to be bereft after a bollocking from my dentist?

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My dentist treated me like someone who rinses with Irn Bru every night before bed. Apparently, I have a 'really neglected mouth'.

"I look in your mouth and it's screaming sugar. Really, you should never have let it get this bad. Do you have a lot of fizzy drinks?"

Whattttt?!!! Meeee?!! I brush twice a day! I am middle class ffs. My children are dressed in Boden and I am having steamed vegetables for supper. No, I don't have a lot of fizzy drinks.

"I can fit you in for root canal surgery first thing tomorrow, and we'll deal with the most urgent issues then." Um, OK, guess so.

So now I feel like the Fairytale of New York guy. But with toothache. Does tonic water count as a fizzy drink?

Funny I've never needed anything more than that either. And I am british too. Amazing. I've never ever met anyone here with teeth as bad as those children in the US.

The fillings thing is a bit if a red herring though as here (USA) they will fill smaller holes as a preventative measure. My dentist uses a laser to see how deep cavities are. IME (and I agree this isn't a representative sample!) the technology used here is way more advanced, at least compared with the NHS dentists I've visited in the UK. I was given the all clear before moving here by an NHS dentist and then my first trip to the dentist in the US included state of the art photos, all taken in real time, showing cavities that definitely needed filling (even to the untrained eye).

Interesting. FWIW these were quite large metal (?) fillings.
It could be turned around and said that there is a lot of over medicalisation in US dentistry much like in medicine since it makes a lot of money for dentists and doctors. Unlike treatment done on the NHS.

How was it op?

My dentist is super but not cheap. In fact I started a thread about how awesome he was here.

Yes, how are you OP?

Wibbly I have had a 'cavity' in my tooth since I was a dental student 30 years ago. It was an arrested cavity so not necessary to fill it. The only reason to fill it would have been to generate a fee if I'd been a member of the lay public. It has not changed in 30 years so the decision to leave it was correct. Filling cavities early as a preventative measure was a practice that went out of fashion in the UK over 40 years ago. We found that fissure sealing and prevention was far more effective. Once you remove enamel you cannot replace it.
Since fillings have a limited lifespan it could be said that once filled a tooth becomes the source of repeat business. This is particularly true of crowns and bridge work. So next time you have one of your micro cavities filled think about the future income it will generate.

Lasers have been found to be more accurate in diagnosing early decay when preventative measures are very effective. This should lead to less fillings rather than filling teeth earlier.
I can't stress enough that filling a tooth does not stop it decaying. It will continue to decay in a mouth where the cause hasn't been addressed.

I had a dentist try to scare me into paying to be sedated to have my wisdom teeth out because after 5 minutes he could tell "I would never be able to handle the pajn, it would be horrendous, they would have to slice my gum open etc" I found another dentist who had never sedated a patient to have their wisdom teeth out or sliced their gums open, was nice when I burst into tears because I was so worked up after the first dentist and was lovely. Some dentists are better than others, the same as everything in life. And some try to make you spend money you dont need

I have a thyroid condition which was treated for years and so my teeth were terrible because of it

I saw my dentist a couple of weeks ago. I asked if I needed work doing on a crooked tooth which I thought was damaging another tooth. Turns out it was just some staining which the hygienist sorted during that part of the visit. I see him once a year because (indulgent me time) I am the perfect patient and take care of my teeth so well I only need to go annually. They'd make more money seeing me 6 monthly (private as have history of jaw/teeth meeting issues) but actually talk themselves out of work I don't need. I have a tiny hole in one back tooth (no fillings - more smugness sorry) that's been there since 2007 but as I've taken care of it since he's said nothing needs to be done about it. So my dentist actively discourages me to have unnecessary treatment. I love going as my hygienist is lovely and chatty and my dentist is well educated in my dental history issues, enthusiastic and positive.

I listen to their advice - bought electric toothbrush and dental tape. I regularly have check ups and I am honest with any concerns. You get out what you put in. People are scared of the unknown as much as anything and given like mechanics and electricians most people know jack about the problem they call the professional in for it's scary to think you're being taken advantage of. So maybe listen to Mrsmorton as the professional and if you doubt your dentist get a second opinion from her or another dentist.

I am determined my DD won't be scared of dentists either and is already booked in around her second birthday.

