by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 03/30/2017 at 10:47
by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 03/30/2017 at 10:47
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STARS: 0
Personally, I believe that Marathon Man should be required viewing for all dentists and dental assistants.
Of course, I, of all people, should be more serious about dental health. I make a living with my mouth, after all. As the dental assistant went around my teeth and stuck a probe into my gums to see how much tartar I’ve built up since the last visit (and remind me why it’s been seven years), I laughed out loud when she stopped and said, “Do you have insurance?” Fortunately, yes. I’ve got to go back for scaling, where they put half my face to sleep so they can scrape seven years worth of crud from my teeth and gums. I’ve had it done before. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson. And it’s expensive, too. Twice-yearly cleanings are free on our insurance, and they help you avoid facial anesthesia and dental scourings. Funny how that works.
So, brush your teeth every day, Oppo (“Up like a rocket, down like the rain, back and forth like a choo-choo train”). And you really should floss, too, though I’m convinced that dentists are the only ones who floss regularly. I asked the assistant, and she said that maybe 5% of her patients actually floss.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
03/30/2017 at 10:52, STARS: 2
No one wants a mouth full of fist when flossing.
use these.
"ceanderson920" (ceanderson9290)
03/30/2017 at 10:52, STARS: 1
I just had mine done a month or so ago after 3 years and I thought it was bad! I also try to floss everyday after lunch but most of the time I forget. Luckily I now have dental insurance so I am going to go back more often now.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
03/30/2017 at 10:54, STARS: 9
Of course, I, of all people, should be more serious about dental health. I make a living with my mouth, after all.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 10:56, STARS: 1
Fucking Nicholson.
"Azrek" (azrek)
03/30/2017 at 10:56, STARS: 1
I go every year or so. As a kid I had constant issues with dentists...not my teeth, mind you. The dentist. It was like a constant case for bad luck...every...time. It later followed me into young adult years.
I had drills break, clamps on a tooth hit a nerve, I bled everywhere, and later had not 1...not 2...but 4 seals on my molars that failed and required more drilling because they didn’t put them on right (3 different dentists).
I brush, use good mouthwashes and floss. But damn...if I don’t have memories of a mouth full of blood from the dentist. I suppose later when I was in sports that blood in my mouth never bothered me.
"vondon302" (vondon302)
03/30/2017 at 10:57, STARS: 1
Ouch. Did that once and only once.
It’s amaxing how much bigger your mouth is after.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 10:59, STARS: 1
I’ve also got an impacted wisdom tooth. The dentist said, “I’ll have the surgeon look at that. He may need to pop it out.” Pop it out. Right. “Oh, you’ll be asleep for it.” Right. How about, no.
"jimz" (jimz)
03/30/2017 at 11:00, STARS: 2
Of course, I, of all people, should be more serious about dental health. I make a living with my mouth, after all.
we could go all sorts of places with this.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 0
You know, we could, and I hadn’t even noticed that until Honeybunchesofgoats replied with that absolutely perfect Nicholson GIF.
I play trumpet, btw, in case you didn’t know. That’s really what I meant. No, really .
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
03/30/2017 at 11:08, STARS: 1
As if agoraphobic me didn’t have enough reasons to stay in our apartment, I received this postcard earlier in the week:
I suppose this means that there is NOTHING that I can’t get delivered in Manhattan. It’s ... crazy.
"Roundbadge" (Roundbadge)
03/30/2017 at 11:09, STARS: 1
I used to go twice a year, religiously. Knocked off for a couple of years, then started going again in 2002. I had no insurance and had to pay out of pocket for drilling & filling 8 cavities. A couple more appointments, then I got another job within the same company, but across the state. I stopped going altogether, and it took 12 years and a broken tooth to go again.
They managed to cap that tooth, and then I had a cleaning done which kicked off the plan to do some sort of deep fluoride cleaning of my gums and also drill & replace several of the fillings. My dental insurance company rejected the quotes, claiming the cap and subsequent cleaning plus those plans would be too much for one year.
Dentist’s office: “So you’ll pay the [exorbitant amount] out of pocket then?”
Me: “Yeah, no.”
So it’s been another 2 years since I’ve been to the dentist. I do floss regularly though now...so I guess that’s something.
