As a child, we had our every 6 month dental appointment and I don't remember exact numbers, but I pretty well had cavities at every appointment. And not just one or two cavities. I'm talking about 3, 4, 5, maybe 6 each time. And I was considered to have the better set of teeth among my siblings. They had even more cavities than I did.
I hated going to the dentist as a child for the obvious reasons, but I never really had a fear of them like some people do. When I became an adult and was responsible for my own dental care, I slacked off and didn't go very often. But that changed about the time I moved here to Colorado, around the age of 30.
My teeth started bothering me and I made my first dentist appointment after a long hiatus. I had to have some intense cleaning and the doctor told me that most of my numerous silver fillings were breaking down and would need to be replaced.
To put the next 19 years in a nutshell; I've had a lot of dental work done. Most of those silver fillings have been replaced, one of them this last week. I've also had a few crowns put in and a couple of root canals. And to be honest, I've been okay with it all. There's a lot of things I'd rather be doing than going to the dentist, but I don't have a fear or a loathing for the good men and women who have a DDS following their name.
And something has changed since I was a child because kids today don't get those large amounts of cavities like my generation did. My kids have only had one or two cavities each. I think it's because of the fluoride in the water. Whatever it is, our children of this generation have been saved from the torture of Novocaine, the sound of the drill, and the smell of burning teeth. Most of them will never know how lucky they are.
It's a blessing to have a mouth full of [mostly] healthy teeth. It's also a blessing to have dental insurance and the ability to pay for regular dental visits, for not just me, but for my family, also.
Blessings #20 and #21 in a month's worth of blessings.
8 comments:
I think I'm one of the few who don't mind going to the dentist. I have a crown (front and center) but that work was never awful. I like my visits - I was just there last week - no cavities...ever! Not sure what to say it was from...so far my kids have been cavity free - but they are still young. Oh, they have tvs on the ceiling at my kids' dentist! :-D
And I'm sooooo happy to know that Don is home!!!
cute quote!
One other thought about dentistry. More and more children and adults have beautiful straight teeth due to braces.
They too have improved and almost a status symbol in school. They even come in colors now. And it's mnot unusual to see adults wearing them.
I have a new dentist here in California, right outside the gates of leisure, making it extra convenient.
Yep, I go to the dentist every month or so. but my teeth are dentures and I'm just getting them adjusted. but when they removed my old ones it was cool. they gave me a memorrie drug and I don't remember anything from 7am tell 6 pm that noght. but I only had 20 minutes of pain and never had to take pain meds after wards.
what happened to writing this post about meeeee? =(
I do fear the dentist, or I fear having major procedures done. (rocky history when I was young, including having work done as a child with no anesthetic.) I've had long hiatuses from the dentist too, and I'm always relieved when I go back and find out things are okay. I want to keep up the regular checkups now and catch problems that may occur when they're small.
Umm, I won't disclose my recent dental history, which involved a complete overhaul of my mouth. It would completely blow your theory. :)
so says NinjaNurse,
there's actually been an increase in childhood cavities over the last 5-10 years...why??
BOTTLED/FILTERED WATER.
All bottled water lacks floride and several filters filter the floride out.
Stick with the tap folks, it's actually better for you ... and cheaper too!
*shudder*
Thanks for reminding me it's time for my annual dental cleaning.
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