I went to the dentist today for the first time in seven and a half years. I know that the dental industry has us thinking we need to go every six months, but I'm curious to know how often most people go.
I went to the dentist today for the first time in seven and a half years. I know that the dental industry has us thinking we need to go every six months, but I'm curious to know how often most people go.
I go every two years and have never had a single problem.
They aren't trying to trick you into going every six months, you really should. If anything dentists make more money when you wait forever and they get to start pulling teeth or doing root canals.
eight months
I once had a ten year sretch when I didn't go. When I finally did I got a cleaning and was done. I usually go once every 2-3 years.
I went from 6th grade until my early 20's without going to the dentist, so about 10 years. No real problems when I finally did go, so I guess I was lucky. I blame my parents for me going so long without seeing a dentist. Most kids aren't asking to go, their parents just make appointments for them.
What's a dentist?
GG mate wrote:
They aren't trying to trick you into going every six months, you really should. If anything dentists make more money when you wait forever and they get to start pulling teeth or doing root canals.
Just depends on your own personal deal. I've had three cavities ever and no other problems at all. My dentist would LIKE it if I came in every 6 months, and the insurance plan I have bought for myself allows for that at minimal cost, but I just see it as unnecessary so I always push them back to at least 9 months, and really, with advances in toothpaste and fluorinated water, if you don't have ongoing problems, once a year is enough. The OP waiting 7.5 years is too long though. Once a year though...that's ok for most people.
8-10 years, a cleaning was all they could really offer.
If I had even the least indication of a problem I'd go immediately.
I went just over 17 years simply because I couldn't afford to. They cleaned them and that was it, haven't been back yet, it's been about 4 years since that trip.
I'm not a dentist, but I speak from anecdotal experience. If you have a chipped tooth, you need to get in before 1.5 years or it might get infected.
My dentist told me once a year is plenty if you take good care of your teeth(brush and floss, don't smoke and don't eat tons of sugary foods and drinks) I do what I'm suppose to do so I go once a year tops.
Any dentists on list that can provide us with the scientific studies that show how effective tooth brushing and teeth cleaning are in preventing tooth decay and gum disease?
I don't doubt they work, but I'm just curious how effective they are on average.
You guys are all so cool for not going to the dentist for so long. The title of this thread should be "let's sit around and give each other handjobs."
Also, the new slogan for the boards should be:
"Letsrun, where everyone has run a sub-14 5k, dates supermodels and doesn't go to the dentist for long periods of time and nothing is wrong with their teeth because dentists are stupid and trying to rip you off."
samdaniam wrote:
You guys are all so cool for not going to the dentist for so long. The title of this thread should be "let's sit around and give each other handjobs."
Also, the new slogan for the boards should be:
"Letsrun, where everyone has run a sub-14 5k, dates supermodels and doesn't go to the dentist for long periods of time and nothing is wrong with their teeth because dentists are stupid and trying to rip you off."
actually....
but truthfully my biggest gap was from 1991 - 2009
not once i went to the dentist.. i may floss 3-4 x a week
and have no cavities..
so they gave me a "deep" clean which lasted for 2 sessions.. and then 6mo. later had them just cleaned..
i'm 44 btw
As long as nothing's bothering me, every 2 years. Same with eyes.
btw is that story true about wisdom teeth..
dentist recommend you pull out "all" wisdom teeth..
if you have only the bottoms pulled then the ones on top will start to grow out..
i mean that sounds pretty absurd.. any truth to that?
btw.. when they did xrays on my teeth..the dentist recommended i have my wisdom teeth extracted..
i'm thinking yeah right.. wtf for? they been sitting there ever since high school and now all of a sudden there's a risk..???
they've grown as much as they will grow.. i'm 44 years old!