"Jcarr" (jcarr)
03/30/2017 at 11:12, STARS: 2
I went to the dentist for the first time in about 4 years last fall...and ended up having to have a tooth pulled (it was my last remaining wisdom tooth).
Having a tooth pulled while I was awake was one of the worst things I’ve yet experienced.
Since then, I brush and floss religiously.
"Jcarr" (jcarr)
03/30/2017 at 11:12, STARS: 3
Don’t do it awake. Trust me. If you can be put under, do it.
"spanfucker retire bitch" (lelykon)
03/30/2017 at 11:19, STARS: 0
Flossing doesn’t actually do shit. There is no empirical evidence of peer reviewed research to show that flossing has any tangible benefits. At least doing it regularly, I only do it to the extent of getting chicken or vegetables unstuck from between my teeth when I can feel it.
Now brushing at least twice a day and going to the dentist every 6 months? Yes sir, keep doing that. Nothing is better or cheaper (if you have the insurance anyways) then brushing every day and the twice a year cleanings.
"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/30/2017 at 11:19, STARS: 3
I have also learned this lesson the hard way over the last couple of years. It has been extremely expensive.
"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/30/2017 at 11:20, STARS: 0
I have also learned this lesson the hard way over the last couple of years. It has been extremely expensive.
"vondon302" (vondon302)
03/30/2017 at 11:29, STARS: 1
Double ouch. Imapacted wisdom teeth was the second worst thing that has ever happened to me. Be put out and for gods sake don’t get dry socket. Good luck.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/30/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 1
I should be going to the dentist, too. It’s been about 5 years, and I have no excuse, seeing as how I work in a dental school and my insurance covers bi-annual cleanings as well.
At least I do make visits to the hygienist in Grad Perio on the first floor for cleanings. I get the faculty discount, and I do floss.
"You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much" (youcantellafinn)
03/30/2017 at 11:41, STARS: 0
My teeth have been blessed by winning the genetic lottery. I had a nine year gap between dentist visits. The hygienist complained a little bit about how difficult it was to clean the gunk off, but didn’t need to resort to angle grinders or anesthesia or anything. Then the dentist came in to check my teeth. His speech (paraphrased below) was hilarious from my point of view:
Your teeth are in great shape and I don’t see any problem areas... But I’m obligated to tell you that you need to come in more often than every nine years.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 11:51, STARS: 0
“$100 off for clients without insurance”
I don’t even want to think about what this service charges.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 0
Do what you can.
"Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again." (sir-stig)
03/30/2017 at 11:54, STARS: 1
There is no good study of it because people are fucking liars, not because it isn’t better for you. Pretty much it boils down to “we saw improvements, but so many people didn’t accurately report flossing we can’t use these results.”
I have started flossing every night for the last few months and coincidentally had a last minute dental appointment after about a month of that and let me tell you it is awesome to have your gums not bleed like a stuck pig and be sore for a week like they normally are.
"Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again." (sir-stig)
03/30/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 1
Gotta love them pushing your head into the seat and yanking. ugh.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 11:56, STARS: 0
I have an impacted wisdom tooth. The dentist said the surgeon might want to “pop it out.” Yeah, no. “But you’ll be asleep.” Yeah, uh, no.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 11:59, STARS: 1
The scaling is a bit over $1000. I will have to pay a shade under half OOP. That will drain our FLEX account, but that’s what it’s for. However, since my wife is the one providing the insurance through her work (“We pay for regular checkups, you know...”), I’ll have to listen to her chiding me about it for a while.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 0
Dry socket?
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 0
Aside from the gunk, I have no cavities (AFAIK). My kids, on the other hand, have already had a few. Genetics are a fickle thing.
"spanfucker retire bitch" (lelykon)
03/30/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 0
But what does that have to you do with flossing helping anything stay clean? Not having your gums bleed doesn’t mean they’re any cleaner. Every time I go to the dentist for my cleaning they remark at how well kept my teeth are and ask if I’ve been flossing. I’ve never spent any meaningful amount of time flossing in my life though.
"vondon302" (vondon302)
03/30/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 1
Your better off not knowing. Good luck!
