Anyone Stopped Going to the Dentist?

[sengsational]

I want a dentist with Parkinson's that doesn't give referrals, but has a competent staff of hygienists. He would have assessment skills, but since he can't do the work, he wouldn't be motivated to find work to do to increase revenue. Or go to a dentist "B" and say I'm only getting cleanings and listening to your advice, but will be going to (unnamed) dentist "A" if any work is required. Probably would go over like a lead balloon.

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

For those of you who have good teeth- just don’t get too cocky!
My dentist always told me that I had good teeth and as long as I took care of them I would be able to keep them my entire life.
Then something strange happened to my upper front tooth. Resorption- where the tooth disintegrates its own root. Sometimes root canals fix it and sometimes not. It did not in my case and now I have an implant.
My tooth wasn’t injured or anything unless it had happened 50 years before the resorption started.

I always went to the dentist every 6 months and still do. More important now than ever since that implant needs to be checked out to ensure no infection is brewing up there.

 

[MC Rider]

I think about 2009 I quit going for a few years.
Regrets suck.

 

[aaronc879]

I haven't been to a dentist since 2012. I don't plan to go to a dentist unless I am having significant pain that doesn't go away. In that case I will likely just have a tooth extracted if the other option is a root canal and crown.

 

[aja8888]

I go twice a year to show off all the new parts in my mouth that cost me as much as a full size truck!!

 

[CaliKid]

People who don't go to the dentist tend to, and I am generalizing, have gross looking teeth. I think I'll keep paying for the dentist and find other places to save a buck!

 

[Gumby]

I wouldn't chance it. Gum disease is associated with heart disease. See

Gum disease and the connection to heart disease - Harvard Health

For me, it's been one of the more surprising observations in recent years: study after study has shown that people who have poor oral health (such as gum disease or tooth loss) have higher rates of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke than people with good oral health. ...

www.health.harvard.edu

Gum disease and heart health: how are they connected?

Discover the work of Dr. Karolin Hijazi, a BHF-funded researcher who is studying the link between mouth bacteria, gum disease and heart attacks.

www.bhf.org.uk

 

[youbet]

I'm surprised at how many posters here have cost as a major consideration in their dental care.

 

[Koolau]

I haven't been to a dentist since 2012. I don't plan to go to a dentist unless I am having significant pain that doesn't go away. In that case I will likely just have a tooth extracted if the other option is a root canal and crown.

I guess we now have some idea about how you survive on $25K/year.

I'm sure between DW and me, we must average between $2K and $4K per year dental bills. I hope you don't have a major dental bill in your future. Best luck.

 

[Sue J]

As a kid I didn't go to the dentist on a regular basis. Then I had four large fillings at age 18. Later, as an adult one of those teeth broke and I progressed to a crown, eventually all four ended up as crowns.

When DH had a career with good dental insurance I started on the every six months cleaning and exam habit. It was covered in full and I knew it was a good idea. Occasionally, I would need a small filling, covered in part by the insurance.

When DH retired we no longer had the dental insurance, it just wasn't worth it. Instead we pay for the work as needed. I've continued with the every six months cleaning and exam habit. It's $140 for the cleaning, X-rays and exam. It takes 45 minutes. Nobody likes to go to the dentist! I do it because I know it's better to do the maintenance now to prevent problems and to catch issues early.

In my 50's I had to see a periodontist and go through that treatment. From that I learned to FLOSS EVERYDAY! It's cheap and very cost effective. I used to think it was gross and annoying, now I enjoy it and know it's one of my better habits.

I am adulting!

 

[Car-Guy]

About 15 years ago I had a molar "capped". Fast forward to last year, I had a "different" molar pulled. (~14 years between visits) I'm sure I need some dental work but nothing major so I'll just keeping on getting dental problems addressed on a as needed basis.

Could some PM help me longer term? Maybe...

 

[TrvlBug]

A few years ago, our dentist during the hygiene exam, discovered what she thought was a small tumor in DH's throat. It was and fortunately was benign.

Another reason for regular visits...a few years ago I had off and on very slight irritation with hot drinks. I know that's something to be concerned about but since it wasn't bothersome and disappeared and as I had had a hygiene exam within the past 3 months, I wasn't overly concerned. Until one day I just happened to press against my jaw with odd resulting minor pain. Off to the dentist I went and they discovered a massive infection. Long story short, I now have an implant...the infection did destroy some bone mass, but I was able to recover that.

We will continue with our every 4month hygiene visits with exam every other visit and x-rays every 2 years.

 

[teej1985]

I have a family history of terrible gums. My dad lost all his upper teeth in his early 30s. My oldest brother was told he had the "gums of a 50-year-old" when he was 16. And I, too, have been on an increased dental regimen because of it. And while I let it go a little in my 20s and into my 30s, since then I've been on it. And my teeth haven't fallen out yet.

I have to go in every three months as a perio patient. We are really lucky to have *really* good dental insurance, and it includes two perio maintenance appointments every year as preventative care in addition to the two regular cleanings. So by alternating every three months, it is all 100% covered. And we are very happy with our dentist and his office takes relatively few insurances, but ours is one of them.

That's super strange that they let you alternate between the different types of cleaning.

 

[Pluperfect]

Besides all that, ew. At least go and get the appropriate cleanings and check ups.

Why the "ew"? Even after several years without a cleaning, my teeth need only mild cleaning, mainly behind the bottom front teeth, where my tongue rests. It's the same place at least one previous hygienist noted tends to build plaque, while the rest of my teeth somehow resist.

Actually, I had braces when I was in my 30s, and when I got them removed after two years or whatever, I went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned and he said they were the cleanest post-braces teeth he'd ever seen.

That's just how my teeth roll, and it makes me sad that other people have much more problematic teeth. But it also seems obvious that treatment recommendations are at best very general.

Another reason for regular visits...a few years ago I had off and on very slight irritation with hot drinks. I know that's something to be concerned about but since it wasn't bothersome and disappeared and as I had had a hygiene exam within the past 3 months, I wasn't overly concerned. Until one day I just happened to press against my jaw with odd resulting minor pain. Off to the dentist I went and they discovered a massive infection. Long story short, I now have an implant...the infection did destroy some bone mass, but I was able to recover that.

We will continue with our every 4month hygiene visits with exam every other visit and x-rays every 2 years.

It sounds to me like you should be getting checked every two months.