To think that adults are supposed to go to the dentist too?

We haven’t been able to access an nhs dentist in over 10 years. Moved and finally have appointments in February. Dreading what they’ll find!

Six month check ups are a money making scam. You don’t need them that often if your teeth and gums are healthy.

Well you say that but throughout my 20s I was severely bulimic (sister was too), I drank way more alcohol than was healthy (I’m now sober but I wasn’t for a long time) and I binged on sugary snacks and desserts and cereals. So no… my diet wasn’t better than a lot of people’s for a very long time. In fact it was worse.

Still don’t have cavities or any dental issues. So I’d say it was genetic or else I have enchanted teeth.

Genetically better diet not teeth! The average U.K. child eats more than 7 times a day , the average U.K. adult 5 to 6 times a day and adults eat or drink twice the recommended daily sugar intake and children three times .

The odd snack is not a problem is what people are doing every day and most people are snacking and drinking too much sugar/starch.

Oral cancer has poor survival rates compared to breast and prostate because it is often diagnosed late . This is where annual routine checks show their worth and oral cancer is but one of the over 200 conditions that can be picked up on a dental check.

I'm 36 and I last went to the dentist about 16 years ago. I have never had a toothache, I just practise good dental hygiene and don't eat sugary snacks or drink sugary drinks all day. I don't see my GP when I feel fine so why would I see a dentist? Especially as getting an NHS one is harder than getting Taylor Swift tickets. I did see a private hygienist once for a clean and it was £90 so I dread to think what a private dentist costs. I have better things to spend my money on.

This seems to vary hugely. I’m in the south east and my private dentist check up last week was £60, add another £30 if they are thoroughly cleaned or I need X-rays.

That’s literally NHS prices… extremely cheap. My private dentist is £120 for a check up alone.

I eat 2-3 times a day usually. Lunch and dinner and perhaps a snack every so often. But I’m also a baker (so lots of sweet things on offer for those occasional snacks) and drink coffee and diet fizzy drinks a fair amount. I do use interdental brushes and interstitial brushes for the back plus an electric IO. That probably helps.

Personally I believe I just have genetically strong teeth. My sister is the same, she’s 33 and no cavities.

I have an nhs dentist so make sure I go regularly to keep my slot! I can see how it may become one of those things you don't get round too if you're not having any problems and have a busy life though.

I have always gone to the dentist every 6 months for check-ups as well as, of course appointments to treat specific problems. I am 71. My husband (79) on the other hand, hasn't been to the dentist in the 50 years that I've known him.

Because they cannot afford the treatment. A one off payment of £50 for a private checkup they may just be able to afford yearly, but any actual treatment is just simply unaffordable, even at NHS prices and it's just not worth it mental health wise to know that you have a cavity that you cannot afford to do anything about.

Ive been privately for years, and I only go every two years, as advised by those dentists! So not that expensive overall. Luckily I have very good teeth. Only been to hygienist twice in my ife too.

I think if you are blessed with good teeth and gums, you don't need to go so often. I think it's been suggested to lengthen the time gaps for NHS too.

Children and pregnant mums need free access to NHS dentistry. Everyone else should probably go privately. It's the norm in the rest of Europe.

Some people won’t admit to not regularly visiting the the dentist, for whatever reason, whether it’s the expense, the lack of NHS dentists, or just plain fear.
So although you THINK you don’t know anyone that doesn’t visit, it might just be a cover up so as not to confess.
No judgement, it’s their body, their choice.

Sometimes there is over diagnosis like in breast cancer. Some cancers are so slow growing they will never cause harm but the treatment can.

My eye tests are free as I’m over 40 and my dad has glaucoma. Lots of workplaces will cover eye tests too
my dentist is about £27pm and includes 2 check ups and 2 hygienist appointments so I already pay for it

More people die of oral cancer than prostate and cervical cancer combined and rates are rocketing, particularly in younger people. For this reason dental checks are recommended at least every 12 months. This is without the problems of gum disease which over 50% of the adult population have and decay .

There are over 200 diseases you can diagnose from looking at the mouth and tongue, from leukaemia , to Chrons , to diabetes , to b12 deficiency .

prevention is much, much cheaper than treatment which is why blood pressure checks , blood glucose checks , smear tests , bowel cancer tests, mammograms , vaccinations , prostate checks etc are routinely carried out in the NHS.

Almost 3000 road accidents a year are caused by poor driver vision . Eye tests will also pick up things such as diabetes , high blood pressure etc.

For the £36 per person treated per year (including patient charges) the tax payer has had a bargain from NHS treatment but one that has been paid for from dentists pockets.

Good medicine is not waiting until there’s a problem, it’s finding it and treating early ?

If that’s true that could go some way to explaining the increasingly bad driving / parking standards - people don’t realise they can’t see!

I literally don't know anyone who has regular opticians appointments when they don't wear glasses or anything.

I used to go every 2 years before I had laser eye surgery but only because I needed the prescription to get new glasses.

You are very privileged, and must have a wealthy social circle if you can all afford to pay just to check for problems you don't have. Lots of people can't afford to go to the dentist/opticians even when they have issues!

You still haven't explained why it's necessary to have pre-emptive regular check ups for 2 parts of your body (eyes and teeth) but not the other 99%?

YANBU but in my area, the waiting lists are over 5 years long. I moved back just over 2 years ago. And I can't afford private dentistry either 🥲

Yeah last time he drilled through right to the nerve which was not fun. It’s worked though and means no root canal unless it starts again

Two things
biodentine means original decay was very close to the nerve so teeth can be very touchy afterwards

these teeth can sometimes have a nerve supply coming from unexpected places so different injections may be needed. I suspect the main problem is the proximity to the nerve.

Yes, second molar from the back
it was just removing a small amount of the biodentine stuff and adding a permanent filling on top

That’s why it needs a vasoconstrictor . Also I presume the filling was on a lower back tooth. The block for this can be challenging and there are various techniques when this block fails to work .

Oh that’s a good tip! I have naproxen and dihydrocodeine at home, thank you
if he does get me numb it’s worn off in 15 mins and there’s a lot of “you and bloody anaesthetic”