"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/30/2017 at 12:06, STARS: 1
So far I’ve paid about $1500 for root canals and apparently I need another. I’m also $1100 in for fillings.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
Ouch.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
03/30/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 1
Wife kicked my ass and sent me to the dentist after she found out I hadn’t gone for 5 years. Also, my teeth stain if I even look at coffee and she was getting sick of my brown teeth.
Also, my parents have teeth issues and it is expensive and painful. So, I brush and floss as much as I can now.
"Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again." (sir-stig)
03/30/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 0
Because it literally is scraping it off of your teeth without letting it harden. Trust me, I get plaque build up between my bottom front teeth when I don’t floss regularly, to the point of needing to scrape it off every month or so. I also would regularly get cankers in my mouth, and I haven’t had a hint of one since I have been flossing every night. Feel free to not floss, just be aware your mouth is full of shit your toothbrush can’t get off.
"Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again." (sir-stig)
03/30/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 0
Because it literally is scraping it off of your teeth without letting it harden. Trust me, I get plaque build up between my bottom front teeth when I don’t floss regularly, to the point of needing to scrape it off every month or so. I also would regularly get cankers in my mouth, and I haven’t had a hint of one since I have been flossing every night. Feel free to not floss, just be aware your mouth is full of shit your toothbrush can’t get off.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 1
Humans are funny creatures. We know what’s good for us, but we don’t do anything about it until there’s a crisis. 9 times out of 10, it’s not as bad as we feared. 1 time out of 10 its worse.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
03/30/2017 at 14:15, STARS: 1
Agreed. I skipped the dentist for probably 3-4 years. In that period I got better at regular brushing... but it was still probably once a day max. I’d just rather roll over and go to sleep than get up again to brush. I could FEEL cavities growing by the end of it. Eventually I was pretty sure I felt something break, so I went... so began ~2 years of dentist trips every 2-5 weeks. Not counting regular cleanings. By the time the dust settled about a year ago I’d had 15-20 new fillings, one of which was so close to the nerve and had so little tooth left that it took 3 visits to get right. They drilled what they could and put in a temporary filling so they could check to make sure it wasn’t getting infected, and the third time finally fixed it. Overall it lightened my wallet to the tune of ~$3800.
Brush your teeth, kids. Needless to say I’ve learned my lesson on that one. Flossing though—I don’t do it unless I can feel something in my teeth. I figure if I keep up my regular appearances the dentist can get whatever the brush misses... it’s worked so far, it’s been 3 years since the first appointment and there’ve been no new developments.
Side note: Screw freezing with a piece of rusty rebar. Hate it. Hate the needle, hate the limp face, hate everything about it. Won’t touch it.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
03/30/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 0
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
03/30/2017 at 16:06, STARS: 1
We buy excellent toothbrushes and floss, so I can’t say we’ll invite these people over. On the other hand, this might not be a reach for a rich person who hates office visits. Not judging ...
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/30/2017 at 16:23, STARS: 0
If you’ve got the money, might as well spend it.
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
03/30/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 1
After taking a hiatus from the dentist for 16 years, I had to go because of a broken tooth. I finally got my wisdom teeth out at 37. I also have to do root planing and 4 fillings. Not too bad.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
03/30/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 0
No, I’ll just keep brushing twice a day and hoping the one crown I have doesn’t fall out ....
"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
03/30/2017 at 21:14, STARS: 0
I went over a year once. Relocated for work, and just got so busy with a new job and a new schedule and just never bothered to look for a local dental office and book an appointment. Have always had good insurance, free regular checkups and cleanings, and it isn’t like dental exams are even all that expensive in the scheme of things, even if you do have to go out of pocket.
Fortunately, when I did go, it wasn’t too bad. A little plaque buildup near the lower gums, but it wasn’t anything they couldn’t handle, but they did find that a sealant the dentist applied to fill in one of the natural crevices in my molars some 15 years previously had failed and allowed gunk to settle underneath it, which was just starting to erode the surface of the enamel. Had I let it go longer, would have easily been a full blown cavity. So, they had to grind that off, clean it out, and reseal.
Ironically, the thing they did to make the teeth easier to clean and prevent cavities ended up doing the exact opposite.
Like you, lesson learned, every six months since then, no excuses.