It just occurred to me I’ve not been to the dentist in almost 2 years, pretty much since October 2019
This disgusting revelation came to me when I looked closely at the state of my gums. Has everyone else routinely been going since lockdown started?
Are dentists fully up and running with routine stuff like cleaning, or are they still only doing emergency stuff?
Ta
Mine were up and running all through lockdown. Only change was they weren’t doing a deep clean with the high pressure water thing, just one using a scraper. I think I last went in March this year.
(Just) pre-lockdown last year as the scale of the pandemic was becoming apparent, I haven't been able to go since :/
Erm, I had a check-up when I left the RAF in 2007 and my next visit to a dentist was in 2019 😳 (the dentist said no problems with my teeth). Two visits in 2019 and none since. I may pop in next year.
If you are NHS it would be best to make a appointment ASAP to avoid being delisted. I am in a similar situation and have an appointment made for August
I gave it eleven years between checkups. I had a scale and polish, and replaced my only filling with a white one in January. Since then I had one return check-in with the hygienist for a gum score. I’ve also invested in the teepee silicone picks as I can’t seem to floss - these have been a revelation.
I know, I am blessed with 24 (four extractions for room) large and well-enamelled teeth. If only my eyes were of similar standard.
Every two years from now.
Before lockdown, currently on a waiting list to be seen in a few weeks.
I had a clean-up 10 days ago.
A check-up 3 months before that.
Our dentist is fully up & running but they wear a shitload of PPE now that we have to pay a surcharge for.
I go pretty much every 6 months for a checkup and a good clean. Been going PAYG for a while now. Not much more expensive than NHS and never get the feeling they're just looking for an excuse to kick you off the NHS list. IN my previous job it was impossible as I travelled alot and often had to cancel or re-arrange an appointment at last minutes notice which didn't go down well with the NHS dentist. But since going PAYG check ups are pretty much the same as what I was paying under NHS anyway and if I needed any other treatments, like a filling replacement, only the crappest options were available under NHS like silver fillings, with white fillings being privately charged anyway. I guess if I ever needed anything significant like a root canal filling I might get stung financially, but fingers crossed I'm at no threat of needing anything like that.
The dentist used to wear a shit load of PPE but no longer...pretty much back to normal now apart from half capacity as they don't run the two rooms simultaneously now...they use one room while the second is being deep cleaned so alternate the rooms between patients, but as far as PPE is concerned pretty much back to normal. Ultrasonic descaled and everything.
Had two checks ups since lockdown, next one due August, so must have gone February and I think September.
May have gone just before lockdown 1
I've been twice since my old one went to prison in about 2007/8
Over a decade. It would have been whilst at uni and I'm now 34!
Teeth were fine apart from one that I'd chipped the top off and it had gone bad over lockdown hence the trip. They tried to pull it out, but only succeeded in pulling the top off, so now I've been waiting months to see a specialist to see what they can do with it.
Around 12-13 years ago.
December 2019, dentist has a banner on the website saying priority only but might phone them anyway just to check .. I'm not too worried as I'm lucky with my teeth
Friday. But had to travel 80 miles back to my old town as I can't find one round here.
Luckily no work needed.
My dentist wrote to me just before the whole CV thing started and kicked me out, going private only. I did see the hygenist a few months back (as that was private anyway). That's all I really want from the Dentist anyway, the yearly appointments were a bit of a waste of time.
I go every 6 months,last visit was a fortnight ago.
You now have to fill in some forms online before the appointment & wear a face mask whilst waiting to be seen to but other than that not much has changed.
2 years ago when I asked about implants. He scared me off with the cost and I haven't been back.
£10k by the way, and that was just the top.
In lock down.
Emergency appointment due to infected wisdom tooth.
Dentist asked me if I wanted to go for extraction at hospital or she might have a go then and there. I had been off work a couple of days and in a lot of pain. So I said to go for it. It took her about 40 mins to get it out. It was horrific. The nurse nearly spewed. I just remember staggering home with blood on my face. Had to go back a few days later and she cut me open again to suck infection out.
That was even worse than the extraction.
I lost half a stone and was riding to work like a granny for two weeks till it stopped throbbing.
So not keen for another appointment 😵💫
Had a filling drop out just as the whole lockdown thing kicked off, stupidly left it as it didn't hurt, then a year later it starts hurting, you can guess the rest, root canal and a crown, unfortunately at that age now where all those metal fillings i got as a child have caused issues like this, leaving it until it hurts is a daft idea as well, means you won't go until it's at the nerve, which means root canal every time!
