How bad is it to never go to the dentist?
My father never went to see a dentist and rarely had any problems at all. That depends a lot on your genes and your own dental care. There are times that a dentist will cause more problems (it is after all a source of cash for them) so you need to be really careful who you see. Overall, a visit to a good dentist is a good idea, at least for a check-up to spot problems before they become serious. You need to be careful what they do, though, and they are very expensive, especially if you don't have insurance.
I'm 19 and have never been to a dentist, how bad might my teeth be?
Don't feel bad. You might have to get some work done, however it will be fine, as long as you let the dentist give you an injection to numb it up. It is really important that you go! You may have the beginning stages of periodontal disease and if you allow it to progress you could loose your teeth! I just had a patient who was 18 and never been to a dentist. I didn't judge him negatively. I was happy that he decided he wanted to have good oral health. It is a really great and mature decision to make for yourself! Good luck and take care.
Im 13 and i have never been to the dentist is that bad?
if you've never been to the dentist and you are 13, then your parents are seriously not doing their jobs as parents. tell them to take care of you.
Is it bad that I've never been to the dentist?
I'm 20 and never been to the dentist. My teeth are pretty normal, if a bit yellow. I brush every day, at least twice, but don't floss. A few days ago, my back teeth on the left side started to hurt and I got an earache too. I'm planning on going to the dentist when I can get an appointment. Is it bad that I've never been to the dentist? I also don't have dental insurance. Will the dentist still treat me if I don't have insurance and have never seen a dentist before?
Im 14 and never been to the dentist?
There are a lot of bad answers in this thread.... At 14, it is very likely that you have some issues with your dental health, even if you are the best person in the world at brushing and flossing. Do your gums ever bleed? If so, that is a sign of gingival inflammation, or worse, periodontal disease. The sensitivity to lemonade is not a good sign. There are 2 factors here that could be at work; #1 is that (as you correctly stated) the enamel could be eroded due to acidity in the lemonade. #2 is that you could be experiencing sensitivity to the sugar in the lemonade, which is a sign of present caries (cavities) If you can find no way to see a dentist, then do the following: Brush as you are, twice a day. use a SOFT BRUSH or EXTRA SOFT brush only. Be sure to use a toothpaste that has fluoride. It can come in two forms, either is perfectly fine. Floss as you are. Be sure to use good flossing technique. That means NOT moving the floss back and forth, but rather wrapping the floss around the tooth, just below the gum line, and pulling it up. Use of a mouthwash is also good. Crest Pro Health is great, no burning sensation and just as effective at killing bacteria as other over the counter mouth rinses. Use it at night before you go to bed. As you sleep, saliva flow is reduced, and disease causing bacteria are not flushed away by your normal saliva flow. Use it again in the morning after you eat breakfast. Diagnosing if you have a cavity (carious lesion) is not something you would likely do easily until it is way too late. The first stage is invisible to the naked eye. The second stage is very tiny white spots, but that could be confused with other white artifacts on teeth surfaces. Radiographs (X-Rays), a dental exam and a bit of experience will be best at letting you know what is going on in your mouth. There is likely a way for you to get some dental care for no cost. A good source of information in your area would be a local dental office. Call and explain that you are 14, never been to a dentist and you are worried about your dental health. Ask if they know of any programs that can help you. You will be amazed what you can find if you ask ;)
I've never been to a dentist.. I'm almost 25...?
I've never been to a dentist because #1) My parents never had dental insurance and we couldn't afford it #2) I've never been able to afford my own dental insurance either. #3) I've heard SO many horror stories about dentists... I'm scared!! Anyway.. now I have no choice BUT to go to a dentist. I have had this horrible toothache now for about a month or a little longer. I don't know if it's just a cavity or what. It hurts to drink anything cold... it causes me to have a bad headache and toothache. It hurts to smile because the air hits it and triggers a toothache. It hurts to eat.. that also triggers a toothache. What should I expect? I'm really worried.. I don't want them to pull my tooth!! I hope I can just get a filling. Is it painful to get fillings? What does the procedure involve? Also, I'm really embarrassed to have to tell them I've never been to a dentist...
I'm 35 and never been to a dentist! Why should I go to one soon?
My cousin’s husband hasn’t been to a dentist for at least a decade, probably longer. He’s 48. My cousin finally convinced him to come see us (my father and I are their general dentist). He didn’t know the condition of his teeth, but knows it’s probably not great. Not great is an understatement. His periodontal disease is so severe most of his teeth are barely attached in bone anymore. His options are very limited. We sent him to a couple of periodontist for second opinions even though we know the result….but just so he can have the prognosis really hammered in and understanding his oral situation. Basically all of his teeth likely won’t last long term except for maybe 5 of them. If he had come in say 25 years earlier I bet he wouldn’t need complete dentures on the top or a bunch of implants. He’ll likely choose to do nothing until his teeth fall out, which honestly won’t make too big of a difference from the current situation since he has so little bone now anyway. Implants will be difficult because of the lack of bone and dentures too because of the lack of bone or ridge height for retention. Anyway, don’t assume everything is fine just because there’s no pain. Much of the time there is no pain involved with dental issues unless you have a cavity that has already affected the nerve of the tooth, but by then it’s a much more complicated and costly issue to take care of. It’s like having chronic high blood pressure. You don’t usually feel symptoms from high blood pressure until you have a heart attack, but by then it’s a serious issue. Probably could have avoided the heart attack by seeing a physician early on and having the blood pressure under control with meds or exercise.
I've never been to the dentist and i'm 16 years old..?
There is no reason for you to be afraid of seeing your dentist, even after all this time. It's never too late to begin dental care to ensure that you have a beautiful smile with healthy teeth and gums that will be with you for the rest of your life. Tomorrow will consist of a consultation, an examination, x rays and perhaps a cleaning, depending on what your appointment was scheduled for. Cleaning your teeth does not hurt and it helps us to determine the condition of your teeth, bone and tissue just below the gum line. The x rays these days are so much easier due to digital equipment and technology, you will be able to see your teeth and bones with any defects or decay areas being visible to you on the computer screen. It's good that you are going to the dentist now so you can be sure to take care of the small problems before they become big problems. Those big problems are the ones that many patients "create" phobias from. You won't have anything done without it being discussed thoroughly with you and your parent before the work is done, in most cases the procedure will be scheduled at a later date. Relax and listen to the advice they give you and ask any question that you may have about your dental health. Now is the time for you to build a lasting relationship with your dentist and his dental team, they are there to work with you, helping you to maintain healthy teeth for many years to come. Good luck!