While most of you may feel heroic to be stoic to go so long between dental visits, it is not that great of an idea. Just because you do not have pain, does not mean everything is okay. You don't start feeling pain until a cavity has gotten so bad that it has gotten into or close to the pulp (that means you have already lost enamel and dentin that you can never get back). At that point, you typically need a root canal and a crown or an implant, whereas if you had actually gotten regular cleanings and check ups, you could have remineralized small cavities with fluoride treatments or prevented them with sealants. Additionally, if you already have restorations on your teeth, those restorations can leak over time (typically fillings, crowns, etc. will start to fail after 15-20 years and need to be replaced) and ou can form cavities under them (regardless of how good your hygiene is).
As far as wisdom teeth are concerned, typically dentist take them out because they are difficult to maintain and they can cause orthodontic problems. From a dental perspective their is nothing less fun than taking out infected wisdom teeth. Any time you lose a tooth on one side of your mouth (top or bottom) they will typically either replace it with a bridge or implant or extract the opposing tooth (depending on a variety of factors) since the opposing tooth will typically super erupt (your teeth, especially your upper teeth are kept in place by chewing forces).
By the way, if you had a "Deep Cleaning" it is because you likely have some degree of gingivitis or periodontal disease. Either of these diseases are when bacteria invade your gums and the bone that support your teeth and create pockets. In severe cases, the bone that supports your teeth can be compromised to the point where they have to extract one or more of your teeth. Not to mention that the same bacteria that create dental problems can cause coronary heart disease. A healthy mouth is not only important for aesthetic and chewing purposes but is important for your systemic health since your immune system can be compromised by persistant dental infections.
In summary, you are given one set of adult teeth that is supposed to last you 70 or more years. The fact that they can last that long is utterly amazing given all of the loads and the frequency of loading that they under go. Living without teeth greatly diminishes your quality of life, so the small investment of time and money it takes to maintain a healthy mouth is worth every penny you put into it. And despite what some of the posters on this forum might think, all that happens when you neglect your oral health is you create a larger problem that will cost more to fix in the future (if they can fix it at all once you do go see a dentist).
joedirt wrote:
While most of you may feel heroic to be stoic to go so long between dental visits, it is not that great of an idea. Just because you do not have pain, does not mean everything is okay. You don't start feeling pain until a cavity has gotten so bad that it has gotten into or close to the pulp (that means you have already lost enamel and dentin that you can never get back). At that point, you typically need a root canal and a crown or an implant, whereas if you had actually gotten regular cleanings and check ups, you could have remineralized small cavities with fluoride treatments or prevented them with sealants. Additionally, if you already have restorations on your teeth, those restorations can leak over time (typically fillings, crowns, etc. will start to fail after 15-20 years and need to be replaced) and ou can form cavities under them (regardless of how good your hygiene is).
As far as wisdom teeth are concerned, typically dentist take them out because they are difficult to maintain and they can cause orthodontic problems. From a dental perspective their is nothing less fun than taking out infected wisdom teeth. Any time you lose a tooth on one side of your mouth (top or bottom) they will typically either replace it with a bridge or implant or extract the opposing tooth (depending on a variety of factors) since the opposing tooth will typically super erupt (your teeth, especially your upper teeth are kept in place by chewing forces).
By the way, if you had a "Deep Cleaning" it is because you likely have some degree of gingivitis or periodontal disease. Either of these diseases are when bacteria invade your gums and the bone that support your teeth and create pockets. In severe cases, the bone that supports your teeth can be compromised to the point where they have to extract one or more of your teeth. Not to mention that the same bacteria that create dental problems can cause coronary heart disease. A healthy mouth is not only important for aesthetic and chewing purposes but is important for your systemic health since your immune system can be compromised by persistant dental infections.
In summary, you are given one set of adult teeth that is supposed to last you 70 or more years. The fact that they can last that long is utterly amazing given all of the loads and the frequency of loading that they under go. Living without teeth greatly diminishes your quality of life, so the small investment of time and money it takes to maintain a healthy mouth is worth every penny you put into it. And despite what some of the posters on this forum might think, all that happens when you neglect your oral health is you create a larger problem that will cost more to fix in the future (if they can fix it at all once you do go see a dentist).
you do realize that chances of getting cavities lessen as you grow older.. in other words since i don't have cavities now the chances of getting cavities in the future is close to zero