Usually go every 6 months prior to this, wish i had bothered the dentist a year ago, would have been quick and easy then
I went in for a failed root canal extraction during lockdown. Asked about routine check-ups and they were not on then. Will chase up on this now for the family. Good heads-up.
Just over a year (I normally go once a year). I need to get around to making an appointment as I've had a lump of filling detach itself. Generally speaking though I need very little work, usually just a clean.
My NHS dentist totally botched a crown a month or so before lockdown in 2020 - the thing was too high and incredibly sore and painful, basically none of my other teeth met. Resorted to seeing a private crown ninja dentist, who took the hateful thing out, redid the stump bit that the crown sits on then fitted a temporary crown. The idea was to come back a couple of weeks later...
... fast forward 15 months of lockdown and long covid and I finally got the permanent a few weeks back. Super cool procedure with the thing being CNC milled from solid while you wait. Also have a partially broken filling on the other side of my mouth, possibly because the crown business had changed my bite. That gets fixed in a few weeks time after a follow-up checkover for the crown last Thursday. So... last Thursday I guess.
About a month ago, had to go private though as silly sod here lost his place on the NHS list by forgetting to book a check up. Needed afew fillings but think route canal is needed as I'm still getting a dull ache, Hate dentists too they chuffing terrify me!
4 years ago apparently, only know as I need some work on a loose crown right now and I'm not registered anymore. Genuinely didn't think was that long, now to try and register somewhere before tooth drops out of my head.
No need
As a kid I ended up in a consultants who did a huge amount of unnecessary work, caused a fair amount of damage, hoodwinked the NHS and was later struck off and imprisoned. Damage done and over the next 15 or 20 years they all went the way of the tooth fairy.
Years of remedial work, loads of pain, trying this or that to prevent roots from crumbling, all for the naught.
Thought about implants,including an implant based denture, but after all those years of pain, I'm happier not inflicting more upon myself.
I have been twice in the last 25 years.
Minsk, 2006: my Belarusian girlfriend went for a checkup and it was over so quickly she suggested he take a look at mine too. He said they were fine (apparently).
2016ish, a mobile dentist thing that came to work in Bristol. Had a small filling. He spent most of the time trying to sell InvisAlign to me.
Should probably find a dentist and make an appointment but I'm a bit lazy and a bit nervous :/
6 monthly check-ups until start of pandemic but only once since then.
Have now reinstated 6 monthlies.
Crown before first lockdown. Fell out three days later during lockdown. Went without it for 4 months. Had to fish it out my toilet as I swallowed it. Glued in now. 🤣
4 weeks ago I got an infected tooth.
Blagged an appointment. Two dentists shielding so had to have it drilled out. Filled.
Immense pain. Went back. Took more tooth.
Immense pain again. Went back got given amoxicillin. Sorted me out. Had an appointment for today for extraction (4 weeks later)
Two days ago huge abscess. Pain. It popped. Blood and puss. Emergency dentist consisted of a £23 phone call for more antibiotics.
Just got out from dentist appointment I had for extraction. Won't do it until swelling/infection has gone.
Feel like I'm going round in circles.
Anyway, kids: brush your teeth.
Its been a few years since I went. last time, early appointment, but after waiting for 45 mins after my appointment was due, with no one coming to explain/let me know what was going on, I walked out as I needed to go to work.
in all honesty, I think our dentist is a bit batshit. She's started to sell CBD in her clinic and is quite vocal on SM about it's benefits, along with pushing her sideline of botox injections. CBD itself I don't have a problem with, but to have it promoted in a clinical setting I don't think is right.
so looking for a new dentist when I can be bothered.
6 monthly check-ups until start of pandemic but only once since then.
Isn't that a bit excessive?
I thought once every 2 years was the recommended interval - or is that eyesight?
We used to go regularly every 6 months) but the dentist is currently working through their backlog and doesn't expect to see us until at least November. So that will be just over 2 years since I last went.
About 20 years ago. Thinking about going makes me feel sick.
Do I win?
Whats a dentist?
18 months thanks to Covid but finally have an appointment for a check-up next month.
Looks like I’m actually not doing so badly compared to some then!!
About 26 years here, I keep saying I should go but never get around to it, even worse as I have private cover via work (which costs me). I don't have any fillings though (and don't think I need any), if I start getting any gum/tooth ache I just use Corsodyl mouth wash for a few days and it seems to clear up. I think I was lucky in that as a kid I had fissure sealing done (lived in Germany at the time and seemed to be standard practice there), no clue if the NHS do it as standard for kids these days but would seem sensible to me.
