oral surgeon. he also said that no one ever, or should ever, get one, or two, or three wisdom teeth extracted because your jaw will be all caddywampus, it'll fuck up your bite. it's all four or none at all. so if you've got medical i don't really see what's holding you back.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 03:02 (nineteen years ago) link

Check yr "group evidence of coverage" documents, that should say what oral surgery you can opt for. You might have to go to a doctor to verify that getting them removed is not an "elective" procedure though. I have Kaiser Cheapomente, your mileage may vary.

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 03:19 (nineteen years ago) link

i don't have any wisdom teeth.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 06:59 (nineteen years ago) link

When I had my wisdom teeth taken out, I had a general anaesthetic and two nights in hospital. It's definitely the way to go.

― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 10:56 (nineteen years ago) link

$200 for a blinking checkup???!!!! Yeesh, now I'm glad my dentist only charges 15 quid for a quick poke around the molars (fnarr), whereas previously I had a mental grumble that I have to pay for NHS checks at all. Never had to have anything done apart from checks and the occasional scrape though, so I resent going to the dentist at all and only go every couple of years. That 15-month registration thing is interesting, however, so might have to make an apppointment this year sometime.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:26 (nineteen years ago) link

I have this great dentist near me, that is a little ghetto, but they only charge like 40 bucks for cleaning and xray. I want to get my teeth cleaned every week there.

― Jeff-PTTL (Jeff), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:11 (nineteen years ago) link

The other good thing about being referred to an orthodontic surgeon at the hospital to get your wisdom teeth done: it's on the NHS.

(well, I assume - I was 17 and had an NHS dentist anyway when mine were pulled)

― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:13 (nineteen years ago) link

When I had my wisdom teeth taken out, I had a general anaesthetic and two nights in hospital. It's definitely the way to go.

That sounds pretty awesome in general. I wish I could do it without having/needing surgery.

― sugarpants: kind of blurry, kind of double (sugarpants), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:17 (nineteen years ago) link

eight months pass...

man I LOVE my dentist!

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 13:00 (eighteen years ago) link

i just got 2 cavities filled 3 months ago and i'm pretty sure i already have another one. fuuuuuuuck

― nervous (cochere), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 13:17 (eighteen years ago) link

I just went to the dentist for the first time in 11 years!
Aside from an appalling build-up of tartar (now removed), the dentist says I'm pretty much okay. But he wants to take out all four of my wisdom teeth. Probably as punishment.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 14:29 (eighteen years ago) link

I've never ever had a cavity (save some little thing my dentist was able to cap off with plastic ONCE!) and I went to a shady chain dentist and they told me I have 3 cavities and 4th on the way.

Is this plausible? Also my dentist reminded me of Dr. Nick and had huge snot stalagmites in both nostrils. :((((

― GET EQUIPPED WITH BUBBLE LEAD (ex machina), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:15 (eighteen years ago) link

i bet one of those snot stalagmites fell into your mouth and you didn't even notice.

― slow jamz and white guy indie acoustic shit (Chris V), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:18 (eighteen years ago) link

maybe that was what my "cavity" was.

― GET EQUIPPED WITH BUBBLE LEAD (ex machina), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:20 (eighteen years ago) link

How does one go about finding an NHS dentist? I haven't got a clue and I think I may have gum disease. Maybe.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:29 (eighteen years ago) link

the great god alba referred me to the best NHS dentist

I've had root canal work, 6 fillings, hygienist cleaning, the works - all with NO pain

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:30 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm seriously thinking about a brace!

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:30 (eighteen years ago) link

Cozen, you live in Glasgow. That is not much help to me.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:32 (eighteen years ago) link

I didn't go to the dentist for 2 or 3 years

no trouble but I will try to not not go for that long, again

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:35 (eighteen years ago) link

my teeth are fine now - I got the all clear!

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:36 (eighteen years ago) link

Alba/Cozen, email me with the name of this fabled dentist because I need a new one, please, thanks.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:40 (eighteen years ago) link

imagine if you hadn't been to the dentist for x years AND you didn't watch TV. the bitches would be all over you, yo.

― Sailor Kitten (g-kit), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:43 (eighteen years ago) link

I haven't been for about 9 years :(

Anna, you could try this http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/Default.aspx but I reckon word of mouth (mouth! ha!) is usually best. But what do I know, I've not had a dentist for 9 years.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 15:51 (eighteen years ago) link

I may have a dentist now. I find out in January. Thanks Archel.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 16:05 (eighteen years ago) link

finding nhs dentist:
i had a tooth fall in half which prompted me to find a new dentist pretty sharpish. one £40 private appointment (temporary filling) later the dentist himself suggested that i book the followups with the nhs dentist that uses his surgery the 2 days a week he doesn't. so i did. 5 minutes from my flat too. i think i lucked out there.

the previous dentist always x-rayed and always found something to do on every visit. the current one doesn't and hasn't. i'm not sure which i prefer.

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 16:08 (eighteen years ago) link

i may get dental insurance soon, yay!

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 16:09 (eighteen years ago) link

five months pass...

i just went for the first time in, like, 11 years. i've had dental insurance for 3 years now, but i just got around to it.

unfortunately, i have 5 cavities and have to get a deep-gum cleaning :-( this is the 1st time in my life that i've had cavities, or have had to get fillings so i am NOT thrilled.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:02 (eighteen years ago) link

I think it must be at least 15 for me by now.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:10 (eighteen years ago) link

Jeez, people. (I just saw mine on Tuesday.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Fillings aren't as bad as I thought they'd be, although make sure you get enough novocaine!

