I suggest putting it on your "to do" list if it's been awhile...


I had a root canal done last month. Dentist said I should come back and get full x rays and my teeth cleaned soon...

Apparently it had been 4 years since I last got them cleaned... I would have sworn it hadn't been over a year... Dental hygienist said something to the effect of "This is going to take awhile..." and then started blasting crud off my teeth with some kind of super charged hydrosonic water pick thing...

I could see the crud flying out... about a half hour later she calls the reception desk to see if she can juggle patients around so she has time to finish blasting... there had been a cancellation so she went right back to blasting.

She tells me that when the plake builds up some kind of anaerobic bacteria starts to form underneath it... it is so yucky the gums start to recede to get away from it... she holds up a mirror to show me. Thankfully I have enough gum still where it needs to keep the teeth in.... but it would "be wise" to not forget to get the teeth cleaned 2x per year...

She moves on to standard dental tools now and "OUCH!" finds a new cavity... the dentist comes in looks at the new x ray and says he can fix this one with out another root canal.. but it is in a tricky spot and will still need a fair amount of drilling to get it done...

He works through his lunch hour to take care of it for me... years ago when I first went to this guy I casually asked him if he had ever hit a nerve on a patient who reflexively then grabbed him by the throat... I wasn't trying to be intimidating.... was just curious if that was something that happened...

Ever since then, when I have needed a filling... he shoots a BUNCH of Novocaine or whatever it is that they use these days into the area... I had to look in the mirror to see if the left side of my face was still there. Still not able to drink anything with out drooling on myself.

So the bottom line, I went in for a tooth cleaning and ended up spending 2 hours and 45 minutes in a dentist's chair... an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure... I never would have believed it had been that long since the last cleaning... the long stream of "stuff" that came flying out convinced me though...

The good news is the dentist has a 7 year old boy that wants to learn to shoot and maybe hunt. I have a range in my backyard and they are planning to come out... If I end up with a new hunting partner as a result of this maybe it will remind me to keep up with the preventive tooth care...

I hope no one on this forum replies "more than 6 months"

Every 6 months like clockwork......

Two months ago.......next cleaning in 4 months.

November for me, too. And every six months. I rather enjoy it, to be honest.

I'm a true believer now... still can't feel the left side of my face... managed to drink something with out drooling though... I used a mirror to check lip position

Get mine done every 4 months.

The young Swedish dental hygienist I go to has big hooters which she parks on my arm as she is cleaning my teeth. Time just seems to fly...

Unfortunately, my dental plan did not allow me to make a standing weekly appointment.

I'm betting her client list is biased towards males...

John

I asked how anyone still had a tooth left in their heads by the age of 40, 100 years or so ago... the hygienist told me a lot of it had to do with genetics... modern dentistry has weakened the gene pool....

Spending that much time in the chair sounds like a nightmare. I'd rather take a beating.

I go every 6 months. And floss every day.

Have no idea if it's valid, but new studies are showing poor teeth hygiene to be linked to heart disease & strokes.

I take mine out of the dishwasher every morning!

i must have some sorta throw back gene......dont have a single pain nerve in my teeth....a few years back i shattered a tooth, seriously shattered, half gone, nerve exposed....didnt have insurance at the time so never did anything with it cause it didnt bug me....got dental insurance bout 2 years after the fact so i decided i should maybe see if it could be fixed....even though i told the first dentist that i had been living with it for 2 years and it truly did not hurt she kinda freaked when she saw it and started writing out s script for pain meds to get me by.....well if that one aint gonna listen to me i figured i was prolly better off seeking a different dentist....dentist #2 said it couldnt be saved best just to pull it so he yanked the remainder of it out.....he said he had a couple different patients like me over the years with no pain nerves in the teeth themselves....

grew up in a poor family with no insurance so i didnt see a dentist till i got around to getting that tooth dealt with when i was 25 or so....went back later and had a complete workup done and had all of 5 minor cavities after never having seen a dentist and having so-so dental hygiene practices.....still dont go to see one as often as i should....rather use up the what the insurance will pay on the girls than myself......the get in regularly as does my wife......dont really give a rip about myself...

Have an appointment next week. Every six months. Floss & water pic, adding some Lister to the water. Replace teeth brush (called a "tooth" brush in Arkansas for a reason!) frequently. Anti tarter whitening teeth (called tooth,........never mind) paste.

