do you go to the dentist regularly?

[nancy2394]

I was going to try and set this up as a poll.... but I have no earthly idea how to do it.

I just wanted to know if the majority of people go to the dentist on a regular basis. I used to go every 6 months for a cleaning until I had a few bad experiences in a row back in the late 90's. I'm ashamed to admit this... but 1998 was the last time I had been to the dentist. I take real good care of my teeth, but there's only so much you can do at home verses a thorough cleaning and scraping from the dentist.

I put on my big girl panties and let my friend who works at a dentist office make me an appointment to have a teeth cleaning done. It went really well. I'm amazed how much technology has advanced in the dental world. They were all impressed with what great shape my teeth and gums are in. They cuoldn't believe I haven't been to the dentist in 12 years! I had a little tarter build up, but nothing big. I have NO cavities... woo hoo! The only thing they recommend for me to do at some point is have one of my very old fillings from childhood replaced because there's one spot on it that's sort of jagged and may potentially cause me problems down the road.

It was a very good experience today. There was no pain involved. No chunk of gum being torn off from an over zealous and careless person with that ice pick looking hook thing they use..lol I can remember leaving the dentist years ago and having my whole mouth throbbing from how rough they were with the cleaning. This lady was so gently and very thorough. She took her time and really did a nice job. And the best part is that my new dentist offers a life time free bleaching treatments!

Now that I got over the initial fear of going to the dentist from the past bad experiences... I'm not afraid anymore. I've already made my appointment for my next 6 month cleaning and check up. I'm so glad I listened to my friend and took her advice to try this dentist she works for. They rock!

 

[Dreeza]

oh wow that is awesome Nancy! Glad you had such a positive experience this time around!!

I go regularly...but that is cause my Mom is my dentist

 

[JessLough]

I am terrified of the dentist... and could not really afford to go. Last time I went was probably 98 as well, if not earlier. :yikes: That said, I do need to go when I have some extra money, I have a broken tooth that needs to be taken care of

 

[nancy2394]

I was just so excited I didn't have a single thing wrong with my teeth except for that one filling that will need to be replaced at some point in time. Heck, I've had these fillings since I was a little kid. They were just surface cavities. I hear about people having to have root canals and crowns and all sorts of stuff done in their mouth... I've never even had as much as a tooth ache. I am so grateful for good teeth

I almost could have fallen asleep while she worked on my teeth. The chairs they have now a days are soooo comfy. I was so amazed at how things have changed in the last 12 years.

 

[MandyPug]

Every 9 months i go for a cleaning and fluoride. Every 18 months i get x-rays. Plus I've had braces and that meant monthly checkups with the orthodontist.

 

[nancy2394]

I am terrified of the dentist... and could not really afford to go. Last time I went was probably 98 as well, if not earlier. :yikes: That said, I do need to go when I have some extra money, I have a broken tooth that needs to be taken care of

There was this guy that walked into the waiting room for the dentist office. He proceeds to tell the receptionist that he had an appointment for a broken tooth that happened a few days ago. She hands him the paperwork you have to fill out when you are a new patient. He proceeds to call his place of employment on his cell phone to inquire about his insurance card id number because apparently he hadn't been issued his dental insurance card from his place of employment at this point.

Then he goes into discussing how he broke his tooth with whoever it was he was talking to at his place of employment. Then he says "yeah, well.. after the tooth broke, I was stuck there for the rest of the weekend because I was babysitting my best friends 2 kids in nashville" Then he says "I was in so much pain and the tooth was so jagged and sharp that I went and found a nail file and literally filed the jagged part of the tooth down" And then he about made me blow snot out of my nose from laughing when he proceeds to tell this person (as well as everyone in the waiting area.. because he was talking so loud for everyone to hear his entire conversation) Anyway, he says to this person on the phone "I really wasn't happy when julie told me the file I used in my mouth was the one she used to do home pedicures"

I couldn't contain myself, I busted out laughing and got TJ laughing because I couldn't stop laughing. I'm sure the guy thought i was an ass.. but that was hilarious :rofl1: He had someone's nasty foot calleous residue in his mouth...ewwwwwww

 

[JessLough]

I couldn't contain myself, I busted out laughing and got TJ laughing because I couldn't stop laughing. I'm sure the guy thought i was an ass.. but that was hilarious :rofl1: He had someone's nasty foot calleous residue in his mouth...ewwwwwww

I puked a little. I have a fear of feet.. and ewwwwwww. See, I have not been in a rush to get the tooth looked at, because it is not hurting.. at all

 

[milos_mommy]

I was thinking about making this a thread like two days ago, that is so weird.

