I haven't been to the dentist in 20 years?

Question

I'm sure things have improved and changed drastically, If you are getting a filling do you still get the needle in your mouth? What's new do they still use drills etc. (big chicken!)

Please don't tell me I should go, or that it will lead to other problems etc. etc.
I want to know things like, Do they use lasers? etc. What's new in dental technology . And I know about dentists that cater to cowards what do they do different.

Answer 1

To tell you the truth, there ARE new technologies and new materials, but thigns haven't changed that dramatically in the past 20 years. I've been in practice for 30 years, so I know...

We still pretty much give a needle (although there ARE some new techniques there), drill the cavity out and put a filling in.

Answer 2

I have always had a super fear of the dentist. So with that I would only go to the dentist when I was in severe pain. The results were the cavities were bigger, the fillings went deeper and in time, the tooth abscessed. This means I get more needles and more drilling and a nice root canal. Never had insurance, so I never went with crowns. Now I have dental insurance and since my tooth front teeth have both been root canal-ed for about 20 years and they were discoloring, I went to the dentist again yesterday. Had two crowns on my front teeth ordered. Got some temps in there now. Got the needle again. Those in the front and the roof of the mouth are the worst. I got through it, didn't choke to death when they made molds, and lived through two friggen hours in the dentist chair.

Bottom line, it will snowball if you don't do it up right. As I write this I am 6 crowns away from having every upper tooth crowned.

Take it from experience, it is best to take care of things or you will have more pain, more needles, more drilling, and more costs if you don't.

Answer 3

You must be maintaining immaculate oral hygiene that you have not felt the necessity of visiting a dentist in 20 years. Keep it up. Old is still considered gold, and the drills have not lost their effectiveness a wee bit. New technology like lasers is gaining extensive use in dentistry, while affordability has not increased so much. If allowed, make a casual visit to an upscale dental office nearby just to exchange admirations.

Answer 4

I'm horrified of the dentist, and I waited ten years to go back. Because I waited so long, I had to have five root canals (unfortunately, I waited until my teeth HURT before I went back).

Not much has changed, though. They still use drills, and they still give you shots. They have new procedures, though, like sealants which protect your teeth from decay (they don't hurt at all), twilight sleep (which is a sedative for serious work), and straightening procedures without the use of braces (ask you dentist about it, because I think that it requires breaking your jaw).

They still have nitrous-oxide (laughing gas), and most anesthetics still have epinephrine in them. You still have to find a good dentist. Unlike what one answerer said, there are bad dentists out there (if you read one of my latest questions, you'll know that I went to one), but there are still GREAT ones out there, as well.

As much as I wish I could tell you that it's been a DRASTIC change, it really hasn't. There are some new procedures that you may want to discuss with your dentist, but as far as general practice is concerned, it's about the same as it was twenty years ago.

Go to the dentist, though. If you wait for too much to change, you're going to have a lot of problems.

Answer 5

see i was like this until i was at the age of 25, i was scared of the dentist....and when i was younger my mother couldnt afford to take me to the dentist regularly anyways, so i neglected my teeth till they hurt all the time and i had no choice to go to a dentist, now i regret not going regularly, everything is all so simple and dosent hurt much at all, they still use the needle, ive in the past year and 1/2 had over eleven thousand dollars worth of dental work done and still lack like 6 teeth having them all finished, the only regret i have now is not getting dental insurance before going the first time, because its seriously costing me out the butt, but most all procedures are hardly any pain involved, and of course you can always get gas, and then you feel nothing at all, during the process. i had an infected tooth and antibotics wouldnt clear it up, so my dentist sent me to a specialist and they give me the gas to extract the tooth, during the process i had no idea it was pulled until the told me that it was.....and yes the drill is still in use, i dont think much has changed as far a tools the dentist use only better and more considerate dentist now as opposed to then.....................as for root canals most of them are not painful only sore afterwards, have had over 6 of them done and only two of them actually hurt during the procedure, my dentist told me it depends on what teeth the work is being done on depends on how much it hurts....but afterwards you can count on some serious soreness from a root canal....good luck with your teeth

Answer 6

Funny story! I had an abscessed tooth a few years back and I too had a fear of the dentist, but I knew I had to get this problem fixed. I searched and searched for a good dentist and I found one in Edmonton Alberta Canada. They had a big sign out front that read " we cater to cowards" I had to check them out and they were fantastic. Afterwards they informed me that technology has improved so much that all dentists are as wonderful and gentle as they were and they were nothing special.

Answer 7

I put off getting mine out because of fear, the last dentist I'd visited really knocked me around. But I bit the bullet and went and had the rest of my top out, too easy. Luckily I found a dentist who actually cared. He rubs some local on your gums before putting the needle in and even though you still feel it, you can live with it OK. My advice, ask some people who have just had work done and get their feedback. I'm sure there'll be a caring dentist somewhere in your area.

Answer 8

#1 Cure For Toothaches - http://DentalBook.uzaev.com/?ajFQ

Answer 9

There is a first time for everything.

The answer to your next question -- the needle -- yes
The answer to your next question -- the drill -- yes

But, if you don't go and they don't do the shot and the drill now -- your tooth could get worse that you will need a root-canal. Those are NO Fun.

Answer 10

Yup but the needle aint that bad. Especially before drilling. I found out the hard way.