I understand gum disease has some correlation to damaging the cardio system. Good reason to take care of them.

Best pickup line in Arkansas is "Nice tooth"

The toothbrush was invented there right? Otherwise, they'd called it a teethbrush.

Your teeth are like stars!
(They come out at night)

I neglected my teeth for several years and paid the price for it. I had to have oral surgery about 10 years ago and since then I've been going 4 times a year for cleanings and check-ups. Next appointment should be coming up soon.

Last week. Have been fortunate I have always had jobs with fairly good dental plans so have done the whole braces thing for all four of us and had the last crown I needed put on last summer. Last cleaning they were bummed that I hadn't screwed something up in the previous six months. Three years ago a horse threw it's head into my chin and took out three crowns. Now that was an expensive hunting trip.

Every 6 months for cleaning or cleaning & x-rays. Probably at least another 2 times a year for repairs - usually to have a crown reworked, I have a strong bite, so I'm hard on my teeth/fillings/crowns. When they set a crown the dentist puts in a piece of wood (I assume Balsa wood) in your mouth under or over the crown to clamp down to hold it in place while the "glue" sets, I usually bite right through it. Haven't had a new cavity in nearly 30 years, but crowns and old fillings don't last forever, especially for me.

You didn't "catch the gay" like Northern Dave did while at his dentist did you?



Clyde

No but they probably will allow cleaning every four months.

Yeah, I get them cleaned every 6 months.

Floss and brush, if you want to keep them.

I will be 70 this fall and still have all my teeth. In my youth, it would have been unthinkable to find a 70 year old with even half his teeth, most had none. It was not too common to find a 70 year old for that matter.

Get 'em cleaned and checked every six months, without fail.

'bout 30 minutes ago.

I do mine like Sassy does!

I read this thread and shortly thereafter called my dentist!

I get mine cleaned every 6 montths, come hell or high water, I have a sweet Danish Dentist that has mounds that would make the alps cry, so no heartburn with the dentist. I let her change 4 fillings a couple of years ago, she said she never had a patient grin when she worked on their teeth like that before. help that she was leaning down over the top of my head.

While in school and after graduating I went about 5 years without getting them cleaned. The first time back was brutal. The hygenist was HOOOOOT but by the end of the 2nd session I told her she should have been a dominatrix. My gums were bleeding for two days. Since then its been every 6 months and I don't plan on missing a session any time soon if I can help it.

I'm supposed to go every 6 months but sometimes drag it out to 8-10 months. I used to get cavities fairly regularly but didn't ever have tooth pain. I'd go in for a cleaning and have to get 2-3 fillings or a crown. They told me to start flossing and use Listerine. I can't stand to brush without the floss and mouthwash these days, and it has halted the cavities in their tracks. Turns out that those folks know what they are talking about.....

i think i need to get my teeth cleaned...and my mind is kinda dirty too...

do i hear a referral?

wondering if that might be what saves my arse alot.....ive always used Listerine regularly.....cant stand brushing to often....i take a medication in the evening that dries out my mouth(and no it aint what you [bleep] are thinking) so my gums get tore up to chit and dont want to heal....and no they dont toughen up if i keep after it, brushed twice a day for a month and wound up spitting blood for a nearly a month and a half......use Listerine often and even though i rarely hit the dentist even the first cleaning i had after 25 years without one didnt take that long, didnt have that much build up of plaque...

and no i dont recommend doing what i do, just stating what i do....

Uh, like last Friday morning. Took off from work the rest of the afternoon and went hunting with my flintlock.

Uh, like last Friday morning. Took off from work the rest of the afternoon and went hunting with my flintlock.

I missed my appointment earlier this week, as I started class a lot earlier than I had planned, so I better reschedule. Having an ex in dental school makes me think about my teeth way more than I used to.

I still have all of my teeth and my gums are good. However years ago I did not brush or floss much and my dentist put in so many fillings that many of my molars are caps now.

Then I discovered the electric toothbrush! I still have that old one at the camp. I must have got one of the first ones and that one plugs into the 120! The electric toothbrush made a dramatic improvment in my dental situation. I no longer get cavities and my teeth and gums are healthy.

Yes I go to the dentist twice a year for cleaning.

Here I use a Crest SpinBrush 2 speed and there is an old Oral B that works as backup.

Get one and try it.

Every four months for me.

- Tom

Every six months, got one scheduled for next week.