My dentist is lovely. And doesn't have bad breath. and is my DH

Gobbolino

yy to unnecessary fillings/work ...in the last 35 ish yrs I have only needed fillings replaced - no new ones (and not all my teeth have fillings )

Every one I have was done by a dentist who I now have had my doubts about - I 'needed' a filling or two every time I went from the age of 8-12 (without ever suffering tooth ache) - then I changed dentist and never needed another! (And similar happened to my older sister).

Only other things done - 3 wisdom teeth out (bottom ones didn't come through properly/ top ones were healthy but overgrowing)
And a crown I have on tooth I broke as a child 'adult' one fitted at 16, cracked after 4 years but no problem since for 27yrs!

Dentist probably has a point. I also brushed twice a day - but had reasonably advanced gum disease because my brushing technique was not all that (few people are thorough enough), and I didn't floss or use interdental sticks. He didn't fleece me out of a lot of money - just removed all the tartar and demonstrated good technique. My gums no longer bleed and my oral health is good. Do you floss every day and divide your mouth into quadrants, brushing carefully and thoroughly including the gums?

free I know you might be reluctant as private so it probably costs - but both my dds have been going since about 6 months old - we go as a family (that young they sit them on your knee on the chair and more or less just put a finger in their mouth for a few seconds! - why if you pay it might seem a waste of money... )
It does mean they are absolutely fine with going to the dentist - they don't see it as something to be afraid/nervous of - it is just something you do...
And both of them (13 & 7) have (so far!) perfect teeth...I really wanted to have their teeth coated but my dentist doesn't do that unless she thinks they need it - but she did recently agree to put the banana fluoride stuff on...

Intervention at an early stage is key, preventative measures seem the norm That is pretty much how it is here, with the dentists I have worked with, at least.

And I have been to dental conventions in the USA, believe me when I say you have plenty of people with bad teeth. Just because YOU don't know of anyone, doesn't mean they don't exist...or do you know the whole of the USA now?

It went OK, thanks. Got to go back on Monday to have it finished off, then another appointment next week to do fillings on the other side of my mouth. It has knocked me out though, which I wasn't expecting. I feel like I've been boxing.

No bollocking today, though. I think it might have been obvious I was opening my wallet in fear - I was offered alignment and veneers (cost 5k) .

So I am still in pain, but on the plus side I have found some floss that came as a freebie in an airline washbag.

Someone's snippy tonight different. Maybe you should re-read my posts, particularly the bit that says I'm clearly not talking about a representative sample...

Great news OP, glad it all worked out. Hope it's not too painful.

How much is a check up and also a hygienist appointment with a private dentist?

Bad experience at nhs one scared me off but I have to stop putting it off. Would like to go to the lovely private dentist but can't remember cost.

get tepe brushes - my dad is a dentist and swears by them (he is 66 and a fab dentist with v long standing patients) have a hygienist help choose sizes and show you how to use them .

Glad it went ok, OP, and it's good that you sound so upbeat.

My experience is that I did not set foot in a dentist's surgery till I was 40 (my parents believed preventative treatment was only asking for trouble, so I finally went only when I had toothache).

I would not recommend anyone to follow this strategy!

I'm now 54 and my teeth are (apparently) good, but my gums are rubbish. I've never had a filling, but I have lost 3 teeth because of my gums shrinking and bone loss in the jaw. I have a great NHS dentist and see him every 6 months.

I'm lucky that my teeth are straight, and the ones I've lost are at the back of my mouth, so the losses aren't obvious. I know part of the reason for gums shrinking/bone loss is to do with age, but I also think if I'd had plaque removed when I was younger, that would have helped a lot.

So please don't neglect your teeth or your gums!

Every trip I make to the UK, I'm shocked at the state of people's teeth. I can't think of one American friend I have here with 'bad' teeth (at least to look at)

Intervention at an early stage is key, preventative measures seem the norm - eg I have never been asked by a dentist in the UK if I floss

It was this I was answering to, Wibblypiglikesbananas and you do not say anything about a "representative sample" during that post.

I too get entirely sick of the generalisation, particularly by US citizens, that most of the UK have terrible teeth. You only have to look at what a total fuck up some celebrities look after they break America and get their teeth 'fixed'. It's an abomination.

I would never recommend veneers (I have one and I WISH my Mother had never allowed our dentist to do it when I was a teenager). It terrifies me that dentists are allowed to ruin perfectly healthy teeth and stick fake teeth over the top.

Teeth aren't meant to be perfectly white or perfectly straight. They are meant to be strong and healthy and free from pain. Yes it's great if they are lovely and straight but it's certainly not the be all or end all.