When were you last at the Dentist?

Greta_Funberg · 25-08-2020 09:07AM #1

Luckily I had a checkup in mid Feb but was relaying concern about a scheduled next one in September, worried that it might not happen. One friend laughed and told how he hasn't been to one in ten years! Another said at least 5 years for him.

I was a bit lazy in my late teens and early twenties but got serious about oral hygiene. Wondering what the split is here? Do you get regular checkups? Or only when something hurts?

ednwireland · 25-08-2020 09:13AM

havent been in about 10 years went in a couple of weeks ago and need 2 fillings, and another one as a old filling broke last week (he did cr*p on about getting wisdom teeth removed but as ihave no pain form them he can go hang)
i think the electric toothbrush makes you clean your teeth more consistently and i always use mouthwash after (only floss occasionaly when i remember )

harr · 25-08-2020 09:13AM

About 5 years ago , before that it had been 10 years. Luckily I have a good teeth and never needed any work done apart from a filling when I was about 10.
Dentist was happy at my last appointment and I keep them clean with flossing and the usual dental hygiene.
Not a huge fan of the dentist.
They will need a clean this year as I hope to get them whitened around Christmas.

Gregor Samsa · 25-08-2020 10:16AM

Went for a scale and polish in May. Hadn't been for about 2 years before that, teeth are good, but tartar had built up, so the clean took 3 appointments. Teeth and gums feel very clean and healthy now. Each time I go now, I'm booking my next appointment as I leave, so that it's done and I don't leave it too long again. I have the next appointment for October, and all going according to plan, I'll go for a quick clean every 6 months. I'm also using the little TePe brushes religiously now.

jester77 · 25-08-2020 10:35AM

I go twice a year for cleaning. Broke a tooth last month and had to get a crown in last week. Have 3 or 4 other fillings, parents never took me to the dentist as a child

Ush1 · 25-08-2020 10:38AM

This gets me thinking......do dentists ever do a full dental clean on their own teeth? Like the way a barber might cut his own hair.

Hodors Appletart · 25-08-2020 11:05AM

few weeks ago for a check up, no fillings required but they booked me in for a Scale & Polish a week or two later, and I went and had that done

had enough stamps paid so it was €15 in total

I use an electric toothbrush and mouth wash twice a day

25-08-2020 11:10AM

I went for the first time in years last month as I finally had enough PRSI for the subsidised scale and polish. Ended up needing a filling, two bondings and a nightguard after that (apparently I was grinding my teeth in my sleep). Almost €600 gone.

But didn't need any root canal or extractions so could have been worse I guess.

Seamai · 25-08-2020 11:12AM

I usually go every 6 months but am long overdue because of COVID-19. I never need more than a scaling and polishing. The way I look at it is frequent visits help to keep things under control and avoid problems before they get out of hand.

Plasandrunt · 25-08-2020 11:25AM

I'm going next Monday for the first time since I was 15, I'm 33 now.

completedit · 25-08-2020 11:51AM

Been once in my life. Need to go back asap. Teeth look good but left side beginning to cause an acute headache

Surreptitious · 25-08-2020 11:53AM

Got my teeth whitened before lockdown and a topping done on a chipped tooth. Would go regularly as the more often you go the less you would need to pay out long term.

jiltloop · 25-08-2020 11:55AM

I'm almost 39 and the last time I was in the dentist was when i was around 12/13. Haven't had any issues with my teeth, I look after them fairly well and hate the dentist so I feel no great urge to go. I get complimented on my teeth from time to time so I seem to be doing ok without the dentist.

Apiarist · 25-08-2020 12:03PM

Normally I go for a checkup and scaling/cleaning once a year in July, but not this year.

Canis Lupus · 25-08-2020 12:48PM

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Went for a scale and polish in May. Hadn't been for about 2 years before that, teeth are good, but tartar had built up, so the clean took 3 appointments. Teeth and gums feel very clean and healthy now. Each time I go now, I'm booking my next appointment as I leave, so that it's done and I don't leave it too long again. I have the next appointment for October, and all going according to plan, I'll go for a quick clean every 6 months. I'm also using the little TePe brushes religiously now.

3 appointments for tartar?

JimmyVik · 25-08-2020 12:52PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

3 appointments for tartar?

My old dentist did the same. After the first appointment I switched dentist. The new dentist said they were conning me.
He did the rest of the job there and then. He told me that he would never have scheduled 3 appointments and would have done the whole thing in one go for me. Said its atactic a lot of the unscrupulous dentists have been doing the last while.

25-08-2020 12:57PM

jiltloop wrote: »

I'm almost 39 and the last time I was in the dentist was when i was around 12/13. Haven't had any issues with my teeth, I look after them fairly well and hate the dentist so I feel no great urge to go. I get complimented on my teeth from time to time so I seem to be doing ok without the dentist.

