OMG, it's a dentist!

[mandragora]

Received a card recently from my dentist, saying that my check-up is now due. Immediately made an appointment. Because I have that rarest of beings, a...NHS dentist!

Yes, that's right, they still do exist and if you remain very quiet and very still you may just about catch a glimpse of this rarest of beings, the extremely shy, fine feathered, um, dentist.

So, the fact that I am actually a NHS registered patient makes it even more shameful that I haven't been to the dentist for, er, well, 5 years!

What? I wait for the reminder that my check-up is now due before making an appointment. Because. Dentist! *shudders delicately*

And what is the result of these years of dental neglect? What price am I going to pay for shamefully and wilfully shutting my eyes to the fact that I haven't been to the dentist for so long that I really couldn't remember how long it had last been and they had to tell me. 5 years! Gosh!

Well, a couple of fillings are a bit worn and need replacing. And, er, that's it. Talk about getting off lightly.

I think it's a win for genetics, though, rather than me virtuously taking good care of my teeth, as my father still has a complete set at the age of 75.

Comments

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I have an NHS dentist, too. I hang on to her as if I'm a drowning woman.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Worth their weight in, er, teeth? *g*

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to a dentists since i was old enough to say no to my parents. I hate the dentist - because I'm so bored!

Never had a filling. Never had a toothache. Never needed braces or cleaning or anything else. I have the teeth of DOOOOOOOM!

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

*g* You may well have. Plus, you're probably young enough to have grown up with fluoride in the water. Tooth decay has plummeted as a result. Those of us who are more *cough* mature *cough* tend to have more cavities than you young folk. *sticks tongue firmly in cheek*

[britta54.livejournal.com]

Go you!

I have a lifetime of horror stories but won't bore you with them. I also will not say how many teeth I have left.

Just know I am cheering for you. I am so glad someone is doing nicely tooth-wise.

$:-)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Eeek! Major sympathies on the teeth horror stories.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

My NHS dentist will only keep patients on his list if they promise not only to attend on a six mothly basis but also to see the hygienist at six monthly intervals. This is all staggered so that you only have to turn up once every three months. They don't only send cards, they phone you. Then they phone you again the day before to remind you. And 18 months non-attendance for any reason gets you kicked off the list. Still, you don't offend NHS dentists - I shudder at the horror stories I've heard about private costs!!

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've heard them too. I am paying privately for the fillings, because I want the white ones (don't fancy the mercury content of the NHS fillings, either) but knowing that I can get NHS treatment for anything major is a real comfort.

[keletkezes.livejournal.com]

I'm still registered back in Essex with my NHS dentist. The appointments are now 2-yearly (something about making time for all their private patients) so my next is some Friday in March next year: they only do NHS on Fridays, conveniently for those of us who have to travel 200-odd miles...

Also, I read that if you NEVER have either anything major or just major stuff done (can't remeber which), the NHS works out more expensive.

And my grandad died at 87 with all his own teeth: a full set!

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

I'm not certain that if all you ever have are check-ups the NHS is more expensive, given that the cost of a check-up is significantly cheaper on the NHS than privately.

I don't know about the major treatment thing, either. I mean, if I'd plumped for NHS fillings they'd definitely be cheaper than the private ones I'm going for (because you can't get white fillings on the NHS).

And, well done your grandad!

[keletkezes.livejournal.com]

THe only white fillings I have are in my front teeth, which I do beleive are the only ones they do (it's like a temporary fix before they put a crown/whatever in, but mine's kinda become permanent). Other than that, it's a couple of mercury ones in the back.

And yes, I do agree with the 'how?' thing: when I read it it seemed expensive, but having seen one very expensive private place, it's nowhere near!