1998.
Although I probably need to go soon as my gums have started receding
I've been going to the same place since I had baby teeth. I had an appointment booked at the start of last year, which I was late for. I apologised profusely, tried to rebook to be told that because I'd missed the appointment I'd been struck off. I was about to complain when CV2 struck.
I need, I think, at least three fillings. I rang every dentist for miles to be told no. Rang the NHS "you are entitled to a dentist" number, she asked if I was in Lancashire, I said yes, she about laughed in my face and gave me an emergency number to call.
Rang that, they launched into a script, "which quadrant of your mouth is affected?" "on a scale of one to 10 how much pain are you in?" and so forth. "I went, look, stop you there, I want to register with a dentist." She broke script, was kind and lovely and helpful, but basically said that if I wasn't in agony there's nothing they can do and to ring back when I am.
there’s nothing they can do and to ring back when I am.
Pretty much any dentist will see you this week if you go private.....
My dentist rang me last year immediately after they'd been allowed to re-open for non-emergency work offering me an appointment. I said I'd wait until I needed something urgent done or the pandemic was over, whichever came first. So I've not seen them for 18 months. This seems perfectly reasonable to me as I've not seen my doctor for about 5 years and I'm not sure why my teeth need periodic checks when I expect the rest of me to just carry on until something breaks.
My dentist rang me last year immediately after they’d been allowed to re-open for non-emergency work offering me an appointment. I said I’d wait until I needed something urgent done or the pandemic was over, whichever came first. So I’ve not seen them for 18 months. This seems perfectly reasonable to me as I’ve not seen my doctor for about 5 years and I’m not sure why my teeth need periodic checks when I expect the rest of me to just carry on until something breaks.
Because you can't tell if your teeth are broken untill it hits a nerve at which point the options are either NHS extraction or four-figure expensive (upto £1k for a molar root canal and crown, £2k+ for a single implant).
In theory the NHS will do a root canal and crown, in reality, it's not viable on what they get paid to do it for anything other than one of the front teeth.
Because you can’t tell if your teeth are broken untill it hits a nerve at which point the options are either NHS extraction or four-figure expensive
Not in my experience. I was in agony a few years back with a knacked premolar, the dentist said it was 50:50 as to whether it was saveable. It took him two attempts, but he did save it.
Around 4 or 5 years ago when I had root canal and an impacted wisdom tooth removed.
Should probably book another appointment soon though as I think I may need a filling re-done.
2 weeks ago I’m back in December for a check up.
Probably a couple of years and I must admit that I'm suspicious of the whole regular check-up thing. My NHS doctor doesn't seem to think that I need to come in for a regular check up but my private dentist does for reasons I've never fully understood. Does attacking my teeth with various implements every year or so really make them last longer? Maybe, but when I do go they always seem to tell me that my teeth are fine but that I really should get them checked more often. Why? I think. They seem to be doing fine and all you've done is made them sore.
I did just get an email reminding me that I'm "now very overdue" for my Routine Dental Examination appointment though. So I probably should go and get moaned at again.
This morning- one of my teeth is dying/ dead. It was fine* until the dentist put a filling in it a couple of weeks ago.
*Maybe it wasn't? After all it needed a filling but it definitely wasn't agony like it is now.
🙁
Yep definitely the dentists fault, nothing to do with the fact that it had a massive hole in it before it was filled, bet he ripped you off too to fund his private Caribbean island!
In all likelihood it’s a deep filling because you had a deep load of decay in there at some point so it’s close to the nerve and the tooth is having a hard time settling down. Teeth aren’t very resilient to things and cope with small fillings where disease is fought early much better than deep holes. Hence leaving things until you get pain or “think you need a filling” is not that helpful.
In contrast to many general health complaints, most dental disease is symptomless until it gets to an advanced stage. If you go for check ups regularly it gives the opportunity to spot and deal with the disease before it gets too bad ( ie causing pain or bits falling off) and is usually less painful, unpleasant and cheaper as a result.
That said, the 6 monthly thing is way more frequent than most people need and is a hoangover of the way the NHS was organised years ago.
I've been 3 times since lockdown. One of those was a crown fitting. Went last week most recently and have a hygienist on Friday.
It's harder to get appointments as they can't fit as many in due to cleaning protocols. I have to wait outside rather than in the waiting room.
Private practice.
In contrast to many general health complaints, most dental disease is symptomless until it gets to an advanced stage.