I've spent way too much money on fillings and crowns, definately shoulda, coulda, woulda done a better job on dental care.

I get mine cleaned every 6 months ... always have. Helps when you have two uncles who are both very good dentists.

I've never been a good brusher, but always have flossed and used mouthwash (usually Listerine) multiple times daily. I've never had a cavity, or any kind of dental work done other than regular cleanings and some sealant that the doc put in my molars a long time ago to fill the little crevices to protect them.

like someone else already said, I too enjoy the cleanings. it always feels very nice when they finish and your teeth are all perfectly clean and polished.

Every 6 months.
I also replaced the standard tooth brush with a Sonicare this year and am happy with it.

Okay, I'll 'fess.

I bet it's been about 5 years ago!

My hygienist is drop dead Iceland gorgeous and wears tight scrubs..nuff said. However, as often as I can.

My Dentist is a smart man.

Two weeks ago.. Get it done every 6 months..

Prevention is a whole lot less painful than any cure...

My dental plan allows for a cleaning every 8 months, and the dentist's office calls to schedule an appointment. I only pay for 10% of the bill. Along with it goes a complete exam.

Well when I was a kid I broke a front tooth off... the dentist had to grind it down to cap it.... very painful... hated it... I have ever since HATED dentists and I really feel weird with someone working in my mouth..... The last time I went to the dentist I told her that if she hurt me she would not like me�.. she smiled and said she understood and was very good�.

However, with that said, I went 17 or 18 years without going to the dentist.... Went in got a cleaning... No cavities... Walked out. Never had one in my life (I am 41). The broken tooth is still the only issue I have ever had. I still have my wisdom teeth. No problems. The hygienist told me I need them pulled.. I asked why... she said because... never could get a reason from her. called the dentist in... dentist looked at them and said they are straight and are not causing any problems... leave them in until there is an issue.

Been about 8 or 9 years since I have been back�. Brush twice a day� still have no issues. No pain, no blood when brushing, nothing�..

Then dentist says that I have good genes and recommends cleaning every 6 months� but concedes unless I start having issues I will probably be fine without�.

My dad is in the early 70s. Every tooth is still in his head�. Never went to the dentist until a few years ago� finally had to have a root canal�. BTW.. still has his wisdom teeth� My mother was the same way until she passed away. I also have three brothers who are all the same way�. One of them made the mistake and had his wisdom teeth pulled when he really did not need too�.. painful�.. the rest of us learned that unless there is an issue with them, leave them alone�.

Dentist really do not like me much�. They make very little to no money off of me

Well, now that Sako has fessed up, I have the strength to come clean...

It has been about 16 years since I have found myself in the dentists chair. My teeth don't hurt so I don't go. If that changes, I may consider going. The main reasons I don't go are I can't stand them using that damn metal pick on my teeth and that I dip. I really don't want to put up with someone other than my wife bitching about my Skoal use..grin

That being said, I do try to take good care of my teeth, other than the dipping part which I know ain't a great idea. I have a top of the line electric toothbrush that cost around a hundred bucks. Since I started using that a couple of years back, I can really tell the difference in the way that my teeth feel.

There are ads that play on the local radio about a Dentist that uses sedation. I truly think that may be the best route to go, I might be able to make it thru the appointment w/o either getting up or killing the Dentist or Tech.

That would certainally change the whole dental experience wouldn't it.

Why does this not surprise me.

My son has a smokin' hot dentist, but won't understand how lucky he is until it's too late.

My Father in law is my dentist. Unfortunately the In laws live about 200 miles south of me. The upshot of this is that since it's hard to get time off to drive 400 miles round trip, even for free dental, our social visits often turn into dental appointments. I spent a total of about 4 hours over 2 different days in the chair during our Christmas visit, having fillings repaired or replaced in both upper and lower jaws on both the left and right sides of my mouth. Not fun, but I sure appreciate the work my Father in law gave up on his time off.

First time in 33 years today. Not a single cavity.

Sam, one of the best dentists in town is within sight of your place, Tod Kinney (next to Vann's). His dad was a dentist, who shared an office with my cousin, who's a dentist in Great Falls.

Having said that, I get a cleaning every 9 mos. If a dentist says 6 mo's I say BS, since I don't want to make his/her boat payments... 6 mo's is too soon, 9 mos is just right IMO.

But I'm also a floss Nazi...