Similar scenario here, in my mid-thirties and last visit was at the age of 12 for fillings in molars. Still holding up, and the wisdom teeth provided little trouble when they started pushing out. Brush twice a day, other than that I won a prize in the genetic lottery.

Mango Joe · 25-08-2020 01:01PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

3 appointments for tartar?

JimmyVik wrote: »

My old dentist did the same. After the first appointment I switched dentist. The new dentist said they were conning me.
He did the rest of the job there and then. He told me that he would never have scheduled 3 appointments and would have done the whole thing in one go for me. Said its atactic a lot of the unscrupulous dentists have been doing the last while.

What about the one where you:

Have a dental problem
Make an appointment
Book time off work
Travel to the Dentist
Dentist says he'll need to carry out work on whatever real or made up issues they see
Won't carry out the work that day - New appointment needed, but still charges you for that day and then next one ????

Its criminal, opinions may vary but I think there's an argument to be made that a lot of people who are Dentists got into a grim and unpleasant job because of the large amount of easy money to be made and no other reason.

These same people are often very poor at resisting temptation to overcharge to a massive degree or carry out unnecessary work.

harr · 25-08-2020 01:20PM

On the issue of overcharging or saying you need work unnecessarily. The last time I went my dentist was happy overall and said I kept my teeth well and no serious issues ,
but still proceeded to give me a list of work I might need costing about 2 grand Including root canal treatment and new filings, I was shocked because I had no issues something dentist said himself.
I still have no issues 5 years later.
His secretary was nearly adamant I book in the following week to start my root canal treatment and asked if I would like to pay up front or at each session.
I definitely think they do chance it when advising treatments

Gregor Samsa · 25-08-2020 01:30PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

3 appointments for tartar?

Yes. 30 mins each quarter of my mouth, although the third one was just under an hour long as she did all the bottom in one go. You couldn't see it looking at me, but I had pretty bad buildup on the molars and the inside of the lower incisors. Gums weren't in a good way. I knew myself going in that it wasn't going to be a one sitting job. I don't think I was ripped off. Certainly happy with the results, and plan on keeping them that way.

Mango Joe · 25-08-2020 01:37PM

harr wrote: »

On the issue of overcharging or saying you need work unnecessarily. The last time I went my dentist was happy overall and said I kept my teeth well and no serious issues ,
but still proceeded to give me a list of work I might need costing about 2 grand Including root canal treatment and new filings, I was shocked because I had no issues something dentist said himself.
I still have no issues 5 years later.
His secretary was nearly adamant I book in the following week to start my root canal treatment and asked if I would like to pay up front or at each session.
I definitely think they do chance it when advising treatments

Someone I work with visited their Dentist and was told they needed 3 fillings, but not to worry, he has time and she's lucky he can do them right away - big gesture, kind man, you should be sooo grateful.

No, shes says, I've a 21st tonight so I'll have to book in again some other day.....

The lack of any visible decay or pain of any sort got her thinking so she went to a different Dentist..... But never mentioned the supposed 3 fillings needed. After she got an all clear she THEN said she was told she needed 3 fillings, Dentist looked very puzzled and immediately offered to recheck and said 100% there's nothing wrong with your teeth.

Same Dentist had given me a load of fillings years previously and the same with another family member of mine (we were both in school at the time) There were always fillings being done with no pain ever.....

Think he was just crooked as hell throughout.

Name withheld - He's a Limerick City Centre Dentist.

Prick.

25-08-2020 01:40PM

Got my teeth cleaned when visiting India last year. Think it cost me 10 euro including a prophylaxis.

25-08-2020 01:44PM

About 8 years ago my girlfriend at the time convinced me to go for a checkup. Why not she said, its cheap. Herself was Polish and suggested during our holiday in Poland we go to the dentist together. Initial appraisal for the two of us cost 25 euro. Not each, combined.

The dentist suggested I needed a filling, and I really dont like needles in my gums so she, the dentist, agreed to fill it with no anaesthetic and I'd tell her when it really hurt and she would anaesthetise. It hurt, but not enough for the needle, and to this day the filling is fine.

Said girlfriend has long since left, but I'm considering going back to the same dentist for a checkup. I just need a Polish, prefarably female, friend to accompany me for translation.

25-08-2020 01:54PM

JimmyVik wrote: »

My old dentist did the same. After the first appointment I switched dentist. The new dentist said they were conning me.
He did the rest of the job there and then. He told me that he would never have scheduled 3 appointments and would have done the whole thing in one go for me. Said its atactic a lot of the unscrupulous dentists have been doing the last while.

I doubt this is true, and if the second Dentist did say it, I would have more concerns about him than the first.