Only had one tooth fail, it passed the bi-annual xray then randomly broke in half whilst I was eating a peanut butter sandwich. Totally painless, the dentist was very surprised and asking all sorts of Qs about had I been in a car crash as he couldn't explain how it went from 100% to broken in such a short time (given I'm 50 and never had a filling). He just pulled the root out as it was a molar and just left a gap.
In contrast to many general health complaints, most dental disease is symptomless until it gets to an advanced stage. If you go for check ups regularly it gives the opportunity to spot and deal with the disease before it gets too bad ( ie causing pain or bits falling off) and is usually less painful, unpleasant and cheaper as a result.
£2,500 into dental work this year I am now firmly in this camp! Will be getting checked & x-ray'ed every 6 months minimum!
And hygienist every 3
F*ck going through this again. Catch it early and it's a minor filling.
Probably a couple of years and I must admit that I’m suspicious of the whole regular check-up thing. My NHS doctor doesn’t seem to think that I need to come in for a regular check up but my private dentist does for reasons I’ve never fully understood.
IMHO the failing here isn't the dentist being excessive, it's the doctor not being so.
I reckon we'd save an absolute fortune if we gave people routine checkups to nip problems in the bud rather than wait until it was a huge issue. We do it with cars, why not with people? Catching heart disease / cancer / etc etc early is way simpler and would swerve a lot of needless deaths in an aging population.
Cynically, maybe that's why.
IMHO the failing here isn’t the dentist being excessive, it’s the doctor not being so
That had crossed my mind too 🙂
@ceepers makes some good points although I'd suggest that lots of other health conditions can also be symptomless until they are quite advanced. Although if I'm honest I expect the real reason I don't go the the dentist very often is a combination of some bad experiences many years ago and being a wuss. The rest is probably just a desperate attempt to rationalise my cowardice.
The reason I don't go very often is its such a drag, they're always running late, so have to wait for 30 mins plus, plus have to get there early to fill in all the pointless forms which were exactly the same the 20 previous times I visted. Basically takes an hour there for a 2 min appointment, plus cycling to / from.
I see the hygenist every 6 months as I think that's the value-add bit. The dentist was just a necessary inconvenience (although they've struck me off now, so don't need to bother anymore).
Yep definitely the dentists fault,
I knew it!
Footflaps - my dentist may be an anomaly but in 20 years I've only ever been delayed by an 'emergency' with a previous patient and that has happened no more than twice.
As for '...filling in forms' I'm asked to update my records at 2 yearly intervals.
All irrelevant really as we have different views about the relevance and importance of professional dental care.
Winding back the clock a few years...old mate of mine had a neighbour who worked as long-distance lorry driver who, back at home, drank heavily; one night he had some toothache so, pissed up, attempted some DIY dentistry to remove troublesome tooth with pliers.
Next thing you know, he's hospitalised - blood loss etc; you know 'Eyeless in Gaza'?
This was toothless in Wallsend.
Lost his job due to his alcoholism.
Neighbour problems on the other side were a tad more serious; father and son had 'disagreed' for years.
That ended when pissed-up son and father squared up after a Sunday afternoon session on the sauce; son murdered father by stabbing him through the heart.
My home town Wallsend, I miss it like a hole in the heart.
Dazh may recognise some of this.
We went as a family for a check up (NHS) last week and it all felt very normal. I did ask how it had been and she said difficult but getting better.
The windows were open, they had fans and air purifiers but still had head to toe ppe for bigger jobs.
Last time was when I was 17...I'm 34 now
I've gone half my life without seeing a dentist. Wow.
Every 6 months for check up and hygienist. Cool story eh?
In March had a check-up.
Had an emergency filling cos one fell out about a month prior to that.
They are doing the usual appointments but they have to "deep clean" the surgery between patients, so visits are more widely spaced than normal. Bookings are well in advance.
Not sure if Denplan is such good value in these circumstances. If it ever was.
Not sure if Denplan is such good value in these circumstances. If it ever was.
On the other hand your practice hasn’t gone bankrupt and is still there providing routine and emergency care...
Yesterday for a routine checkup.
Hygienist booked for a couple of months time.
All seems normal apart from having to wear a mask in the waiting room & not sat in the dentists chair.
They started back up about 6 months ago.
I'm with Denplan so go every 6 months for a check-up plus hygienist jet wash. Plus whatever else needs doing like x-rays, etc.
1991, then about 2005 I needed one filling. That visit was instigated by my new wife being disgusted I hadn't visited a dentist in so long. Haven't been back since. Blessed with strong teeth, give them one good brush every day.
Similarly, one visit to a doctor in my adult life. I'm currently 48. I regard myself as lucky.
