Her Tech is a non-stop talker and wears me out at cleanings, but, hell, Dr.Nguyen is worth the torrent of blather.

British subjects pulling their own rotting teeth out with pliers, because they couldn’t get a timely appointment with a NHS dentist and the pain was driving them crazy. That will be our future if present trends continue.

Actually, it is here now for some folks. My neighbor has had a bad toothache for over a week. As she belongs to a union she can only go to their union-approved dentist. Twice she has gone to him only to have nothing done as he was too busy to she her. Despite the fact that she is clearly an “urgent” case it seems that scheduled appointments come first.

A free-market healthcare provider wouldn’t do this to a patient who has the option to go elsewhere.

So, yea, that could be our future if the present trend continues.

Most of my baby teeth never fell out , so had to have some 16 of them pulled. (over 3 visits) (and that’s not including the pulling of wisdom teeth later on!

Had first periodontal (gum surgery) when I was 13. And that was the start of a ridiculous history with dentists, periodontists, and endodonists. At one point I even went to a brother team: one was endodontist who did the root canals, and the other was a perio- who did the gum surgeries. I’ve had to have so much done, just about nothing fazes me. Dentists love me: I’m like grackle — completely relaxed; almost fall asleep… Just make sure they give plenty of novacaine (even those injections don’t bother me), if you feel the slightest touch, tell them! One time only did I not have enough and when the dentist touched the nerve, I actually saw stars — literally! Once was enough!

Have had root canals in every tooth and all crowns (a fortune invested in my mouth). And that was then. Dread the bill when they wear out! Just a week ago my periodontist told me “what will save me” are implants. Great! Just what I want to look forward to! All that surgery in my future, and the cost will probably equal the cost of a small house!

None of mine have the high tech stuff some of you mentioned. But I’m fine with that. Last thing I want to look at is myself with a mouth full of ground down stumps. I have no desire to look at one — not in a mirror, not on some screen! I don’t want to see problem areas — I just want them to fix them!

The milling machine sounds interesting. Sounds very much like CAM CAD (Computer Aided Design) machines used in 3-D design such as jewelry making, where the machines, for example, can mill out hard wax models of designs for casting instead of having to hand carve. Much more accurate (the machines) as far as design and symmetry. But natural teeth are not perfect and symmetrical, and creating crowns is considered an art. Because I am an artist, years ago one dentist even sent me to a lab where they formulate the crowns so I could see how they meticulously paint on the thinnest coats of translucent porcelain to achieve the look of real teeth. The most amazing thing was the color palette of porcelain. You can’t imagine how many colors are layered and used to achieve realistic color: yellows (a lot of yellow — even for “white” teeth), blues, greens, browns, reds….Most astonishing. I’ve had a number of dentists who actually do artwork, sculpting as hobby.

Neo, have had that problem with crown coming out. You’re lucky you didn’t swallow it! Every time one came off, it was when eating something soft like bread. Have no idea why. But a little trick is to get a little denture adhesive to hold crown on until you can get back into dentist. The idea of denture adhesive is a bit yucky, but it works. Much more comfortable than the exposed ground down stump

But….

1. People don’t normally pass away there.

2. You don’t get admitted to the dentist office.

3. They don’t give you IV’s, or hook you up to monitors there.

4. They don’t have a morgue.

My dentist is a super guy, as is his wife (a very intelligent, personable woman). Not long after my wife died a cuppla years back, he and his wife took my little daughter to the ballet.

Also, his dental assistant is an incredibly sweet young lady in whose own career I have taken interest.

Without a doubt, root canal is no fun, but I actually look forward to seeing them all. They’re great folks.

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