go to the dentist...

[graveleye]

Folks, I know your mommas all warned you about going to the dentist. Well, I have always been pretty good at taking care of my teeth, but for a variety of reasons and excuses, I put the dentist off for a few years. The result? How about deep cleaning? Its murder I tell you. Do yourself a favor and get your checkups and cleanings often, and dont delay. I didnt and I am suffering from it now, and if I would have let it go any farther, then it would have been much much worse ala gingivectomy courtesy of a periodontist. They caught it just in time.

I'm usually a really smiley guy, but I tell you, I ain't smiling today. Regular cleanings and checkups are easy compared to the pain I am in now.

[wendy]

is that the cleaning that they numb half your mouth and clean the teeth under the gum line? and then a week later do the other half of the mouth?

[Squirrel Girl]

is that the cleaning that they numb half your mouth and clean the teeth under the gum line? and then a week later do the other half of the mouth?

That's called "scaling." I know. I've had it done many times. I have bad genes for bad gum problems.

Come November I get Xrays to find out how bad I am. But since I get my teeth cleaned every 3 months no matter what, I haven't had my teeth scaled for some time now, and I've got my fingers crossed I won't have to have surgery again. Lemme tell you what they do when the operate on ya and it should scare you into caring for your teeth!!!!!

Maybe for Halloween I'll post that up!

[graveleye]

yup... scaling is what they call it. It totally sucks too. I looked at my bloody teeth last night and I looked just like a vampire.. only if I really was a vampire I wouldnt have been able to see myself in the mirror... but I digress, it was horrible, and I have to go back next week.
But my smile ought to be back by the cave-in hopefully...

[wendy]

ya i don't know what sick, sadistic dentist came up with that procedure

[NZcaver]

Ouch! I know what you mean, graveleye. I've been in the same situation - letting my visits lapse for a few years, and then suffering the "blood-letting" experience of paying for avoiding the dentist!

Having said that... some of those hygenists are better than others. There's no doubt they all draw blood (at least with me), but the guy I got last time was a real sadistic bastard. I came very close to punching him in the head, but luckily I managed to contain myself. I staggered out of there looking like something out of a horror movie.

[graveleye]

speaking of sadists... my dentist cant give a novacaine shot for anything. I got 8 shots yesterday, 4 up and 4 down, and my jaw is still killing me. The hygenist that is doing the proceedure is a pretty blonde from Dahlonega Ga who apologizes for bringing me pain, so that makes it better. In reality, I wouldnt have that job for nothin!! Those are some special folks who do dentistry... think about what you have to see and do. eewwwww

[JoeyS]

Ahh.. Been putting off my dental checkup for a couple months. You're right, I used to go every six months but I switched to every 9 months several years ago and I think I pay for it with extra pain and bleeding.
Thanks for scaring me into making that appointment.