eeeeek
i have a massive massive dilemma, which i am guessing to most of you lot will be no dilemma at all. apologies for dullness, but, you know. it's me, you're used to it.

so i've just been to the dentist for the first time in an embarrassingly long time - my teeth are straight, relatively white and they don't hurt, so i forgot about them. i've never had a filling, but i do shove far too much diet coke, chocolate etc down my gullet, so i was quite panicky about what the dentist was going to say. also he is a new dentist. i've only ever had the same one since i was 7, and he has now retired (no, amberl, he wasn't hot after all) and i have heard new dentists often tell you that you need loads of work doing when you don't.

anyway, he said that they are in pretty good shape, but he would recommend a small filling on just one of them. this terrifies me, absolutely terrifies me. do fillings hurt?? and secondly, the tooth does not hurt at all now. aren't fillings a slippery slope of turning a tooth that previously didn't hurt at all into a mass of pain and maintenance? or am i being really stupid if i ignore the dentist's advice... he said it was up to me, but he would recommend it. so, shall i MTFU and have the bloody filling, or wait a few months to see if it gets worse, or what?????????
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:17, 8 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

I've never had a filling, I'm afraid.
My teeth are one of my better features, I am told.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:19, Reply)

well, me neither until now.
high five on the cavity-free teeth.

oh, wait. :(((((((
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:21, Reply)

Can you even tie shoelaces?

(PsychoChomp, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:19, Reply)

this is not answering my question.
are you saying "don't so fucking thick, take the medical advice and get the filling" or are you saying "if it doesn't hurt it can't be that bad so be an ostrich for the next 2 years" ?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:20, Reply)

I think you should probably ask a dentist what they think.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:21, Reply)

can't you read?
i just did that, i didn't like the answer.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:23, Reply)

In my capacity as unqualified, inexperienced knob-end
I would suggest that ignoring it will inevitably result in things getting worse.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:26, Reply)

This ^
I only have one filling, and really should have got it done before I did. And no, it doesn't hurt - they anaesthetise you.
(berk, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:37, Reply)

but has the tooth hurt since the filling?
i don't want the cure to become the problem!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:39, Reply)

There was some minor jiggery faffery
because I went to my local NHS dentist, whom it would appear is a total cowboy, jerk, and has no dentistry skills... but no, once I got it sorted after that, it was fine.
(berk, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:42, Reply)

yeah, that worries me a bit
this guy seemed to know what he was doing, and only recommending one small filling is much more plausible than "you need 5 fillings and a root canal and you pay me, you pay me now". but how do you know til they've got stuck in there...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:53, Reply)

Go to another dentist
and ask for a 2nd opinion?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:57, Reply)

i think i will do this
i am going to the hygienist, he might have a comment to make too!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:58, Reply)

Good
But I'm prety sure the first dentist is not tricking you. He's not going to pay his mortgage with one little filling.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:04, Reply)

no, i think you're right
i just feel stupid for neglecting them to the point where i need a filling.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:10, Reply)

Going to the dentist more often wouldn't have changed that
the dentist only checks. As long as you brush them and wash them, I don't think there's much more you can do to protect them. And it's only one. I have 10!
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:16, Reply)

very wise words

( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:25, Reply)

Oh sorry I was being thick,
I thought that you were asking here because you hadn't already had proffessional advice.
(PsychoChomp, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:26, Reply)

that's ok, you can't help it
the point was that the professional recommended it, but said it was not so bad that it was essential, and left the decision up to me.

anyway, next question. what is the most humane way to murder a budgie? i left my new gucci glasses with a tiny but pretty square pattern of sparkly stones on each arm alone with it for 20 minutes and the little bastard has pecked out each and every stone...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:33, Reply)

It'll probably die from eating the stones.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:38, Reply)

eeeek, the next question will have to be...
so i've just taken the budgie to the vet for the first time in an embarrassingly long time - it is green, dim and it doesn't hurt, so i forgot about it...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:48, Reply)

In my experience, the injection in the gum is a bit uncomfortable, but only for a few seconds.
Betond that I don't think there's much to worry about.
(Cave Duck, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:27, Reply)

"Yeah, so do you want a little prick in your mouth?"***
*** I'm covering Al's duties whilst he's not here.
(Cave Duck, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:28, Reply)

been there, done that
got (it all over) the t-shirt.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:29, Reply)

If you don't get a filling
There's a chance that whatever tiny crack in the tooth you have will allow the inside of your tooth to get infected or rot. This is not good.

I used to hate the dentist, after I was given a temporary filling by my local NHS dentist, which came out a few days later (on Christmas Day too). I was in absolute agony, whereas before I had the work I was fine. As a result, the emergency dentist pulled the nerve and cleaned up the tooth.

I was supposed to go back to my proper dentist to get it looked at, but I was convinced he was an evil bastard, so didn't go. A year later I end up breaking that tooth in half (found a bone in some chicken...), but still didn't go to evil bastard dentist.

