Just gotta vent, dudes, so bear with me. I’m 32. Never had a cavity, or any dental work. Last time I was at the dentist, I was 16. So a few weeks ago, I find out that my Union dental plan was still in effect, even though I dropped out the the Local 33 almost a year ago. So, I decide to go in for a cleaning.
Get my teeth cleaned, and x-rays. Find out a have a cavity in my back molar, and two wisdom teeth have to come out. Fast forward a couple weeks (last tues. to be exact) And I go in to get them yanked. I had to be knocked out cold I was so freaked out. That was some good stuff!!! But, that’s a whole other story. Dentist yanked two wisom teeth, had to dig for one. Well, I have a slight case of TMJ, it never really bothers me, just some mornings, I cannot get my mouth closed for a while, and my jaw pops real loud when I chew.
Now, after the teeth yanking, my jaw is killing my, constatly, and it pops every time I open or close my mouth. This really blows, and dentists are off my list. (this also explains my infrequent posting. That and the Batman video game ;D)
I feel your pain . . literally. Getting ready to make an appointment tomorrow to get something done to an abscess where repair work was completed two years ago. Broke six teeth when a tree limb clocked me, and the area between where they built the crown on one of them and an adjacent tooth has become a magnet for everything entering my pie hole. I’m single handedly keeping the dental floss companies in business and am constantly thinking of Frank Zappa.
I’m in pretty much the exact same situation you are weazletoe. I’m 32 and haven’t been to the dentist since I was around 19 probably. Perfect teeth before that and I’m sure when I eventually end up going they’re going to be salivating over the work they decide they need to do. Part of the reason I keep putting off going. Luckily I have had all the wisdom teeth out. I know, I need to. Soon. I’m going to go soon…
it aint the drill its the bill that kills me.
It’s those damn Novocaine shots that I hate.
I get queezy at the thought of going to the dentist. I get anxiety attacks every time I have to get any work done in the chair. I can’t help it, I have dentiphobia. It’s awful. 
I feel your pain Weaz.
GO TO THE DENTIST!!! All of you. I was like you when I was in my 30s as well. Now I’m 51 and had to take out a second mortgage on my house to pay for implants. Better a small bill now, then a big one later. The temporaries alone cost $6000, and they were uncomfortable and kept falling out. The entire process takes about three years.
It’s pretty easy when the decision is made for me and the dental work is all free. It just takes the commander issuing an order to have all dental work done prior to deployment. No dental work means non deployable, which means I go to jail. See? Easy.
Wisdom teeth next month, ought to be fun.
+1
Preventive action now means less misery later. But…I still despise the dentist. With a passion. I can’t help it. >:(
I was gonna say - I don’t like going to the dentist - but it sure beats a mouth full of false teeth!
Anti-dentites!! The lot of you! Me too. :-[
They are just as bad as mechanics.
“Oh while i was in there i found that old filling you have is leaking and
you are going to need to replace it. Oh I know it is metal but metal slowly
alchem-atically changes into pudding and we need to get it before your
teeth fall out of your head.”
I grew up in a small town in IA where flouride was added to the water. At one point, I went 30 years without seeing a dentist. When I went to him, he was astounded that I had no cavities or other problems. And it’s pretty much stayed that way. At one point, he suggested having my wisdom teeth removed, then said that I had such great bone mass it would be more trouble than it was worth. Needless to say, it’s made me a big proponent of flouridated water.
my neighbor 2 houses down is my dentist. he knows better than to do anything unnecessary - I’d cut off his beer supply.
As big a proponent as batch sparging? ???
Damn close!
That’s twilight zone material. 8)
I believe a lot of it is genetics. My oldest son has never had a cavity and my youngest has had several. My wife has only ever had one or maybe two cavities and I have had several. Both my kids have the same brushing and flossing habits. My wife was a lax flosser and I have always been hard core. And the water in my faucet growing up had flouride added to it as does the water coming from my faucet now.