Do pay attention to the condition of your teeth.

[12voltyV2.0]

I am very good about going to the doctor continually for care relating to issues like hyper tension and others--but for some reason--in recent years---I got lax by not going to the dentist as often as I should.

Well--late last year I one tooth get infected and pulled, but today--I had two of them pulled at the same time thanks to the problems they have been causing.

Thank god I finally did--not only were those teeth nasty little beasties--but the cesspool in my mouth they had set up ----OH MY GOD.

I Know I am "BAD!!! "Bad!! "REALLY BAD!" for allowing this lapse in dental health--but the team doing my work said what they see is pretty common--it seems that for whatever reason---people will easily let dental conditions go from bad to worse. I am not alone in this--and those who worked on me---say they see what I had and worse if that can be imagined.


Well--I hope that you are all smarter than I have been when it comes to dental health, but if not---I urge you to check it our and do what you can to get things "up to snuff." I know it can be expensive to get dental care-but the cost of not doing so can be high in many ways----including getting very sick and even dying.

[Realist]

Nothing's worse than poor dental hygiene, bad breath, old food stuck on a tooth! YUCK!

[jem_is_bi]

Often, that is because they do not have the money to do it right. So, they wait until the teeth need to get yanked instead of saved.
That is not a good dental plan if you can avoid it.

[zigzig]

I agree. It's like that joke about cancer, when doctor says :,,People complain about healthy food being expensive, we'll I heard cancer is expensive too."

From reading & watching Tv series like Dr House, where they show all kind of illnesses. Many patients had small symptoms about their illness, but they let it become more serious.

[olmizzou42]

Gee, could it be that people let their symptoms go too far because the USA is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't provide health care for it's citizens?

[friesbaconnekkid]

I'm at the age I'm also having teeth pulled. I'm having the last of my lowers removed in a couple weeks. On the bright side, I'm looking forward to sucking a cock after it's done.

[12voltyV2.0]

The only time I ever had dental coverage was when I was active duty military----even when I worked for private firms and two state government agencies----they did not provide dental or vision. It does get me they say that dental health is fundamental to good overall health--especially when it comes to preventing heart attack and stroke--you'd think that dental coverage would be just part and parcel of all health plans!

I have always had to "pay the freight" alone on dental coverage--and do admit---it does make you pull back from getting something done, unless the pain is just so bad when its gonna cost five or six grand right up front and in full payment.

[Fzmr9t]

I've never been employed where the company didn't provide health, dental, vision coverage. It's gotten to be more expensive as the monthly premium that are taken out of my check are greater and greater each year, but I'd rather pay em than be without. Especially having a family.
So eye exams and glasses each year and 2 dr visits, so he can tell me I'm fat and lazy, and 2 dental visits each year, so they can tell me that I need to floss more.

[by~his~side]

I started working in the dental field in 1983. At that time the average dental benefit through most insurance companies was $1000.00 per year. Reasonable & customary percentages apply as does deductible....so let's say for preventative care the plan paid 100% ( minus deductible) , for fillings they paid 80%, crowns, dentures, root canals they paid 80%.....50% if the plan wasn't so great. Back in the '80's a checkup was about $70.00 and a crown was approximately $500.00. So if you had a cleaning, X-rays and exam...you paid your deductible and insurance covered the balance. Then Doc told you that you needed a crown and your portion of the bill would be $100.00........$250.00 if you had the not so great plan.

Today, the average dental insurance benefit still allows a maximum benefit of $1000.00 per year. But the cleaning, X-rays and exam now cost $210.00 and a crown is $1400.00.
The benefit doesn't nearly begin to cover what it used to.
Imagine if health insurance benefits stagnated like dental benefits have?

~D~

[onewhocares]

In October I was rushed to the hospital with a possible stroke. I was unable to speak; my face was numb as was my arm. My face drooped a bit on the left side and I had an ear ache on the left side as well. Turns out it was not a stroke but rather a severe migraine attack. My speech came back within six hours, the droop faded and my arm came back. I attributed the ear ache to the fact that the air conditioner in my car went and I was driving with the windows open. To make a long story short, in the end the numbness, ear ache and malaise was due to the fact that my molars were severely infected. It took two rounds on antibiotics before they were able to be pulled then a case of dry socket set it. Like many, I did not keep up with my dental checkups because of the down turn in the economy. I needed to have four bridges and crowns at a cost of $ 24,000.00 in 2007. When the above happened we had dental insurance and I had two molars taken out and a partial plate put in for $ 500.00 the week before my husband lost his job.

[ghost_of_bluebiyou]

As a poor teen born in a very rich area, I asked one of my best friends father (a millionaire in the 1970s) "you've clearly made it... what advise do you have for a young man?"
He reached out, clasped my shoulder and said "Son, take care of your ivories." He said nothing else. I was seeking monetary advice, he gave me life advise.

So I have tried to challenge myself to follow his life advise.
At over 50 yo I have yet to lose my first adult tooth. Just went to the dentist yesterday... money well spent. Although now I'm learning the difference between cavity and tooth decay. Drink milk! Don't do sweets daily! Sleep with your mouth closed (wet), your saliva actually coats your teeth like a clam builds a pearl, but... very slowly... slower than certain acids and or habits tear them down... Avoid the habits and acids and keep your mouth closed and wet while you sleep. Brushing your teeth just before you sleep is best and rinse with baking soda to set up favorable alkaline conditions for saliva rebuilding.

[Ja&Ve]

Bad dental hygiene was always a deal breaker both for myself and my husband. My sense of smell is extremely sensitive and he is the son of a dental hygienist. Needless to say we go to the dentist religiously.