TOOTH SHAME

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I went to the dentist last week and I have to have SEVEN FILLINGS. The thing is I was exceptionally embarrassed by this, especially as even the dentist himself seemed slightly taken aback. He asked me if I'd been eating a lot of sugar lately - what has happened to a soothing bedside (chairside) manner nowadays? It was a very posh dentists as well so you think he'd lie much like they do in hairdressers ie. my hair isn't thin and limp, it's *babyfine*. My teeth aren't rotten and cavity-filled they're...um, okay, I can't think of a nice way to describe them. Maybe he couldn't either. The question is, should I be embarrassed about how awful my teeth are? Is seven fillings really that bad?
(Incidentally he said I could bring in a walkman to block out the noise of the drill; any suggestions for very loud yet soothing music I could play?)

― kathryn m (kathryn m), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually maybe the weirdest thing about this dentist was that you had to fill in a form before your appointment, and as well the usual health stuff it had questions like 'how scared are you of the dentists?' (not wanting to look like a sissy, I put 'moderately'), and 'what most worries you about going to the dentist?' (I put 'pain'). The weirdest question, though, was where you had to list your three favourite hobbies. I have trouble doing this on job applications, let alone situations when all I can think about is impending pain, and I had to fight the urge to make some up so I appeared more interesting (to my dentist?!). He never asked me about them anyway.

― kathryn m (kathryn m), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't be embarrassed. I've had so many fillings that there literally aren't any spots on my teeth for cavities to form now (this may be a slight exaggeration). A lot of the time they'll fill a weak spot to prevent a full-on cavity from forming, so I wouldn't be too concerned. What I would be slightly concerned about is your dentist lining his pockets doing unnecessary work, so if you don't have insurance to cover this I would maybe get a second opinion. As for music, some shoegaze might be good [I like Ride best (sorry MBV fanz) but that's just me].

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't been to a dentist in like 8 years. Good thing I don't have dental insurance now.

― hstencil, Monday, 6 October 2003 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

should I be embarrassed about how awful my teeth are?

Are you in England? If yes, no.

any suggestions for very loud yet soothing music I could play?

Aix Em Klemm.

― Herbstmute (Wintermute), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I have insurance in the 'mum said she'd pay half' sense. I mean I guess he might be trying to squeeze money out of my poor rotten teeth but on the other hand it has gotten to the point where I can't eat anything without grimacing in pain. And I haven't been to the dentist in four years. So he may have a point.

I am English, but honestly you can hardly tell my teeth are so horrible from the front. The decay is all lurking at the sides so I look perfectly normal until I smile really widely. Then the true horror is revealed.

― kathryn m (kathryn m), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I have insurance in the 'mum said she'd pay half' sense.

This is my favourite thing ever posted to ILE.

That hobbies question is mighty odd. I can't account for it at all.

I am going to the dentist on Wednesday. I fear them not. My teeth sort of ache all over, and every so often make my saliva all sweet, like I'm about to be sick. I am interested in hearing the diagnosis. I fear I have a very rare disease.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

That's the same as me, Kathryn. The right music to take is something like early Jesus & Mary Chain, as there is nothing where a dentist's drill fits better. And Lard made a great track called Can God Fill Teeth? which would fit too. The hobbies question is presumably so they can act as if they have been paying attention. Mine asks me what I do for a living every time I visit.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I took Vladislav Delay with me when I had oral surgery (though I was under general aenesthetic).

― Leee (Leee), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The hobbies question could be to find out if you do any regular activities that may have an impact on your dental health such as bare knuckle boxing or glass chewing. It could also be that some administrator there wants to make stalking you easier, though this may be a stretch.

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Mine asks me what I do for a living every time I visit.

Suffering from amnesia, was he? Lucky he didn't call you by number, instead: "Welcome again, um, number 362..."

Kathryn, I've had cavities filled too: trust me, the sound of the drill is only the worst part. You don't feel a thing after the novacaine. At least, you aren't waiting any longer to have them taken care of---that's a plus.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Monday, 6 October 2003 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never had a cavity, and yet my teeth are more dull and yellow than anyone I know. I'm thinking of doing that laser thing. (You know, suicide by laser rifle)

― Aaron A., Monday, 6 October 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Seven cavities? I knocked out three front teeth -- all top -- while mud wrestling drunk. So drunk, in fact, I still can't remember quite what happened; just woke up with a terrible hangover and three less teeth. Hey, it was really cold out. And I was SO hung over, in fact, that my initial reaction was to simply yell at my roommate to get me a beer and turn on the Packer game. Not easy to get a beer bottle around three freshly busted fangs, but it's really really worth the effort once it kicks in.

― Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Monday, 6 October 2003 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

My teeth sort of ache all over, and every so often make my saliva all sweet, like I'm about to be sick.

wow x2.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 6 October 2003 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm officially in love with Ann.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 6 October 2003 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I knew another Packer fan would show up on this site eventually.

(God, I typed that in without even THINKING about whether I'm a man or not.)

― Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Monday, 6 October 2003 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

curious as to your age. i had approx. 7 fillings at one time when i was 12 or so. then i think a couple more during the next few years. there was a stretch during my early to mid 20's where i didn't see a dentist for at least 5-6 years (??) and was afraid of how many cavities i'd have when i finally did go. it turned out to be zero, and in fact the hygenist basically said that after a certain point you don't really tend to get cavities anymore -- but start worrying about your gums. so far it seems to be true. i haven't had a filling since i was a teenager but i have to keep on top of some receding areas with the gums. i think most of that damage was done during the dentist-free span with some over-enthusiastic brushing (now have sonic care)

― ron (ron), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Teeth were perfect for long time, so no pain at dentist.

New dentist in 1992 hurt me a wee bit with vigorous cleaning method.

So I didn't go back.

Eleven years later, most of my teeth seem okay, except the ones at the very back, which are entirely black. My gums feel dodgy - this is related to smoking.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I do feel that the story of life concerns whether one is able to afford proper new teeth when the moment comes, or daft falsers.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

So I'll go to the dentist when I can win, in that respect.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I ended up watching a children's TV programme recently where old people were spitting out their false teeth. I didn't understand what the point was, really, but there was an audience of 5-12 year olds cheering on & laughing at a group of 60-90 year olds as they tried to spit the teeth as far as they could. Most of the teeth were clumsily dropped onto the owners' chins. I hated the kids. I thought, "You're laughing now, ya cunts, but not for long".

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"Like, you'll be laughing for twenty more years, but that's not a long time". Then I stabbed myself in the goolies, poured boiling water down my throat, and waited for the final end.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Ann's story wins.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 00:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm 21 so hopefully this will be the last time I ever visit the dentist as my teeth will now become old and wise and stop rotting all the time. Actually my gums are receding already, to the point where it actually hurts if I open my mouth really wide and breathe in (yeah I know, don't do it then...er, except the breathing part's not really optional).

I always associate dentists with being scottish, I think because my childhood dentist was from Glasgow. If I ever had an English dentist I just wouldn't feel comfortable. I imagine there must be some out there, but I've never been to one (I do live in Scotland now so that could explain it).

― kathryn m (kathryn m), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 06:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha, I haven't been to the dentist in 15 years. Maybe longer now, I haven't counted recently. Last time I went, I bit him. I never went again. I'm a perfect candidate for the Big Book Of British Smiles. I still have a baby tooth that never came out. People keep telling me to go to the Rock N Roll Dentist who lets you listen to music, but god no! Would I really want one of my soothing lovely spacerock records to be forever associated with the sound of the drill?

Or maybe you could really f*ck with yer head and listen to that Ministry album that has drill sounds all over it. Heh.

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 06:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Matmos must cream their pants when they're lying in the dentists chair as the drill kicks in.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate my dentist and I'm looking to move to another one. It's a private clinic that looks decptively posh and inviting but is actually staffed by cold, indifferent robots. I had to have two fillings done on my back molars in May - the freezing injections hurt like a bitch and didn't freeze the area properly. At one point I had that awful zap of pain when he was drilling, but he refused to give me more anaesthetic. Eventually I was such a wreck that he had to stop and pack it up with a temp filling. I was weak and shaking for hours, and I was so traumatised afterwards that I haven't been back to have the work finished yet.

Forget music - bring on the drugs. I used to go to a clinic in Toronto that totally knocked you out for anything you wanted, even cleaning. I probably wouldn't go that far, but I was knocked out for a root canal and let me tell you, it was heaven. My next dentist will definitely have to be pro-drugs.