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:17 (eighteen years ago) link

Of course, I didn't think the surgery for getting my wisdom teeth out was so horrible either.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:18 (eighteen years ago) link

but i am gonna be much better about it from now on! i think that (finally) getting cavities and this gum-cleaning thing are spurs to action. i probably got lazy about it b/c i've had such good teeth all of my life.

and now i gotsta floss, so no more cavities, no more drill-and-fill, etc. i'm gonna be one of those nasty mofos @ work who brushes and flosses after every meal (and junks up the sink b/c of that).

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:19 (eighteen years ago) link

this thread still turns my stomach

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 7 May 2006 00:43 (eighteen years ago) link

I didn't go for 9 years, then when a new dentist opened down the road advertising for NHS patients (which if you're unfamiliar with UK dentists is like stumbling on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow) I figured I had to take the opportunity. Luckily I only need 1 filling! That would probably sort me out for the next 9 years but I have to go every 12 months now or I'll lose my place on the NHS.

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Sunday, 7 May 2006 01:31 (eighteen years ago) link

I had a "deep cleaning" two weeks ago and I will floss come hell or high water to avoid ever EVER having that done again. Nothing makes me queasier than seeing the dentist's be-gloved hands emerge from my mouth covered in my own blood.

Except for writing that.

Gross.

― Safety First (pullapartgirl), Sunday, 7 May 2006 01:37 (eighteen years ago) link

you're not making me feel good about this, safety first!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 7 May 2006 01:41 (eighteen years ago) link

Eisbär - go for the gas, if it's offered.

Invest in a Sonicare or similar, check out the Showerfloss, use xylitol with abandon. Mr. Jaq and I have gone from having those scary bloody gum pockets to none whatsoever due to diligent application of same. Xylitol's the newest thing I've been researching - pretty amazing, can actually reverse mild instances of caries, disrupt bacterial plaque and remineralize your teeth.

― Jaq (Jaq), Sunday, 7 May 2006 12:03 (eighteen years ago) link

i've never really understood the fear of the dentist...i've always treated it as a pretty zen experience, like getting your hair cut. go in, tune out for a while, curl your toes when they floss, leave.

then again, i went to the dentist 'round Easter, for the first time in 3 years: STILL NO CAVITIES, BITCHES.

― gbx (skowly), Sunday, 7 May 2006 12:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh, sorry, Eisbär! It didn't hurt at all - the procedure I had involved a large dose of novacaine. I went and gave a speach on labor organizing the night I got my top teeth deep cleaned, so even the aftermath was too bad. It was just a little stressful.

― Safety First (pullapartgirl), Sunday, 7 May 2006 12:51 (eighteen years ago) link

Went and gave a speech, really. And the aftermath wasn't TOO bad.

I'm going to go have some coffee now.

― Safety First (pullapartgirl), Sunday, 7 May 2006 12:52 (eighteen years ago) link

WASN'T too bad.

Dear lord.

― Safety First (pullapartgirl), Sunday, 7 May 2006 12:52 (eighteen years ago) link

People with no cavities: just keep drinking that fluoride! You have no idea how lucky you are -- and depending on yr individual enamel, sometimes there's nothing you can do to keep them away. Brushing + flossing + mouthwash = STILL MORE ROTTEN TEETH FOR LAUREL.

― Laurel (Laurel), Sunday, 7 May 2006 15:29 (eighteen years ago) link

thank the lord for those flouride treatments when we were kids, I always knew the John Birch Society was full of shit (billboard in Cinicinnati: Flouride In The Water = Communist Plot)

but my cavity-free mouth required oral surgery a decade back for some weird gum thing and it was nofun in the extreme. I've been a stickler for regular cleanings and dental exams ever since.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Sunday, 7 May 2006 15:39 (eighteen years ago) link

This thread is giving me psychosomatic toothache :-(

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 May 2006 15:40 (eighteen years ago) link

m coleman, no kidding! I think the fluoride and the extra calcium from the hard water in central IN is mostly responsible for my relative cavity-freeness. My mom has (or had) seriously bad teeth (full dentures now) and my dad had horrible dentist experiences as a child, so a mouthful of rot later.

The dentist is talking about sealing my molars, because the valleys are deep on them. Insurance won't cover it for an adult - has anyone else had this done? I wonder if the cost is really worth it.

― Jaq (Jaq), Sunday, 7 May 2006 16:28 (eighteen years ago) link

I recently went to the dentist for the first time this century, I think. I just had my first two fillings ever. It wasn't so bad. Although the sensation of someone drilling away a part of your body is not that pleasant. Also, it is going to cost me a lot of money. Oh well.

― Ally C (Ally C), Sunday, 7 May 2006 16:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh yes, I met you on the way there. Perhaps I caught toothache off you...erm, it doesn't work like that. Damn, I have to go to the dentist. My jaw is clicking a wee bit, I think I have the beginnings of an abscess.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 May 2006 16:59 (eighteen years ago) link

I had so many cavities as a kid. I blame my parents and their lack of teaching me about hygiene in general. Now I have fillings in so many of my teeth there is considerably less space in my mouth to get cavities. It can happen, but my sonicare treats me right. I haven't had one in at least 5 years.

Still my parents suck. I've had to put so much money into my mouth it's stupid (well above 10 grand). Damn their genes and lack of hygiene.

― Jeff. (Jeff), Sunday, 7 May 2006 17:29 (eighteen years ago) link

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