No, I don't. I did when I was a kid, but then my mom got into a fight with the secretary when I was around 15 and we weren't welcome back, we never did find a new one. Now I don't have the money for it.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I try to, but that doesn't meant I like it.

I had an appoinment for a deep cleaning with my dentist last month, and have postponed it three times already lol. I had to do it this Saturday or the authorization from the insurance will expire

 

[Chewbecca]

Typically, if you tell the dentist that you are a scaredy cat of going to them, and/or if you tell them you don't want them to use scare tactics to get you to come back, they'll be light on the scare tactics.
At least I have found.

And, yes, I go every 6 months for a cleaning.
And my children go regularly.

 

[*blackrose]

Yup, I go every six months for cleaning and Xrays are taken whenever they are needed to be taken. I haven't had any issues with my teeth in quite some time, besides needing to have my wisdom teeth pulled. I love the place I go to - I'm not fond of the teeth cleaning, but the people doing it make it bearable. And I don't want to be like my Grandma in my old age and only have a few teeth left in my mouth.

Insurance covers most of it, so going that frequently isn't a problem.

 

[~Jessie~]

I go to the dentist every six months for a cleaning/checkup, and they do my x-rays once a year

 

[Zoom]

I used to go every six months and such...now I haven't been in like...6 years. And I desperately need to; I've got two teeth that need crowns, another that needs a filing replaced and no dental insurance to speak of. Well, I have Aflac, but that doesn't do much up front.

I managed to inherit my dad's teeth and then had a dentist that refused to take out my wisdom teeth, which is where most of my issues are stemming from, because they're shoving the rest of my teeth out of alignment.

 

[elegy]

no. i have really bad dental phobia.

a couple years ago, i had a tooth that i was scared was abscessed so i put on my big girl panties and got my mommy to call and make me an appointment and tell them that i was terrified and that if they guilt-tripped me or were scary to me they'd never see me again ever.

i, um, had an ulcer not a tooth root abscess, so they just cleaned my teeth and it was all fine and the dentist was really super nice and non-scary and even though i cried nobody made me feel stupid.

so i got some fillings done and did actually go back for a second cleaning six months later, but then life happened and it's so expensive (no insurance), and i haven't been back for probably a year.

 

[MaloreyAnimal]

Haven't been there in years, have an appointment for November. Dreading it. I have a wisdom tooth coming in, will probably need braces, and probably have cavities...dreading, dreading, dreading it. I know it's for my good to go since I've heald it off for so long, but...Eek!

 

[mrose_s]

When I was little I was constantly having cavaties filled and always needed work done. Eventually I had to have a tooth pulled on the one appointment mum didn't come with me, I was with my big brother. I had so many needles and ergh. i end up in tears everytime I'm at the dentist now. I havn't been in about 5o or 6 years. If I go again it will be to have a look ONLY. I don't care if I need one filling, nope. We'll do that another time. I would just like to go in ONCE knowing I don't have to have something done.

 

[Grab]

I went regularly as a child. I haven't had dental insurance until recently, so I haven't been in ages. Since I can't currently have xrays, I'm waiting until January to make an appt. I do have an annoying tooth, so I am imagining some sort of xray will need be done to see what the heck is up with it.

 

[k9krazee]

I go every six months. Sometimes it's a pain because it seems whenever I come home on a break I have a dentist, eye doctor, and regular doctor visit scheduled. My mom is so on top of that stuff, I'm not sure how I'll be when I'm off on my own.

I usually don't mind the dentist. However, we just changed dentists and they're MUCH more in your face want to hear your whole life story people. When I go to the dentist I don't want to sit and chat for an hour, I just want my teeth cleaned so I can get out of there! Ahh. But at least they had a Lab in the office and let me go visit with her when I was done.

 

[Zhucca]

I went regularly as a child but then had my last appointment when I was 15 or so ('m 19). No particular reason at first, I've never been scared of the dentist. Then my regular dentist passed away.

Then I started work where I am now, and one of my customers is a dentist. While a coworker talked about getting a new retainer, he said he would give her a deal and make her one for cost (!!) I jokingly said, "Well what kind of deal can I get?" he got me to smile, and offered me free whitening. I needed a cleaning first, and around 600 bucks later I still need my two cavities and the leaky filling fixed, appointment next week. I love my new dentist and the staff there as well. Always very friendly and accomodating.

Thank god for insurance. Still haven't claimed my free whitening but I'm after invisalign first.

 

[zoe08]

I used to go every 6 months, then I moved 200 miles away and didn't get a new dentist until recently. So I went about 4 years or so without going. I am actually supposed to go at the end of Oct, but I need to call and reschedule for January. Because starting in January we will have dental insurance, YAY!