― elisabeth k, Tuesday, 7 October 2003 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I would much prefer Tooth Robots. I mean, they wouldn't feel it if you bit them. And they could orchestrate some nice Kraftwerk style music while they're operating.

Taking sides: robots vs. fairies!

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 08:41 (twenty-one years ago)

7 fillings seems like quite a lot to me actually.
I had loads of work done when i was younger, I had 4 teeth out as there wasn't enough room for them (!!!) & then I had 2 braces. I was so brave, but now I am a wreck when I go. The injection in the roof of the mouth is the worst pain I have ever known!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 08:47 (twenty-one years ago)

What's this rubbish about tooth not rotting any longer when you'd older?
Surely just a result of less candy and more "better not go to bed without brushing, or me teeth will blow up" fixations?

Boy I'd love to have invincible teeth, I'm going to the dentist in a week, and know it won't be pretty, since I've been known to open my trap for the delightful fizzle of soda on many an occasion.

I wish I'd grow a third set of teeth at around 30 or so, maybe by then I'll be able to love them like they deserve.

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 08:54 (twenty-one years ago)

okay, well that's two down and seven to go. It wasn't as bad as I was dreading actually, although the evil hygienist bitch woman definitely had it in for me for some reason. I mean, that was blatantly just a needle she was using to poke around my mouth. The strangest bit was at the end when she gave me a mirror and I was getting hairdresser flashbacks. My teeth looked exactly the same but I had to lie and be all like 'oh yes, they look much better, truly worth the agony'.

Robot dentists sound like a terrible idea, at least with a human you can imagine that they're feeling some sympathy for you. Although actually it's the embarrassment of having some strange man fiddle around with your mouth while people look on that's the worst for me, so maybe robots would improve that. And you wouldn't have to make conversation with them while half your mouth is frozen and the other half is full of metal things, which is always tricky.

― kathryn m (kathryn m), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Dentists don't feel sympathy, superiority maybe, but never sympathy!
Glad it went ok!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 10:29 (twenty-one years ago)

And you wouldn't have to make conversation with them while half your mouth is frozen and the other half is full of metal things

Please do not underestimate the robots.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 10:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, I've seen the pictures in the Kraftwerk book.

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe the robots would be able to read your mind instead of you having to talk...actually, that's a horrible idea. It would make going to the dentist even more terrifying.

― kathryn m (kathryn m), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I go to the dentist school downtown; it only costs $5 for a cleaning because their hygienists-in-training need people to practice on, but you always end up drooling blood. In the name of SCIENCE!!

― j c, Tuesday, 7 October 2003 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Harsh!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 11:59 (twenty-one years ago)

The injection in the roof of the mouth is the worst pain I have ever known!

PP, try one deep inbetween your little toe and the next one, I have honestly never felt pain even remotely like it.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Ouch! Man that musta hurt! I felt like the injection I had was going go through my brain. The one under the tongue was that much of a laugh either!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

That is very much not true about your teeth no longer rotting. Yes it is most likely you stop eating candy nonstop and are more self-conscious about your breath and so are less reluctant to brush your teeth the way a kid might be.

I think 7 fillings is a lot, you will be a bit sore. I don't know, this is a particular paranoia of mine, I go to the dentist every six months and would go more often if I could. I did once have four cavities when I was a teenager and felt miserable. My teeth have very deep crevices and get cavities easily; I've had tons of fillings. But good lord, if your gums hurt and you can't open your mouth you have gum disease, get to a dentist immediately. Your friends are probably being polite about not telling you your breath is killing them (I've had to be this way with a few people. I mean, what do you say? "Your mouth smells like death?"). Floss, please. It is not that big a chore!

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

My teeth don't really hurt and I doubt I have too much in the way of cavities (a doubt that I plan on having shattered soon), but I have awful awful plaque. I tried buying one of those plaque-removal scrapers at Walgreen's and it didn't do much for me. Is there any hope at all of ridding myself of this affliction without going to the hated/feared dentists' chair?

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't get any cavities until I was in my early 20s! Then I had 3 or four in a row. :(

Nate, do you know that it's plaque? I have high calcium levels in my saliva or something and get what they call 'calculus' (really!) on the backs of my bottom teeth--just harmless calcium buildup, but it fills in the gaps of my teeth and is a little weird.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Is plaque black? Why are my back teeth black? They don't hurt at all. But they're black. Why's that?

