Dentist

[Pam]

Who goes for regular dental check ups? What's was the last thing you had done? Or the biggest thing you had done? Who had braces? Yeah, I know, I'm a beak and want to know everything!

I know this is really terrible, but I haven't been to a dentist for ummm 23 years when a tooth was pulled because of a huge abscess underneath :eww:

When I was a kid I had a lot of teeth removed in hospital because of an over crowded mouth. I took all my teeth in a jar to school for show and tell :blush: LMAO

That's not what has put me off going to the dentist tho. I guess I think, omg it will cost me a fortune because of all the damage done because of my lack of going to the dentist! So I put it off for another year LOL. Actually, a visit to the dentist is on my list of things to do in 2005 but I said that last year ..and the year before that! Ask me next year if it's on my 2006 list!

Oh yeah, how do you pick a decent dentist? Eeny, meeny minee mo? Guess I'll have to start asking around and hopefully a good one will be recommended.

[Monty]

Last time I went was about 2 years ago when the IL's kept harping on because before that I hadn't been since the dental van in primary school (so at least 10 years). Have not had braces because my family couldn't afford them (even though I need/ed them). Have not had any fillings (touch wood) only one bad tooth had to come out when I was a child (it had already rotted half the way so it wasn't really 'pulled' out so to speak). Pam you better get your butt to the dentist!!!! :pam:

[Pam]

Monty I will! ..maybe next week LOL

[Julia]

I went when I was 7 months pregnant with Matthew. I had to have a molar removed. It was horrendous. I could only take panadol for the pain. I NEVER, EVER want to go through that again...giving birth was 1,000 times better than the awful pain in my mouth after the extraction. I cried & cried for days. I didn't even wimper while pushing a 7.4lb baby out, mind you I had good drugs for that :)

Dentist said I have severe gum disease & ordered me to see a periodontist (sp) straight away. But I'm too scared to go. Besides, I don't have anybody to mind the children. She said even seeing a periodontist won't guarantee that my teeth will be saved.

She said that pregnancy has a terrible leeching effect on your teeth, and I've had two babies in quick succession plus been breastfeeding constantly since May 2003. Not good.

I drink a glass of milk for breakfast every day but am still really slack. I drink way too many soft drinks. The dentist told Andy that he should only drink tap water. Absolutely nothing else...ever.

I'm terrified of going back to the dentist now. Am doing an Andy & sticking my head in the sand hoping the problem will go away.

[Naomi]

Do go. Teeth are one of those things ... it really affects your health (as in you may not be able to eat as wide a range of food) and can have social effects too. I know this because one of my policy areas was oral health and the horror stories I used to hear when people phoned the office or wrote to complain about the their treatment in the public system. (The people who phoned were nearly always angry, apparently chronic dental pain puts you in a bad mood). I hope I always have the means to pay for private dental treatment.

I didn't know that about pregnancy and teeth - I really need to organise a checkup.

[ritzmoon]

I go when ever they send me a card to say im due for a check up. The last time I was there it cost me a fortune as I had to have root therapy. I get so nervous waiting to go in, and the smell of the denist. Dont know what it is an antiseptic smell but sure makes me want to run. LOL

[floria]

I used to be a scare bear when it came to dentists. At one stage it was something like 13 years in between visits. But then I broke a tooth and had no choice but to go. I was lucky and found a sympathic dentist and I told her I was really really scared of dentists. She was very kind and gentle. Lucky as I had to have some major work done.

I'm good now and get a check up annually, same with cleaning and scaling as well.

Sucks though, it costs more to get my cats teeth cleaned and scaled than it does me?

[semele]

I went to the most fantastic dentist in Sydney that had a TV on the roof above the chair so that you could watch a video or whatever while they were working on your teeth. That was great.

I usually go every 14 months or so, I'm probably due for another check up soon.

I don't mind going, I have a great dentist here in Canberra too who has a beautiful Welsh accent and sings in a choir that I used to be a part of.

Maybe I don't mind going because I don't have any fillings or any problems (touch wood).