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Probably a couple of years and I must admit that I'm suspicious of the whole regular check-up thing. My NHS doctor doesn't seem to think that I need to come in for a regular check up but my private dentist does for reasons I've never fully understood. Does attacking my teeth with various implements every year or so really make them last longer? Maybe, but when I do go they always seem to tell me that my teeth are fine but that I really should get them checked more often. Why? I think. They seem to be doing fine and all you've done is made them sore.
I did just get an email reminding me that I'm "now very overdue" for my Routine Dental Examination appointment though. So I probably should go and get moaned at again.
This morning- one of my teeth is dying/ dead. It was fine* until the dentist put a filling in it a couple of weeks ago.
*Maybe it wasn't? After all it needed a filling but it definitely wasn't agony like it is now.
🙁
Yep definitely the dentists fault, nothing to do with the fact that it had a massive hole in it before it was filled, bet he ripped you off too to fund his private Caribbean island!
In all likelihood it’s a deep filling because you had a deep load of decay in there at some point so it’s close to the nerve and the tooth is having a hard time settling down. Teeth aren’t very resilient to things and cope with small fillings where disease is fought early much better than deep holes. Hence leaving things until you get pain or “think you need a filling” is not that helpful.
In contrast to many general health complaints, most dental disease is symptomless until it gets to an advanced stage. If you go for check ups regularly it gives the opportunity to spot and deal with the disease before it gets too bad ( ie causing pain or bits falling off) and is usually less painful, unpleasant and cheaper as a result.
That said, the 6 monthly thing is way more frequent than most people need and is a hoangover of the way the NHS was organised years ago.
I've been 3 times since lockdown. One of those was a crown fitting. Went last week most recently and have a hygienist on Friday.
It's harder to get appointments as they can't fit as many in due to cleaning protocols. I have to wait outside rather than in the waiting room.
Private practice.
In contrast to many general health complaints, most dental disease is symptomless until it gets to an advanced stage.
Only had one tooth fail, it passed the bi-annual xray then randomly broke in half whilst I was eating a peanut butter sandwich. Totally painless, the dentist was very surprised and asking all sorts of Qs about had I been in a car crash as he couldn't explain how it went from 100% to broken in such a short time (given I'm 50 and never had a filling). He just pulled the root out as it was a molar and just left a gap.
In contrast to many general health complaints, most dental disease is symptomless until it gets to an advanced stage. If you go for check ups regularly it gives the opportunity to spot and deal with the disease before it gets too bad ( ie causing pain or bits falling off) and is usually less painful, unpleasant and cheaper as a result.
£2,500 into dental work this year I am now firmly in this camp! Will be getting checked & x-ray'ed every 6 months minimum!
And hygienist every 3
F*ck going through this again. Catch it early and it's a minor filling.
Probably a couple of years and I must admit that I’m suspicious of the whole regular check-up thing. My NHS doctor doesn’t seem to think that I need to come in for a regular check up but my private dentist does for reasons I’ve never fully understood.
IMHO the failing here isn't the dentist being excessive, it's the doctor not being so.
I reckon we'd save an absolute fortune if we gave people routine checkups to nip problems in the bud rather than wait until it was a huge issue. We do it with cars, why not with people? Catching heart disease / cancer / etc etc early is way simpler and would swerve a lot of needless deaths in an aging population.
Cynically, maybe that's why.
IMHO the failing here isn’t the dentist being excessive, it’s the doctor not being so
That had crossed my mind too 🙂
@ceepers makes some good points although I'd suggest that lots of other health conditions can also be symptomless until they are quite advanced. Although if I'm honest I expect the real reason I don't go the the dentist very often is a combination of some bad experiences many years ago and being a wuss. The rest is probably just a desperate attempt to rationalise my cowardice.
The reason I don't go very often is its such a drag, they're always running late, so have to wait for 30 mins plus, plus have to get there early to fill in all the pointless forms which were exactly the same the 20 previous times I visted. Basically takes an hour there for a 2 min appointment, plus cycling to / from.
I see the hygenist every 6 months as I think that's the value-add bit. The dentist was just a necessary inconvenience (although they've struck me off now, so don't need to bother anymore).
Yep definitely the dentists fault,
I knew it!
Footflaps - my dentist may be an anomaly but in 20 years I've only ever been delayed by an 'emergency' with a previous patient and that has happened no more than twice.
As for '...filling in forms' I'm asked to update my records at 2 yearly intervals.
All irrelevant really as we have different views about the relevance and importance of professional dental care.
Winding back the clock a few years...old mate of mine had a neighbour who worked as long-distance lorry driver who, back at home, drank heavily; one night he had some toothache so, pissed up, attempted some DIY dentistry to remove troublesome tooth with pliers.
Next thing you know, he's hospitalised - blood loss etc; you know 'Eyeless in Gaza'?
This was toothless in Wallsend.
Lost his job due to his alcoholism.
Neighbour problems on the other side were a tad more serious; father and son had 'disagreed' for years.
That ended when pissed-up son and father squared up after a Sunday afternoon session on the sauce; son murdered father by stabbing him through the heart.
My home town Wallsend, I miss it like a hole in the heart.
Dazh may recognise some of this.
We went as a family for a check up (NHS) last week and it all felt very normal. I did ask how it had been and she said difficult but getting better.
The windows were open, they had fans and air purifiers but still had head to toe ppe for bigger jobs.
Last time was when I was 17...I'm 34 now
I've gone half my life without seeing a dentist. Wow.
Every 6 months for check up and hygienist. Cool story eh?
In March had a check-up.
Had an emergency filling cos one fell out about a month prior to that.
They are doing the usual appointments but they have to "deep clean" the surgery between patients, so visits are more widely spaced than normal. Bookings are well in advance.
Not sure if Denplan is such good value in these circumstances. If it ever was.
Not sure if Denplan is such good value in these circumstances. If it ever was.
On the other hand your practice hasn’t gone bankrupt and is still there providing routine and emergency care...
Yesterday for a routine checkup.
Hygienist booked for a couple of months time.
All seems normal apart from having to wear a mask in the waiting room & not sat in the dentists chair.
They started back up about 6 months ago.
I'm with Denplan so go every 6 months for a check-up plus hygienist jet wash. Plus whatever else needs doing like x-rays, etc.
1991, then about 2005 I needed one filling. That visit was instigated by my new wife being disgusted I hadn't visited a dentist in so long. Haven't been back since. Blessed with strong teeth, give them one good brush every day.
Similarly, one visit to a doctor in my adult life. I'm currently 48. I regard myself as lucky.