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess it's... plaque-esque. I think. Whatever it is, it makes me look as though my gumline has been caulked with cream cheese.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

if your teeth are turning black the nerves may be dead and the tooth may be bad (this happened with one of my milk teeth, it never fell out, just turned dark grey, the root didn't dissolve, and I had to have it pulled). Or, they may be very discolored from flouride treatments or something. Or a pen exploded in your mouth.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 00:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's just the ones at the very very back, that possibly can't be hit by a brush. Also the ones at the side have some blackness along the gumline.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Never had a problem with the dentist growing up or anything -- a couple of harsher hygienists, I suppose, but no trauma. And this included braces and retainers and all as well. So I'm all for regular six month checkups and actually look forward to a good cleaning -- just had the latest yesterday. (Keep in mind I'm also a weirdo who had a perfectly fine full wisdom tooth extraction, was out and about the following day and had no real pain or swelling at all.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I would say that black teeth are not good at all!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 07:50 (twenty-one years ago)

My left wisdom tooth is kind of grey, but I just came back from the dentist and he says I am fine. Maybe it just looks black cause it's dark back there.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 09:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah black teeth mean they're dead, but you should be able to hit them with a brush!

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 11:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I just rechecked my mouth. I think there may only be one black tooth. It's one I can't see right at the back, growing at a different angle to all the others (practically sideways), and in fact it's hardly grown at all - just the top of it grows out the gum. As I say, I can't see it, so it may not even be black anymore, but someone told me it was black about a year ago. It doesn't hurt anyway. I find it quite reassuring to know it's dead. Poor thing.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it a wisdom tooth? If so, you should get the dentist to whip it out! so to speak. ahem.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

calculus is not harmless! Everyone should get it scraped off regularly.

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I have 34 teeth. None of them are black/calculus covered. But there are too many of them. It's not right. I did chip one of them on my tongue piercing which gave me the super human strength to finally rip that fucking thing out with my bare hands instead of waiting for people with pliers to show up and help me in my peril.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

I went to a new dentist (first time in 2 yrs) last weekend and she first said I have good tooth structure, decent color, no cavities, but regarding my gums, abmormal wear on my chewers (duh), and the color of my inner right cheek, she asked if I had a history of drug abuse or STD, and that we'd have to keep an eye on my inner right cheek, though it's "probably nothing to worry about."

― LeCoq (LeCoq), Saturday, 6 November 2004 05:35 (twenty years ago)

IS IT SAFE?????

― D.arraghmac, Saturday, 6 November 2004 05:43 (twenty years ago)

I have to get one of my teeth capped and all of my wisdom teeth taken out. My insurance doesn't cover it so it's going to end up being at least $1300 before it's all over.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Saturday, 6 November 2004 05:54 (twenty years ago)

What is this "Dentist" thing of which you speak?

― Masonic Laundry Boom (kate), Saturday, 6 November 2004 12:36 (twenty years ago)

went for the first time in years a lil while ago. needed a filling. asked if i flossed. "not this year, doc!". okay, i didn't really say "doc". she is a runner, and has all this athletist paraphernalia up on the wall (medals and trophies and badges etc). one of them says "ALLIED ROCKIES 15KM", and every time I glance at it, i read "ALLIED ROCKISM".

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 6 November 2004 12:46 (twenty years ago)

athletist = athletic, though it makes an interesting mix of elitist and atheist

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 6 November 2004 12:48 (twenty years ago)

eleven months pass...

Ugh, I just noticed I chipped one of my teeth. No idea how! I have dental insurance until December.

Other than aesthetics, how important is it to get this fixed? Is this related to not brushing well? FWIW, I have never had a filling and have had one tooth capped to prevent decay. :o(

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Monday, 17 October 2005 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

seriously, this is like those dreams about losing your teeth :(

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Monday, 17 October 2005 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

Those dreams are not really about your teeth, but about your insecurities. I have them quite a lot.

