Current Events > Went go the dentist for a checkup for the first time in about twenty years...

(+) Yeah! (+)

...need a root canal, 2 crowns, a filling, and a deep cleaning... Over all not to horrible
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I'm pretty sure root canals are not meant to be too pleasant.

Alakazamtrainer posted...

root canal

You're fucked.

I always thought to have bright white awesome teeth is expensive and not worth it. If theyre functional and your not overly embarrassed to smile for photos, dont worry about it.
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IdiotMachine posted...

Alakazamtrainer posted...

root canal

You're fucked.

Its on the right side and its a chronic problem so the dentist isnt that worried about it. Hes more worried about the filling (chipped molar) and the other crown... And the Cleaning.
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You did better than me with the same concept. I had 11 cavities at the time and only went in for a broken wisdom tooth, leading to it and the other 3 being removed.
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how are you all so fucked? i haven't been to the dentist since like, 2006 and my teeth are fine.

i just brush and floss
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RedWhiteBlue posted...

I assume you went since you knew there were problems? Were any a surprise? Why didn't you get checkups every year or two?

Nothing suprising. I knew about the one tooth needing a root canal... Since i was like 14, never had the money.

No money or insurance.

Colorado medicaid covers up to 1000 in dental
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I went last week for a cleaning and I needed the following

3 fillings
1 root canal
1 tooth implant
3 wisdom teeth removed
14 cavities
Cleaning
Whitening

If it went for my company benefits I'd be paying over 10 grand
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IdiotMachine posted...

Alakazamtrainer posted...

root canal

You're fucked.

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_BlueMonk posted...

how are you all so fucked? i haven't been to the dentist since like, 2006 and my teeth are fine.

i just brush and floss

If you haven't been to the dentist how do you know?

BTW I've had 3 root canals (bicycle accident) and I'm not sure what the fuss is about. It just takes a while for the dentist to drill all the way down there. Didn't feel a thing.

Wait till you have some money and time...
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apocalyptic_4 posted...

I went last week for a cleaning and I needed the following

3 fillings
1 root canal
1 tooth implant
3 wisdom teeth removed
14 cavities
Cleaning
Whitening

If it went for my company benefits I'd be paying over 10 grand

I'm pretty much in the same boat. Previous job had shitty insurance. New jobs gives me that primo coverage.

Need a ton of work done
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I've had 2 root canals and honestly they're not bad at all. Though I got nitrous gas and a Valium for the procedure so they probably could have ripped all my teeth out and I wouldn't have noticed.
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PSXer_D5_MkIII posted...

If you haven't been to the dentist how do you know?

i guess you're right. but can't you tell if you have a cavity? like theres pain, etc.
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i would get a second opinion
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is dental really that much of a pain in the ass that people don't go the recommended 2 times a year?
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_BlueMonk posted...

how are you all so fucked? i haven't been to the dentist since like, 2006 and my teeth are fine.

genetics.
consider yourself lucky because you've been gifted with a good set of teeth that weren't easily susceptible to cavities or crowded enough to need braces or rotting for no reason or many of the other million hereditary dental problems.
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Alakazamtrainer posted...

RedWhiteBlue posted...

I assume you went since you knew there were problems? Were any a surprise? Why didn't you get checkups every year or two?

Nothing suprising. I knew about the one tooth needing a root canal... Since i was like 14, never had the money.

No money or insurance.

Colorado medicaid covers up to 1000 in dental

Yeah but a lot of offices have competitive prices for just routine care type of stuff.

It's cheaper getting a cleaning for $60 once or twice a year than getting $800 in fillings and a $1,500 root canal.

_BlueMonk posted...

how are you all so fucked? i haven't been to the dentist since like, 2006 and my teeth are fine.

i just brush and floss

As far as you know. You wouldn't be aware of the extent of gingivitis. It could be pretty far advanced and asymptomatic as far as you could tell, but it's a stone through away from developing periodontitis. And inflammation in your gums is linked to cardiovascular health.

*shrug*, just saying, it's more than cosmetic.
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_BlueMonk posted...

PSXer_D5_MkIII posted...

If you haven't been to the dentist how do you know?

i guess you're right. but can't you tell if you have a cavity? like theres pain, etc.

Not nessecarily. Ive never felt any pain from my cavities.

smoke_break posted...

_BlueMonk posted...

how are you all so fucked? i haven't been to the dentist since like, 2006 and my teeth are fine.

genetics.
consider yourself lucky because you've been gifted with a good set of teeth that weren't easily susceptible to cavities or crowded enough to need braces or rotting for no reason or many of the other million hereditary dental problems.

Yup. Genetics. My molars and bicuspids are formed in such a way that the crevices in them are so narrow that the bristles of toothbrushes cant get in to clean. My teeth are practically safe havens for bacteria.
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Soviet_Poland posted...

Alakazamtrainer posted...

RedWhiteBlue posted...

I assume you went since you knew there were problems? Were any a surprise? Why didn't you get checkups every year or two?

Nothing suprising. I knew about the one tooth needing a root canal... Since i was like 14, never had the money.

No money or insurance.

Colorado medicaid covers up to 1000 in dental

Yeah but a lot of offices have competitive prices for just routine care type of stuff.

It's cheaper getting a cleaning for $60 once or twice a year than getting $800 in fillings and a $1,500 root canal.