I got an abscess in the gum by that tooth some time after that, and eventually signed up with a local private dentist as I'd been struck off the evil bastard's NHS list. He was much nicer, but said he had to extract what was left of the broken tooth, so now I'm missing a molar. He said it could have been saved if I'd got it looked at from the start.

So, MTFU and get it done!
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:25, Reply)

urrrrrgh
but what i am reading there is, "before i had the work i was fine"... this is my concern, that the tooth is better now than it would be if i had a filling and started messing with it!

maybe i should go and see a private dentist in london and see what he says.

but then he might recommend MOAR fillings. in MOAR teeth. oh god. then what would i do?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:26, Reply)

Well, my nice private dentist (I'm not rich, just on DenPlan)
Spotted a small hole in another molar, and recommended a filling. I agreed, and it was over in next to no time, and I've had no problems with my teeth since.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:32, Reply)

ok so basically everyone is saying
don't ignore it, and fillings aren't that bad, but the alternative is much worse. plus bonus sarcastic comments from tweedlechomp and tweedlekroney.

i'm going to have to do it, aren't i? doom. doom. needly doom.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:36, Reply)

If you've got to your age without any major dental work, you're doing alright.
I had to have all of my wisdom teeth torn out a while ago, with my genuine 100% fear of needles. It was not fun. If I could do that, you can have a filling.

This response came from the serious answers division of the TweedleKroney Ask A Silly Question Bureau. We hope you have been satisfied with our business.
( Kroney, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:41, Reply)

Yeah, I had to have my impacted wisdom tooth out
not so much a fear of needles as of dentists. Oh, and it turns out, the penicillin they gave me to take the swelling down, I'm allergic to. That was a fun week...
(berk, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:43, Reply)

wisdom teeth also scare me
i only ever got one, which is part of the way out, but the dentist has never touched it because it doesn't hurt. the others never showed up. and they'd better not do, i don't want them messing up my nice straight teeth!!

this probably explains a lot, before one of you lot makes the joke. but i understand from friends that having wisdom teeth out is vile.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:55, Reply)

It wasn't the most fun experience, no
partially because the first anaesthetic didn't work and I was horrendously ill from the penicillin. Once it was out though, I was all 'oh, what was I making a big fuss for?' - it was agonising for about 1 week every three months for over a year, and I just should have got it sorted out instead of being a big jessie.
(berk, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:58, Reply)

there is something to be said for MTFU
i don't do it at all well, myself!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:01, Reply)

Nah it's fine pet. The injection is a little uncomfortable but that's it.

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:26, Reply)

injection?
as in needle? they stick a needle where, into your gum??

i think you just made THAT decision for me!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:29, Reply)

Mine doesn't even do that for just a minor filling
They just sprayed some numbing spray onto the gum, so it just felt a bit cold at first, then I was totally pain free.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:32, Reply)

I've got loads of them
from when I was a kid, as I have calcium deficit and they kept cracking. I don't have to look after them in any special way, just go to the dentist from time to time to check everything else is ok.

It doesn't hurt either, unless you have a massive one done, you'll barely feel it.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:27, Reply)

Person doesn't like advice of medical professional
and so asks internet full of people who aren't medical professionals.
( Kroney, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:30, Reply)

Having never had a filling
but had some work done on one of my molars that snapped in half, tooth pain is one of the worst pains I've ever suffered.

I was at work, rubbing ground up dihydrocodeine on my gums.
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:32, Reply)

Agreed, tooth pain is the worst I've experienced
So sharp as to nearly make me black out at times.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:33, Reply)

oh christ
maybe i should just accept that i am lucky to have got to my age without anything worse than a brace, then.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:37, Reply)

While trying to avoid the dentist, I used to use clove oil.
The pain was so intense, I had three or four cotton buds sticking out of my mouth each releiving a different pain centre.

It really isn't worth it.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:42, Reply)

I suppose it's prudent to mention
I've broken bones and trodden on blunt spikes.

:D

Have you ever broken a bone?
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:47, Reply)

Yes
Double spiral fracture of my left leg, just below the knee, is the biggy. Plus I've broken both big toes and the pinky finger on my right hand.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:50, Reply)

Crikey
How'd you manage that?
(berk, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:52, Reply)

Ran into a brick barbecue...

( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:54, Reply)

That was careless...

(berk, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:56, Reply)

It was, but I didn't see it
It was midnight in the Sherwood Forest, y'see.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:03, Reply)

no, this is because i don't ride a bike.
the only thing i've ever had done was laser eye surgery. that was also pretty scary, but it didn't hurt!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:51, Reply)

I broken my shin snowboarding
fingers and wrist playing rugby and I trod on a photo frame (for the spike).

Edit: See!

(Himjim died a little more inside on, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:06, Reply)

and you've knackered your cock'n'balls on the bike
what's left?!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 11:09, Reply)

Get the filling done.
the injection may be a bit uncomfortable, but that's it.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 10:35, Reply)