Most tartar/plaque is supragingival and relatively easy to see/remove, the part that is under the gum is what does the damage though. When the gross deposits are removed, the soft tissues reduce as they heal, often exposing more of the subgingival deposits. By bringing you back for treatment/review, your first dentist would have been able to assess healing responce and remove the remaining plaque deposits, all the second guy did was send you off out the door, hoping for the best, see you next time.

Under treatment of periodontal conditions is now one of the most common reasons for litigation.

25-08-2020 01:58PM

Mango Joe wrote: »

What about the one where you:
Have a dental problem

Make an appointment

Book time off work

Travel to the Dentist

Dentist says he'll need to carry out work on whatever real or made up issues they see

Won't carry out the work that day - New appointment needed, but still charges you for that day and then next one ????

Its criminal, opinions may vary but I think there's an argument to be made that a lot of people who are Dentists got into a grim and unpleasant job because of the large amount of easy money to be made and no other reason.

These same people are often very poor at resisting temptation to overcharge to a massive degree or carry out unnecessary work.

If you have a problem, how would it be an issue made up by the Dentist?

All Dentists are required by law to display prices, so I’m not sure how you are overcharged.

If you have evidence of Dentists doing un-necessary work for financial gain, contact the Dental Council immediately, the Dentist will be severely reprimanded and will probably lose his/her licence to practice.

JimmyVik · 25-08-2020 02:00PM

Dav010 wrote: »

I doubt this is true, and if the second Dentist did say it, I would have more concerns about him than the first.

Most tartar/plaque is supragingival and relatively easy to see/remove, the part that is under the gum is what does the damage though. When the gross deposits are removed, the soft tissues reduce as they heal, often exposing more of the subgingival deposits. By bringing you back for treatment/review, your first dentist would have been able to assess healing responce and remove the remaining plaque deposits, all the second guy did was send you off out the door, hoping for the best, see you next time.

Under treatment of periodontal conditions is now one of the most common reasons for litigation.

You must be a dentist if you are trying to justify that

Slaanesh · 25-08-2020 02:03PM

I suffer acid reflux AND grind my teeth. Had a lot of work done a couple of years ago due to massive wear.

I'm 39 now and didn't go due to Covid. Had a clean last week and I'm going back next week for 14 fillings (lots of repairs, I had a Daal appliance which has worn too). Nasty ****. Was also due for a Barium study and scope that got cancelled during covid. This was prep work for a Nissen fundoplication to try sort the reflux.

Mango Joe · 25-08-2020 02:08PM

Dav010 wrote: »

If you have a problem, how would it be an issue made up by the Dentist? I'm speaking of additional bogus issues/inflations of problems conjured out of thin air for fraudulent purposes.

All Dentists are required by law to display prices, so I’m not sure how you are overcharged. Imagine if you went to McDonalds for a Hamburger and they charged you for a Hamburger but said you had to come back in 10 days to eat it, and then charged you again for the same Hamburger.....

If you have evidence of Dentists doing un-necessary work for financial gain, contact the Dental Council immediately, the Dentist will be severely reprimanded and will probably lose his/her licence to practice. Oh cool, sounds very easy to collect and furnish this evidence, wish I'd been aware when I was 15 and being defrauded by some crook

Same Dentist used to make you hold the suction tube while his pretty young Dental Nurse/Assistant faffed about with her filing cabinet and then he'd occasionally shout at you if said tube was not angled correctly!!!!

May he die roaring.

25-08-2020 02:13PM

JimmyVik wrote: »

You must be a dentist if you are trying to justify that

I am a Dentist, that how I know what you posted isn’t true.

manlad · 25-08-2020 02:15PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Similar scenario here, in my mid-thirties and last visit was at the age of 12 for fillings in molars. Still holding up, and the wisdom teeth provided little trouble when they started pushing out. Brush twice a day, other than that I won a prize in the genetic lottery.

Your opinion of healthy teeth may be very different to the Dentists, regardless of how good they look to you or others it doesn't mean you could have an underlying issue that is not visible. You won't get anywhere near the same level of cleaning by brushing twice a day as you would from a yearly clean at the dentist.

Its always worth checking these things anyway, a car can look great from the outside but the engine could be in bits, unless you get a mechanic to check it over you're not going to know.

25-08-2020 02:19PM

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Yes. 30 mins each quarter of my mouth, although the third one was just under an hour long as she did all the bottom in one go. You couldn't see it looking at me, but I had pretty bad buildup on the molars and the inside of the lower incisors. Gums weren't in a good way. I knew myself going in that it wasn't going to be a one sitting job. I don't think I was ripped off. Certainly happy with the results, and plan on keeping them that way.

That's called a deep clean where they go under the gum line to get stuff out.
Had it done once and it's not a great experience. Hurt quite a lot compared to a normal scale.

When were you last at the Dentist?

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