I don't think it's not really necessary to have it fixed. Can't they check? They did for me, they put something on it to see if the tooth was still alive. I broke my tooth in half. My mouth is a mess of fillings and broken teeth, but all fixed. :-)

My gran lost a filling and the root is *naked*. I don't care much for her, but I did tell her to get it fixed. She came to tell me she had prayed to God. I told her calling the dentist was a better way of getting it fixed.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Monday, 17 October 2005 16:53 (nineteen years ago)

If I wait a week before fixing it will my brain rot out?

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Monday, 17 October 2005 16:57 (nineteen years ago)

Well, you need to have one first. ;-)))

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Monday, 17 October 2005 16:59 (nineteen years ago)

I am seeing a dentist tomorrow for the first time in five years. Whee!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

I went several weeks ago for the first time in 8 years. I had a root canal, 5 fillings and two deep cleanings. FLOSS YOUR TEETH, PEOPLE.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:01 (nineteen years ago)

How much did it cost you?

― Munki (nordicskilla), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

I have bleeding gums. Which isn't so abnormal since I'm pregnant,but I hate it.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:03 (nineteen years ago)

well, I have dental insurance, so the root canal cost me $275, but as of right now (and not including my last 3 fillings), I owe them $1400.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

Jon, at a guess it probably depends on how deep the chip is, whether it goes through the outer layer of enamel or not. Cos the stuff inside teeth is softer and more vulnerable to decay. Just go to the dentist and ASK but mind you they're not exactly impartial so grains of salt, etc. Also, I don't know what's required to fix a chip but if they want to do a whole cap keep in mind that a cap might (I've never had one, can anyone confirm?) mean grinding down the existing tooth so that you'll never be able to go without a cap again.

My mouth was a total DISASTAH a couple of years ago; it's still in mid-repair and the cavities just keep coming. Seriously. I AM TOO OLD FOR THIS, DOES THE UNIVERSE HATE ME?!? Two root canals (so far), two extractions, and like 10 fillings, and I'm not even done. Did I mention that I'm afraid of needles?

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

xpost - Depending on what the chip's like, they may just file it down a bit to smooth it. I chipped a front tooth on an olive pit a few years ago - it was like a flint-knap right down by the edge in the front and was annoying, and they just polished it down. It's important to get it fixed up since decay will start in crevices and pits and get nasty. Though it might take awhile. I waited almost a month to get mine fixed up and it didn't rot. If you've got the insurance, get it done.

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

well, I have dental insurance, so the root canal cost me $275, but as of right now (and not including my last 3 fillings), I owe them $1400.

aaaaaaaaaaaaarghhh

― Munki (nordicskilla), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

That was my general feeling, too. I suspect that this guy is more expensive than most dentists, though.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:06 (nineteen years ago)

On the plus side, I've had about 9,756,789 injections in the last 8 weeks, and only the last one hurt at all.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:07 (nineteen years ago)

:(((((

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think its too serious. Its just a little fleck missing from the front and a little from the top. Like an arrowhead...

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:10 (nineteen years ago)

Ah fuck it, don't worry about it. As long as you don't feel anything *weird* when you're eating/drinking cold/hot things, you're doing okay.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:13 (nineteen years ago)

I just got back from the dentist right now - my first visit in over 3 years, since I never went in the UK...

I got shit about not flossing (yeah yeah, tell me something I don't know), but other than gums bleeding a bit, I'm otherwise A-OK. Mind you, I've had seemingly every tooth filled and then re-filled with the white stuff, so I suppose there's not much left to worry about :(

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

Rob, you're like me. Only I have problems with nerves in my front teeth. I had excrutiatiing pain twice in my front teeth. They had to kill the nerves, but had not done it properly the first time. I nearly fainted cause of the pain.

I hate flossing. do it now cause it's better.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:16 (nineteen years ago)

About that flossing business, I hadn't been to the dentist except for that chip polishing in 8 years, until last year when I finally got dental insurance again and stopped travelling so much. I have Indiana farmgirl teeth though, one cavity ever (at 18, now I'm 45) and even that was suspicious since the dentist was arrested later that year for falsifying work to pay for his percodan addiction. Anyway, the teeth were good still, but the gums not so and a "deep cleaning" was apparently called for, which they do half of your mouth at a time because it takes forever and leaves things sore for a week. Many shots of novocaine to numb all the gums on first the right half of your head and then a month later on the left half, then hours of vicious dental hygienista scraping away.