_BlueMonk posted...

how are you all so fucked? i haven't been to the dentist since like, 2006 and my teeth are fine.

i just brush and floss

As far as you know. You wouldn't be aware of the extent of gingivitis. It could be pretty far advanced and asymptomatic as far as you could tell, but it's a stone through away from developing periodontitis. And inflammation in your gums is linked to cardiovascular health.

*shrug*, just saying, it's more than cosmetic.

Money i just dont have the money to do it
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Wow, some of you need to brush your teeth a lot more.
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fenderbender321 posted...

whitelytning posted...

Wow, some of you need to brush your teeth a lot more.

A lot of it is genetics. I had terrible brushing habits, and almost never flossed for years (and never went tot he dentist) and I really didn't have any issues.

This so much. My mother has great teeth (which i got). My dads side has horrible teeth. Most of my aunts and uncles lost all of their teeth before 25
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some people's teeth are just worse than others. some people can do nothing and be fine. others can brush and brush and still get cavities. everyone is different

whitelytning posted...

Wow, some of you need to brush your teeth a lot more.

My mom was really big on good oral hygiene. As a result, I brush multiple times and say, floss daily, and use mouthwash. However, I still get cavities. There isnt much I can do about it. I can and have received sealants, which have helped, but they dont last. My last two cavities were where the sealants came off. On the other hand, my sister rarely brushes more than once a day but has no cavities.
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i haven't been to the dentist in over 15 years - i know i have some cavities - i avoid eating anything too sweet like candy or cold ice cream. not sure how bad it is though, like if i need some teeth pulled or removed >_>

just recently i took to flossing my teeth. i barely brushed for years. <__<
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Its diet too. I bet a lot of you that have issues eat/drink a lot of sugar.
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Dentist keeps calling me for my 6 month cleaning, but da bitch always finds something expensive to work on so i just ignore lol

I'll go in a few months tbh
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Oooh deep cleaning. Gf is a dental hygienist, those take forever to do properly and I think you have to go back every 3 months.
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I recently went for the first time in ten years. No cavities. I don't take particularly good care of them but I was lucky to inherit my mom's teeth. She only had one cavity her entire life.

My gf on the other hand takes great care of her teeth and uses some enamel strengthening mouth wash. She still gets 2-3 cavities. She's just got bad teeth genetics.
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I actually enjoy going to the dentist every 6 months. I enjoy the nice clean feeling you get after its done that stays with you for weeks.

Oh and I've always had good health insurance so there is that too.

I've also never ever had a cavity my whole life. I only have some gum recession from brushing too hard.
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Basically all of the teeth in my left side of my mouth need to be extracted. So it looks like it's going to be dentures for me.
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whitelytning posted...

Its diet too. I bet a lot of you that have issues eat/drink a lot of sugar.

That was my issue as well as little calcium In my diet growing up. Didn't drink milk even when I was a baby so I had bad teeth.
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Sucks that you couldn't afford to go to the dentist for so long. I know I had to skip going for a couple years because of money too.
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whitelytning posted...

Its diet too. I bet a lot of you that have issues eat/drink a lot of sugar.

Yeah, I admit to practically living on cola through university and several years beyond.
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I go every 6 months like they recommend. Enjoy putting all your food in a blender when you're 60 everyone else.
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I'm always good about staving off cavities - I do think some of that is genetics. At least with whether you need braces or not. I've barely had any pure teeth problems.

Killer for me is my gums. I have to take a lot of care brushing them and taking my Listerine. I've already had one grafting surgery at a periodontist office too. I'd honestly rather have some teeth problems over gum issues.
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I've had three cavities and one tooth that grew in without enamel.

It's like I have mostly the genes of my dad's awesome teeth, but some of the genes from the terrible teeth from my mom snuck it's way in there, so I get an issue rarely.

The fact I don't eat or drink that much of food and drink that are bad for teeth probably helps a lot.

But yeah, having bad genetics is basically a lifetime of dental expenses (Well, having bad genes for a ton of things means that, so that's really a Captain Obvious statement). I have a good idea of how much it royally sucks because of my mom, where most of her teeth have had root canals or been outright replaced.
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Syko_Darksyde posted...

Basically all of the teeth in my left side of my mouth need to be extracted. So it looks like it's going to be dentures for me.

Same for me. Bad diet and bad teeth genetics. I brushed every day but rarely flossed. I'm 34 and have ten teeth left on the bottom. None on top. I'll be getting dentures as soon as I decide where to go. I've got insurance and I can get some money from my Indian tribe. Shouldn't cost me anything.

On the bright side, I can't chew meat very well anymore so I've lost 20 pounds!
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Lol root canals are nothing and the people perpetuating this myth of them being some nightmarish thing are dorks.

Just got one a couple of weeks ago and you literally feel nothing. You're so numbed up, hell I almost fell asleep during the procedure.
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4 root canals and 1 with a crown on top.
My teeth have always been fucked since I was a kid. Brush, floss, mouth wash. Never helped.
I will say this. Having experienced tooth aches in each one that resulted in those root canals. There is no pain quite like it and you actually pray for the relief of getting the numbing injection. The root canal itself? They just prop your mouth open which will give you some massive jaw pain later in the day. But it's nothing that bad.
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