I don't want to do that again, but I also am non-compliant with the string floss. So we got this Showerfloss thing which is like a water drill and can do serious damage if you point it at the wrong thing. But damn it works great and no more of that string floss. And now they are saying that not flossing/plaque may be what's behind a lot of heart disease, so we are being more dedicated.

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

3 Cups of coffee today + 3 cups of ice water = no pain :D

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:22 (nineteen years ago)

Like an arrowhead...

Sounds exactly what mine was like - they would probably just polish it smooth for you. What Nath says - if it doesn't hurt with cold/hot stuff, you're probably good to go. If it annoys you though, get it smoothed down.

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:22 (nineteen years ago)

(Incidentally he said I could bring in a walkman to block out the noise of the drill; any suggestions for very loud yet soothing music I could play?)

This is revelatory. I had never ever remotely thought that a dentist might let one do this, I guess the trick is to find who isn't a sadist or something.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:25 (nineteen years ago)

I'd only bring an iPOD cause my dentist is an asshole who likes to be demeaning to his patients and his assistents. I don't mind the sound of the drill at all, really.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

Mine actually has TVs in the ceiling over the chairs - they give you headphones and a remote. The Entertainment Network was amazing once the nitrous kicked in.

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

making my dentist appointment now.

― Munki (nordicskilla), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, my dentist has a TV overhead too, and says he just bought some noise-cancelling headphones, which he hopes will be handy when people are going through the drilling... A pretty good idea, I think.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

HAH! We used to have a junkie dentist here too, who did fake fillings. Then he wrecked his hands w/ frostbite while hiking. I'm surprized he didn't continue on, clumsily flailing away in peoples' mouths with his finger-stumps.
When I think about my teeth the following perverse though invariably crosses my mind: "Well, maybe I won't live long enough for trouble to develop." Like "maybe we can trade this car in before the timing belt goes." Then I catch myself. "Oh yeah, right. Not living means DYING. Bummer!!!!
I actually want to live to 200.
I haven't been to the dentist in years. I pay for my sons' dental work, and my husband goes regularly. I've got a block. I HATE spending money that way. It's such robbery, especially compared to the eye doctor, who spends over an hour with me testing my eyes in every possible way with all sorts of expensive equipment, including a camera that takes a picture of my retina, and charges me UNDER $100!
What's up with dentists? It seems like glorified masonry to me. Why so expensive?

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:38 (nineteen years ago)

This thread HAS inspired me to go brush my teeth, though.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:38 (nineteen years ago)

How do you avoid being charged 100s of dollars? Do they ask you first?

― Munki (nordicskilla), Monday, 17 October 2005 17:40 (nineteen years ago)

Put it right on the table. Have the work done by triage, as you can afford it. Cut something else out of your budget, like FOOD, or HOUSING.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Monday, 17 October 2005 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

"Damn it's cold under this bridge, but it's nice to chew again!" Actually I'm not kidding, there are days when you'd do really just about anything to make the pain stop taking over the world/every soft tissue in your head. Also, when I finally went to the dentist, he asked me "how have you been eating? you mean, you can CHEW?". So embarassing.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 17 October 2005 18:32 (nineteen years ago)

How do you avoid being charged 100s of dollars? Do they ask you first?

Yeah, mine scoped everything out (x-rays, etc) during the initial check up/cleaning and gave me a detailed estimate as I left for all the followup work. They have to prepare for the big $$ time-consuming items like crowns and root canals and gum resections.

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

Laurel, my god that sounds awful. Is it less painful now that part of the work is done?

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

The one time I had a bad toothache I would have paid anything. Handed over my children.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Monday, 17 October 2005 18:45 (nineteen years ago)

See Beth, that's why dentists charge so much - because they CAN! If there were a better secondary market for kids, they would take them I'm sure.

― Jaq (Jaq), Monday, 17 October 2005 18:47 (nineteen years ago)

Oh yeah, it's totally normal now. I can eat just like a regular person!

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 17 October 2005 19:00 (nineteen years ago)

seven years pass...

I have periodontal disease. What the means is bacteria are eating my jaw bone and I will lose my teeth. I'm not glad.

― emilys., Tuesday, 24 September 2013 14:04 (eleven years ago)

I will probably also develop heart disease.

― emilys., Tuesday, 24 September 2013 14:04 (eleven years ago)

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